I had a good experience with the doctor. The procedure itself was quick and went smoothly.
However, the lack of cost transparency was disappointing. I was aware that my extraction was covered by insurance and that I would need to pay $800-900 for the bone graft. But on the day of the procedure, I was asked to pay an additional $400–$500 for something else (I believe it was for a CBCT scan), which was never clearly communicated in advance. But later on, I also realized that Fidelis could cover the scan.
If I had known ahead of time, I could have brought a recent CBCT scan that I already had. Instead, I was informed only on the day of the procedure, which felt unexpected and stressful.
Additionally, when I requested a copy of the CBCT, I was only told after receiving the disc that there would be an extra $10 charge. This could have been mentioned earlier, or I could have brought my own storage device.
In total, I paid around $1,400-1500 out of pocket that day, and the unexpected additional charges were frustrating. At one point, I even had to wait at the clinic until someone could send me a small additional amount via Zelle.
During my follow-up visit, no X-ray was taken. From my understanding, it is a standard step after an extraction and bone graft to monitor healing. Especially since I mentioned that my sutures came off on the second day and the site was still open after two weeks (which may be normal), it would have been reassuring to take a simple PA X-ray of the area to confirm that everything was healing properly.
Lastly, my experience with the front desk staff was not very comfortable. While they were not rude, their attitude often felt impatient when I asked normal questions. Not every patient understands the details of procedures, and clearer, more patient communication would make a big difference, especially when it comes to money transparency and paying that much right away.
