Anonymous
02/13/2026 16:42
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it's incredibly bizarre that you're paying for your adult child's dentistry when he's at least...35? 40? years old.
If the xray cost is bothering you that much, ask your DC to reimburse you.
I find it incredibly bizarre that you’re commenting on that part of this because that wasn’t my question. My adult child has a disability, that’s why.
Not PP but it is not bizarre. EVRYONE is going to read your OP and go “WTF is OP paying for a middle aged adult’s dental care and giving treatment decisions approval or denial. That is super weird”. The disability is key to understanding that the dental office messed up. And yes in that case - if it is a mental disability - I would be mad. If the disability is physical not mental then that’s an issue if you and your child not communicating
Anonymous
02/13/2026 16:31
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Well, in your child's defense, he/she has had X-rays before and was unaware that a panoramic X-ray is more expensive. You can certainly bring it up to the dentist and see what they do.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 16:23
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The hygienist forgot you said no and your kid authorized the work. Forget about that.
I question what a shortened tooth root is and why braces make that a problem.
In general, if you trust the provider, don't delay dental work.
+1
They don’t even need permission from you. Your “DC” is an adult.
They are aware that Adult child has a disability and that I pay the bills there and that I make many of the decisions.
Then I amend my response directly above this- but you need to have MPOA documented in his chart and you need to attend his dental visits.
My husband took him this time. They don’t let you back in the room. My husband didn’t know about it until they left. I now understand she did not “ask” him. She said time for your panoramic, stand, click. They didn’t ask, they didn’t tell him how much it is. How can anyone make a decision or I should say and informed decision without knowing what something costs. I guess it bothers me so much because i think it was kind of underhanded and sneaky. As I said, I’ve had a ton of work, we have a ton of medical expenses as a result of health problems with dh, and medical bills from dc. They know all that. I’ve told them several times.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 16:17
Subject: Re:Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:I think that to be perfectly honest, texting you was a violation of his health privacy unless he specifically gave her permission to do it. It matters less than 0% who is paying the bills for his medical/dental care. His medical/dental decisions are his and his alone. If she said "I recommend this" and he said "Ok, go for it", that has less than nothing to do with you. You can either pay the bill, or you can tell him it's his bill. Also if he had braces 25 years ago it's probably time for him to pay for his own dental.
My dc has a disability, they are very much aware of this. This is not the first time she’s texted me about what’s going on with my adult child-although as I said he has a disability. Regardless I’ve always appreciated her letting me know, but this situation I did not appreciate.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 15:06
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The hygienist forgot you said no and your kid authorized the work. Forget about that.
I question what a shortened tooth root is and why braces make that a problem.
In general, if you trust the provider, don't delay dental work.
+1
They don’t even need permission from you. Your “DC” is an adult.
They are aware that Adult child has a disability and that I pay the bills there and that I make many of the decisions.
Then I amend my response directly above this- but you need to have MPOA documented in his chart and you need to attend his dental visits.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 15:05
Subject: Re:Wouid this upset you
I think that to be perfectly honest, texting you was a violation of his health privacy unless he specifically gave her permission to do it. It matters less than 0% who is paying the bills for his medical/dental care. His medical/dental decisions are his and his alone. If she said "I recommend this" and he said "Ok, go for it", that has less than nothing to do with you. You can either pay the bill, or you can tell him it's his bill. Also if he had braces 25 years ago it's probably time for him to pay for his own dental.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 13:13
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Taking a little survey. So my adult dc and I go to the same dentist, we’ve been going there for over twenty years. I pay my dc’s dental bills because it’s just something I want to do for him. I’ve had a lot of work done over the past several years and have more coming up. It’s expensive. So we both go every 3-months for routine cleaning. At dc’s last appointment, the hygienest texted me, and said is it ok if I do the panoramic xray this time, it’s been several years. I said no, maybe in a few years but right now we can’t do it. She says ok. Now he just had his routine appointment and she did the panoramic xray. Apparently, the doctor sees a shortened tooth root that he attributes to his braces and he had those about 25 years ago. They did tell me about the shortened tooth root about 5 or 6 years ago. But at that time it didn’t require any treatment. They were just going to keep an eye on it. Now, the doctor is going to send this to his “friend” whom I presume is some type of specialist, and he’s going to look at the xray. Currently that tooth isn’t bothering dc at all. I’m hoping upon hope that it won’t need any treatment in the foreseeable future. But in any event, my question is; Wouid that upset you that I just told thr hygienist no, not for several years and yet three months later she did it. I’m livid, yet my husband says don’t bother saying anything, it’s too late, it’s already done.
What do you all think?
His friend will want to perform a new set of X-rays. The excuse will be better angle, different equipment, original is blurry, etc.
This is what I’m thinking as well. I guess we’ll see how it plays out.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 13:11
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The hygienist forgot you said no and your kid authorized the work. Forget about that.
I question what a shortened tooth root is and why braces make that a problem.
In general, if you trust the provider, don't delay dental work.
+1
They don’t even need permission from you. Your “DC” is an adult.
They are aware that Adult child has a disability and that I pay the bills there and that I make many of the decisions.
Unless there is something in place like an activated POA or active guardianship, your child is still the one who says yes/no.
Regardless of whether there is or isn’t, they’ve been made aware many years ago, since we initially started going there. It depends upon how she asked. Time for your panoramic, ok. OR The panoramic xray is $375, would it be ok if we did that today?
Anonymous
02/13/2026 12:37
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why is your adult child going every three months?
We both go every 3-4 months for cleanings, my dh too. That’s what we prefer, that’s what they prefer and most of the people I know go for cleaning every 3 or 4 months. Not every 6
I thought every 6 months was standard practice.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 12:31
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Taking a little survey. So my adult dc and I go to the same dentist, we’ve been going there for over twenty years. I pay my dc’s dental bills because it’s just something I want to do for him. I’ve had a lot of work done over the past several years and have more coming up. It’s expensive. So we both go every 3-months for routine cleaning. At dc’s last appointment, the hygienest texted me, and said is it ok if I do the panoramic xray this time, it’s been several years. I said no, maybe in a few years but right now we can’t do it. She says ok. Now he just had his routine appointment and she did the panoramic xray. Apparently, the doctor sees a shortened tooth root that he attributes to his braces and he had those about 25 years ago. They did tell me about the shortened tooth root about 5 or 6 years ago. But at that time it didn’t require any treatment. They were just going to keep an eye on it. Now, the doctor is going to send this to his “friend” whom I presume is some type of specialist, and he’s going to look at the xray. Currently that tooth isn’t bothering dc at all. I’m hoping upon hope that it won’t need any treatment in the foreseeable future. But in any event, my question is; Wouid that upset you that I just told thr hygienist no, not for several years and yet three months later she did it. I’m livid, yet my husband says don’t bother saying anything, it’s too late, it’s already done.
What do you all think?
His friend will want to perform a new set of X-rays. The excuse will be better angle, different equipment, original is blurry, etc.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 11:58
Subject: Wouid this upset you
You need to call the office and have it put in his chart, assuming you have MPOA.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 11:40
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Did your child say yes? My dd is 18 and goes alone and so she is the one they ask even though I pay. She got fluoride last time bc she said yes. Had she asked me I might have said no but not my decision as the non-patient who is not there...
Anonymous
02/13/2026 09:35
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Why is your adult child going every three months?
We both go every 3-4 months for cleanings, my dh too. That’s what we prefer, that’s what they prefer and most of the people I know go for cleaning every 3 or 4 months. Not every 6
Anonymous
02/13/2026 04:39
Subject: Wouid this upset you
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The hygienist forgot you said no and your kid authorized the work. Forget about that.
I question what a shortened tooth root is and why braces make that a problem.
In general, if you trust the provider, don't delay dental work.
I don’t think she forgot, I was very very adamant about saying no last time.
As best i understand it, tooth roots can become shorter during orthodontic treatment and that is very common. Sometimes it causes problems and sometimes it doesn’t.
In no way would I expect a hygienist to remember something I said 3 months ago. If you want to go against standard guidelines you need to state that each and every time. They don’t have a way to set a reminder to ask you “in a few years.” They have a professional duty to offer the recommended screenings and services.
The irony is there are many dentists out there who will do way worse in terms of pushing unnecessary procedures. So if you leave this practice, beware.
This last bit is so true. There is a new dentists practice appearing every week it seems where I live and I hear so many stories of them pushing expensive unnecessary treatments.
Anonymous
02/13/2026 00:17
Subject: Wouid this upset you
You could try to find a new one but dentists are a racket anyway so good luck.