B!tchy Parents!!!

[countrygirl]

This in NOT wedding related, but I have to vent.

I work for an orthodontist. We see patiens all week long, start at 730am and go as late as 450pm. I realize that isn't that late, but when we start that early, it would end up put us at 10/hr days five days a week. We aren't a big enough pracitce (one Dr) to staff two shifts and he can't legally make us work 50/hr weeks.

Anyway, parent's know our hours when they sign up for tx w us. But for some reason they conveniently forget that thier children will occassionall have to miss a bit of school to have thier braces worked on. Especially when they have perm retainers, are supposed to be seen every 3-4 w those, and don't come in for over a year.

I just had a mom call and chew me out. She called the Dr two weeks ago and said that the retainer was broken. He dbl booked a morning over Christmas break for her to accom. her, and she never showed. She called yesterday to sched and weaseld a late apt when she should have been seen early since its going to be a LONG apt.

I had to resched her apt to give enough time to treat her, and the mom blew up. She chewed me out for being too incoveinent for her because he daughter goes to school 45 minutes away, and cannot miss school. She hung up on me, and then called back again, yelling at me that no dr's work around her sched and that we need to be open on eve's and weekends to accom her. Does she really expect our Dr to work 10-12 hrs a day on week days, and then stay open on weekends? Granted, he is a dr, and he is here to provide pt care. But he is a person too, and has a family, and good grief, she really has me fuming right now!!!! She CHOSE our office, we didnt' force her to begin treatment here. There are a bazillon other dr's in Phoenix, if she needed one that is open on weekends, then she should have gone to them. And if she is so worried about her daughter, maybe she should have brought her in over break when she was already accomodated!!!!!!

Sorry, had to vent. Go on w your day. heehee.

[shawnsgirl]

Vent away my dear!!! It's amazing how people think that everything should accomodate them. Sounds like this mother isn't really responsible and is stressing out therefore taking it out on you! That's not right or fair. Well, one good thing it is friday and that is something to celebrate!!! I hope your day only gets better!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

sorry to highjack but I have a question and I wonder if you might know the answer ....

How much does an average retainer cost?

I was charged $5,000 for my daughters full treatment and then I was sent a bill for $500 for a retainer after the braces have been taken off. I really do think this should have been included in the quote for the whole treatment in the first place. After all, if you choose not to get the retainer, your teeth will go right back to square one.

Anyhow .... my daughter conveniently lost two retainers and I have paid $500 (or almost) to replace each lost retainer.

Someone told me that a retainer should cost approx. a $100. My questions are these ... Am I paying more because the ortho is located in a small town and he doesn't have too much competition? Are some retainers more complicated than others and as such are pricier? Are some made of gold? LOL Could I have her fitted for a retainer elsewhere? Or ....... is this ortho hosing me?

[cowboysbride]

I know how you feel Heather, I used to manage and ortho's office! People don't understand the time needed for diff procedures. And no your doc shouldn't be expected to work on the weekend, they are human too and need time for their lives. You are right! If it was SOOO crucial and important the idgit shouldn't have missed the first appointment...good grief:gurn: some ppl think the world revolves around them!

[countrygirl]

Ok, right now, in this area, full tx is between 5000-5500. Our ret's are included in the price. With that, you have the choice of rem ret or perm. The clear are extra. If you loose the ret, yes, there is an additional fee as insur co's don't pay for replacememnt ret. Our ret fee is about $190. You do want to keep them, and wear them for life. She may only need it every few nights a week when she is an adult, but after about a wk of not wearing one, her teeth WILL shift. That is why there are so many adults having braces now. They were never told to wear the ret's for life when they were kids.

I would say, find another ortho in the area, and see if they will see her for ret's only. They may charge you more in the beginning for records (xrays, impressions) but there is no reason a ret should be $500. Your getting hosed on that one.

I would also say, if she keeps loosing them, make her pay for the next one, or don't get one at all. Let her take charge of it, make her undertand that if she doesn't keep track of her ret, she doesn't get another one, and she will need braces again later in life, and will have to pay for full tx again to put her teeth back where they belong.

[ladymelissa]

You poor dear, that woman is crazy!

[StaceyMc]

I can remember, a bazillion years ago, when I had braces. I always missed school for my appointments. They didn't have evening or weekend hours then either. And why should they? It's not like an emergency room or anything.

My client's are demanding like that too and we have evening hours. I had one call now (it's 3:00 p.m.) and she wanted something scheduled for tonight. Yeah...right. It's Friday, he's been in Court allllll day. Sure....yeah...I'll get right on that!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

but after about a wk of not wearing one, her teeth WILL shift.

This is the reason that I have been replacing them. I don't want to have to pay for the treatment again. Our insurance didn't cover any of it and so it's all come out of my pocket. She is WELL aware now that if she loses another one, she is toast.

Thanks for the info Heather!

One more question ... how often do you have to be seen once you have the retainer? I would have her see an ortho here but she doesn't visit too too often (we go there more).

[NicksBride]

You poor thing, she shoulds like a complete witch without the W! Just ignore her, she is just being difficult!! Sorry you have to deal with people like that!!

[darkangel090260]

I wish i could find one that would look at a infants teeth. Adara has about 4 in now and would like her to have a check up.. But no one arround here will see her untill she is older

[septemberbride06]

I'm in Customer Service Heather, so I do truly understand some of the moronic people that call and expect you to be able to move a mountian or something LOL!
Just think about how many people your helping, and you are absolutely right...everyone that works there are humans too, not zombies that walk around and never sleep. LMAO!
I wouldn't worry about people too much, I think they just need an excuse to get b!tchy !! :hothead:

[countrygirl]

I wish i could find one that would look at a infants teeth. Adara has about 4 in now and would like her to have a check up.. But no one arround here will see her untill she is older

Most ortho's dont see them because of the age. You can check w your dentist to see if the can ref someone.

[ger]

I don't understand why some people think the world revolves around their life. I work in a hospital and we do a lot of outpatient tests and you would think that if the person can't be scheduled within 24 hours they were going to die. It's amazing. Some of these people have lived like this for 30+ years, but TODAY it became an emergency!!

[countrygirl]

I don't understand why some people think the world revolves around their life. I work in a hospital and we do a lot of outpatient tests and you would think that if the person can't be scheduled within 24 hours they were going to die. It's amazing. Some of these people have lived like this for 30+ years, but TODAY it became an emergency!!

YUP!! When I worked at Mayo it was like that. It was terrible.