Dental fees?

I paid my yearly exam fee and than had some dental work done than I went back in for a tooth that was bothering me .No work was done but I had to pay an exam fee all over again.I am going in to crown this tooth I thought I would just have to pay for the crown.my year from my exam isnt up yet.My question is .Is it normal to charge to exam per tooth after you paid a yearly exam fee?

Dental fees?
Yes it is normal for a dentist to charge an additional exam fee. A yearly exam (or bi-yearly) is considered a periodic exam. Treatment needed is diagnosed and the patient is given an estimate of the dental work. At any time after this, prior to the next periodic exam (depending on the dentist this may be done every 6 months), a patient comes in complaining of a specific problem, such as a broken tooth or toothache, the dentist will usually have to take a single x-ray of this tooth, if this tooth was not previously diagnosed as needing major treatment such as a rootcanal or crown. If it was previously diagnosed, meaning that you came in within the last couple of months, and he feels that the treatment has not changed, he may just "remind" you of what needs to be done on that tooth. However, if he feels the tooth has changed in condition, as compaired to the previous x-ray that he has on this tooth, then yes he will do another x-ray and you will be charged for a limited(problem focused) exam.


This is certainly normal. Think of it like this: You go to your gynocologist for your yearly pap and breast exam, and then 3 months later you develope a strange itch or pain in your privates. The gyno would charge you an additional exam fee to look at this, even if he had just done an exam 3 months prior.





A dentist has to have the most current, accurate x-ray that he can, before a tooth can be worked on. This is for his own liability. If he feels that the tooth has changed since the last x-ray, he will take another one and you will be charged for this and a limited exam.
Reply:Well you know this country they charge you for eveything, it shouldn't because is like a insurance. But maybe is because you only pay for the visits and normal chek outs, and probably they are charging cause of the tooth and maybe they'll have to take it out.
Reply:Everytime you go into the office, you get charged an exam fee. It should just be a standard cost. Most offices are around 25.00-55.00 for an office visit. It all depends on you doctor. They can set there own fees. If you have questions call them and ask them about their fee schedule, so then you dont have to guess. you will know before you go in.
Reply:Better read the fine print in your dental contract.
Reply:Yes, it is normal. Chances are, the dentist didn't see anything wrong with your tooth. The exam you had done for this tooth is called a limited or problem focused exam.





When the tooth gets crowned, chances are the dentist won't need to do another exam. He's already seen what's wrong and came up with a treatment plan.
Reply:Yes, this is normal to charge a limited exam or emergency fee.