Possible Dental Fraud?? Is it worth it to do anything?
Smile generations/ Ruby Hill Dentistry/ Highlands dentists
I recently went to Ruby Hill Dentistry in Denver after not seeing a dentist for about two years. I moved and then life happened, other things took priority. Previously I had always gone regularly and I’ve always had great teeth and gums. I floss (being honest, most days) and brush at least twice a day.
I do have genetically receding gums and some root shortening from how my braces were done.
After looking at everyone on Delta Dental USA, and all the reviews seeming subpar, decided to go to the one closest, Ruby Hill Dentistry.
They took X-rays and then started measuring my gum pockets. Mostly 4s, 5s and 6s indicating periodontal disease. It also hurt so bad, I could taste the blood. I had assumed it was because I really messed up by not getting yearly cleanings. They continue to literally do fastest general cleaning I’ve ever had. It was no more than what i do at home.
They then told me I had periodontal disease and needed scaling/root planing and laser treatment. They go on to accuse me of lying about flossing…
They bring in someone to talk finances while I'm in the chair. Never in my life have I experienced a dentist do this. A financial “advisor” tells me ‘she knows I must be so overwhelmed but they are here for me and to help me afford all of this’ They tell me they recommend me doing a deep clean every 4 months. The deep cleanings are around 900$. She then offers Smile Generations Financing which sounded like Klarma… Monthly payments, no interest. Perfect. I didn't plan on spending almost a grand that morning, so why not spend it over a few pay checks?
I got home and NOPE I realized she sold me on a credit card??? I was so sketched by it. For a dentist to scheme patients into a credit card. I didn't love it, I then questioned using their periodentist.
I did some research and found someone I felt I could trust.
I went the same week. He carefully measured my gums and read the numbers out loud. My gums didn’t bleed, it didn’t hurt. The numbers were nowhere near what the first dentist had told me. I asked whether the cleaning I had just received could have caused the measurements to improve that dramatically and he told me probably no. Then told me overall my gums were healthy, just maybe slight gingivitis in the back. The only thing I actually needed was one gum graft, which was exactly what I had originally gone in knowing.
Come to find none of it would be covered by insurance so I had to find another periodontist…
Every single periodontist on Delta Dental USA is on smile generations.
I tried to find the one that works with another practice, and not just with Smile Generations. I go to Highlands Dentist.
I explained the situation and that I'm hoping my second consult was correct. He then continues to basically gut out my gums by probing, so much so the next day it hurts to chew. He tells me the original dentist’s measurements were accurate… Something I took note of was when he saw the original dentist’s name on my file he commented it like he personally knew her which automatically gave me an off vibe since I was questioning those results.
He recommended a gum graft and four bone grafts. I got the same smile generations financial spiel but with included personal discounts because it was still so expensive.
I get home, so upset again and I call my aunt who used to be my dental hygienist back home. She immediately thought the treatment sounded extreme and sent my information/X-rays to a periodontist she trusts. They both automatically said to get another opinion. He also commented that it seemed like my gums may have been probed aggressively enough to cause bleeding and that based on the X-rays.
Still being dramatic over it all, I tell my friend about it all. She immediately says “Get a second opinion. This sounds exactly like what happened to me at an office off 38th.” She had gone to highland dentists…
Her story was she had spent thousands of dollars there and eventually switched dentists. Her new dentist told her that her gums were healthy and that much of the treatment she had received wasn’t necessary.
She also told me her office was eventually investigated after another patient alleged that unnecessary dental codes had been billed. As part of that investigation/review, she received money back for treatment she had already paid for.
And now today…
I overheard a coworker talking about her experience at a dentist. She was told she needed a bunch of fillings and deep cleanings the past few years. The most recent filling, she was told a month later she needed a root canal because the filling was done poorly… They were the ones who did it... She then decided to change dentists. There she was told that the root canal was unnecessary and she didn’t have periodontal disease.
Then I told my boss what had been happening.
She said the same thing happened to her. Deep cleanings, switched offices and no periodontal disease.
I’ve also started looking at reviews.
I noticed that the Yelp reviews were dramatically different from what I was seeing on Google.
And it seems bad ones on Google keep disappearing… ones I do read that’s aren’t 5 star BS seem to have similar situations.
SOOOO
Is there enough here to worth reporting this somewhere or investigating further? Is it actually worth it… idk all kinda seems messed up to pry on vulnerable patients, who don’t have a degree in dentistry. All while smile generations seems to have bought out every dentist on HMO Plans.
I do plan to switch my insurance the minute I can but Dentists trying to bring in money while forcing test results and misleading patients into medical procedures they don’t need or should have doesn’t seem ok.
Do more people have similar stories if it is worth investigating?
What would one even do if they want to report this? Is it worth getting involved? Could we as one build big case?
(If you saw my last post.. sorry I am tired. I promise no more AI. I do math and google AI said my OG message sounded bad. But ok, You win. Reddit SAID NO AI…. It’s also much longer because idk how to summarize. So you are probably not reading) but