Recent Dentist Visit - Deceptive Practices - Advice Needed Please!

[JaySteinberg]

In brevity timeline:
1 - Woke up last week with extreme tooth pain, called a local dentist for immediate appointment and they were able/willing to see me same day.

2 - Scheduled same day appointment and was told $50.00 for a limited evaluation to diagnosis which I was more than fine with.

3 - Went to appointment, issue was diagnosed and was told cost is $650.00. One extraction and one root canal.
They were ready to do immediately but I was NOT ready, just did not have the cash on me and they were willing to write me a script for pain meds in the interim of appointment. Scheduled appointment for the following day.

4 - Came for my appointment the next day, sat in dental chair and front desk personnel comes into room and required payment upfront before anything is done. I was fine with that, really had no choice. So I paid her $650.00 while in chair and she said she will email me receipt in 5 minutes, not a problem for me.

5 - Cosmetic* dentist came in (same women I did limited evaluation with) to do root canal and completed.
*Per dentist.
Afterwards, the Endodontist came in room to do extraction and that was fine too, few minutes.

6 - Procedure was done and right before I am about to leave, cosmetic dentist told me I have to come back next week for second part of root canal which will be another $350.00.

This was a total shock to me and was certainly deceptive and nobody told me a second visit was needed with more money.

All thoughts/opinions/advice are much appreciated!

 

[MumOfBoys1985]

Its normal for root canal to need two appointments but its deceptive of them not to tell you the costs beforehand for sure. I'd raise that with the practice manager

 

[MountainMama]

I agree that it is normal for root canals to take two appointments but in my experience they quote you the price up front for both. That said, $650 for a root canal and an extraction is very cheap! My extraction was $375, at the dentist...higher at the oral surgeon. My root canal was $2000 without insurance. Insurance paid half of it.
If you are not comfortable talking about it with them, I would send an email or letter, telling them that you were upset at how that was presented to you.