adult Pulpotomy & root canal?

Can you tell me if it is normal for an adult to be charged for a Therapeutic
Pulpotomy (exc rest) on # 3 ,4 then in exactly one month later have a "Root
canal therapy " be done on those same two teeth? This individual is 22 years
old.

rrtrnprn wrote:
> Can you tell me if it is normal for an adult to be charged for a Therapeutic
> Pulpotomy (exc rest) on # 3 ,4 then in exactly one month later have a "Root
> canal therapy " be done on those same two teeth? This individual is 22 years
> old.
>


Gray area. First of all, a pulpotomy is seldom appropriate definitive
treatment for a permanent tooth. It generally takes only a bit more
time to remove the pulpal tissue from the canals as well, which would be
called a pulpectomy.
A dentist may bill this out any way he/she wishes; but if it were me and
for some reason I couldn't proceed onto the root canal at the first
visit, I would probably charge for a palliative (relief of pain) visit,
and then the root canal. If there is insurance involved there is a good
chance benefits won't be paid on the pulpotomy.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Perhaps they billed for the pulpotomy as a separate procedure because:
1) They did not know if the patient would return for the RCT
2) The tooth had a questionable prognosis and they needed time without an
inflamed pulp to determine the prognosis
3) Combination endo-perio lesion and needed to get the endo portion under
control while treating the perio
4) other.

--
/

Amatus

/
"Mark & Steven Bornfeld" <bornfeldmung@dentaltwins.com> wrote in message
news:8HDUj.89$Td.79@trndny08...
> rrtrnprn wrote:
>> Can you tell me if it is normal for an adult to be charged for a
>> Therapeutic
>> Pulpotomy (exc rest) on # 3 ,4 then in exactly one month later have a
>> "Root
>> canal therapy " be done on those same two teeth? This individual is 22
>> years
>> old.
>>
>
>
> Gray area. First of all, a pulpotomy is seldom appropriate definitive
> treatment for a permanent tooth. It generally takes only a bit more time
> to remove the pulpal tissue from the canals as well, which would be called
> a pulpectomy.
> A dentist may bill this out any way he/she wishes; but if it were me and
> for some reason I couldn't proceed onto the root canal at the first visit,
> I would probably charge for a palliative (relief of pain) visit, and then
> the root canal. If there is insurance involved there is a good chance
> benefits won't be paid on the pulpotomy.
>
> Steve
>
> --
> Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
> http://www.dentaltwins.com
> Brooklyn, NY
> 718-258-5001

Amatus Cremona wrote:
> Perhaps they billed for the pulpotomy as a separate procedure because:
> 1) They did not know if the patient would return for the RCT
> 2) The tooth had a questionable prognosis and they needed time without an
> inflamed pulp to determine the prognosis
> 3) Combination endo-perio lesion and needed to get the endo portion under
> control while treating the perio
> 4) other.
>


True. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my assessment--or I'm still more
cynical than you are.

Steve

I did say "perhaps". I agree with being cynical much of the time.

--
/

Amatus

/
"Steven Bornfeld" <dentaltwinmung@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:xoSdnSdo083lobXVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> Amatus Cremona wrote:
>> Perhaps they billed for the pulpotomy as a separate procedure because:
>> 1) They did not know if the patient would return for the RCT
>> 2) The tooth had a questionable prognosis and they needed time without
>> an inflamed pulp to determine the prognosis
>> 3) Combination endo-perio lesion and needed to get the endo portion
>> under control while treating the perio
>> 4) other.
>>
>
>
> True. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my assessment--or I'm still more
> cynical than you are.
>
> Steve

Amatus Cremona wrote:

> I did say "perhaps". I agree with being cynical much of the time.
>

I would certainly bill for 'something' the first trip, however I
would usually discount that amount off of the endo fee if I were
completing endo therapy on the tooth in a few days/weeks.

'Course a HMO/PPO office could be billing for each to up the total
fee to 'normal', or it could be an office where a practice manager
has recommended new ways to squeeze a little cash out of the patients.

D

Ditto

--
/

Amatus

/
"Dartos" <tuthjockey@myturbonet.com> wrote in message
news:1210603941_84363@news.newsville.com...
>
>
> Amatus Cremona wrote:
>
>> I did say "perhaps". I agree with being cynical much of the time.
>>
>
> I would certainly bill for 'something' the first trip, however I
> would usually discount that amount off of the endo fee if I were
> completing endo therapy on the tooth in a few days/weeks.
>
> 'Course a HMO/PPO office could be billing for each to up the total
> fee to 'normal', or it could be an office where a practice manager
> has recommended new ways to squeeze a little cash out of the patients.
>
> D
>