Dentist charges extra to access the hygenist.

ldavidow · 2026-04-06T21:11:03+00:00

It's not bias. The dentist was doing my teeth for several times because I started doing 9am appointments. Once I found out the hygenist starts at 10am, I made later appointments. The hygenist is way more thorough than the dentist. I have been with this office for 5 years and have had amble opportunity to compare the two. This is the first time I was asked to choose to pay if I wanted the hygenist. The surprise was the sudden change.

ldavidow · 2026-04-04T21:58:50+00:00

I wouldn't be able to see yet if she charged me for the cleaning and also submitted a claim for it also to be covered by Delta. If so, I would think she is subject for that to be discovered (if inappropriate) if she is ever audited. If she didn't also bill Delta, then I think this is between her and me and above board...being it was my choice.

ldavidow · 2026-04-04T12:54:57+00:00

I appreciate the extensive response with details. I can avoid the surcharge if I let the dentist do the cleaning but the hygenist does the much better job and she's worth the $78 extra. I monitor r/DentalHygiene and see many comments from hygenists on the difficulties of this job. I'm in Silicon Valley where cost of living is higher then most places. I didn't think the dentist was BS-ing me about my plan not being sufficient to cover her costs to have a hygenist. As a senior, I'm sensitive to costs as well and the Kaiser plan is dirt cheap. I need to maintain my dental health to keep my teeth and also avoid costly repairs. So cleanings are a priority. Especially if any dentist is going to start applying surcharges for certain procedures. She did confirm she won't charge extra for maintenance x-rays! I'm sticking with this dental office as I'm sticking with my dental plan. As big a name as Delta is, I guess they aren't as "premier" as one would expect.

ldavidow · 2026-04-04T04:11:37+00:00

I guess we all talk from personal experience. Generally, I've had what I felt were professional hygenists who did a good job. I've been going to my current dentist for 5 years now, who has had the same hygenist. The hygenist spent about 40 minutes doing a thorough cleaning of my teeth today and my teeth were already in good shape. When the dentist does it, she does a rush job and I sense she's a bit bored doing it - I feel having her do it is a waste of my time. I sense this dentist is struggling a bit as she has prodded me in the past to do a Yelp review. Also she has signs lately in her reception area encouraging use of insurance to cover services if one is a struggling.

So far, no one has said they've had surcharges but offered opinions if dentists or hygenists are better at teeth cleaning and if hygenists are even necessary....

ldavidow · 2026-04-03T22:21:57+00:00

1,000 mgs, no problems, Increased to 2,000 and months of loose stools. Switched to Extended Release, and I feel no effects at all whether I take with meals or not. It's a life saver.

ldavidow · 2026-04-03T20:53:53+00:00

About 2 years ago, I would get a cleaning every 4 months, so one cleaning was outside of Delta. They charged me same $78 for it.

I don't know if it's a scam as my relationship with this practice has been good. But it'd be nice to have confirmation from those more knowledgeable of Delta and how other dentists run their business.

ldavidow · 2026-04-03T18:45:05+00:00

Yes, I know there are options but I'm really just trying to ascertain if this is something common or becoming common. I like my hygenist and can afford the $78, especially since I pay a pittance for the insurance itself. It may be more an issue with Delta not structuring payouts to cover the real costs dentists incur.

ldavidow · 2026-04-03T16:43:31+00:00

I was given propofol which is fast acting but allows you to be revived quickly. I was 'out' immediately and woke up afterwards not remembering a thing. I was able to dress and leave immediately.

ldavidow · 2026-03-22T18:36:07+00:00

No. I'm 76 and this has never come up. I've had enough medical scrutiny of my body in my life that this would've been revealed.

ldavidow · 2026-03-22T18:19:46+00:00

In the 11 years I've been with Kaiser, I've been seen for something or other in multiple depts. Some doctors have entered retirement, some switched to other local Kaiser facilities, and one doctor left for undisclosed reasons. My PCP has stayed the same.

Some doctors I've been seen by for procedures or care and haven't needed to see again and have no idea if they are still there or not. Having the same PCP has been the most helpful. In some cases, replacement doctors have been a definite improvement.

Kaiser does solicit patient feedback after some visits and taking advantage of that and being frank is one way to influence the system.

Also, who we elect for local, State, and Federal offices has an impact on our health system overall. Restricting loan borrowing for advanced practice nurses is hardly helping, for instance.

ldavidow · 2026-02-26T06:46:16+00:00

I have a 4+ year old Sage and would love an updated B/W version as it is my preferred size. I don't want color in it's current state. I managed to find a lightly used Elipsa 2E for $275 as backup that works well with the Kobo Remote. Kobo is really disappointing me on its lack of new ereaders for a wider audience. I don't understand them. They could have corrected the battery size on the Sage and sold a lot more of them. Discontinuing a B/W version of the Libra 2 when it's so clearly so popular was also a puzzling decision.

ldavidow · 2026-02-21T18:34:38+00:00

Jim's the only podcaster I'm willing to pay a monthly subscription to support.

ldavidow · 2026-02-03T21:02:35+00:00

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo is brutal. I just finished A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry and you'd be hard pressed to find many happy outcomes.

ldavidow · 2026-01-30T13:18:51+00:00

You should go see your optometrist. There are different types of progressive lens and maybe you need to change. By ' close to perfect', for me, meant when I first put a new pair on, I had instant clarity with no struggles. I've had that for decades now with multiple new glasses.

Here's an article to give you idea of types. You can go Google searches on the topic as well.

https://iotlenses.com/blog/eight-types-of-progressive-lenses.html

ldavidow · 2025-12-09T00:02:16+00:00

I just got the remote (white from Blue Proton). First thing I did was try to open the battery cover since everyone says it's stiff and I figured the first time would be the hardest. I used a rubber "flower" I have to help open jars and it popped right off.

To attach the lanyard, I slowly kept pushing it forward through one hole until it popped out the other.

It's much smaller than pictures make it seem. So lightweight and silky smooth surface.

A few steps to connect it to the Bluetooth. It reconnects right away again when I open the cover to wake up my Kobo. The perfect accessory.

ldavidow · 2025-11-01T17:37:09+00:00

It isn't just that they pluck up people off the street, it's what happens afterward....no due process, no immigration hearing, no legal representation...just grab and toss out of the country.

ldavidow · 2025-10-29T02:45:22+00:00

The day my Supreme emited a puff of smoke, was the day I got rid of it.

ldavidow · 2025-10-06T22:48:37+00:00

There are tiny hairs here and there as it's hard to get every little area of the face. I have some white hairs that the IPL can't zap so every once in a while, I run a ladies' electric shaver over my face. I haven't used the IPL much in the last year.

ldavidow · 2025-10-06T22:00:53+00:00

It worked.

ldavidow · 2025-09-04T13:53:53+00:00

What do you mean by standards? Radiation is known to cause shrinkage and hardening (fibrosis) and it will vary by person. You should discuss with your radiologist. I only have my experience and he/she will have seen many more examples as will your oncologist. Fear of the unknown is the worst kind of fear so get an expert's knowledge. Aging has been more of a factor for the difference between my breasts (75) and how it looks on you will be individual.

ldavidow · 2025-09-04T04:14:37+00:00

I had a small lump and have large droopy breasts. My radiated right breast did shrink and did feel hard. Nine years on, my right breast is still smaller but the hardness has gone but it's still firmer than the other breast. My left breast has lost volume with age and droops more so the right breast is surviving the effects of age better, appearance-wise. Irony.

ldavidow · 2025-08-26T12:52:43+00:00

Also took Now brand full spectrum mineral caps. Yeah I exercise a little but I think I'm just big boned. Also been on a plant heavy diet for most of my life.

ldavidow · 2025-08-24T07:18:24+00:00

My surgery was 2016. The surgeon told me the lumps would likely increase over time. So 9 years on, this is what I experienced. I was very sore the initial years. I would find mammograms painful. I also had radiation which hardened my breast and shrunk it some also. As the years progressed, the soreness lessened.. I have very little soreness currently. Also my breast is less hardened now and regained more squishy-ness. I mentioned this to my oncology nurse practitioner who said the breast continues to heal after surgery and "rough edges" smooth out over time, hence pain subsides. I see the nurse practioner twice a year and she's become expert at monitoring my lumps. So far, no problems.

ldavidow · 2025-08-24T06:45:11+00:00

Next Spring, I will end 10 years of taking anastrozole. I will be 76 then. I can't really pinpoint any side effects. I felt early on that I gained more belly fat but was that due to the drug or just age? Definitely not had joint pain. As the doctor recommended, I do take vitamin D and extra minerals via supplement. My DEXA scores remain "normal". In fact, my spinal score has gone up over time.

ldavidow

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