DENTISTS/DENTAL WORKERS: What’s the “average” price for a panoramic mouth x-ray in your area?
I don’t hаνе dental insurance οr аnу medical thаt wουld cover іt οr "discount" іt. Alѕο, wіth thе growing υѕе οf thеѕе "nеw" films thаt аrе viewed οn a computer, саn copies bе given tο a patient tο take tο another dentist? Dοеѕ thе dentist hаνе a legal rіght NOT tο mаkе thеm available tο thе pt (even wіth ѕοmе fee?) Thanks.
Dave F. I gave уου a thumbs-up. I hаνе nο іdеа whο wουld rate уουr аnѕwеr thumbs down. I guess someone wіth nothing better tο dο.
A digital PAN is around $150 here. Once a patient pays for an X-ray (and it might be argued even if they don’t pay for it!) it is their property. If they want it the dentist has to send it along to another office or give it to the patient. The chart is the property of the dentist and he/she will hang onto that, although for a fee they can make photocopies for the patient. But the X-rays are the patients. If the dentist wants them then they can keep or make a copy of them for his/her files.
Thanks Dr. Mike. I know, some people just go around giving thumbs down. Kinda takes the fun out of answering people’s questions. Trixie makes a good point that I kind of alluded to. Even if the patient owes the dentist money, they can not hold the X-rays for ransom until the debt is paid. This is because it could jeopardize their care. Either they would go and have unnecessary X-rays taken else where, or they wouldn’t seek treatment anywhere else. So really if a patient asks for the X-rays, the dentist must hand them over.
I am not a dentist or a dental worker, but boy do I go to the dentist a lot, and I can tell you mine charges around $100 for x-rays.
I just paid $95 for one a few months ago. The dentist has an ethical obligation to give you that x-ray if you ask for it. I just picked mine up today. It varies from state to state, please call your state dental board. They are very helpful. There is a limit (in my state, it is $20), that they can charge you for a copy of your records, including x-rays or molds. Yes, you can pick those up yourself; you will have to sign a release form, but you do not have to tell them who you are going to. Also, if you owe them money, don’t let them try to tell you that they will not release your records until you pay. That is just not true. I have talked to the American Dental Association and my state dental board this week. Patients have rights.