Has anyone ever pushed back on those upsells and just stuck to the basics? Or am I just being cheap? Sometimes I wonder if ignoring half the alerts would actually make a difference, or if I'd just miss something important...
I can relate to that feeling. Over the years, I've definitely learned to take those pings with a grain of salt. Honestly, I remember a time when my dentist's office tried to upsell me on “deep cleaning” every other visit. It got to the point where I started asking them what exactly had changed since my last appointment—suddenly, they’d backtrack and say it was “just a suggestion.” Sometimes I think these extras are more about revenue than necessity.
As for tracking costs, your spreadsheet idea is a smart move. I keep a little notebook for dental expenses, but even then, things sneak up—like the fluoride rinse they said was “optional,” but then looked at me like I was reckless for declining. I don’t think it’s being cheap at all; there’s nothing wrong with wanting transparency.
One thing that helps me decide is asking whether something is medically necessary or just “recommended.” If it’s not urgent, I’ll pass and see if anything changes by my next check-up. Has anyone here ever had an actual problem from skipping those extras? I haven’t yet, though maybe I’ve just been lucky.
I do wonder though—do you find the app notifications helpful for reminders about appointments or hygiene, or is it mostly just sales stuff? For me, sometimes it’s a useful nudge (like when it reminds me to change my toothbrush), but more often than not, it feels like another attempt to get me in for something new. Curious if others have managed to filter out the noise and still catch what matters.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think some of those “extras” can be worth it—at least in certain situations. I used to brush off the fluoride treatments and “fancy” cleanings, but after getting braces as an adult, I realized my teeth were way more prone to plaque and stains than before. Skipping that stuff ended up costing me more when I needed a filling that maybe could’ve been prevented with a little more care.
The alerts can be annoying, yeah, but I’ve found a few that actually matter—like reminders to wear my elastics (which I always forget). I do think there’s a line between upselling and genuinely helpful suggestions, and sometimes it’s not as clear-cut as we’d like.
Honestly, I wish there was a way to customize the notifications—keep the useful health reminders and ditch the “upgrade your whitening package” nonsense. But I wouldn’t ignore all of them, especially if you’ve got orthodontic stuff going on. Sometimes those little nudges are what keep me on track... even if they’re a bit much.
That’s interesting about the reminders—sometimes I do wonder if they’re actually helping me or just adding to my stress. I’ve had similar experiences with “extra” treatments, though. I used to skip the fluoride too, thinking it was just a way for the office to make more money, but after a bad cavity a couple years back, I’m more cautious now. Do you think the line between necessary care and upselling is getting blurrier because of all the tech and notifications? It feels like every app or device wants to sell me something, but then again, some of those nudges have genuinely helped me keep better habits.
I’ve had similar experiences with “extra” treatments, though.
I get what you mean about the reminders and notifications—sometimes it feels like they’re just another thing on my to-do list, and not always in a good way. But I’m not totally convinced that the line between care and upselling is as blurry as it seems. I mean, sure, there’s a lot of marketing noise, but when it comes to stuff like fluoride or those “extra” cleanings, I’ve actually noticed a difference for myself.
Like, after ignoring fluoride for years (because yeah, felt like a cash grab), my dentist showed me photos of my teeth over time and pointed out spots that could’ve been prevented. That was kind of eye-opening. Maybe some tech nudges are annoying, but others have genuinely helped me catch things early—like that time my fitness tracker bugged me about sleep and I realized how much it was affecting my stress.
I guess the trick is figuring out which reminders are actually helpful versus just trying to sell you something. Not easy, but sometimes the benefits do show up when you look back.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the upselling vibe—sometimes it feels like every “extra” is just another bill. I’m super cautious with add-ons, mostly because my insurance barely covers basics. But I’ve also had moments where skipping something (like fluoride) cost me more in the long run. Once I passed on a “deep cleaning” and ended up with a bigger problem—and a way bigger bill—down the road. I guess for me, it’s a balance: I’ll ask for proof or photos before agreeing to anything extra, but I try not to dismiss everything outright just because it costs more. Still wish dental care wasn’t so expensive though...
