That’s honestly kind of reassuring to hear, since I always feel weird even mentioning money at the dentist. I get super anxious when they start talking about extra fees—like, am I supposed to negotiate or just nod along? Did you just straight-up say what you could afford, or did you have to explain your whole situation? I always worry they’ll judge me for asking. Maybe being upfront is actually less awkward than I think...
I totally get what you mean about feeling weird bringing up money at the dentist. I used to just sort of freeze up when they started talking numbers, especially when my kid needed some work done and the bill started creeping up. It’s like, are you supposed to haggle? Or just accept it and hope for the best?
Honestly, being upfront helped more than I expected. The first time I actually said, “Hey, this is kind of out of my budget—are there any other options?” I felt super awkward, but they didn’t even blink. They just explained a couple alternatives and even offered a payment plan. No judgment, no weird looks, nothing. Way less stressful than silently panicking and then getting hit with a huge bill later.
I never went into a big explanation about our finances or anything—just kept it simple and honest. Turns out, most people working at the front desk have heard it all before. I think they appreciate not having to guess if you’re struggling to pay.
It’s still awkward sometimes (I mean, who loves talking about money?), but it’s definitely gotten easier each time. And honestly, if someone does judge you for asking about costs, that’s probably not the place you want to be anyway.
My kid’s dentist has been pretty understanding about all of it. They even told me that lots of parents ask about discounts or payment plans, so apparently it’s way more normal than I thought. If only my 8-year-old was as chill about getting a filling as I am now with asking about costs... but that’s another story.
Anyway, don’t stress too much about being upfront. You’re definitely not alone in feeling weird about it, but in my experience, honesty makes things smoother for everyone involved.
“Hey, this is kind of out of my budget—are there any other options?” I felt super awkward, but they didn’t even blink.
That’s exactly how I felt when I needed a second opinion on my root canal. I was honestly nervous they’d be annoyed, but the dentist just walked me through the costs and even suggested splitting it up over two visits. Didn’t feel judged at all. It’s wild how much easier it gets once you actually ask—wish I’d tried it sooner. Still don’t love talking about money, but at least now I know it’s not some weird taboo.
Didn’t feel judged at all. It’s wild how much easier it gets once you actually ask—wish I’d tried it sooner.
Totally get this. My kid needed a filling and I was worried about the bill, but when I asked, they actually offered a payment plan and explained what insurance would cover. I always feel awkward bringing up money, but turns out they’re used to it. Definitely less stressful than I expected.
It’s honestly a relief to hear people are having these conversations. I always get a bit nervous when patients bring up costs, but I promise, it’s way more common than you’d think. Most offices have some kind of payment plan—even if it feels weird to ask. Sometimes I worry we don’t explain things clearly enough, but we really do want to help people avoid extra stress.
