Periodontist quoted patient $11,500 for treatment — one quick chat with the assistant saved over $11,000
Every patient wants their practitioner to be transparent about treatment options and take their health seriously. One woman who goes by u/Leading-Knowledge712 shared a post on Thursday, September 24, 2026, explaining how her periodontist quoted $11,500 for her procedures. She was diagnosed with gum disease, and the professional had suggested a few treatments to fix the issue. That large amount left her worried, but before she could leave the clinic, she had a quick chat with the assistant, and it saved her nearly the entire amount.
Are you SURE you want me to review your dental practice? Ok!!!
by u/Leading-Knowledge712 in MaliciousCompliance
The periodontist recommended three gum grafts costing $3,000 each, as well as a $2,500 surgery. For the patient, it was an unexpected cost that she couldn’t manage. The man stepped out to answer a call, and that’s when the patient happened to speak with the assistant. The patient asked her if she would have gone ahead with the treatment. “Absolutely not. You just need deep cleaning,” she remarked. The woman told the doctor she would take time to think over his suggestion. In the meantime, she spoke with another periodontist, who noted that a deep cleaning would fix it. She was charged $450, of which $300 was covered by her plan.
The previous professional’s clinic kept requesting reviews from the woman to keep up their 5-star image even weeks after she visited. Complying with their persistent emails, she wrote an honest review, detailing her experience, and shared it on all platforms. She even mentioned that she had noticed a picture of him during his Caribbean vacation in his office, and added, “Don’t go to this dentist unless you want to pay for his next Caribbean vacation!” Eventually, many people thanked her for the warning. The patient also shared the experience with her dentist, who recommended the periodontist too, and the latter undoubtedly lost business.
Reddit users praised the assistant for being transparent. u/AtomTrapper said, “Hope that assistant got a better job immediately. Love her looking out.” u/T00luser shared another message, “Always get second opinions.” u/lara99865 added, “That assistant deserves a medal for keeping it real! It’s wild how some dentists are all about the upsell instead of actual care.”
Businesses are built to make money, but that does not mean customers should feel pressured into unnecessary purchases or services. In another instance, a woman was quoted $2,800 for fixing her car’s suspension. When she checked ChatGPT, she realized the cost should be around $50. She sought help from AI and used the tools and equipment to install a new suspension by herself. Despite never having done work like that before, she managed to do the job on her own.
You can follow u/Leading-Knowledge712 on Reddit for more content on lifestyle.