Dentists rip off with teeth cleaning?

According to a consumer portal, every third dentist in Germany demands too much money for professional teeth cleaning (PZR).

(21.08.2010) According to the consumer portal "geld.de" every third dentist charges too much for the so-called Professional Dental Cleaning (PZR). That found out the consumer portal based on a study. Professional teeth cleaning is one of the most important dental prophylaxis. The teeth are mechanically cleaned in the dentist's office. The cleansing of the teeth goes far beyond what people could do every day with their own dental care. So the teeth are flossed and cleaned with the powder jet cleaning in a toothbrush hour. However, most patients of the statutory health insurance companies have to pay for this important prophylaxis themselves, as the health insurance funds do not pay the costs. Only privately insured persons can submit the costs.

According to the consumer portal Geld.de over 34 percent of dentists in Germany require too high a fee from their patients. Thus, many dentists demanded between 80 and 180 euros per hour. In the opinion of the consumer portal this was clearly overpriced. So said CEO of "Geld.de", Friedrich Wiedemann compared to the "image": "A dental cleaning should not cost more than 60 euros.Dentists who charge more than 70 euros, open gamble with overpriced prices unabashedly".

The most expensive is the cleaning of teeth in Munich. There, the PZR costs on average 96 euros. On the cheap is the cleaning of teeth in Ingolstadt, there calculate the dentists for the same performance just 43 euros. Patients should therefore compare the prices of the respective dentists and not accept any cost estimate without comment. (Sb)

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