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How Can I Avoid Cancellation Fees at the Dentist?
Posted on 7/15/2024 by Thomas Plunkett DMD
No one likes to pay a fee that they were not expecting, which includes extra fees at the doctor or dental office. If you are worried about paying extra fees, here is a quick refresher on how to avoid them altogether.
What Is a Cancellation Fee or a Missed Appointment Fee?
In the past, neither doctors nor dentists charged a fee if you had to cancel your appointment or if you forgot you had an appointment on that day. However, as our lives have gotten busier, it has become more difficult to keep track of all of our appointments, especially if we are caring for aging parents or multiple children. Doctors and dentists began charging cancellation fees about 30 years ago to make up for the amount of time wasted on missed appointments or late cancellations.
How Can I Avoid the Fees?
If you do not like paying cancellation fees, there are some things you can do to make sure you remember your appointments. First, while many dental offices have appointment card reminders, those get lost easily, especially since most patients only visit the dentist once every six months. Instead of accepting the dental appointment card, put the time and day into your calendar on your phone right away. Be sure the calendar is synced to your email. Schedule a reminder for the appointment a couple of days in advance. That way, if something has come up, you will be able to cancel without paying a cancellation fee.
Many dental offices send out electronic reminders up to a week in advance that allow you to confirm or reschedule your appointment. Be sure that those messages come through as text messages by phone or by email so you do not miss them. Finally, if you have a true emergency, such as a death in the family or hospitalization of a family member, communicate the emergency to the dental office. Many offices are willing to waive the cancellation fee in the event of an emergency.
Are you looking for a new dentist? Why not contact us today and let us get you started with an appointment?
Dentist Lakeland, FL | About Thomas Plunkett, DMD Above all else, we here at Thomas Plunkett, DMD want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles! Call us today to schedule your appointment! Thomas Plunkett, DMD, 2137 E County Rd 540A, Lakeland, FL 33813, 863-372-1010, plunkettdental.com, 3/17/2025, Related Terms: dentist Lakeland,
No one likes to pay a fee that they were not expecting, which includes extra fees at the doctor or dental office. If you are worried about paying extra fees, here is a quick refresher on how to avoid them altogether.