'I never started the treatment': Pressured patient quoted $7,500 for wisdom tooth removal and braces during rushed consultation, after only X-rays and digital impressions, he canceled the treatment, but the clinic now claims he owes the full surgery cost

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 10, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

We all know dentists tend to fall on the pricier side of things. However, teeth are important, but so are our monthly salaries, so we're often forced to choose which matters more, possibly having to put a mortgage on our homes in the meantime. The thing about most dentists is that they love for us to have perfect teeth, and will often over-diagnose us with "improvements" that both we and our wallets could probably live very well without.

This patient is feeling financially taken for granted after being pressured into applying for braces by his dentist. He did the X-rays and had impressions made, but after much consideration the following evening, he decided he did not want to proceed with braces, so he called to cancel his appointment. To his surprise, they told him that because impressions had been made, they would have to charge him the full $7,500 for the surgery… despite him not even having it done?? In what world...

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  • Just because the process began doesn’t mean he should be charged for a job never completed. He canceled well in advance and shouldn’t be held liable for the cost of braces he never received. Either this dental clinic is pushing its luck, or they’ve found some legally questionable loopholes…we’re sticking with the first option.

  • 01
    Man at the dentist
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    Dental office says I can’t cancel braces because they took impressions

    I recently went to a dentist office for a consultation. They took X-rays and digital impressions, said I needed my 3 impacted wisdom teeth removed, and then tried to rush me into starting braces the same day.
    via British_Knees
  • 03
    The total quoted was $7,500, which they said I could finance through one of those health Credit card companies (they signed me up on the spot).
    via British_Knees
  • 04
    After thinking about it overnight, I realized: They never explained what type of braces, how long treatment would take, or details about the surgery.
    via British_Knees
  • 05
    The whole thing felt extremely rushed and high- pressure (I ended up crying at the office cause I felt overwhelmed and my dumb self still went along with it :( ) So the next morning (before the follow-up appointment), I Called and emailed to cancel the appointment and the entire treatment plan.
    via British_Knees
  • 06
    Contacted the credit card company-the charge was still "processing," so I asked them to block it and note that no services were rendered.
    via British_Knees
  • 07
    3. Called my health insurance, and they confirmed only the consultation, x-rays, and diagnostic impressions can legally be billed- not braces or surgery.
    via British_Knees
  • 08
    Man checking his bills
    via nariths-images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    4. Got a reference number from my health insurance for proof and sent a written cancellation email to the dental office.
    via British_Knees
  • 10
    Now the dental office is saying that because they took impressions, I can't cancel the braces- which doesn't seem right since I never started treatment.
    via British_Knees
  • 11
    I was going back and forth with them and they said I'd have to come in so they can explain, I said what difference would it be for me to come in vs over the phone.
    via British_Knees
  • 12
    Then they said I need to call when the manager comes, I asked when that would be, they said next week and wouldn't give me anymore details.
    via British_Knees
  • 13
    I said I'd call again next week. I've already documented everything (emails, timestamps, ref #s, notes), but I'd love opinions from anyone familiar with dental billing or consumer law: Can they legally charge me for braces I never started just because they took impressions?
    via British_Knees
  • 14
    Dentist checking tooth X-rays
    via Bakytzhan Baurzhanov

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    enuoilslnon Now the dental office is saying that because they took impressions, I can't cancel the braces Stop talking to them. You are bound by whatever you signed, whatever contract bears your signature. Not by whatever went into your mouth.
    via enuoilslnon
  • 16
    If you didn't sign anything, they are gaslighting you, and trying high-pressure sales tactics. You'll never get them to admit you don't owe.
    via enuoilslnon
  • 17
    r_frsradio_admin You are allowed to back out of a treatment plan. They can bill you for the impressions that they actually performed. Although these are often free.
    via r_frsradio_admin
  • 18
    I went through something similar when I was talked into prepaying for a treatment that I didn't need. It took a while but I was eventually refunded. They just make it as difficult as possible, knowing that some patients will give up.
    via r_frsradio_admin
  • 19
    Gyn-o-wine-o They can not charge you for work not done. They may bill you for the impressions and diagnostics but that is it.
    via Gyn-o-wine-o
  • 20
    Dazzling-Turnip-1911 You should get a second opinion on the impacted teeth. You might ask this dentist what is the cost for the impacted wisdom tooth removal specifically since this is what you need right now. It would be good to get a breakdown on what you were charged for exactly.
    via Dazzling-Turnip-1911
  • 21
    archermum Hello. I work at a dental office. They are not being truthful, you most certainly can back out of the treatment plan. They can charge you for the x-rays, exam and consult and the impressions (diagnostic casts). They cannot charge you for braces because they did not put it in your mouth.
    via Dazzling-Turnip-1911
  • 22
    Maggielinn22 I would also contact the health credit card and let them know you are not doing treatment so you need to cancel the card. Otherwise they might try and charge it.
    via Maggielinn22
  • 23
    Hairy_Result5992 They can charge a fee for their time to take the impressions, but not the whole case fee. So if whole case is $5000 for instance, it would be reasonable for them to keep $500 to $1000 for the records they've already taken.
    via Hairy_Result5992

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failblog feedback insurance braces appointment credit card FAIL dentist dentists askreddit refunded over charged unnecessary legal advice expensive x-rays Reddit
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