WTF is a $99 cleaning? | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene

If you’ve ever seen a $99 dental cleaning deal and wondered if it’s worth it, you’ll want to hear this story, including:

▪️ How $99 dental promotions can mislead and limit patient access ▪️ Why these deals may not be as good as they sound ▪️ How patient trust is affected by unclear pricing ▪️ Stories from people who felt let down by the experience ▪️ The bigger impact discount dentistry has on the profession

What’s Really Happening Behind the “Too Good to Be True” Offers

Some dental offices advertise low-fee cleanings to attract patients, especially those without insurance. But when you call to book, the information often changes. What sounds legal on paper can cross the line when the details aren’t disclosed up front.

RCDSO Guidelines You Should Know

The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) requires that all advertising and promotions be:

• Accurate and Verifiable: Fees, services, and any conditions must be truthful and backed by facts.

• Transparent on Limitations: Any restrictions—such as “new patients only,” extra fees for exams/X-rays, or limited-time offers—must be clearly stated in the ad itself, not revealed only after a patient calls.

• Non-Misleading for the Uninsured: Promotions targeting patients without insurance cannot imply that essential care will be fully covered if additional treatment is required.

Why It Matters

From what I've read, many patients have left negative reviews after feeling bait-and-switched, and there are repeated reports of high staff turnover in these offices, with employees leaving reviews under alias names. This is another warning sign that the culture behind the marketing may be just as shaky as the promotion itself.

If you care about honesty in healthcare and want to know what really happens behind bargain-basement dental ads, this episode is worth your time. Perhaps motivation for those to stop subscribing to marketing like this, and I hope it finds the right ears better to regulate this shady form of marketing in dentistry once and for all—especially for those of us doing it cleanly.

If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, peace out peeps! ✌️

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