Dental offices tack on surcharge as standard of care rises

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — A local dentist and his employees are gearing up when they get back to work in order to keep everyone safe, and they’re passing the cost of all that equipment on to the patient.

Dr. James Tauberg showed Channel 11 News Anchor Jennifer Tomazic some of that gear he’ll be wearing when he reopens his Wilkinsburg dental office.

They’ll be wearing gloves, masks, a face shield, water-resistant gown, special shoes and possibly a hat. Tauberg said the protective equipment will be changed or disinfected between each patient. The cost will be passed along as a new surcharge.

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“Not just for what you wear, but everything else you're doing now in the office on top of that from having thermometer screening to having someone do and triage ahead of time,” he said.

Tauberg is president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. He said he’s heard of some offices charging patients between $10 and $50 on top of what they’re paying for cleanings and other procedures.

“It’s the cost of doing health care. Right now, unfortunately, that's what we have to do, and we pass it on,” he said.

Tauberg said he’s notifying all customers about the new charge.

He anticipates that until adequate testing and vaccines are available, this could be the standard of care for the foreseeable future.

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