How to read a treatment quote line by line

A quote is a promise about money. It should also be a promise about what you get for it. Many problems start when those two are not the same. This page shows you how to read a quote, line by line. We give no figures, only the method.

It is general information. Ask the clinic for their terms in writing.

What is the decision rule?

If you cannot tell what each part of the price pays for, you cannot compare it. Ask for lines, then compare lines. See why a quote differs between clinics for the reasons totals vary.

What should be on a quote?

A usable quote usually has:

• The name of the treatment or product
• The area or tooth
• The number of sessions or visits
• Who carries out each part
• What is included: consultation, materials, lab work, follow-up
• What is not included
• The total, and how and when to pay
• The date the quote is valid until
• Cancellation and refund terms

A worked example

These numbers are made up to show the method. Say two clinics quote the same treatment.

Clinic A's total looks lower. But it does not name the product, and it charges extra for follow-up. Clinic B's total is higher, but it includes the second session and follow-up. You may find the gap closes when you add what A left out, or you may find A really is lower. The point is to find out before you pay, not after.

What do I ask about?

Questions to ask your clinic

1. What does this price include, line by line?
2. What could be added later, and how will I be told first?
3. Who will carry out each step?
4. What product or material is used, and who makes it?
5. How many sessions are in the price?
6. Is follow-up included, and for how long?
7. What is the deposit, and is it refundable?
8. How long is the quote valid?
9. What if I cancel or change my mind?

Ruling: if question 2 has no answer, expect extra costs.

Which costs sneak in?

Some commonly missed extras are: the consultation fee, the X-ray or test, the lab work, numbing, review visits, repeat sessions, a correction if you are not happy, and aftercare products. Ask about each. Not every one applies to every treatment.

Red flags

• A quote given only by voice
• A very low price "today only"
• Total shown with no lines
• The deposit is large and non-refundable with no reason
• Product or practitioner is not named
• Pressure to pay for a full course before one session

How do I handle deposits and cancellations?

Ask what happens to a deposit if you cancel, if the clinic cancels or if you change your mind after a consultation. See deposit and cancellation questions. For package deals, read treatment package or pay per session.

What about the opinion that the cheapest is best?

Cheapest is not a safety measure. Read why the cheapest quote is not the whole price.

Common mistakes

• Comparing totals only
• Paying before reading
• Forgetting aftercare costs
• Not asking about changes to the plan
• Treating a verbal estimate as a quote