I think that price is absurd as well. When I go to get my teeth cleaned it takes at least 3/4 hour. There is no way that the hygienist could make a decent wage if she gets paid from that charge.
I wonder if, as familyop posits, there is an ulterior motive here, undermining the small business individual clinic’s prices until they force them to become Wally World employees...
I worked temporarily in a drug store for a friend in the ‘90s. He did well for quite a while before Walmart opened in his town. He complained about being unable to compete with a store that narrowed margins so much. He went out of business.
I’m also acquainted with a former pharmacist who works as a department manager in a Walmart, and it’s not the pharmacy department. At least some of the other employees in other departments say negative things about him, for example, “He acts too much like a manager.” [He’s too old fashioned for them and likes to focus on the work instead of social games.] At least a couple of cleaner cut women (no bizarre fad clothes, grooming or skin “ink”) in his department do seem to like him.
It’s interesting to ask questions and listen to people. One can learn some interesting things that way.