Please explain deductibles/out-of-pocket max to me like I am 4

Okay, so I think I am just seriously misunderstanding something here with how insurance works. I recently hit my deductible (but not my out-of-pocket max), so I was under the impression that insurance would cover more than what they did before I hit it. The procedures that caused me to hit this deductible were 6 fillings, done 3 each over 2 separate appointments by an in-network dentist. The second appointment is where I hit it, and insurance only covered like $18 of the cost and then I had to pay out-of-pocket for the rest before I could leave (almost $600!), but is that not the opposite of how it's supposed to work? For the first appointment I paid only $165.60, insurance covered most of it, but for the same procedure two weeks later I paid $590.40. I am trying to schedule other unrelated appointments with a new in-network provider and they are telling me that my insurance is estimated to cover 100% of the cost and I will have a $0 copay, but I just don't trust anything anymore when it comes to insurance. Money is so tight right now and I can't really afford to schedule anything if I don't know how much it will end up being. For reference, I am in the USA, I have Anthem, my deductible is $1,000 and my out-of-pocket max is $6,850 (spent $1,020 of it). My plan expires July 31, 2024 and I will not be given the option to renew it (it was through my university and I have since graduated) so I am trying to schedule these appointments before it expires, if possible. Thank you in advance for any and all explanations!

submitted by /u/i-really-like-sharks
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