My dentist of 20+ years retired this year and I decided to get a dentist near my home. I called for an appointment and specifically told them that I wanted cleaning only. They gave me an appointment for the next day, which was nice. I arrived at the office which was decorated in discarded wake boards, leaving me wondering whether I was in a dental office or some tiki bar. I was escorted to the back and the dental tech immediately tossed a lead apron across my lap. I asked what that was for and was told that it was for X-rays. I told her that I was there for cleaning only and she told me that I HAD to have x-rays. I asked if it were a law or something that I did not know of and she finally told me that it was policy. They would not even accept x-rays from my prior dentist. I gave in to the tune of $77 for unnecessary x-rays. I then was escorted to another room where I was treated to a slide show of the Gordon family vacation photos including many of the dentist posing shirtless with flexed muscles. Not exactly how I want to picture a professional. Then the dentist arrived and told me that he was going to conduct a "comprehensive cancer screening". I wasn't sure whether I need to strip down for skin examination and prostate exam, but was quickly reassured that it was oral only. So, I get a 30 second look in the mouth for $118. I finally got the cleaning which I had come there for and she actually did a decent job as far as I could tell, hence 2 stars instead of one. After the cleaning, Dr. Gordon arrived once again to recommend several thousand if not tens of thousands of dollars worth of dental work for a condition that I have had for 37 years and which has been easily managed with medical methods. Not only did I need to have these procedures, but they had to be done ASAP, that what I had was dangerous. I called my retired ex dentist and he confirmed that there was no way that he would recommend what had been prescribed for me, that we had managed the condition for decades and had had no problems. The bill for services with the included unnecessary services was approximately three times what I had been used to paying for regular cleanings at my old dentist.
I would continue to use this dental office for cleanings only at what they charge for that service because she does a decent job, but have a real problem with Dr. Gordon and his pushing of unnecessary services. Oh...and it wouldn't hurt to lose the surf shop decor and family slide show. read more