I made an appointment to get evaluated for a root canal, & was placed on the schedule for nearly a week away. On a Friday afternoon, I was called by Dr. Avant's associate, Dr. Appelin and told the appointment was canceled because Dr. Avant had jury duty--which she had to know weeks before my appointment was ever made. No rescheduling was suggested; no call made. I went there in person to make another appointment and again had to wait almost a week to get in. Long story shortened, the wrong tooth was diagnosed as the source of pain, and I was told at that point that any attempt to do a root canal might be unsuccessful, so I should consider having it pulled and a transplant. I was also told that I would have to wait some two weeks over the holidays to even try a root canal & no back up was suggested. Through a chance discussion with my dentist while finishing an unrelated dental procedure, she suggested I get a second opinion before pulling the tooth.
So I made the appointment, and spent the Christmas holiday and New Year's in pain, waiting for the new doctor. He diagnosed the correct tooth, fixed it the same morning, and I had no remaining pain in the tooth that Dr. Avant suggested be pulled. So I almost had the wrong tooth destroyed, and subjected to an expensive and time consuming implant without any basis. And I still would have been in pain on the actual tooth...
So when the bill came, I asked for an adjustment based on the undue delay and misdiagnosis that cost me both time and unnecessary pain. The letter was addressed to Dr. Avant. This time I get a call from Dr. Appelin again, who tells me I should pay the entire bill. I asked for a written response with a detailed explanation of the charges and told him I was on vacation in NYC. That was over a month ago and no response by mail or otherwise.
The really strange thing is that when I went to my dentist who is not associated with this office at all--she tells me that Dr. Appelin called her and discussed my bill with her without my permission! And he asked that she speak to me about my bill. Totally inappropriate for them to contact my dentist--putting her in the middle of this dispute and never responding as requested to a detailed explanation of my bill and why he thought I should pay.
Very unprofessional to say the least on both of these doctors part. read more
