Me: I started coming in 2017. Not having a dental insurance means paying out-of-pocket for everything. It is quite costly. When Clarisse was working here, she was very pushy about getting you to return again.
Son: My son started coming here for his 6-months cleaning. I didn't like the fact that Clarisse had added 'Fluoridation/varnish' treatment to my son's initial cleaning without letting me know. (Previous dentist never treated his teeth with fluoridation because his fluoride exposure is high) But, of course not knowing this until the cleaning was already done, did bother me at that time.
Me: I came in to see Dr. Boyte. Clarisse was no longer there. Dr. Boyte said that it sounded like the symptoms I described, is an infection. She recommended that I get a scaling and root planning (deep cleaning) done in that particular area/quadrant, and to get the amalgam fillings removed and replaced (2 teeth) with resin composite fillings done at the same time and that I may have to have my wisdom tooth extracted if the pain/infection persists. I agreed to the treatments except to get my wisdom tooth extracted. It was costly, indeed. Once, again, I was told that I should make an appointment to get a 6-month check-up/cleaning done. Finally, I came in to get an exam, x-rays, cleaning done. Mind you, the infection was still there, even though the pain is not. During the cleaning Martha had told me the infection is coming from tooth # 16 (wisdom) and that the gum pocket was deep, and that there is some bone loss. I had mentioned to her that I feel like it is coming from tooth #15 (the big one), just because after the fillings and deep cleaning, it just doesn't feel natural to me. Five days after the cleaning, the infection was inflamed and swollen.
Son: My son had to have some teeth extracted because of his braces. I thought I'd give Dr. Boyte the business since (I thought) we had established some kind of patient/doctor relationship already. I had called and spoke to Maria, this is when things started to go south. Maria wanted to bill me for the 'Surgical' procedure ($856.00) instead of the 'Simple 'procedure ($400.00). I had asked her why. And I had mentioned that his ortho said it is a straight forward procedure. I pay out-of-pocket for my dental need, so unlike insured patients, I have access to my schedule fee. She goes on to tell me about how it depends on my son's comfort level-pain, yadda, yadda, yadda, something about 'two-hour window', have a good breakfast on the day of the extraction, everything that I can care less about. It frustrated me that I couldn't get a straight answer from her. I made the call to my son's ortho to see if they can refer him to a dentist that can perform this procedure. I'm glad I did because everything was done in about 15 minutes (4 ext). The correct procedure and cost ($400).
Me: I called to see what it would cost to get my wisdom tooth (#16) extracted. I already know what I should be paying since I had received an email from Naomi ($214.00) in September. Here we are in December. Naomi said it is $270.00. I asked her why the price increase. She said that Maria had updated the price on their computer. I told Naomi before I make the appointment that I wanted to call my dental network to see what and if the fees had increased and that I will call her back. There is no change to the fees. The representative said they were just trying to 'rip' me off. Legally, they are contracted to honor the fee schedule. So I called Naomi back, but Maria decided that she will handle my call. I proceeded to let her know that my fee schedule has not increased. She goes on to tell me that it is on her end, on their computer because when I called to ask about the extraction price for my son (which she keeps bringing up even though it is irrelevant and he never came in to get the work done here), that she had changed the prices on their computer. She tells me that she will change the price from $270.00 to $214.00 so it reflects what I should pay on the fee schedule. Seriously?! (By this time I seeked another dentist who did a CT scan and showed me exactly where the abcess was coming from (#15 just as I had suspected). Maria overrides and manually enters her own prices and decides what she feels like charging me, instead of honoring the fee schedule listed on the contract. Every time I talk to Maria over the phone, she never fails to bs her way. So I made a final decision to call Maria to let her know that I cannot trust HER to move forward with seeing them again. She basically said that she understands and that that is my decision. Rigghht. Honesty is the key to a successful business. It's too bad, Maria didn't have it in her. read more
