This whole experience was bad, bordering on creepy.
First, I called TWICE to verify not only that they accept our dental insurance, but also that they accept the rate at which the dental insurance pays. (Though it's not ethical, it IS legal for companies--because doctors and dentists are still companies--to charge MORE for their services than what is usual and customary for an insurance company to pay.) The woman I spoke to over the phone insisted they did.
So, I made appointments for my two young daughters and went for it. We are new in town and have needed to get the kids to the dentist!
The one star I am giving is for the hygienists, who was as sweet as can be and very kind.
Then Dr. Feeney came in. His behavior was a bit bizarre from the get go. Babbling incessantly and trying to make friends in a weird way from the moment we came into the room. (What kind of a dentist gives kids CANDY before he looks at their teeth??!).
Then, as he was trying to make my children comfortable he kept TOUCHING them. Seriously, don't tickle my kids. It is just not okay. No adult should ever touch a child without their direct consent, so the tickling really creeped me out.
Then, when I tried to ask the Dr. a few questions about my kids' teeth, his response was both rude and condescending. When he began to sense that I was growing quite annoyed, he continued to babble on incessantly, for 10 minutes, about how I don't know him yet and that everyone likes him and that I just need to get to know him and then I will like him. Even this was condescending.
And THEN when I went to check out, I was told we owed nearly $300 for this visit. I know my insurance, I know what it covers, and this visit should have been $100 MAX for both kids. Except that it turned out that they had done an extraordinary amount of unnecessary x-rays, without my consent. That is, instead of the normal series of 4 bite wings that are covered by my insurance, they preformed a series of panoramic x-rays, before even examining my children's teeth to see if there was a problem to look more deeply at. (I get that sometimes this might be necessary. But it is grossly unethical to preform something like this without reason and especially without first obtaining the paying guardian's consent!)
I was livid. I cannot believe this guy has not been written up before for his unethical practices.
Plus, well, given the Dr.'s demeanor ( DON'T TICKLE MY CHILDREN!!), I would never be comfortable leaving him alone in a room alone with a child.
I think it's time for Dr. Feeney to retire. read more