TLDR; Do NOT get the bacterial laser decontamination they push on you--it is not covered by insurance and has NOT been clinically proven by numerous peer-reviewed articles to reduce bacterial loads--be wary of any clinic that pushes unnecessary services. Also, DO ask for the local anesthesia shot for scaling and planing.
Dr. Ofoh is a talented dentist and did a great job deep cleaning my teeth (hence 2 stars instead of 1); my issue is not with her specifically but rather, with the clinic that seems to encourage their staff to push unnecessary services onto their clients.
Last week I scheduled an appointment with this clinic as it is in-network with my plan. I suspected I may have minor gum disease and wanted to get a second opinion as just 3 months prior I had gone to a different dentist who said my teeth were fine and to monitor it as I have very good dental hygiene. I go in and I am told I have 3-4 mm pockets and that I need scaling and planing, antibacterial irrigation, and bacterial laser decontamination in all four quadrants. The former two services were partially covered by insurance, but the latter was not and would cost $95 per quadrant ($380 total for that alone). When I asked Dr. Ofoh what it was, she said it was needed to kill all the bacteria beneath my gums that is causing the bone to resorb. I had not heard of laser decontamination before, but based on that information and NOT being told that it was a mere suggestion, went ahead with it. As noted in my summary up top, Dr. Ofoh said that the scaling and root planing should only be minor discomfort and said most people are okay with just topical anesthesia and if I wanted the local anesthesia shot--I said yes, I do, and got it, and am glad I did. They only gave me the shots on the bottom jaw and when they got to my top teeth they only applied the topical and the scaling and planing was very painful there. Dentists cannot charge more for the local anesthesia shot, so I would recommend anyone to get it unless you enjoy pain.
Upon leaving, they presented a QR code asking me to leave a positive review for Dr. Ofoh, so for those relying on the positive reviews here, I would do so with a grain of salt as it seems they are heavily trying to up their ratings, perhaps artificially.
My parents are visiting and my father has dealt with periodontal disease most of his life and was alarmed about the laser decontamination when I told them what I had done. While we are not dentists, his two best friends are dentists and I have many friends in medical and dental school. He made a few calls and both said that laser decontamination is not standard and they would not recommend it given the lack of evidence surrounding it, especially not for someone with very early periodontal disease, and only the scaling and root planing is needed. I asked my friends who are aspiring dentists and they said the same thing. In fact, laser decontamination is clinically Insignificant based on several articles--https://blog.tjcx.me/p/google-terrible-health-information?s=r so why was this pushed on me as something I should get done to save my teeth when in fact evidence does not suggest that? I called the office and they gave me half of the cost of the LBR back, but then messed up the billing so now I need to pay again...
It is quite clear that Bryan Modern Dentistry is trying to scam clients out of money by recommending unnecessary services to make a few extra bucks. The rooms are not entirely closed off, so I could hear the client next to mine was also pushed laser decontamination, and it was recommended by a different person (not Dr. Ofoh, based on the voice), so it is a common practice in this office. Notice when you walk into the office that their walls are covered with advertisements warning patients about periodontal disease, gum treatments, etc. The previous reviews show that they pushed electric toothbrushes in the past. I would not recommend this office based on this. read more