I deeply regret trusting Dr. Lama to coordinate my Invisalign treatment with a permanent implant…read moreand crown after my extraction. I understood refinements might follow the initial 13-week Invisalign series. What I did not expect was to be told I was nearly finished and ready for the permanent implant, only to learn later that I needed another 12 months of Invisalign and that all five orthodontists I consulted would have delayed the implant. My costs are thousands beyond Sandalwood's estimates.
The problems began with a temporary partial meant to bridge the gap between my extraction and Invisalign. Despite repeated visits and adjustments, it never fit and had to be replaced. By the time it became usable, I was starting Invisalign and could no longer wear it. After all that effort, the $550 was essentially wasted.
Communication problems also accumulated. The office often felt disorganized, with no clear ownership of my care. Dr. Lama, assistants, and front-desk staff gave conflicting information about my status, timeline, and next steps. Some issues were minor, while others had serious consequences and directly affected my treatment plan. Together, they left me repeatedly seeking clarification and eroded my trust. When anything went off track, the focus often shifted to what I had supposedly done wrong. I began to feel like the problem.
That pattern came to a head at my final appointment before moving out of state. Dr. Lama told me I was not listening. I felt neither heard nor informed; it felt more like a reprimand than a discussion about my care. Appearing agitated, she removed my Invisalign attachments without checking my comfort or pausing when I reacted. I left deeply uncomfortable, feeling that months of frustration had been directed at me.
Despite this, I trusted Dr. Lama's clinical judgment. She told me major tooth movement was essentially complete, retainers would follow my remaining trays, and I was ready for the permanent implant. She cleared me, so I proceeded.
After the implant, I consulted two local orthodontists expecting minor adjustments. Instead, both questioned why it had been placed before my orthodontic treatment was complete. I was blindsided. The implant was permanent, and I no longer knew where treatment stood.
Alarmed, I sought three more opinions, hoping someone would tell me the plan still made sense. No one did. All five orthodontists said they would have delayed the implant, and I was advised that I needed another 7 to 12 months of Invisalign, likely toward the higher end. I expected refinements; another year was nowhere close to what Dr. Lama had led me to expect. I transferred my case, and my current orthodontist placed me on a 12-month treatment plan.
The financial reality was just as jarring. I paid Sandalwood $3,652 out of pocket for Invisalign and then paid my current orthodontist $1,400 to transfer my case. Sandalwood estimated $1,400 for the implant and $1,555 for the abutment and crown, or $2,955 combined. The implant actually cost $3,100, and my current dentist quoted approximately $3,000 for the abutment and crown. The implant and remaining restorative work therefore total approximately $6,100, more than double Sandalwood's estimate.
I contacted Sandalwood because I needed answers and a path forward, not an argument. Instead, the responses felt guarded and defensive. Most troubling, Dr. Lama never contacted me directly. The dentist who coordinated my treatment and cleared me for the implant disengaged when I raised serious concerns. I was left facing a permanent implant, another year of Invisalign, and thousands in additional costs without her guidance. I felt abandoned by the dentist whose judgment I had trusted.
This was an exhausting, costly dental nightmare and my worst healthcare experience. I would not return to Dr. Lama or Sandalwood Dental Care. I strongly recommend an independent orthodontic consultation before beginning Invisalign with Dr. Lama. For complex treatment requiring careful coordination, I would seek care elsewhere.
