After having been patients at this practice for a few years and thousands of dollars later, my husband and I decided it was time to find a new dentist. If you are a patient or are considering this practice be aware of a few things:
1. Their prices are significantly higher than other reputable dentists located in Brighton and Pittsford. We are talking $50-100 per basic fillings, and hundreds of dollars for root canals, crowns, etc. They do not care to even consider price schedules from insurance companies - they name their own inflated prices and are not in network with any insurance company.
2. There is nothing holistic about the way they treat patients. They use the same sedatives as any other dentist in the area and charge more for the "spa like" environment. If anything, we have now learned from getting second and third opinions they over treat their patients.
3. Their treatment plan seems to constantly change as well as pricing. As a family that is on a budget, we were very specific in that we could not endure "surprise" charges without our consent. Every visit where work was done, there was a change in the amount we would owe at the end (when my husband was too numb to talk to them) than what we were told to anticipate (and we are talking about basic fillings...no special work done or medical emergencies).
4. You will wait and wait and wait. Their appointments never run on time and you could spend half a day there for cleanings, basic fillings, etc. Yet, if you run behind, I have heard from other unsatisfied former patients they will turn you away, charge you for the appointment, and then require deposit for next visit. Their time is valuable, but not the patients.
5. They have a real issue calling and needing to reschedule constantly. When they go to reschedule you, it's not a week difference, it can be sometimes up to two months! So in the meantime, you sit with a decaying tooth or problem on hold waiting to be fixed.
6. They do not do basic extractions or the simplest procedures most dentists do. They instead have another dentist come in on Fridays to do the procedure. Not only do you get charged a "consultation fee" for Dr. Messer to tell you the work is needed, you will then get another "consultation fee" for the dentist on Friday. We are talking $90 consultation fees per dentist NOT covered by insurance companies.
7. Office Manager Harrold is Dr. Messer's husband. When we had bill issues, they were real quick to credit us the difference we didn't agree upon or drop the charges when we would put them in between a rock and hard place being we made them put what we would owe in writing before they did the work. How does an office stay in business doing this if those charges were truly owed and they can just deduct them numerous times? Also, they offer a fairly significant discount if you pay by cash or check...again, how inflated are the prices to be able to do so?
8. Lastly, upon switching to a new dental group within walking distance (and also very reputable and well known in Rochester)....we were surprised to find out one of the fillings my husband still supposedly needed done, was definitely not needed. Perfectly healthy tooth on the xray provided by Contemporary Dentistry to this group! Secondly, a tooth they claimed they couldn't fill all the way and would need $3,000!! in work, guess what? New dentist was able to fill - no need for grinding of the bone, implant, and all the ridiculous recommendations made.
Bottom line - compare and look around at other options if looking for a new dentist. If they recommend work - ALWAYS get a second opinion! I am not the only review or past patient I have come across who avoided major amounts of expensive work by simply going elsewhere. We feel so lucky we chose to leave when we did and save my husband unnecessary work with an honest dentist who charges fair prices for work that NEEDS to be done. read more