I'll try to keep it as short as I can, while still explaining fully why this is a 1-star review:
THE SERVICE:
- A representative experience: My older child told me that the dental hygienist scraped into her gum roughly with the pick a few times and said, "Oops". It really hurt. This had never happened to the kids with other hygienists at previous dentists' offices. This hygienist must not have been experienced, or was having a bad day. Apparently, a few of the employees here have bad days. Keep reading.
- On my first visit, I mentioned to my dentist Ms. ___ (no names here) that my lower left molar (which had a filling already) was hurting. She X-rayed it and said it looked okay, and she'd "keep an eye on it". She then proceeded to ask me if I'd ever considered having crowns put on my other teeth, which I'd never been asked before. I asked if it was necessary. She said it looked nicer. Her office later called to give me a quote for $1,200 for the crown. She never did mention that painful filling again, but the office did call me again, twice, enquiring about the crowns.
The filling that the dentist said was "okay" chipped off a few months later, and I experienced pain when eating very hot or cold food. My new dentist is fixing it for me now. He doesn't try to sell me on crowns.
- On our second visit, my older child mentioned to me that in the hallway, the same dentist who had treated me (above) was heard screaming angrily to a co-worker. "She sounded really annoyed at her co-worker, and unfriendly," my child said. Maybe she was having a bad day.
- Our third visit was simply to ask for our records, and the attitude was something else. They were very concerned during my first visit whether I had dental insurance or not. I did, but we had been waiting for the children to be put on the plan, so the children didn't have insurance during the first visit, and I had had to pay 100%. Once the children were finally put on the plan, I came in at a later date to ask for a copy of the receipts so I could submit to the insurance company and get my money back. The receptionist serving me seemed annoyed, and asked, "What do you want that for?" I explained to her what I wanted to do. She took her time finding our files, and periodically sighed very loudly while doing so, because apparently it was *such* an inconvenience for her.
Once she gave them to me, I asked for all our X-rays as well. Again, she asked me why. I explained that we would be taking them to search for a new dentist, as we would no longer be clients here. All of a sudden, she had a bright smile on her face. She became *ever* so helpful and gave me the X-rays (this time, without sighing). She then proceeded to ask me if I knew where to submit my receipts and did I need an address, or even a stamp (no thanks, I replied, as I didn't need anything further from them).
Ha. Just like the phone companies: As soon as they think they're going to lose you, they're the friendliest bunch *ever*.
In summary:
THE VALUE:
- None. Highest price I've ever paid to have kids' cavities filled. The exact price per filling, with no mention of how deep or complex each cavity is, unlike my new dentist, who tells me that the complexity of the cavity determines the price.
- As mentioned above, seemed more concerned about getting me in for the $1,200 crowns than fixing my filling.
VERDICT:
Never again. They keep calling me repeatedly (despite my asking twice to be removed from their phone and mailing list since I was no longer a client). I finally had to come in person to ask to be removed from their mailing list. read more
