I am a 23-year-old who finally saved up enough money to get my wisdom teeth extracted. I was…read moreanxious, it was my first procedure and I have had difficulties with pain in the past. I told a nurse this during my consultation she was the only one with bedside manner who seemed to care... I was given a prescription for naproxen before my procedure. My mom helped explain to the nurses that naproxen hasn't helped me in the past due to my low pain tolerance. There was an immediate shift in the staff's demeanor towards me. Another nurse, and the doctor then proceeded to tell me that any other pain relief was highly frowned upon and that " it isn't open heart surgery you're gonna have to be in pain" I was so nervous when I sat down for the procedure. The doctor didn't acknowledge me much and asked the nurse "why is her heart racing?"... as if there was something wrong with me. My anxiety worsened, and then I was told to "utilize the gas " there was no care or bedside manner. I was pricked five times for the anesthesia IV. I felt the IV drip down my arm and heard an "oh sorry" from the doctor. There was no countdown. He immediately went to work. I felt the initial incisions for each tooth. I wasn't fully asleep. I remember being held down and yelled at to stop flinching because I felt the pain. I woke up to nurses arguing in the room talking about me and my mother. My heart immediately started racing again. There wasn't much said to me before I was put in a wheelchair and pushed out the door. A nurse told my mom not to worry because they gave me "extra fentanyl" while I was asleep, but still refused to prescribe anything else for pain. I was almost fully aware and awake on the car ride home I read the aftercare paperwork that was given to my mom. The paperwork gave instructions to take your painkiller before the anesthesia wore off listing "oxycodone/paracetamol" as one of them. So I'm confused as to why I was told that it was "frowned upon" to give me any other pain medicine? I woke up in agonizing pain and called the Doctor who finally, after much back and forth sent in a prescription to my pharmacy. It's been almost 2 weeks and I'm still in a lot of pain. The whole left side of my face and entire hand that they pricked for the IV is bruised and one tooth still isn't healing properly. I look like I was beat up. When I returned for my check up the doctor and nurse both seemed shocked by the state I was in and the first question the doctor asked me was if I was awake during any of the procedure. I let him know that I had felt the initial incisions. And his response was "you think you felt that but you didn't". This doctor has an answer for everything. He knew I was awake and had no intention of apologizing or realizing what he did wrong. This procedure was one of the most traumatizing experiences of my life, and it has taken me a week to be able to talk about what has happened to me and get out of the depression the recovery has caused me. I just hope that somebody will read this and not put themselves through what I had to go through. This office shouldn't be in business. I wish I read the reviews.

I just had my wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Valiente and I think he and his staff were extremely…read moreprofessional, courteous, and attentive. I had an initial consult with them where he explained the procedure, had me watch a video, and then his front desk biller Magali came to explain all of the costs encompassing every aspect of surgery plus followup appointments (which did not change!) The procedure itself was quick. Having a surgery during the pandemic is a totally different type of anxiety especially since you are navigating the surgeon's office on your own while your caretaker has to remain in the car. They made me feel safe and comfortable. The best part was the focus on preventative care. I was given a regimen of chlorhexidine rinses, antibiotics, and specific oral care instructions with pain medications after surgery. Everything I needed was called into my pharmacy to pick up a few days before the surgery. My caregivers watched a video during the actual procedure so they could guide me on how to properly manage after surgery. I followed his instructions to a tee and had no post-surgical complications other than some surgical trauma which is usually inevitable. 2 days after surgery I was worried about swelling and his staff fit me in right away to get looked at. This is the mark of a good surgeon-someone who will not be bothered to take an extra look with a re-evaluation if you're anxious about something. He could have easily had me stay home and take extra antibiotics or pain medications, but he legit just fit me in within the hour. I'll forever be grateful for that. Overall I had an excellent, smooth surgery with Dr. Valiente and am happy I went with him!

I had an incredibly disappointing experience at the Tampa Bay Institute of Oral Surgery and Dental…read moreImplants. I arrived at 12p for my 1215 appt, with everything requested--my referral, ID, and insurance card. When I proceeded to sign in, I was told, I handed over my referral paperwork, ID, and insurance card to the young man, who then returned my ID and insurance card, giving me a clipboard to fill out the new patient paperwork. After completing the paperwork, I stood to the side patiently, waiting to turn in my forms. Since someone was being helped, I waited quietly. The front desk representative looked past the woman she was assisting and asked me to please place the clipboard down on the counter and take a seat, assuring me she would get it once she was finished. However, my new patient paperwork included sensitive personal information, such as my name, date of birth, social security number, and other details. I was concerned about her asking me to leave this paperwork unattended on the counter while she focused on someone else. This poses a significant risk for identity theft, and given HIPAA regulations, her actions seemed inappropriate and careless. I politely refused and informed her that there was no rush, asking her to please continue helping the young lady while I would wait to hand her my forms directly--no problems at all since no one else was coming in or in line. After waiting for over two hours in a crowded lobby where one customer spoke loudly on the phone most of the wait and no one asked her to step into the hall to take the call, I was finally called back for imaging of my teeth at 201p. Once done, I was asked to please return to the lobby and assured nicely that I would be the next person called when a room became available. I went back to the lobby, opened my lesson, and continued reading. About 20-25 minutes later, at about 236p, I heard my name being called, but instead of from the doors to go back, it came from behind the receptionist desk. It was a dental assistant (I'm unsure of her title), who then asked me to approach. This was confusing as I was expecting to be called directly to the back to complete the appointment, but she then asks me if I can reprint the referral with the tooth number, and informs me that without that information on my referral I couldn't be seen. When I asked if there was a way to print there from my phone, she said no. I was confused and asked how was I supposed to reprint it then, to which she replied, "you'd need to call the referring Dr., have them print it, take a picture, & send via email, because without the information on the referral, the doctor can't see you and a fax would take too long." I then politely asked why wasn't this communicated to me during check-in at 12? She then states, (with a shrug) "it's not my fault since I don't work the front desk." Final Red flag this highlights a major issue with communication and coordination among the staff; I politely expressed my frustration, asking why doesn't the front desk know what a patient needs in order to be seen, emphasizing that had I been informed earlier, I could have called & had this completed during the long wait and resolved this without rescheduling. She said, "again not my fault, I dont work up here or know why they don't know what we need in the back, so if you're unable to get the information we need, the doctor can't see you." It's clear that better communication between the front desk and dental assistants is essential, CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING freshwater needed, because even hearing how one of the front desk reps were handling the phone calls was atrocious, someone in pain and upset because of a mix up you all caused shouldn't be told to calm down and listen to directions etc, you emphasize and apologize, they just wanted to be heard. The experience made it evident that clear communication and patient care are not priorities in this practice. Really hope this feedback is taken seriously, as no patient should have to navigate such obstacles and frustrations.

If I could give this place less than one star I would. It's disgusting. They had me scheduled at…read more11:30 than moved my appointment to 10:30 we drove 2 hours to get here gave us a beeper told us to wait in the car and it's noon and we are still waiting! The beeper went off and we're still waiting it's only for a panorex x-ray and a consultation. I can't imagine what the office visit would be like if my daughter got treatment here. Do not waste your time the service sucks they don't know how to schedule and they don't care about your time. There is no patient care here. Pure trash!

Dear Dr. Pikos, Dr. Hedger, and the team at Coastal Jaw Surgery,…read more I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible care I received at your practice. I was originally referred by my general dentist due to​ oral health issues resulting from many years of heavy smoking. Although I haven't smoked for over 22 years, it was finally time for a change, and the transformation you have provided has given me a second chance at living pain-free. I was deeply impressed by your methodical approach to the entire process. It gave me great confidence to know that my physical well-being was always the top priority. I truly felt that if there were even the slightest doubt regarding a procedure that might jeopardize my health, you would not have proceeded. Knowing that my health was more important than any financial consideration meant a lot to me. Dr. Pikos, your world-renowned reputation is well-deserved, and now I personally understand why you are so highly respected in your field. Thank you once again to everyone at Coastal Jaw Surgery for the transformation and for helping me live without pain. Best regards, Michael Kehn

Digest this with your morning frappe or sugar free latte!…read more First off---no teeth are "Same Day"......implants need to have peaceful time to anchor into jawbone; anything shorter than 3-6 months invites disease, and failure with implants moving in jaw bones. Next....I even phoned before my visit and WAS NOT TOLD THE OFFICE FLOODED OUT and patients being seen around the corner at the clinic. So I had to call again outside OFFICE CLOSED sign. Then I needed to use restroom---only trouble was, the plumbers were trying to get restrooms fixed! Who cares about patient or customers. The doctor who met the team in the "pitch room" actually advised against any surgery involving pulling or setting implants due to the battlefield my teeth and throat are thanks to Moffit over radiating me and virtually killing everything good and bad in my oral cavity....called "radio necrosis!" The doc actually advised me to seek dental repairs from dentist of my choice; much superior than pitching me to shell out $30K for implants. So....not a total wasted day---but hardly a great experience! And implants are 75% cheaper in Europe----same surgery---same apparatus. Hmmmmmm...........

This was one of the most stressful and unprofessional medical experiences we ever had. We were…read moreinformed at check-in that the office did not have the supplies needed to perform the scheduled surgery as planned. The expectation going in was that four teeth would be removed under sedation, yet we were told at the last minute that they could only offer local anesthetic. To make matters worse, the suggestion was that "if it's too painful, we can just remove two instead." This level of short-notice communication is unacceptable. Changing a surgical plan moments before the procedure is not only unprofessional, but it causes immense anxiety--especially when a patient mentally prepares for minimal pain and awareness, only to be told they'll be fully conscious and likely uncomfortable. Suggesting stopping halfway would also require additional days off for recovery, which is completely unreasonable. Unfortunately, it did not stop there. The aftercare was HORRIBLE. Once we arrived at the pharmacy, we discovered that no prescription had been sent for the necessary medication. We called and left voicemails with no response and had to contact multiple locations before one kind and professional office was able to help us reach a manager. Hours passed before someone confirmed that the prescription was "in the system" but not delivered. After waiting another two hours, the pharmacy still had nothing and informed us it may have been sent to the wrong CVS. When we called back to simply verify the address, a front desk employee answered with no greeting, sounded openly irritated, and immediately placed me on hold for over 30 minutes. When she returned, she did not apologize and abruptly stated it was sent. When I attempted to verify the address, she cut me off and placed me back on hold--this time for 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES. Eventually, another employee--who was far more pleasant--noticed someone had been on hold and helped verify the address, which took less than 2 minutes. She could not provide the name of the previous employee and explained that the delays were due to a new system and being short-staffed. I did inform her that this warranted a review. Honestly, more for you, the reader, because why risk being put on hold for 3 hours to speak to a manager? I understand staffing challenges and new systems. What I do not understand is the complete lack of basic, decent customer service--especially in a healthcare setting. At this point, "good" service doesn't even seem attainable here. Overall, this experience was deeply disappointing. If staffing truly is the issue, I strongly suggest retaining employees who value their work and treat patients with respect. There are plenty of people in this economy who would be grateful for a job and take it seriously. I'd gladly send resumes if it means preventing another patient from going through this; heck, I'll work the reception desk myself.

I had a very disappointing experience at Bright Now Dental on Gunn Highway as a new patient…read more Prior to my visit, I had my dental X-rays forwarded from my previous dentist--X-rays that my insurance only covers once every 5 years. However, I was told they could not use them and required me to take new ones, which resulted in unnecessary out-of-pocket costs. I originally scheduled a routine check-up and cleaning, and when the hygienist called to confirm, I clearly stated that's what I needed. I was surprised when I was told I might not receive a cleaning because I could need periodontal scaling--before I had even been evaluated. That immediately raised concerns, but I decided to keep my appointment. During the visit, the gum measurements were completed in what felt like less than a minute, yet I was told I had a severe and aggressive case of periodontal disease requiring frequent treatments multiple times per year. The dentist then confirmed this diagnosis and added even more procedures to the treatment plan. This was extremely concerning, especially since I am in very good health. When I questioned the diagnosis, I was given alarming explanations linking gum disease to serious conditions like heart attack and stroke. Because this didn't feel right, I sought a second opinion--and I'm glad I did. I was told I do NOT have gum disease, gingivitis, or any need for the extensive treatment plan that was recommended. Overall, this experience felt like a waste of time and money, and it raises serious concerns about unnecessary treatments being recommended. Situations like this are a big reason why healthcare costs continue to rise. I would strongly encourage others to seek a second opinion before proceeding with major dental work here.

I've been to every location love his team and Dr.Rowe always so nice. I always have a pleasant…read moreexperience happy to be a patient here

I've been seeing Dr Rowe for a few years now. He is always so kind and it has been a pleasure to be…read morehis patient. I love coming to this location the staff is friendly and the office is always available for last minute adjustments. Only downside is it gets way too cold at this office :-( but I DO love coming here :-)

The receptionist Gigi was awful. Horrible attitude and made me feel so uncomfortable. Very…read moreimpatient on the phone. All the other stuff I've met was great. Dr. Thigpen was great and explained everything very thoroughly, appreciate him very much.

No one wants to visit the dentist, yet alone an oral surgeon, but if you find yourself needing one,…read moreDr. Thigpen is who you should see! His office staff are very nice and make you feel like family. They got me in promptly and my surgery was painless. Dr. Thigpen is very patient and explains each step along the way. I highly recommend this office!

Dr. Hayder is phenomenal. He is very professional and has such sweet and caring personality. His…read morestaff is very caring as well. Extra points for how modern his equipments are and how relaxing the experience of visiting his dental office always is. Once you lay down in front of one of their large screens, you will listen to great relaxing music and feel as you were traveling to those amazing places. I fully recommend having your teeth taking cared by Mint Dental.

A fantastic dentist! I have had quite a bit of cosmetic work done and everything had been perfect!…read moreYou also never have to wait long in the office and are in and out in a timely manor with no rushing.

Pros: hmmm, can't think of one…read more Cons: -Expensive -Rude/condescending -Multiple visits and didn't actually fix my tooth and drilled 1/2 of my tooth away, which I will now need to go elsewhere to have fixed. -Doesn't explain what she is doing it that multiple visits will be required. -No people or customer service skills. If you are looking for a new dentist, keep looking!

I have been going to this dentist for more then seven years and have spent well over $25,000 for my…read morefamily's treatments. Unfortunately the Dr. and some of her staff like to talk down to you like you are dumb, uneducated or even forgetful. They are always right and take no responsibility for any problems that you may have with their services or outcome! For example my daughter had two small cavities back in December and two days later part of her tooth fell out... Not good for a nice healthy tooth and being 22 years of age. (My daughter had to go somewhere else to fix the tooth) My personal experience was with an implant that I had a top notch oral surgeon perform and did a fantastic job with. That process was 12 months long and my dentist told me that she would coordinate with the surgeon to make sure that they were on the same page. I trusted her to be professional enough and to make that happen because this procedure alone was very expensive and I didn't want any mistakes. She never once talked with my surgeon, she had her office staff make the calls in which the staff had no idea of the technical questions that needed to be asked. The abutment style that she wanted was never coordinated with my oral surgeon for final preparation and the surgeon placed a $500.00 abutment in my mouth. When I arrived at her office the same day after the abutment was placed, her first words to me was that there is going to be a problem because she doesn't like the type of abutments others use. That was not comforting to hear after spending $7,000 on an implant procedure and several months of pain and a one year long process. She smirked at me when I said, then I just wasted $500.00 and a lot of time. She said that $500.00 was very expensive for a generic abutment... I walked out of her office with disbelief and extremely frustrated. Her office later called me and told me that they could do the style of abutment that she wanted to do and that it would cost me $950.00 and $1350.00 for the crown or I can get a gold crown placed. (Who wants a gold crown when the rest of your teeth are white - white?) They blamed my oral surgeon and me for the mix up. There excuse was that they never worked with this surgeon before and the ones that they do work know exactly what to do... Even more to coordinate with my surgeon to make sure things don't go wrong???? 1) Expensive 2) Extremely rude/condescending 3) Its like a money grab when you get in the office they cant get your payment quick enough 4) Always in a rush and on to the next patient I have never ever written a review on anything in my life, but yesterday was the final straw for me with this group. The only reason I have written this review is to prevent others from following in my footsteps. There are many options and choices of other service providers. I have sense replaced her with my previous dentist that is further away but more caring and professional.