I have been bringing my son here for a couple of years now, but I only recently began my treatment here. For my son, there has been no problems. He goes in for cleanings, and that's it. My treatment has only consisted of one cleaning, as I continue to visit my bay area dentist and orthodontist at times (since I am frequently in the area).
Today, I have an appointment to evaluate fillings that were designated as needing to be replaced by my bay area dentist. However, for the past few days, I have been experiencing pain from #21. I tell the D.A. this and she tells the Dr. He checks it out; she takes X-rays; and then he tells me that I have an abscess that cannot be saved, need a root canal, and then a crown. O-kay....
Then, not five minutes later, some woman that I have never seen before comes in and says that my portion will be $500, today! What?! Um, I am still processing the fact that my tooth is basically dead and in need of surgery to prevent me from having a whole in my smile. I'm traumatized people, and you're going to pick the next five minutes to tell me that I need to drop 1/2 a grand in your office. Not!
I then told her that I was not having that procedure today. Seriously, I was traumatized. The D.A. talks to me again about the fillings, but I'm not really hearing her. I'm upset that a strange woman came into the room and started talking to me about money. The entire scenario just didn't sit well with me, and it has never happened at any other office I've visited. Never!
Okay, so after the stranger and D.A. stop talking the Dr. starts telling me that he doesn't understand why I would want to go ahead with an aesthetic treatment instead of something as serious as the abscess. He wants me to believe that he's thinking of me and my pain, and not his pocketbook. I then tell them all that I am leaving, and I calmly, but firmly, state the reasons why.
Upon leaving, I notice that the front office is filled with women that I have never, ever seen in that office before, and I can't help but wonder what the hell is going on. Another observation was that every last one of them was Caucasian, and they were all as quiet as field mice while I conducted my transaction with the stranger lady.
I have a lot of feelings around the folks that live and work in this area, and today totally sealed those feelings as beliefs for me. I will not be returning to this office for my treatment nor my son's. A call has been made, and I will drop my 1/2 a grand in Oakland. read more