Very Disappointing and Unprofessional Experience
I was extremely disappointed by my recent experience with this dentist and his staff. I had contacted the office over the weekend because I believed I had an infection in my tooth and needed antibiotics. The dentist was on call and prescribed the antibiotics, later telling me that he had "done me a favor" by calling them in.
Unfortunately, the disrespectful treatment continued when I came in for my appointment. Even the interaction with his assistant while trying to schedule the appointment was frustrating and disrespectful. Given that I was dealing with an infection that needed to be addressed promptly, I expected some understanding and professionalism. Instead, I felt dismissed and as though I was inconveniencing them.
When the dentist came into the appointment, he greeted me and then asked, "So you have an infection?" I responded that I didn't know and that I was there for him to tell me. After reviewing the X-rays, I again had to ask whether I actually had an infection. He confirmed that I did.
The examination itself felt unnecessarily rough, and I found his manner dismissive and disrespectful. During the conversation, he also tried to tell me that the dentist who previously owned the practice--the dentist I had seen before he retired--didn't pull teeth. I pointed directly to the tooth in question and told him, "He pulled this tooth right here." I also told him that he could look at my records to verify it. I found it very concerning that he would make that statement about my previous dentist without apparently checking my records first.
When I asked whether he was going to take care of my current problem, he told me he didn't have time to do so and that he had only fit me into his schedule to look at it. He laughed while saying this, which made an already stressful situation feel even more upsetting.
He then gave me appointment options, but none were convenient for me, and despite the urgency of an infection, there did not seem to be any effort to find a reasonable solution or accommodate the situation. I was also surprised when he brought up how "lenient" he had been with my payment plan. When I questioned whether that had something to do with how I was being treated, he brushed it off and said, "Oh no, that's not it."
I paid the small remaining balance on my account and told him that I would not be returning.
I understand that dental offices have busy schedules and limitations, but patients deserve to be treated with respect, compassion, and professionalism--especially when they are dealing with an infection and are already worried about their health. Unfortunately, that was not my experience, from the interaction with the assistant while trying to make the appointment to my actual visit with the dentist.
I left feeling completely dismissed and disrespected. After being a patient of this practice previously, I was especially disappointed by the way I was treated. I will not be returning. read more
