I felt i needed to update this review with more context…read more
The Worst Dental Experience of My Life - Trust Your Instincts!
I had one of the worst experiences of my life at this dental office. I've been going to the dentist my entire life, and I've NEVER cried during a dental procedure until I came here. More than a year later, I'm still emotional thinking about what happened.
This wasn't my primary dental office. I normally go to Dentists of San Dimas through Smile Generation, but the price I was quoted for a crown was expensive, so I decided to explore other options. I came across this office, which had excellent reviews on Yelp and Google, and decided to give them a try. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that sometimes you really do get what you pay for.
My initial impression was positive. The front office staff was friendly and welcoming. However, the dental technicians and hygienists were noticeably cold and unfriendly. I brushed it off because I was there for dental care, not conversation.
When I met the dentist, he was friendly enough, but our interactions were extremely brief. He reviewed my X-rays, identified the tooth he believed needed a crown, and quickly moved on to the next patient. Everything felt rushed and transactional. Still, I understood it was a busy office, so I scheduled my appointment.
When I returned, the same cold, impersonal atmosphere continued. The dentist was very much about getting the job done and moving on. I don't need anyone to give me the warm and fuzzies, but looking back, these were warning signs I should have paid attention to.
The procedure itself was absolutely EXCRUCIATING.
I had previously received a crown through Smile Generation, where the process was significantly less invasive. Perhaps I was spoiled by that experience, but I'm certainly no stranger to dental procedures or the discomfort that sometimes comes with them.
This, however, was beyond discomfort.
Even after receiving numbing medication, I could still feel an incredible amount of pain and pressure. I felt I needed additional numbing, but asking for more made me feel like I was inconveniencing the dentist. Eventually, I stopped asking and simply endured the pain.
I felt like I was being tortured.
I couldn't stop crying. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to get through the procedure. I have NEVER cried at the dentist before. It was physically painful and emotionally overwhelming.
Unfortunately, the experience didn't end there.
After the crown was installed, it felt unusually bulky, large, and uncomfortable (mostly because it was a porcelain crown). However, I have had other crowns, and none felt anything like this one. Something simply didn't feel right.
I returned to my primary dentist to have the work evaluated.
To my absolute disbelief, my primary dentist reviewed my X-rays and told me the crown had been placed on the WRONG TOOTH!
I was devastated. I had endured all that pain, only to learn that, according to my primary dentist, the tooth that actually needed treatment hadn't received the crown.
I called the office to file a complaint and speak directly with the dentist about my experience and my primary dentist's findings.
His response was incredibly dismissive.
Rather than expressing concern, he told me it was the dentist's discretion to determine which tooth needed a crown and that he stood by his decision.
When I explained how painful and traumatic the procedure had been, he brushed off my concerns by saying that some people are simply more sensitive than others.
I was stunned.
There was no empathy, no acknowledgment of my experience, and no genuine effort to address my concerns. And to make matters worse, after that conversation, he actually asked when I was going to schedule my next appointment!
Seriously? After everything I had just explained?
My primary dentist ultimately had to remove the crown this office installed and redo the work. I had to go through the process all over again, including having a crown placed on the tooth my primary dentist identified as needing treatment.
I'm writing this review more than a year later because the experience has stayed with me. Even now, recalling what happened brings back those emotions.
Please don't rely solely on five-star reviews when choosing a dentist. Trust your instincts. Ask questions. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore that feeling.
I ignored several warning signs because the reviews were so positive, and I paid for it physically, emotionally, and financially.
I would NEVER return to this office, and I sincerely hope no one else experiences what I went through.
