This is a review based solely on Dr. Hartoonian telling me that he knew my body and medical history better than I do. He was referred for a redo root canal that was botched by my regular dentist.
At the consult, I shared with Dr. Hartoonian that I had sensitivities to epinephrine as do many of my family members which causes paralysis. He told me that it is impossible and that any reactions were because others do not understand the proper way to administer it. I responded that I did not want it.
I show up to the appointment after being called to come in an hour earlier than scheduled so that he could attend a memorial. As he is administering the anesthesia , I could feel my heart start pounding and tell him I can feel the epinephrine. He very gruffly said that I was the cause of my discomfort and that I needed to relax, that he didn't use any epinephrine. Well, relax I did, actually falling asleep- which is not normal during dental procedures- until his phone rang right by my ear, waking me up.
When he was finished, he said I could get out of the chair, and I could not move - legs too heavy to move/no control over them. He asked me if I had eaten breakfast, and strongly suggested that what I was feeling was because of lack of food... AGAIN trying to make this about me doing something wrong. When he realized I was not moving, rather than making sure I was okay, he went to the hook on the wall, took down my pocketbook and jacket, placed them on my legs telling me to take what time I needed AND he left the room - leaving me totally alone. At some when I didn't come out, he sent his receptionist/office person back to check on me. I stated that Dr. had used epinephrine and she denied that, repeating that it was because I didn't have breakfast. She walked me to the reception area and it took me about 30+ minutes bf I could walk, wobbly though it was, to my car.
After much discussion with myself, I decided that I could now allow him to finished the root canal. I told the front office and she tried to get me to come back in saying that they had already rec'd $ from insurance. I refused and found someone else. Now for the second outrageous thing - I couldn't get copies of my visit notes which would also state what anesthesia he had used nor was he sending them to the new endodontist. I finally had to say that they are my records and it is my right to have them and if I didn't have them by the end of the day, they could expect me to come into the office and sit in reception until I received them.
Sure enough - he used an anesthesia with small portion of ...guess what... EPINEPHRINE...
The arrogance of this doctor is not unusual in the realm of doctors. My new endodontist is wonderful and caring. I did receive a partial refund check without having to threaten to sit in the office; that is the only good thing that I can say. read more