My first visit was for a chipped tooth & the Dr said it wasn't chipped, it was just a bit of tartar. So I make an appointment for a cleaning.
A week before my cleaning they call me to remind me of the appointment. I answered and confirmed. They still keep calling, atleast 3 times a day all week long and send me an email. I had to block the number so my phone would stop ringing.
I go to my appointment despite the annoying phone calls because I want my teeth cleaned. I was warned up front that there is $78 xrays that are not covered by insurance. I'll pay for the xrays if you say they are important. But then AFTER I have the xrays the doctor comes in to look at my teeth. Twice she mentions a chip in my tooth which she previously told me was not a chip. She says my teeth look pretty good but she recommends a deep cleaning because my gums could be a little healthier. They also want to do more xrays after my deep cleaning & to replace my metal fillings with white ones. I ask, is that covered by insurance? Good thing I asked because its not. Seems like a lot but I understand but elect to put it off. I was going on vacation that day and deep cleanings are painful and would make it hard to eat on vaca. Also,I wasn't expecting to pay $300. Their response, "Ok see you next time"...wait what? I still need my regular cleaning. But they say they won't clean my teeth unless I do the other one too.They quickly escort me out to pay them $78 for xrays that Im not sure anyone looked at. At the desk she tells me, you owe $78 , we will bill it to insurance but they won't pay. If they do we will refund you. So I repeat it to her, " You will bill it to insurance?", "Yes but they probably won't pay" $78 lighter, I never got the cleaning I came for.
FF a few weeks and my EOB comes in the mail from insurance.They billed insurance for $78 and it was paid. I call the office and I'm told they billed insurance for 1 set of xrays but DID NOT BILL THE UNCOVERED XRAYS AS PROMISED. The person on the phone, gives me a billing code to prove to me that there were two diff billing codes and the 2nd set of xrays would not be covered. I call insurance with the code and find out those xrays are only done on growing children. Since Im an adult, they won't be covered, but if those xrays were done, the Dr is in violation of their contract for not billing them. They should bill it so it can at least apply it to my deductible etc. I email the Dr with my concerns and because maybe they can fix all of this. A week later, the Dr responded, but she didn't answer any of my concerns, she did the politician dance around the questions and just told me again she recommends a deep cleaning and better fillings. She was basically reading my chart to me as if I wasn't there when it happened. She also said she has to do what she recommends or I could sue her for malpractice. She apparently thinks I have no idea she was b.s.ing me. She should have read further in my chart to see what I do for a living and that I know a few things about this stuff. Still I had questions that she left unanswered so I emailed her back trying to get resolution and I wanted to get my teeth cleaned. I also asked her for a copy of my bill so that I could submit it to insurance myself. she didn't reply to that. I TRIED REALLY HARD TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES BEFORE I WROTE THIS YELP REVIEW.
Since I burned my exam covered by insurance, I must pay for another one somewhere else, or wait till next year to get my teeth cleaned. Either way, I'm going to someone else. Someone who will answer my questions and won't B.S. me. Someone who is in the business to help people and not just to make a $. I will not give this place another penny. I wanted to do the deep cleaning, I just didn't want to do it that day.I originally didn't mind the xrays but now I'm mad and feel scammed. I also find out with a bit of research,that other dentists do an initial cleaning before your deep cleaning because it is necessary to clean your teeth AND beneath your gums. Also, you are a manager of your own health. If you don't want a deep cleaning, you don't have to have one. They just write in your chart that you denied the recommendation. If they are paranoid they can make you sign something saying you decline the service at this time. I found dentists that will break the deep cleaning into two visits to allow one side of your mouth to heal since its painful and also to help break up the cost. Other dentists offer both the pretty white fillings and the regular fillings covered by insurance.
So why did they get the generous 2 stars rating? Because atleast I didn't wait an hour in the waiting room first. They did smile at me when they took my money. And also, because I do believe I should do a deep cleaning for my gum health it just won't be with them.
Don't turn someone away for a cleaning who is sitting in the chair, paid for your not medically necessary xrays without complaint, and really wants her teeth cleaned! read more