I had several concerns about our experience with this practice, but I will focus on the issues that…read morewere most significant.
Dr. Woke is pleasant, but throughout our interactions she made us feel rushed. I also found her explanations to be brief and incomplete, and I felt that concerns about my son's pain and recovery were often dismissed rather than fully addressed.
My son had all four wisdom teeth removed. He was discharged with an anti-inflammatory medication but was not prescribed an antibiotic or a stronger pain medication. Approximately two hours after arriving home, he fainted while sitting at the dining room table, fell, and struck his head. His vital signs were low enough that an ambulance transported him to the emergency room for evaluation.
Two days later, because his pain remained severe, I contacted the office to ask whether anything stronger could be prescribed. At that point, Dr. Woke prescribed Tylenol with codeine to help manage his pain.
Two days after that, over the weekend, one side of my son's face became increasingly swollen and his pain escalated significantly. Dr. Woke examined him the following day and diagnosed a secondary infection at one of the extraction sites. The area had to be reopened and thoroughly irrigated. During the procedure, pus drained from the site as the local anesthetic was administered, confirming the severity of the infection.
When I entered the room after the procedure, it was obvious how much pain my son was experiencing. I was disappointed by what I perceived as a lack of empathy regarding his condition. The initial plan appeared to be to send him home with antibiotics, and it was only after I specifically requested additional pain relief that Percocet was prescribed.
I also asked when my son could safely return to work. Although Dr. Woke initially stated he could return immediately, she also advised that he should not lift more than 20 pounds for two days. My son works as a full-time automotive mechanic, making those restrictions incompatible with the physical demands of his job. I ultimately requested a work excuse extending his leave by three days, and that note was provided.
Because my son missed six business days of work, he applied for short-term disability benefits and FMLA job protection. When the insurance paperwork was sent to the office, the office manager refused to complete it, stating that my son would not qualify because he was "not disabled." When I asked for clarification, I was told that because he could walk and talk, he was capable of working and it was up to his employer to provide accommodations. This was difficult to understand given that he had a documented postoperative infection, was experiencing severe pain, was taking prescribed narcotic medication that prevented him from driving, and was physically unable to perform the duties of his job as a mechanic. It was frustrating that the office declined to complete the paperwork based on its own assessment of his eligibility rather than allowing the insurance company to make that determination.
Our experience left us feeling that communication, compassion, and patient advocacy were lacking. I understand that complications can occur after surgery and I do not fault the practice for the infection itself. However, I do expect clear communication, appropriate attention to pain management, empathy during recovery, and cooperation with necessary medical documentation. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met, and based on our experience, I cannot recommend this practice.
