For the past few years I have straddled the fence about leaving a review for Dr. Bushinger at this…read morepractice.
For many years I considered him as a renowned professional & didn't want any other dentist providing services for my family.
Prior to the sale of his practice, I began to notice changes.
After several observations, things became alarming enough for me to contact the Board of Dentistry to file a formal complaint about his bizarre treatment towards me.
Fortunately for him, I was suddenly bombarded with a magnitude of responsibilities to care for a terminally ill parent. So I missed the dealine to officially report the incident(s).
Although reporting his unethical conduct was my primary focus, it didn't outweigh the importance, time and attention I needed to care for my sickly parent.
I've often thought of writing my disheartening experience off as a lesson, since I stopped utilizing his services. But each time I revisit what he has done, the more it totally upsets me!
How many ppl did he do this to, I often ask?!?!?
My insurance plan covered a family, and it was top notch! With routine visits, our oral care was impeccable. In fact, there was often a surplus of benefits remaining on the account each year.
I strongly believe his objective was to acquire the funds, by any means necessary. Even if it meant CREATING problems with my teeth/mouth.
He hounded me REPEATEDLY, every time I visited the office. It was extremely annoying! He wanted to change my crown , although it wasn't bothering me, nor showed any signs of unhealthy gums via my x-rays. I was in great condition!
But he purchased a new machine and KEPT pressuring me to get a new crown. I advised him that my work schedule didn't provide an abundance of free time for frequent visits. He assured me that I wouldn't need multiple visits bc he could make it and change it all at once.
Even before reaching that point, he kept having his staff secure approvals from my insurance company, although I advised him I was NOT interested. I even questioned his staff about the protocol and if that same level of pressure was demonstrated to all patients or just the ones with quality insurance plans.
I even expressed that he seemed hard up or desperate for money.
Nonetheless, he finally persuaded me to change/ swap the crown after an incident with a cleaning w/ Dr Patel. The changed crown was supposed to be an in and out ordeal.
After finishing up his treatment, I expected to leave his office with my new crown.
To my surprise, he raised the chair and advised me to schedule another appt.
I was confused. Then questioned the need for another appointment.
He stated that he had to perform an "emergency root canal" while he was preparing to change my crown. Naturally I was shocked that he allegedly performed a root canal WITHOUT my consent or knowledge of what he was doing in my mouth!!!
There was an episode of his screaming & yelling at me like a raged lunatic as I laid in the chair w/ instruments in my mouth. The whole office could hear him. Whether they admit to the TRUTH is a different story. Afterall that's their job.
He sent me to his affiliate, who cracked a tooth in my mouth. He indicated he couldn't fix it, so I had to return to Dr. Bushinger, who charged me to fix the tooth his affiliate cracked, but couldn't fix it, bc he's an oral surgeon. Can't make this crap up!!!!
On another occasion Dr. Bushinger welcomed a young man, along with his assistant, into my session. There was no introduction. He began to perform the procedure, using me for "demonstration purposes" AT MY EXPENSE, all while explaining the procedure the young man, whom I never met before.
Meanwhile I was allegedly subjected to a root canal and he NEVER said one word to me!!!
I was a paying patient, who was NOT in his office for charity care. I was undergoing another surprise procedure following the alleged emergency root canal. I expressed to Dr Bushinger that I wasn't comfortable having the fourth person in the room. It was obvious he became agitated. But the reality is I wasn't visiting his free clinic or UMDNJ to be a spectacle. Therefore, I didn't appreciate him inviting someone other than his dental assistant into my session. I didn't appreciate be disrespected.
I developed an infection soon after his procedure. After reaching out to express my discomfort, his wife wouldn't accommodate my emergent need. For some strange reason certain staff was no longer working for his practice, and his wife began to oversee scheduling and oddly diagnose the severity of my excruciating pain.... "over the phone!"
Going to another dentist sounds like an easy solution. The problem was compounded. He siphoned a large percentage of my benefits. The other factor is no one wants the risk of being liable for someone else's mishaps or practices. So, I was stuck for the moment.
The crown, the NEW crown broke about a month later!
My mouth has not been the same!
