Disappointing experience -- especially after 40 years with an excellent dentist…read more
I'm new to Sonoma and chose Dr. Jason Groff through Delta Dental after breaking a tooth and needing a crown. Unfortunately, my experience was very different from what I had hoped for.
At my first two appointments, the dental assistant performed most of the work, while Dr. Groff came in briefly for key parts of the procedure. After the permanent crown was cemented, my bite was not checked. I was concerned that my existing night guard would no longer fit, so the assistant adjusted it instead.
Within two days, I developed severe nerve pain that woke me at 4 a.m. I returned expecting the dentist to evaluate the problem, but again, most of the interaction was with the assistant. The solution offered was a new night guard at no charge. I continued to have discomfort and eventually realized that my bite needed to be addressed. I also developed significant TMJ symptoms from compensating on the opposite side.
At a subsequent appointment, Dr. Groff adjusted the crown and acknowledged that I had been compensating on the other side. Later, when I reported that the bite was still uncomfortable and the TMJ was worse, he told me the TMJ had nothing to do with the crown, which contradicted what I had previously been told. He then aggressively adjusted the crown and made a comment about continuing to grind it down "up to my head," which I found extremely uncomfortable and upsetting.
I also had concerns about the practice's approach to dental hygiene. After having the same highly experienced dentist and hygienists for 40 years, I was surprised that my cleaning was very brief and largely performed by Dr. Groff with a sonic instrument, without the thorough tooth-by-tooth assessment I was accustomed to receiving.
Most disappointing was my attempt to have a respectful conversation with Dr. Groff about my concerns and his practice protocols. Rather than discussing them, he became defensive and condescending, essentially telling me, "This is how I run my practice, and I'm not going to change it."
I did not want to write a negative review. I tried to address my concerns directly, but I ultimately felt that, as a patient, they were not being heard or taken seriously. I am still experiencing discomfort and TMJ symptoms and will be seeking another dentist for follow-up care.
For me, the issue is not the free night guard. I never went to this office for a night guard. The issue is the overall approach to patient care, communication, protocols, and follow-up.
The world would be a better place if everyone practiced the Golden Rule: Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated. A simple, universal ethical guideline found in nearly every major culture and religion.