I hate going to the dentist my whole life, so naturally I waited 4 years to get my wisdom teeth out. I finally decided that this was my year, and put lots of money in my FSA just so I would use it before the year was over. Dr. Merlo was recommended by my new dentist, and knowing about my 4 impacted (2 horizontal) wisdom teeth, I wanted someone with lots of experience. From the consultation to the actual surgery day, he was always calm, direct, no nonsense... which is exactly what I needed. As an extremely nervous person (And this was my first surgery), his attitude was exactly what helped. My surgery was perfect - waited 10 minutes to finalize paperwork and billing (good price too!), then quick set up. I went under in less than 20 seconds (I also was already sleepy) and by the time I woke up, we were done and ready to move me to a recovery room. I didn't have any nausea or dizziness, just the usual bleeding and pain that you would expected for a surgery. I've been resting at home and enjoying the downtime catching up on my new favorite show - bleeding has stop, swelling is minimal, and i'm a bit uncomfortable but not in pain. As a nervous patient, that says a lot! The only not-so-great thing about my experience was the front office - they didn't return my email asking for a consultation so I had to call them, and they didn't get my Xray from the dentist's office despite having 3 weeks to do so before my consultation. It was all square away quickly - but make sure to request the xray yourself to save time. Highly recommend and finger crossed for a speedy recovery! read more

Dr Merlo was rude, dismissive and had a terrible demeanor. He asked y/n questions that required context but it was apparent he had no desire to listen. I asked questions that went unanswered by him (he literally ignored me); however, the other staff was kind which is why there are two stars, not one. I would not recommend ANYONE to see this doctor. He has an awful attitude and should really consider working on how to effectively communicate with patients. read more

Do not recommend this dentist at all. He is know for a terrible bedside manner. His dismissive attitude at the consultation for a tooth extraction should have forewarned me about his demeanor and character. The consultation was brisk, he hardly looked in my eyes, and it was over a month from the procedure date. In the lead up to the procedure all I got were calls asking for money but no confirmation of anything that may have been needed for the actual extraction procedure. So when I showed up for the appointment, he was like where is your flipper? I was completely confused as the consultation made it seem like impressions would be done later and that the flipper was a generic item. I explained that there clearly was a misunderstanding and Merlo just responded "well that's your fault, I've been doing this a long time and this has only happened twice." So the miscommunication has in fact happened before. It's not just me. I let the doctor know as a point of feedback, that his bedside manner was a bit cold given this appointment was for the extraction of a tooth in the front of my face and it's a bit traumatic, and what was his response? "Go somewhere else! I don't need this. I don't need criticism from you." The worst part of his tirade was his final missive of "I don't need criticism FROm THE LIKES OF YOU!" All while raising his voice to a teary eyed scared and ANXIOUS me, and his nursing staff apologizing profusely to me. It was the WORST dental experience of my life. I would never recommend anyone use this practice. This doctor needs stress management and maybe some unconscious bias training. The likes of me?? I am a Black female attorney and I deserve to not be yelled at by a rude dentist over reasonable misunderstandings. Find another oral surgeon for your procedure. No one needs his fragile ego and rude energy as any part of their healthcare service. He was so disrespectful and unprofessional. read more

I can't attest to his level of skill or ability, but he is a very rude and off-putting person. The staff mostly seem helpful and accommodating, but I am always very leery of healthcare professionals with awful bedside manner. If I cannot have a healthy, productive dialogue with my doctor, I can't entrust him/her with my body or care. We decided to go elsewhere. read more

I've been to this practice a few times, first with my boyfriend and then for myself. The staff is always accessible, friendly, and knowledgeable. Yvonne, especially, is a treasure, so warm and kind. They also referred me to a dentist whom I like very much. Dr. M strikes me as no-nonsense, but also kind and professional. He listens well and is fully present during the visit. In the few visits we/I've had, I have never felt rushed or ignored. I, too, like a warm-and-fuzzy doc, but that doesn't always mean you're getting the best care. I think Dr. M provides competent and quality care without too much fluff. Not a bad thing. Just a style thing. I'm very happy with this practice and the treatment both my boyfriend and I have received and would recommend to family and friends without hesitation. read more

Listened to my concerns. Did not push having an implant and was patient and knowledgeable. Highly recommend him to all who need a consult on whether or not to have an extraction...as well as to do the extraction which in my case I knew was necessary. read more

Dr Merlo and the staff at the office are very professional and skilled at their craft. I was referred by my general dentist to remove 4 wisdom teeth and the procedure and healing process went smoothly. The only complaint I have is efficiency: I had to wait 15-60min each time I went in after checking in with a pretty full waiting room. At least they're popular? read more

Dr. Leonard Merlo performed an orthognathic surgery to correct my overbite back in November 2015. The surgery went well and I healed fast. However, right after the surgery I noticed that my jaws are very asymmetrically swollen. Dr. Merlo assured me that's just residual swelling and it takes long time to heal. On August 7, 2017, I had a final follow up: residual swelling became permanent facial disfigurement and the only way to fix it is another surgery. Dr. Merlo suggested to "shave" one jaw for $4,000.00 or administer a fat-dissolving injection (Kybella) for $800.00 as the best possible treatments. "Shaving" my jaw would require an external incision resulting in a permanent scar along my jawline. I refused, of course. It appears that he intentionally disfigured my face hoping I will pay for another surgery. A true professional would never charge a patient to correct his mistake. The funniest part is after I refused to do another butchery, Dr. Merlo tried to assure me that I look great and all people have asymmetrical faces, he never even apologized. He absolutely didn't care that I had a normal, symmetrical face before the surgery. I look like a Frankenstein's monster now, one part of my face is from one person, another part is from another person. I avoid taking pictures now since the asymmetry is very noticeable on pictures. I tried to schedule a follow up at the hospital to take after the surgery pictures, my request was denied and I was explained that before the surgery pictures were taken for the surgery purposes only not for comparison, huh? I requested a copy of my medical records for the second opinion. I was given a few documents only, not the whole file. In order to get the whole file, I needed to pay $25 and another $25 for a copy of billing records. I requested to take a look at my file, my request was adamantly denied and I was told I have enough information to get a second opinion somewhere else. I requested a copy of my recent CBCT scan, my request was denied since they didn't get paid for the scan, the only way to get a copy is to pay in full. Up to date, the claim is not submitted to my insurance. The denial to provide medical records for unpaid services and denial to give me my file while being in the office are HIPAA's violations and I already reported him to the Office for Civil Rights. Also, the HIPAA's recommended cost is $6.50 which constitutes an actual cost of printing and paper. In retrospect, before submitting a pre-certification for the surgery, I was told that I need to pay $1,500.00 for jaw molds. All my arguments that the surgery's procedures are 100% covered by my insurance and the office needs to bill my insurance were useless; I was told that there is no billing code for this procedure and the surgery is not possible without molds. I asked why I wasn't told in the beginning about this extra charge. The billing person replied: "I'm telling you now." Now I understand that the whole situation was a classic bait and switch, and extortion. The sad part is that Dr. Merlo engages his personnel in his illegal activities, the majority of conversations were with his front desk or billing people. I searched Dr. Merlo's name online and discovered a lawsuit against him as publicly available information. https://center.mdmalpracticeattorney.com/2011/08/02/andre-holmes-v-dr-leonard-merlo-et-al/ I consider myself as a lucky person after reading this lawsuit. read more

I wish I could give less than 1 star because I have never met such a rude person in my life. Leonard Merlo just walked in when I was sitting down and after staring his name he just says "open". And he answered all the questions I had as if he had somewhere better to be. I only went for consultation and didn't go forward because his level of rudeness was unbelievable. Staff is one thing but the Doctor?! I wouldn't recommend him to anyone. read more

1. The office Personal are rude! 2. They would not provide me the Wi-fi password 3. The uncomfortable waiting room chairs look like you are waiting at a bus station. 4. It literally feels like you are going to Sears to get your teeth pulled by a mechanic. I would say that the office personal reflects the quality of work done by the Doctors. read more

I was referred to Dr. Merlo's practice by my dentist for wisdom tooth extraction. I made an appointment for extraction, at least I thought so and was not advised otherwise by the person scheduling appointment. I came to my appointment only to find out it was only a consult, which completely beats the purpose of referral by my dentist. I admit I do not know the requirements medical professionals have to follow when it comes to referrals, etc. However, it would have been nice of front desk staff to let me know that there has to be a consult before a tooth extraction, especially when I specifically mentioned "tooth extraction" when I was making my appointment. I expressed my discontent to Dr. Merlo and he was a bit defensive about it, but apologized. I was tempted to go a different practice, but figured that because I already had a consult with this doctor, I would go ahead with the extraction. The extraction went well, the procedure was quick and efficient, I felt no pain and so far feeling okay. However, there were no words of encouragement, not even a smile, not from the Doctor nor from his staff. Not a lot of instructions from him or explaining of what to expect from the procedure, he just asked if I had any questions. His nurse briefly instructed me after the procedure, and they also give you a piece of paper with instructions. He is a great oral surgeon, but I prefer more personable care. Otherwise, the office was very accommodating and friendly. The wait area is clean and renovated, there is practically no wait time. Minus one star for the scheduling mishap and cold bedside manner. Otherwise, great doctor and good practice. read more

I was referred to Dr. Merlo by my dentist Dr. Cooper. Dr. Merlo was professional and took the time during the initial consult to address my concerns regarding nerve damage. He was also very good about not requiring additional X-rays besides the one my doctor had taken a few years ago. On the day of surgery he again answered all my questions professionally. I took nitrous so I was awake for the procedure. It is a very quick procedure (this might differ based on how your wisdom teeth are oriented/impacted). I asked him why the procedure felt rushed and he explained that it's to minimize pain and swelling later on; which is exactly what happened in the following days. I was able to walk out of the surgery with no disorientation since I was on nitrous. There was a lot of pain the first day (5-6 hours) till the evening and then it just stopped by itself. I had to take very few medications (only two Vicodin pills and some alleve). I had no swelling or pain after that. I credit this to the excellent job by Dr. Merlo. Any post-op questions I had were answered via text immediately by the doctor or his team. Some of the reviews mentioned rude staff or nurses. That was not my experience. The post-op nurse was brusque in answering my questions but some deviation is expected with so much staff. Some reviews mentioned his bedside manner and I thought it was fine. He comes across as competent and did a good job. I'd rather have a good doctor that answers questions and does a good job than one that provides a lot of consoling. Overall, I had a good experience and would highly recommend him. People were amazed that I was up and about the next day with no swelling. read more

My experience was amazing! I actually saw Jeffery Gitelman, DDS. He extracted all four of my wisdom teeth and made me feel so comfortable from my initial consultation to my actual procedure. I LOVE the staff at this establishment as well. I would recommend to anyone seeking to have an at ease experience with a dental surgeon! read more

Dr. Merlo and the WHC surgical team who operated on my mom did such an amazing job repairing her jaw. My mom goes to his Maryland office and his staff are all so pleasant, efficient and helpful. Yvonne is usually who I deal with and she's just a sweetheart outside of her wonderful professionalism. She always gets things done and goes the extra mile. Very glad I chose Dr. Merlo to do my mom's surgery. read more

I went to Dr. Merlo for a bone graft and dental implant, because he was in my network. He was set to schedule the initial surgery (bone graft) until he found out how much the network reimburses (and he is contractually obligated not to charge more than that). I was informed by the office that they would not schedule the surgery for that price. My network got involved (since it is illegal for a doctor on contract with them to refuse on the basis of reimbursement) and was told by Dr. Merlo that he never refused to schedule the surgery based on reimbursement, but instead told me that I might be more comfortable in a university setting due to the complexity of the surgery. In reality, Dr. Merlo never told me anything of the sort, and if he had I would have started looking for another doctor several months ago. Here are your options: a) You can believe Dr. Merlo - the surgery was too complicated for him to feel comfortable doing. That doesn't sound like a very confident doctor and there are several others in the area who are not frightened by routine bone grafts, so go to them instead. b) You can believe me, and know that Dr. Merlo lied. If that is the case, you obviously don't want to go to a doctor who is going to blatantly lie to you or your insurance company (and essentially brand you a liar in the process). You've been given fair warning... read more

I was referred to Dr. Merlo when my oral surgeon was unable to do my wisdom tooth extraction at the last minute. He seemed very no nonsense when I met him (2 minutes before I was knocked out) which is fine and not a problem since I'd rather have a serious person taking out my teeth. However, he gave me a bit of flack for not taking prophylactic antibiotics even though I had been told not to take any medicine prior to the surgery so that made me a little nervous. He was great with inserting the iv himself, probably the quickest and most painless I've felt which is surprising considering I was 11 hours dehydrated and have bad veins to begin with. The surgery went great. I woke up without a haze and was completely coherent. I didn't actually see Dr. Merlo prior to leaving. I was handed a piece of paper with follow up instructions and escorted out. My first 2 days post op were wonderful. I had 0 swelling and 0 pain and I was singing Dr. Merlo's praises. However, day 3 I developed dry socket by no fault of my own. I tried to wait out the pain but couldn't so the next day (saturday) I called the office and hit the button to be transferred to the on call doctor. Dr. Merlo answers and I explain to him what I'm experiencing and that the blood clot had dislodged and that I'm fairly sure everything is exposed and that I'm in excruciating pain. I literally heard him sigh and could feel him rolling his eyes through the phone. He told me that I didn't know what I was looking at in my mouth and that I should just take some painkillers and go about my day and maybe he'd see me on monday. The level of disrespect and dismissal I felt was absurd. As a patient, in pain, I felt like he just couldn't be bothered to spend 2 minutes of his time on my follow up. It's not like I was calling him and telling him that I had gone on WebMD and thought I had mouth cancer, I was describing a very realistic feeling of pain. I ended up calling and explaining my symptoms to my original oral surgeon, Dr. Patel, and she immediately brought me in and told me I did have dry socket and treated me promptly. I never received a follow up call from Dr. Merlo or his office. I spent 2 extra days in pain because Dr. Merlo couldn't be bothered on a Saturday. I'm grateful to him for seeming to have done a good job with extracting my teeth but being a dentist is more than just the procedure and I think he fails on all other accounts. read more

Dr. Merlo came highly recommended from my orthodontist for my orthognathic surgery. I was extremely nervous, as this was going to be the first time I've had surgery. I met Dr. Merlo in December and he was very clear in explaining the procedure and what the process would entail. My surgery was scheduled for a few months later, as the orthodontist needed to rearrange my teeth for surgery. I was mainly in contact with Dr. Merlo's Rockville office, but have since had my check ups at his D.C. office, and the staff at both offices are extremely friendly! The staff at his Rockville office kept me up to date with the progress leading up to my surgery. I met with Dr. Merlo a few days before my surgery, and again he explained in detail how the procedure would go and really put me at ease. I of course had been doing research online and had gotten extremely nervous. After meeting with Dr. Merlo I was instantly relaxed and ready for surgery. At the hospital for surgery, again he went over what he and his team were going to do, how long it would take and the days after for recovery. The procedure went great and the recovery very smoothly. I have since had a few check ups and everything is on track for recovery! I highly recommend for any oral surgery needs! They have a great office in both Rockville, MD and D.C. in DuPont. read more

I mean, really, how can you be a fan of someone whose job it is to pull your teeth? Seriously, though, Leonard Merlo was recommended to me by my primary dentist to have a sad old wisdom tooth removed. He was completely professional both in the evaluation appointment and then in doing the actual procedure. Although brisk, he made it clear that he wanted me to understand the procedure, explained risks, and asked about my medical history in addition to the preliminary medical questionnaire that I filled out. He also called me back promptly when I had additional questions and issues after the initial appointment. (Can you tell I was nervous about having a tooth pulled?) The staff person who took me into the surgical room was extremely kind. She explained what to expect and figuratively held my hand while I waited for the anesthetic to take effect. The actual procedure was not as bad as the anticipation. I was very appreciative of Dr. Merlo's skill and excellent technique. I don't agree with the other reviewers regarding the front office staff. They're not all friendly, but even the unfriendly ones are civil. I was a bit taken aback that the office actually closes for lunch, and I had to wait elsewhere till they reopened. However these factors seem trivial when I consider that I had a tooth extracted skillfully and without noticeable pain. I hope not to have to have any other teeth extracted, but if I had to, I'd have no hesitation about going back to Dr. Merlo. read more

Found the oral surgeon on google and after years of my impacted wisdom teeth giving me trouble, I decided it was time to have them removed. It was very easy booking the appointments in Rockville and I really thought the office staff was well trained with insurance handling. Dr. Merlo was upfront and gives you all the facts and lets you make your decision. I really appreciated this, the process was thorough and he was confident in his work which put me at ease. I had no problems afterwards, just usual pain, no swelling, I followed all the instructions. I would recommend this office and surgeon should you unfortunately need oral surgery. read more

Recommended by our primary dentist, whom we adore. Merlo's staff are kind, helpful - the front desk attendant repeatedly comforted my 16 year old who wasn't thrilled about wisdom teeth extraction - It was his first "surgery"... The entire time we were at the desk for scheduling or other reasons, she was reassuring him it wasn't as big a deal as she thought it would be when she had the surgery. She laughed and smiled and joked with him - that made a HUGE difference in how my son felt after our consult. (I firmly believe how patients "think" about something is a big part of having a procedure done, and every person in the office can have a positive impact on the experience...) There is a video in the consult room to ensure you know what to do and what to expect. A little impersonal, but efficient and effective. As others noted, Dr Merlo is very direct and brisk but kind and willing to answer any questions, and most importantly he is skilled - my son had no problems and limited swelling and pain (compared to a friend's child who had the procedure the same week and couldn't sleep several nights even after pain meds - of course I cannot compare how impacted each tooth was, but still, I felt confident in Dr Merlo's abilities)... Dr Merlo does ask you to follow some procedures - take antibiotics before the procedure, don't eat 8 hours before surgery, gargle with salt water after every meal, etc, etc - all for the benefit and comfort of his patients. He also offers a Steroid injection the day of surgery to reduce swelling - and I do believe it helped. (Our friend's child was not offered this option, and again, she had a hell-ish couple days post surgery.) Dr Merlo's office called the evening of the procedure to make sure all was going well, and scheduled a follow up 4 days post surgery to inspect the surgical area. We had traffic delays and were late for the follow up, but the office was kind and accommodating. Office was clean. Insurance and billing - no problems. The office was clear on what I would pay. Easy to get to office and free parking (I live in DC). I can only imagine the drudgery of oral surgery day in and day out, and would say the only thing that sets my dentist's office apart from Dr Merlo's is the extra dose of compassion, humor, patience and smiles each time we see our dentist (Dr Lili Ghazai and Ivy). Hands down it brightens the experience! As a teen I had surgery on the roof of my mouth, 4 wisdom teeth removed and extensive dental work, including braces - so dealing with dental offices is not a new experience. And it makes me highly conscientious in selecting anyone for my child. I would certainly recommend Dr Merlo. read more

Dr Merlo performed a wisdom tooth extraction for me today. The procedure was fast (in and out if the office in 20mn, extraction itself was less than 2mn!), and his team answered every question I had. Very satisfied with his services, would recommend to anyone. read more

I used Dr. Leonard Merlo through Dr. Dipa Patel in Arlington (my primary oral surgeon who had a accident and Dr. Merlo filled in for her) for a dental implant on December 30, 2015. I had a complication requiring a sinus lift that I was told would take additional time and make things a bit more complex. He was businesslike, direct and professional, made sure that I was comfortable and all my questions were answered to my satisfaction. I think he did an excellent job. The surgery went very well and 2 weeks later, I'm very pleased with the results. No complications and no concerns. Dr. Merlo was quick and acted like he knew what he was doing and had done it many times before. The whole thing took less than 40 minutes, using novacane. The worst thing about the procedure was the needle prick when he gave me the novacane. I was given percocet and took 3 pills and some motrin for a couple days, but the follow up pain was minimal. In retrospect, I'm not sure that I actually needed the percocet after the first night. Dr. Merlo is not necessarily the most warm and fuzzy guy, but this is not unusual for specialists. In looking for a specialist, I look for competence and someone who has done my procedure frequently. The more you do something, the better you usually get at it. Dr. Merlo fills both bills nicely and I would recommend him to anyone looking for an implant. read more

I went to see Dr. Merlo for my wisdom teeth. I was very nervous, this being my first surgery, however I couldn't be more pleased with my experience. The staff was helpful and efficient. They helped me with my insurance so my out of pocket costs were much less than they would have been at the other oral surgeon's office i visited for a second opinion. I had very little pain and minimal swelling. Dr. Merlo called me the same day to check on my progress and helped me with all my questions. Overall, I would go back for any oral surgery, and I will suggest him to all my friends. read more

LONG STORY SHORT - THEY CHARGED MY INSURANCE FOR A SURGERY THAT I NEVER HAD BECAUSE THE DOCTOR WAS A NO SHOW THAT MORNING AND I NEVER WENT BACK! I would rate this doctor's office a negative number if I could. I had read the other reviews but figured my procedure would be quick and easy. Let's just say I never got the procedure done. I went for a consultation with Dr. Merlo because Dr. Gitleman was out of town. They assured me that insurance wise the claim would be submitted under Gitleman's name because my insurance company didn't have Merlo's name. THAT was done correctly. My second visit was for the surgery. Dr Merlo was late. They brought me into the room and I waited even longer. Dr. Gitleman poked his had in and said this was unlike Dr. Merlo but he would be there soon. Come to find out they couldn't get him on his cell phone at all. I eventually left the office without getting the surgery. They wanted me to reschedule but I just had this uneasy feeling about the whole thing and said I would call them and let them know. Obviously I did not return. To make this long story short...I was just recently looking over my health care claims online and noticed that Dr. Gitleman's office had charged my policy TWICE! Once for the legitimate office visit and once for a SURGERY THAT I NEVER HAD! They scored over $200 from my health insurance company. It was too late to call the office when I discovered this today but my health insurance company is aware of the situation and I am to call the doctor's office tomorrow to ask them to retract the claim. If I remember...I will post the outcome. With all that being said...Dr. Merlo was a somewhat nice enough guy when I met him on my first visit. I never saw him on my second visit. Dr. Gitleman seemed nice enough when he poked his head in while I was waiting. But the morals of this office staff are way off the mark! They medical service may be fine but the billing is NOT! read more

I went to my first visit for an evaluation. Dr. Merlo doesn't communicate with the patient and he doesn't know how to listen to the patients concerns. My only thought during my visit was "when can I get out of here". In my opinion the Dr. lacks bedside manners. read more

My experience with Dr. Merlo's office was very good. I had two separate procedures by Dr. Merlo and I'm happy with both. My procedures were done with no serious issues and I am pleased with the results. Dr. Merlo is a straight shooter and won't waste your time. Unlike other surgeons I talked to, Dr. Merlo was never pushy or trying to sell me into using his service. His staff was very professional and helped me plan a surgery that I needed in a tight timeframe. I highly recommend Dr. Merlo and his team. read more

ZERO STARS!! After suffering with TMJ pain for 8 months, we scheduled surgery at one of the local hospitals. The night before the surgery, the office called to tell me they had to cancel due to his personal reasons. OK, these things happen. I rescheduled for the following week and adjusted my days off from work accordingly. At the hospital one week later, they were running behind in surgery so I waited in a gown with an IV and a surgical drape taped around my head for 2 hours. When it was finally my turn, they called Dr Merlo to come down to the hospital and he said something to the effect of "What are you talking about?". I was sent home with no surgery and I switched doctors the next day. read more

I've never written a Yelp review before, but damn - everyone at the office was great. Billing was easy, the staff were sweet and my wisdom teeth came out without a hitch (despite making them see me four separate times in three weeks!). In my post-IV haze, I'm pretty sure I asked Dr. Merlo "Have you read your Yelp reviews?" I meant to say that they were unfair and that he had done such a great job, but I'm fairly certain I just drooled and insulted him. He was masterful and I spent all afternoon with a phenomenal high, dancing around CVS. Be nice to these folks; apparently they have to put up with a lot of crappy customers. read more

Dr. Merlo extracted three of my older son's wisdom teeth this summer and it was the easiest extraction and recovery I could imagine. Some of the reviews fault Dr. Merlo for not being sufficiently warm and fuzzy. But you're hiring an oral surgeon to fix a serious dental issue, not dating him. Dr. Merlo did an excellent job, and I will not hesitate to send my younger son to him if and when his wisdom teeth need to be removed. read more

I had a tooth extraction,sinus lift surgery,and bone graft surgery all performed by Dr. Merlo.There was almost no discomfort,and my referring dentist and I felt the results were excellent.I have been to many dental professionals over the years,and I could tell right away he really knew what he was doing. read more

I have been going to Dr Merlo for several years for routine tooth extractions and have been very satisfied with his services and his professionalism. Probably more important was my interaction with Lauren, the Office Manager. She basically babysat me through cancelled appts, insurance issues, and fright. Lauren is the best...BAR NONE !!! I would definitely go to, and recommend Dr. Merlo's office again. read more

It's kind of funny to say I had a great time having my wisdom teeth removed, but I honestly did. Dr. Merlo and his staff were kind, helpful, and professional through the whole process, from the moment I booked my consultation. I never had to wait more than a few minutes, and all the staff were friendly and well informed whenever I had questions. I had four wisdom teeth removed, which took under an hour. After, I was given Dr. Merlo's personal phone number so that I may reach someone all hours if I had any problems. However I was never in much pain, swelling was minimal, no dry sockets or any other complications, and I was back to work on Monday. I was a little nervous at some reviews mentioning not liking his personality, but these are completely unfounded - Dr. Merlo is incredibly personable and approachable - he made me feel comfortable with a procedure I was really nervous about, and even joked back and forth. I highly recommend Dr. Merlo and his office. read more

Dr. Merlo answered my questions without making me look foolish and the tooth extraction was quick and relatively relaxing. It's the next day and I don't even need to take pain killers. Very pleased with the way I was treated. read more

My son had a remarkably successful wisdom tooth extraction courtesy of Dr. Merlo. For us, the quality of the operation and the minimal amount of resulting pain far outweighed any brusqueness which other reviewers seem to have found troubling. Would definitely recommend! read more

I have referred literally hundreds of patients to Dr Merlo, mostly for implant surgery and various other surgical procedures. He has demonstrated a consistency of outcomes that are unparalleled. He thorough, fast, and very frank. He has superb clinical acumen and surgical skills that are beyond reproach. Yes, my patients tell me he can be brusque, and he does not hold your hand. His staff in D.C. can also at times be off putting. However, I send patients to him both to get good, competent and solid advice and or surgical intervention. I don't send patients to him because he is "a nice guy." It would be nice if he was also all warm and fuzzy, but his skill and knowledge are what is most important. And, I can refer to anyone I want, but when I have referred to others, or patients have decided to use someone else (either because they know someone else or because they were off-put by the office staff or his curtness) things just too often don't go so smoothly. He also does a huge amount of trauma reconstructive surgery... and donates a lot of his time on mission doing cleft lip and palate and other facial surgeries. He is an, at times gruff, gem of a person. In short, I know his work from the standpoint of a clinician, myself also someone who does surgery and prosthetics and who is obsessed wiht things being done perfectly as possible the first time. I have sent my own mother to him and would have no apprehension to myself go under the knife with him as the surgeon. read more

went to Dr. Merlo in an emergency-a wisdom tooth had broken off at the gum line. He and his staff waited after closing time at the Rockville officefor me to arrive, had me in the dental chair almost immediately, performed the work quickly and painlessly, and I was on my way home in 20 minutes. I am most pleased with the entire experience. I would certainly recommend Dr. Merlo-he and his staff were very nice and quite professional. read more

My dentist recommended me to Dr. Merlo to have my wisdom teeth removed and I don't have any complaints. When I went for my consultation appointment, the front desk gave me an itemized list of estimated charges (I suppose they say "estimated" because something unexpected could happen in surgery) so I knew what to expect. The charges ended up being exactly the same when I paid on the day of surgery. They let you complete the patient registration forms online, which saves time (I didn't have a chance to, so they had me complete them on an iPad in the waiting room. Dr. Merlo is very professional and knowledgeable. He does come off a bit business-like, but it didn't bother me very much as he knows what he's doing. On the actual day of surgery, he made sure to ask if I had any allergies, whether I had taken the prescribed antibiotics, and if I had any questions. He even cracked a joke before putting me under ("I saw a video on how to do this last night, hope it goes well"). Good experience overall. read more

I was nervous going in to this whole oral surgery/implant world. This was a radical step for me. I mean, my teeth were ok but I was tired of the apparatus that kept my smile together and I wanted something nicer. Dr. Merlo was not recommended to me by my regular dentist but he was in my insurance network and so that made it affordable for me. The office staff is very, very efficient; nice though not overly outgoing. Dr. Merlo seemed very intent on first blush. I was worried at first that he was going to be all business and no compassion who was, basically, scared, of this whole process. But as he worked on me it became apparent that he was really concerned and he was especially keen on doing things right and getting them done well. My case ended up being extremely complicated - way more so than we could have imagined going in. But Dr. Merlo stuck with me and counseled me through the whole thing and helped me make good choices throughout the process. He was a real anchor and I was so grateful that I chose him to do my teeth work. In the end, some what I came to him for was successful and some of it was not (not his fault - it was my physiology and bone structure that failed). But he was helpful right up to the end and refunded me the portion of my payment for the work that didn't succeed. He also advised me on other options when it became clear that the bone in my jaw was insufficient to support an implant. I am now quite happily tooth-complete with a good smile in part with the work that Dr. Merlo did and in part with additional work from my regular dentist. All in all it was a daunting experience but I give Dr. Merlo credit for all his good work. read more

I went to their office on a referral and wish i hadnt. I already had my consultation and xrays showing that all my wisdom teeth should be extracted at some point. When i went there dr Merlo assured me that i had to remove my 6 teeth at once on general anaestasia, i asked them for another invoice in case i removed only the two urgent ones and still he gave me one with general anaestasia which increased the bill. Now my insurance couldnt cover those extractions so i was trying to call them and notify them of the problem, i was not able to and at the same time they were not able to call me as well until the time of the surgery. At that point i was able to call and tell them my situation that i needed some time to gather the money so it was better to cancel the apointment for now, i told them there was some problem with networks or something and wasnt able to reach them sooner. Apparently they sent me an email after the call (why didnt they just call me?) that i saw days later, telling me that i didnt need the anaestasia that dr Merlo prescribed after all, and so my bill would be reduced a lot and that he could do it still instead of me paying the 150 cancellation fee. It was too late for me to call back and i have been charged a consultation (that basically was just watching a video and telling me what my other doctor told me about my teeth problems) and the cancellation fee when we both had trouble contacting each other (the office and me). As a doctor i believe it shouldnt be just about the money and billing more to get the most out of an operation, charging me about 600 for general anaestasia when the operation could be done with local numbing does not reassure me that the doctor is truly looking out for my best interests, removing 6 teeth at once when it could be done gradually too makes me wonder. Now i am a foreign student, and i am looking for ways to regroup the money needed because two teeth need urgent care, i asked the office to help me by waiving the cancellation fee (even if i signed, we could not contact each other up to that day of the surgery), just asked as a favor and the doctor cannot even talk with me or hear me out, he left notes saying she has to pay because she signed, so i will do the best i can to pay everything (consultation and cancellation) but i am not going back to a person who cares more about my purse than my health. I will find someone better willing to help me and give me an extraction plan in line with the urgency not just remove everything for the sake and the budget of it. I dont know about you but i am not going to recommend dr Merlo, it is not just about extraction or dental care, it is also about helping the patient, i would feel he cared better if he took the time to listen and talk to me even if he could not waive it, i would feel like he tried...he did not even call to explain why suddenly i could do the extraction without general anaestasia... He might be good but i am not going back. read more