I've been a patient at JD Howard dental for approximately seven years now and I have always been…read morehappy with the stellar service.
I, as are many of the patients at JD Howard dental, am a bona fide sufferer of dentophobia. If not for modern dentistry, and all of the amenities offered with regards to comfort, I'm quite certain all of my teeth would rot and fall right out of my mouth. I know many other people feel the same way and that's why we search out dental practices that provide sedation dentistry without judgment. My phobia is so bad that I require sedation with regular dental cleanings. Apparently, sedation dentistry is no longer a major part of this practice because I don't see it anywhere on the website.
Until recently that form of sedation for me was nitrous oxide. Though ironically, I have never really had much of a fear of the needle when requiring Novacaine. I know that's a little unusual, but it's true.
Recently, I have heard that the practice was sold by Dr. Howard and bought by a corporation. The things that I'm experiencing there now are pretty typical of businesses that are bought by corporations and the biggest issue there is the patient always seems to come last and the bottom line is always first. As a result, I have lost the nitrous oxide for basic dental care. I've also noticed dentists have left the practice as have hygienists. There's always a reason for that.
I had an appointment for the hygienist for which I was given a prescription for Halcyon, a benzodiazepine. The consent paperwork that I was given stated that the norm for this is Lorazepam or Ativan unless contraindicated. I have no health history that would exclude the use of Ativan. This is what happened. At approximately 10 to 15 minutes after I took the Halcyon, I knew there was going be a problem because that stuff hit me really hard. It hit me so hard in fact that the dental hygienist had to assist me from the waiting room to her room and back again. I have almost no recollection of anything that happened after that. I remember the hygienist taking my blood pressure and hearing the diastolic number, but I don't remember much of the actual work, I don't remember my teeth being polished, and I don't remember any examination or discussion with the dentist, which is particularly disturbing. I left the hygienist room with my swag bag, and once again her assistance to the waiting room.
The worst part of that is that anytime I have dental work at JD Howard dental I'm now going to be out of commission for the rest of the day. Can't drive, can't work, etc. I'm in health care so I obviously can't work after that. That means I have to take a whole day off with vacation time which is completely unacceptable.
With nitrous, none of the things cited above, were even remotely an issue. I finished my cleaning or whatever other dental work it was, made my way to my car, and drove myself home. After questioning, it has been brought to my attention that nitrous oxide services will no longer be offered by the hygienist. So my question becomes, who made that decision? Oh wait, it's a corporate thing and likely a refusal to pay for their certification, or accept any associated risk.
At any rate, and in light of all of the above, I have no other choice, but to seek dental services elsewhere. I am a recent Snowbird and I have found a full service sedation dental practice in St. Petersburg, Florida, who offers nitrous for dental cleanings. After a lot of consideration, I have elected to go with them and have my first appointment in January '25. I only chose a Florida practice because I couldn't find sedation dentistry in this area.
This recent appointment at this facility was unfortunately my last. The practice under corporate ownership has become something no longer desirable to me and judging by recent Yelp reviews, I'm not the only one.
