WARNING! GENTLE DENTAL - LACEY, WA. DO NOT GO HERE!…read more
TERRIBLE DENTAL WORK, QUESTIONABLE ETHICS, MISSING CASH PAYMENT RECORDS, NO TREATMENT PLAN, AND STILL NO REFUND AFTER MORE THAN 90 DAYS!
I wish I could give ZERO stars! After nearly a YEAR of dealing with Gentle Dental in Lacey, I feel obligated to warn others. I wouldn't want ANYONE to experience what I've been through!
PATIENT SAFETY & CONSENT: I personally witnessed items dropped on the FLOOR, picked up, and placed directly into my MOUTH! I was also asked to sign electronically without being allowed to read what I was signing.
NOT ONCE was I provided a written treatment plan, despite repeatedly requesting one!
QUESTIONABLE CASH PAYMENTS: The previous office manager repeatedly scheduled my appointments late in the day and told me she couldn't accept my card for copays. I had to go next door, withdraw CASH, and return to pay her.
When I requested receipts, she said the payments would be credited to my account and I'd receive emails. I NEVER RECEIVED THEM!
Then one day I was told I had an OUTSTANDING BALANCE! I was shocked because I NEVER left without paying! I asked them to speak with the previous manager and was told she no longer worked there.
I demanded a complete account statement to verify my cash payments. I NEVER RECEIVED IT, AND THE ALLEGED BALANCE WAS NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN!
Where did my cash payments go? Why couldn't I get receipts? I STILL WANT ANSWERS!
PAID FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT ORDER: For approximately NINE MONTHS, I brought my previous partial denture to EVERY appointment, physically showing them EXACTLY what I wanted. Sometimes THREE TIMES during one visit!
Every time I was assured, "YES, THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL GET!"
They collected my money BEFORE oral surgery. When I came out, I received COMPLETELY DIFFERENT partials than what I'd repeatedly requested!
I PAID FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT WANT OR ORDER!
And the LOWER PARTIAL BROKE IN LESS THAN A WEEK!
CONSTANTLY CHANGING DENTISTS: Nearly every visit involved a different dentist. Communication was difficult, and nobody seemed to know what had previously been promised.
DENTIST YELLED AT ME: Eventually, a dentist apologized and promised to replace the partials "for FREE."
FREE??? I ALREADY PAID FOR THEM!
Months later, I was shown another mock-up that STILL wasn't what I'd requested! I literally began CRYING, holding up my original partial AGAIN, saying, "But this isn't THIS!"
Instead of listening, the dentist YELLED at me and told me they would no longer treat me and I should find another dentist!
EXCUSE ME? You take my money, don't provide what was promised, give me dental work that BREAKS, and then refuse to treat me?
THREATENED WITH POLICE FOR REQUESTING MY REFUND: The dentist agreed to refund me, but the manager said she couldn't process it without speaking to the dentist, who was too busy.
I said I'd WAIT, even if it took until after 5 PM!
I called my daughter to explain what was happening. I was moved into a private office and told the dentist REFUSED to speak with me.
The manager said corporate would issue my refund. I insisted on getting that promise IN WRITING before leaving.
THEY THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE!
I finally received something in writing and left.
OVER 90 DAYS -- STILL NO REFUND!
And just recently, they called saying my partials were READY for pickup at 1 PM! Shocked, I thought maybe I'd give them ONE LAST CHANCE.
LESS THAN THREE MINUTES LATER, THEY CALLED BACK!
Apparently, the employee was new, made a mistake, and suddenly there were NO partials ready!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
THIS ISN'T JUST BAD DENTAL WORK. THIS IS ABOUT PATIENT SAFETY, INFORMED CONSENT, HONESTY, ETHICS, AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY!
In my opinion, based on my personal experience, the treatment and practices I encountered were UNETHICAL, DISHONEST, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!
What angers me most is that ALL THE RED FLAGS WERE THERE! I kept giving them another chance, believing someone would finally make things right.
THAT WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE!
I've spent nearly a YEAR fighting for what I paid for, and now I'm fighting to get my own money back!
GENTLE DENTAL LACEY -- I WANT MY REFUND, A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF MY PAYMENTS, AND ANSWERS!
My advice, RUN...Go anywhere but Gentle Dental!
