I scheduled a consultation with Dr. Pierri for a wisdom tooth removal and came in, ready to schedule the procedure.
I arrived about 15 minutes before my appointment and called to tell them I was outside. The receptionist, Mary, told me it would be a few minutes and someone would call me once they were ready. Sure enough, I received a call a few minutes later from Angela. I walked to the front of the building and noticed a massive Blue Lives Matter flag hanging outside the door. I thought the flag was unprofessional and inappropriate. Once inside, my temperature was taken as a precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19. After a few tries, we finally got a reading and I was motioned to the front desk, where I gave the receptionist my ID and insurance. I signed in and wrote down my temperature. For the consultation, I paid $75.
Next, I followed Angela to get an x-ray of my mouth. She set up the computer and calibrated the machine. She put the radiology apron on me before adjusting the machine to fit my face. However, I wish I received information prior to my appointment about the x-ray because I have a nose ring that is hard to remove. I also put on earrings, which had to be removed prior to the scan. I'm also not sure why they could not refer to my x-rays from my dentist, saving me the extra scan. Can your office access those x-rays?
Once I got to the room, the technician was not able to locate my x-ray. After checking the previous computer and consulting with another technician, I was asked to take another x-ray. I did not mind getting up to take another x-ray, but it was clear that the computers were a bit slow and the x-ray can be uncomfortable. Angela was very pleasant about everything.
From there, we returned to the room and Angela put the x-rays on the screen. She told me I needed to watch a few videos before talking with Dr. Pierri, informing me about the procedure and post-op guidelines for after-care, such as medication, anaesthesia, and diet. I could tell the videos were really outdated and the audio wasn't very accessible. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, I would ask for the technician to turn on the closed captioning. Each video took about 5 minutes from start to finish and the latter featured Dr. Pierri herself (maybe about 30 years ago). She walked us through the expectations for recovery, as well as provided recommendations (e.g., avoid dairy to prevent bacteria or exercise). Once the videos were over, Angela brought in Dr. Pierri, who repeated the information from the video almost verbatim and described the procedure again. She also described the x-ray to me, her recommendations for anaesthesia, and medication.
She recommended that most people remove their wisdom teeth between 16-19 and asked if I had any questions. After receiving the consultation, the technician, Angela, reviewed the information with me and scheduled the following appointments: a COVID test two days prior to the procedure, which is done in house by Dr. Pierri, the procedure, and a post-op procedure to remove the sutures and monitor the area. I also filled out additional paperwork to confirm everything. I was a bit uncomfortable that I wasn't able to review the forms, though. Instead, the information was summarized to me on the tablet and then, handed to me to sign. I wish I could receive a paper copy.
We also ordered the medication for the procedure ahead of time, to be picked up by the pharmacy. This is happening about a month before the procedure. I was told the medication will not expire.
At the end of my appointment, I was sent to the front desk once again to pay a portion of the anaesthesia, which was $195 (which was in addition to the $75 I paid earlier, totalling $270 for the visit). Do know that the anesthesiologist fees are meant to be paid out-of-pocket, as they are not associated with Dr. Pierri's practice. It is relatively expensive and I would expect to pay at least $500 for general anaesthesia.
Overall, I thought the appointment was fine. I thought Dr. Pierri was knowledgeable about the procedure, though I noticed her reviews are a mixed bag (some are exceptional, others are pathetic and express disappointment with the service). Additionally, I was a bit uncomfortable in the office, as information regarding their COVID policies (e.g., mask-wearing and social distancing) was non-existent. I didn't even see so much as a sign and other patients in the office were either mask-less or wearing them improperly (with their nose exposed, for instance). This was also true for the staff members, but a plexiglass partition separated us.
I will note that Angela was kind and wore her mask properly. She was patient and informative during my visit. I really enjoyed speaking with Angela, but Dr. Pierri is very quick and plain-spoken. While this makes the visit quicker, do not expect a warm or friendly approach from her. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to getting the procedure over with. read more
