Beware of this practice!!! I have been getting my cleanings here, and I had a crown replaced and a new crown done here (both are increasingly sensitive) but recently, I had a toothache on the opposite side. I went in on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and they took an x-ray scan, and said I need a Root Canal. They said they didn't have a dentist to help on the weekend, and they would call me Monday to say if Dr. Herman could perform the procedure. (Not a very reassuring statement.) Well, they didn't call me back, so I tried a different dentist, who said I needed a specialist, and he gave me a suggestion of who to see. He said that since Dr. Herman's office had already done the x-ray scan, I could pick up a disk and take it to the specialist, when I go. So I called Dr. Herman's office and they said they could give me the films, but if I wanted a disk, there is a charge. So, I went to get the disk the next Saturday, and she told me the disk would cost me $250.00!!! I laughed out loud and said a disk costs less than $1.00! I said, "well, give me the films." She printed something on the laser printer. She held up a piece of paper with a print of tooth #30 only. This was not films, as she said I could get, and it wasn't the whole mouth scan they took! This is MY record that the insurance paid for. Furthermore, Dr. Herman obviously can't do the procedure, so the scan was just a way to get money from the insurance company, and then if a dentist, capable of doing the procedure, wanted the scan, I would have to give them $250.00 over the $296.00 the insurance company already paid, just for a copy!!! I tried to explain that the scan was a complete waste, if they can't use it for the procedure, and I can't afford a copy of the disk! She said, she wasn't going to communicate with me anymore, if I was going to argue with her. So I said, "You guys suck! Have a great day!" and I walked out.
So today, Monday, I called my insurance company, and they said that scan is supposed to cost me $0.00 out-of-pocket, so they called Dr. Herman's office while I was on the line. But they repeated the same thing, that I had to pay $250.00, if I want to give the disk to the specialist. So, the insurance company hung up with Dr. Herman's office, and told me that I will be covered for another scan at the new dentist's office. They already paid for the visit to Dr. Herman, so that's all they can do. Well, of course, this means I have to be exposed to radiation, again (after, I've already had several PET SCANS this year and Radiation Oncology treatments.) And the cost of a second scan will deplete much of what's left on my dental plan for the year. My tooth has been hurting me since Thanksgiving Day (12 days ago), and Dr. Herman's office has done nothing but prescribe antibiotics, and try to bilk me out of $250.00!
Update:
After speaking to my insurance company, and while I was writing this review, I called Dr. Herman's office one more time. I asked if I could get the films of the scan, and she said there is no film of the scan. I would have to have a disk burned for $250.00! I explained all the above, again, and she said, if I come in, they will open the scan, and I can take pictures of it. So, I will have to try that. I wish they had, at least, offered that the last time I went to pick up the scan. I don't know if that will be good enough for the specialist, but it's my only hope of using the existing record! Harrumph!
2nd Update:
So I posted this review, including the addition, that they finally offered to help, in the last paragraph (above). I instantly got a call from Dr. Herman's office, telling me that because I wrote this review, honestly telling what happened to me there, They will no longer allow me to come in and take a picture of my scan, either. So the one thing they offered to do to finally help me, was withdrawn. So I have to go back to my initial critique of Dr. Herman's office, "They suck!" BEWARE!
3rd Update
Dr. Herman's office just sent me .pdf's of the x-rays they took, via e-mail. That is at least, some help. read more