Worst experience and waste of time - ever…read more
I was referred to Smile Straight by our dentist, which, conveniently, is General Dentistry 4 Kids. The location is 30 minutes from our house.
I called and made a 10am appointment. I received a text to confirm my appointment, two voicemail messages and a live representative also called to confirm.
#1, what a waste of time and aggravation to receive so many calls to confirm an appointment.
We arrive at 950am for our 10am appointment. No one looks up from the desk. There are a total of three women; two seated, one standing.
#2, absolutely no acknowledgement from office staff.
I sign in on a sheet of paper and sit down. At 10am, I approach the desk, again no one acknowledges or even looks at me. Eventually, I inquiry if there is any paperwork that needs to be completed. I'm told all the computers are being used and as soon as one is available, it'll be given to me.
At 1005am I'm given a tablet and I complete the intake. I approach the desk to return the computer and am ignored again. After several minutes I ask if they are running behind as it's 1017am. There is a large sign that states if you've been waiting longer than 15 minutes to ask.
I'm told we will be seen by 1025am. Around 1027am there is a slew of people called into the back, at least six. Each child goes back with an adult.
I quietly tell my daughter we are leaving. As we are (literally) walking out the door my daughter is called.
#3, extremely poor a scheduling.
We turn and walk over to the door. I can see a mob of people standing in/around the hallway. The technician tells me she's going to take my daughter who is nine to the back for pictures. Once done, she will be returned to me in the waiting room. Pictures? I thought X-ray's were to be taken.
#4, unprofessional. When speaking to me about my daughter's dental meeds, please use the property terms.
#5, do not tell me you're going to take my nine year old daughter into a crowd of people, somewhere in the back of an office, without me.
#6, whenever we've gone to the dentist, my daughter and I are called back, X-Ray's are taken, we are shown to a room and by the time we get into the room the X-Ray's are posted on the viewer. So why do we need to come back into the waiting room to wait some more and how long will that be? I'm told they are "busy". I guess to busy.
At that point we left and the company lost $4000 to $5000 in orthodontic work.
Edit to add a week later - I spoke to another family who has one daughter at Smile Straight and another daughter at another orthodontist. They had the same experience upon intake as us. However, they allowed their 1st daughter to obtain braces there but took their 2nd daughter elsewhere.
We went for another orthodontist estimate at another facility and opinion. We were taken in on time, shown around, X-rays taken, seen the dentist, the results of the X-rays explained, an estimate given, questions answered and not high pressure. What a wonderful and different experience.
For sure we will not use Smile Straight.
