I went in with a toothache and needing an extraction. I left with a toothache, no extraction and a quote for $60,000. It was an inappropriate extreme solution pitched for a simple problem. You don't go in for an oil change and expect to get new car papers to sign. Greed and no care for the patients actual problem on display. There is no question in my mind that Dr. Ali knows what he is doing when it comes to implants and full mouth replacements. But how about earn my trust? Solve my immediate problem, before the aggressive sales pitch? Perhaps an appetizer before dinner? New patient logic and bedside manner? The way they approach treatment plans leaves a Grand Canyon of opportunity for improvement. Not a good experience.
Mind you - my tooth hurts. Within five minutes he was on the 'let's pull out all of your teeth - uppers with the recent pearly caps and the lowers and replace them ALL with my realistic looking denture system...' He went into bone density tests and how I needed an immediate CT Scan ( though I brought 1a dozen state of the art x-rays from my dentist) I agreed and then paid the $399 scan fee for that on--the-spot-not-covered-by-insurance-surprise... and yay! 'You have enough bone! The whole process will take about a month"
Did I mention - my tooth hurts? Outside the door I heard, "yep she's a candidate!" Now, we still had not solved for the pain I was in. He then sent in his financial closer to get me to sign the quote. All manner of 'we will run your credit - soft pull she said, to see how you would like to pay. She never asked me but I pay in full no need for financing fees ...but...um...how will we solve for my toothache? Well, she says, if you sign up for the $60K procedure he can put a temporary filling to give you 3-4 weeks relief until the lab stuff on your dentures is done. If you don't sign for the full replacements all uppers and the lowers, here is another quote for $6000 for an out-of-network extraction.
Okay so if I take out 20 teeth and agree to the medieval-sounding- 'we shave-the-bone--for-evenness, dentures-to-soon, we use your own blood during surgery, shocker of an offer-- that I have had zero time to think about-- THEN I can get a filling to make this pain stop-for a month? If I don't, then it is a $6000 extraction next week soonest, as the only other option? She then handed me the $6000 bill and asked me to sign for that. I felt like I was at a car dealership. The fast easy treatment tied only to the big $60k sale, felt highly unethical. Did I mention...my tooth hurts?
I am an accomplished middle-aged, rational executive with advanced degrees (only mentioned because I value detailed information). I asked for a pamphlet - something - to read up on and get comfortable with this nearly six figure procedure and Miss finance had nothing to offer me but "there's Googling people do on it," she said. But the quote? I should sign. I was, in a word SO disappointed. The Icing was I found them as an in-network provider. "Oh her," Miss Finance said, "she is a general dentist so we list your insurance with her yes The bait), but you are not seeing her and all else - no it is full price. No insurance (the switch)." Hm. Now, you tell me and not before...?
Who invites new patients experiencing pain for a 2 hour sales pitch? It was like timeshare for teeth. Now I see other posts about billing practices. I will invest in a broader solution - perhaps with another provider. But FIRST I will find someone who actually cares, is actually in my network, to remove or fill the tooth giving me the care and courtesy today. Hint - if you let profit trump the pain patients are in...some one else will get the money for my long term plan. read more
