I'm in the Army going to the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth for this year. They don't allow us to miss very much class time, so finding a "one stop shop" for my dental needs was extremely important. The dental office on post lost my trust after the dentist there and his assistant (who are super nice BTW) dropped instruments during my appointment to get a temporary crown. Not only that, but after 3 days the temporary crown fell out when I was eating a sandwich (not something that was even that hard)!! Additionally, when I called the Fort Leavenworth clinic about it, they said that having a temporary crown fall out after 3 days was normal! I just don't see that as being the case. All these shenanigans was after getting referred for a root-canal that should've been followed within 3-6 weeks with the temporary crown. Fort Leavenworth forced me into the above appointment 7-8 weeks after the root-canal and basically told me "tough" at their front desk and to "just be careful" with the tooth that just received the root-canal. Needless to say, that's when I started wondering if I could go somewhere else. The on post dental clinic is severely lacking in customer service at their front desk and a level of competence that I'm comfortable with.
After calling TRICARE (insurance) for my procedures, they gave me a list that I whittled down to a couple places. I eventually chose Olathe Smiles Dentistry because they could do all of the procedures I needed AND do them all in one day with NO follow-up appointments (pending any unanticipated complications). The dental clinic (Ebony) on post very begrudgingly set up the referral for me. No one likes confrontation, but I am SO glad I put an end to my suffering at their hands.
Olathe Smiles Dentistry was great from when I checked in (Ebony screwed up the insurance referral paperwork that Olathe Smiles front desk ladies fixed PROACTIVELY), to the assistants and the doctors. First, I saw Trish who works with the periodontist Dr. McKenzie. She got me x-rays and helped out during my root lengthening. "Root lengthening" really should be called something else because it's when they cut out gums from around your tooth and sometimes grind down bone. I was nervous going in. However, both Trish and Dr. McKenzie were hilarious and their conversations REALLY set me at ease and took my mind off of the procedure.
Immediately following that appointment (same day) I moved from one room to another for the permanent crown to be put in. Dr. Rawalt and Benita (I think) were the ones helping with that. They were both great as well!
I can't express how thankful I am to go to one place for fixing the shenanigans related to that one tooth. Even with a sore jaw right now, I am extremely relieved to have gotten the procedures done by a staff that was not only VERY customer service oriented, they showed empathy through distracting and hilarious conversation (anthropology, Star Wars, toddler hyjinx...), and they were competent as well as efficient.
Thank you, Olathe Smiles team! You all are great. I don't like going to the dentist, but if I have to do it again, I will definitely come back!!!
-Captain Stear (US Army) read more