** DANGER - STAY AWAY AT ALL COST **
February 2017 - One day I had extreme dental pain, so a friend told me to go see Dr. Lopez, since I lived close by I made an appointment to see him. First thing, I didn't have any dental insurance at the time of these procedures. During my first appointment, Dr. Lopez said that I had two molars that needed to be removed which he did without any issues. With the removal of the two molars, other dental issues, crooked teeth, coloration and over bite, so I then decided to see about getting veneers. Dr. Lopez had me talk with his dental office manager about financing and to set up the next appointment. The manager stated that they could get me a care credit account so that I can put all my dental expenses on it and make payments. I said ok, I knew that my credit was not so good, so I had a very good friend co-sign for me, but I had only got approved for $2500. All the dental work plus the veneers was going to cost $5500. On my next appointment, only four days later, Dr. Lopez took a mold of my teeth to have it sent off for my veneers. The office manager told me not to worry about my financing because they were working on get financing for the office through Wells Fargo so that they could do in house financing. At this time all was going well, until the third appointment. On the third appointment, the day of installing my veneers, Dr. Lopez, shaped/shaved my teeth which is a very painful process, brought me to tears, so that he could properly fit my new veneers. Sometime during my appointment, but after he had already shaved/shaped my teeth, he had talked with the office manager about my financing. When finding out that I had not been approved for the whole cost of the all the dental work plus veneers, he then told me that he would NOT install my new veneers until I could get financing or come up with the remaining balance of $3000. I stormed out of the office in tears, my teeth hurting, looking like small pieces of gum and traumatized. At no point did Dr. Lopez or the office manager call me to see if I was ok, or try to help me with any financial remedy. I had no smile, my teeth hurt so bad that I couldn't eat, let alone be seen out in public which prevented me from going to work. Two days later, I call Dr. Lopez's office; the office manager told me that Dr. Lopez would install my veneers if I came up with $1500 instead of the remaining balance of $3000. At this point, I was still a little traumatized from the whole ordeal. I still had no way of obtaining this kind of money to get my teeth finished. The only thing I could do was call my dear friend that co-signed for me in the first place and ask him if he could help me. Luckily for me, my friend was able send me the $1500 so that I could get my life, smile back so that I could work to pay my bills. If it wasn't for a long time friend letting me borrow the $1500, Dr. Lopez would never have offered to install my veneers. On my final appointment, neither the office manger nor Dr. Lopez never ever apologized to me for the trauma and heartache that they put me through. After talking to another local dentist, she told me to make sure he fits my veneers properly, and then come see her from now on. To this day, I feel that Dr. Lopez's and his dental manager held me and my teeth hostage for money with no remorse or apology. I want everyone to know what happened to me at Astoria Dental at the beach with Dr. Lopez. read more