I never write reviews, but this experience was so ridiculous that I feel obligated to warn people.
I went to PB Smiles for a cleaning and somehow left with a 7-visit, $2,000+ out-of-pocket treatment plan (over $8,000 without insurance). This included a crown, inlay, several fillings, and an entire-mouth laser treatment because I supposedly had developed gum disease in the year since I had last seen them.
The hygienist and dentist were both incredibly rude and insensitive, and they made me feel ashamed and embarrassed about my teeth rather than actually helping me. I told a friend about the experience afterward, and they said it sounded like I had been treated as if I were an addict about to lose all of my teeth, which is basically how I felt leaving that place. I've struggled with cavities since I was young, but no dental office has ever treated me like this before.
The communication between the staff and the general level of care and attention were completely missing. I told the woman who took my X-rays that I had sensitivity when flossing a particular tooth. When the hygienist came in to measure my gums, she said she heard I was experiencing bleeding on one of my teeth. I corrected her and explained that, no, it was just sensitivity when flossing and biting. Then, when the dentist came in, he said, "Okay, so you're experiencing no issues or sensitivities, correct?" I told him again that I had already told both women that I had a tooth that was sensitive when I flossed. He said that was because I had gum disease and needed the laser treatment. I explained that the sensitivity was on the top of the tooth, and he then said that was why I needed the crown.
The funniest part is that after spending nearly two hours there, I still didn't even get the cleaning I came in for.
Thankfully, I got a second opinion from a dentist who was recommended to me. Turns out I only needed two fillings, and my gums are completely fine. He found no need for the laser treatment, crown, inlay, or the whole $2,000 treatment plan. He also told me that he has seen other patients who came to him with similar experiences after being seen at PB Smiles and other "Smiles" locations.
When I called PB Smiles to cancel and told the front desk that I had gotten a second opinion and believed they were trying to scam me, the woman I spoke to immediately became defensive and said that different dentists can recommend different treatments.
Different treatment plans I understand, but how does PB Smiles measure every single area of my gums 3+ mm deeper than the other dentist? At that point, the difference feels a lot less like "different treatment philosophies" and a lot more like a very expensive (and terribly executed) sales pitch.
Get a second opinion before agreeing to anything here. I'm extremely glad I did. read more