I started with the Primary ENT/Dr. John Boone's clinic in Savage MN in February of 2024 because I had been suffering from multiple mouth sores under my tongue and on the inside of my cheeks for over two months. Both my dentist and PCP referred me to an ENT to have a biopsy conducted.
In my first visit with Primary ENT/Dr. John Boone's clinic, my appt was with an NP/PA (I cannot recall). Even without a biopsy, she indicated that she knew sores are not cancerous but due to stress. Nothing she could do. The sores got worse & developed elsewhere in my mouth. Because I am not in a strong financial position, it took me a little while to gather the money to pay my bill and then to go back for another visit. This time I saw a different NP/PA. She gave me the same opinion, and told me I would need to come back to see the actual doctor. So, I made the third appointment.
The appointment was for 2:45 pm on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. Unfortunately, Dr. Boone was running very behind and walked in 45 minutes later. He performed a cursory exam of my mouth, told me that unfortunately the mouth sores are very common and like his colleagues, he indicated that there was no need for a biopsy. He went on to tell me that both he and his son suffer from them and they simply have to suffer through them like I would (not sure why that should be brought into the conversation). I told him that I had been suffering for more than six months. He shrugged his shoulders at me.
So then he looked a little closer at my mouth and decided that my problem is a function of poor dental care. He believed that one of my teeth was jagged and was rubbing against my mouth. I was unsure how one tooth could cause mouth sores in many different places in my mouth. I asked him. He had no answer. He just went back to telling me that it was my tooth and proceeded to lecture me on correct dental hygiene. I also asked him that if the answer is simply "my teeth" then why did it take three visits to his clinic to provide me with an answer that even my dentist did not identify. Very arrogantly, he told me that HE IS THE SPECIALIST and a dentist would not have the knowledge to "diagnose" the situation. I also asked him to consider medications that I am currently taking...could there be an issue with one of them? He would not even look at the medicines that I had brought along for him to consider. Every time my adult daughter or I asked questions, he became more arrogant in his tone and even put up his hand in a "stop sign" gesture to stop us from speaking. He encouraged me to leave by telling me that since it was a holiday weekend he wanted to let his staff go home so since there was nothing else he could do, he dismissed us. I walked out overwhelmed in tears and feeling embarrassed, deflated, and hopeless.
I told him that three visits to his clinic to receive no care was an expensive price to pay for me. He went on to indicate that "yes, healthcare is expensive..but it is necessary...and "lucky" for me his rates are lower than most ENT costs. I broke down in tears...between the constant 24/7 pain of the ulcers, the anxiety over paying my bill, and the utter realization that there was no relief in sight...at least not in near sight, I was overwhelmed with sadness and worry. We walked out and I was sobbing.
When we went by the front desk, my daughter had had enough. She asked the receptionist for a grievance form. She said that the office did not have anything like that. Dr. Boone came out with a very aggressive demeanor and told us that his clinic is a private practice and if I had a grievance then we would need to simply talk to him. He again used his hand in a gesture to stop us from talking and told us in a haughty tone that this was a holiday weekend and he wanted to let his staff go home and enjoy the holiday weekend. So, if there was nothing else, we should leave. And as we walked out the door, he yelled that we could always leave a review.
I'm not sure that my story conveys the arrogance, disregard of human kindness, and lack of empathy that he displayed. Nor am I sure that my story shows the utter sense of hopelessness that I have had since that visit. I feel like I was emotionally ambushed by a person who should know better. For over 3 weeks, I have been on the verge of tears for any little thing. The constant pain, the fact that it is difficult for me to communicate because my mouth is so painful, and the constant sadness that leaves me feeling very somber and alone is reminiscent of the major depression and anxiety that I have experienced on & off over the past 10 years. And I worry that this experience his triggered yet another episode of depression. My last hope is to return to the dentist and hope he can help me with my teeth. My denstist is sending me to an oral surgeon pathologist. read more