First, let me say I chose *not* to pursue treatment here after my "consultation" b/c of the frosty treatment I received from Dr. Shenoy so I am not reviewing this practice's medical care. Second, the office staff and dental assistants were all lovely, efficient and helpful. My issue was entirely with Dr. Shenoy, the periodontist whom I paid $120 for a non-refundable consultation.
I went in on referral from my dentist to discuss crown lengthening. Pain had developed and was steadily worsening, making the procedure increasingly urgent. We'd never met, she came in and performed an exam where she took a sharp metal tool and ran it along my gums inside and out. I've had this before but never so...robustly. When she finished she said, "you have bleeding every time you brush"--a statement, not a question. "No, as a matter of fact almost never. But I don't stab myself with a sharp metal stick." And I smiled. We never recovered. She told me I had gum disease and described how my teeth would fall out and it would cost like $1500 to clean it out, and when I expressed surprise, that no dentist had said anything--never the slightest mention--she seemed to take that as an attack on her integrity. Meanwhile, we hadn't even gotten to the reason I was there yet. Hello? I'm in pain. I'm feeling like I brought my car in to fix the AC and now I magically have a transmission problem.
So we did eventually get to my visit's purpose, and it would be weeks before she would perform the procedure--no squeezing me in b/c of my pain, no suggestions as to what to do about the pain, and she actually said it may not solve the pain and shrugged like none of it was in her hands. By now I knew I wasn't letting her at me with a needle. But I took the estimate and left.
I saw another periodontist today. She was very nice. Her price will be about half of Dr. Shenoy's estimate. She did the same sharp stick exam with very little pain or bleeding. They're squeezing me in soon (b/c I'm in pain, and that's what compassionate doctors do!). At the end I asked if she saw any evidence of gum disease, and she said none at all except where it was inflamed around *the pain* which they'll take care of in the procedure anyway. No extra surgery or expense required.
I understand that doctors can differ in their medical opinions, but Dr. Shenoy didn't listen to me or care about my needs, and she lost my trust in the first 5 minutes. I deserved better, and I deserve a refund though I don't expect one. read more