My husband has been seeing Dr. Argentieri for years. I recently saw Dr. Bunin in his office for a routine cleaning. While there, Dr. Bunin recommended that I have sealants placed on my back teeth in order to prevent cavities (I've never had cavities). At the time, I asked how much the procedure would cost, given that the adult sealants would not be covered by insurance. I was directed to the front desk, and there, I was told the cost would be "$50 per tooth, so about $300." I made an appointment and was scheduled to return the very next week for sealants. I also asked how long it would take, and was told 90 minutes.
When I got to Dr. Argentieri's office for the sealants, I waited 45 minutes in the dental chair for Dr. Bunin to place them. Given that I had been told the procedure would take 90 minutes, I had scheduled a conference call for 2 hours after my appointment start time. So the wasted 45 minutes made me concerned that I would miss the call. When Dr. Bunin arrived, I asked if we'd be done, and he said yes, but as he started the work, I did send an email from my blackberry informing the conference call participants that I might be late, and making alternative arrangements for the call just in case.
Dr. Bunin was right that the procedure took no time at all. But when I got up to go to the front desk, I was told the cost for the seals was $900, not the "about $300" I was quoted the week before. Apparently, Dr. Bunin not only put sealants on my molars, he also put sealants on 8 premolar teeth, even though he never asked me to do so, and since I've never had sealants, I didn't know enough to tell him not to do it or even to realize that premolars were not included in the cost given to me originally for the sealants. If he had not done this, the total bill would have come to $400 (in other words, would have been "about $300" just as I was quoted). I protested, but paid the total amount - MORE THAN TWICE THE ORIGINAL QUOTE. When I got home, my husband was furious at the cost (he had been with me at the earlier appointment for a cleaning himself, and had also heard the original $300 quote). He called to complain, and Dr. Argentieri's office agreed to split the difference and charge us only for the seals on my molars, not the seals on my premolars, and so we would pay $400, and they would refund $400.
If this story ended there, this review would include only an A- review for being a little slow, but for having excellent customer service in righting was was clearly an expensive wrong on their part - I was supposed to have had seals on 8 molars, instead they placed seals on 8 molars and 8 premolars, resulting in a huge increase in cost that no one asked my permission for or told me about when I asked in advance. But it does not end there.
A couple weeks after my husband's call, we got the $400 refund check in the mail. With it was a letter from Dr. Argentieri. I will paste the text of the whole letter below (I scanned it to keep), but suffice to say it was the nastiest letter I've ever received in my life. Not only were the accusations in it false, but also it reflected a core of mean-spiritedness that was really shocking to me. Needless to say, my husband and I have found a new dentist, and I would not recommend that ANYONE see Dr. Argentieri. Here is his letter to me:
"Dear Ms. Rose-Smith,
Enclosed please find a check in the amount of 400.00. This is a refund for the eight sealants Dr. Bunin placed, but for which you didn't want to pay.
Had you not spent the entire appointment with Dr. Bunin texting on your cell phone, you may have been cognizant of his suggestion that he place sealants not only in the molar teeth, but the eight premolar teeth also, since they are anatomically at rish for dental caries.
I found it interesting that you did not contest your need for the service, or the benefit you received from accepting it. Your only objection (and, apparently, your husband's) was that you were expected to pay for it.
I would suggest that in the future appointments you turn your cell phone off, so that you can pay at least a modicum of attention to your oral health.
Your future appointment scheduled on June 28, 2013 has been cancelled as the office is closed this day.
Sincerely,
Robert Argentieri D.D.S."
So there you have it. If you don't mind having your dentist wildly overcharge you, and then blame YOU when he has to refund money for those overcharges, even though all you did was let your office know that you would be late for a conference call because your dentist took 45 minutes to start the work he then proceeded to overcharge you for, then Dr. Argentieri's office is the place for you. Otherwise, if you prefer to pay "at least a modicum" of attention not only to your oral health, but also your dignity and your wallet, there are plenty of other dentists in Northern Virginia. read more