I would've given this Sage location a 4/5 if it weren't specifically for their hygienist - Kate.
Her solid 0/5 brought down the total. Kate is rude, condescending, and terrible at her job. She will repeatedly, aggressively stab your gums and tell you it's your fault if you try to speak up and ask her to be more gentle. Worse yet, she discovered she can force people into an up charge to use anesthetic while having cleanings with her because people are "too sensitive" to her medieval dental torture talents. She'll refuse to clean your teeth and reschedule if you try to refuse the anesthetic. She'll also tell you your gums are bleeding because you take bad care of them, not because she's actively stabbing them with metal tools. She doesn't listen and will just repeatedly tell you what she thinks is best without making any notes in your chart around your preferences. She doesn't believe in water picks or flossers, only regular dental floss and will not stop talking about it. She'll belittle you if you do use water picks or flossers (asking if you're a child) and has no interest in any of the data supporting the benefits to flossing with anything other than traditional dental floss.
I specifically called multiple times prior to my appointment requesting to not have Kate. When I got her at my visit today, I asked if she could please be gentle with my gums to which she scoffed. I went to the front desk to ask if there was another hygienist I could see as that's what I requested, to try and avoid making the situation awkward with Kate. Kate called me and beckoned me away from the front desk until I followed. I let her know I requested someone else as her cleaning methods are too rough for me. She left for a few minutes to check if the other hygienist had flexibility to take me and came back to tell me I'd need to reschedule and come back another day if I wanted to be seen by someone else. As I took time off work I begrudgingly agreed to be seen by Kate. She inspected my teeth and told me I'd need an even deeper cleaning than the last time I visited. Which earlier she explained she was rough my last visit because she had to do a deeper than normal cleaning on me. This is when she strong armed me into signing to use anesthetic , as I am "too sensitive" clearly to have a "proper cleaning". When I said no, she took my bib off and said I could leave. I ended up signing it, then as she went to get started, I had a panic attack realizing the anesthetic would make Kate feel free enough to stab and abuse my gums as much as she wanted.
I went to the front desk who was able to immediately get me in with the other hygienist, Nicole. I am incredibly thankful to them for this. Nicole is phenomenal!!! She said my teeth look great and gave me a normal and gentle cleaning. She warned I brush too hard and have started to make my gums recede, but otherwise I have perfect dental health. Nicole was kind, funny, a great conversationalist, an awesome listener and a fantastic hygienist.
I've only had one cavity in my entire life and aspired to be a dentist for several years before making a career/major pivot into IT, and my mother was a Dental Assistant before retiring. The fact that Kate was forcing me into deep, aggressive cleanings is abusive. When being seen by Nicole, I had a clear view and could hear into Kates room. I saw Kate use the same fear tactics and force she used with me to make another poor patient agree to a deep cleaning and anesthetic. This seems to be her default, my guess is she's incapable of a gentle cleaning and I wouldn't be surprised if she made a cut on upsells.
Kate is not capable enough or qualified to be seeing patients in my opinion, as she abuses them in an underhanded way. I would highly recommend she is retrained immediately if not shadowed and let go for her terrible performance. read more
