I had a beyond terrible experience with Samira Seini. I came into her practice for the first time with pain in my wisdom teeth. As suspected, she said I must have them out. This was fair enough, and made sense. However, she then went on to claim that I needed several crowns and a root canal at a great price. This was rather shocking news to me. I am from London, and have had the same dentist since I was a child. I had seen him just a few months earlier and he had foreseen none of this. I am also a student, and literally did not possess this money. So I called my parents, whilst still at the practice, to discuss this with them, since I would need help financially. They were also shocked, and so we decided it would be best to be safe and get the wisdom teeth out, but get a second opinion about the crowns and root canal. When I politely told Samira this, she became very defensive. I was in no way being aggressive in my tone, in fact I was very embarrassed and uncomfortable that I had felt forced to call my parents. I felt very small. As anyone would, I just wanted to calmly leave. My decision had been made. You'd think she would respect this, but no....
She told me that she was 'personally offended' by my choice to get a second opinion, and then proceeded to be extremely patronizing, telling me that, "At some point in your life Annaliese, you're going to have to make decisions for yourself and not always listen your parents." She lectured me like this for a few minutes....basically trying to persuade me to turn against the decision I had made with them. I kept telling her repeatedly, that I was sorry but I would like to get a second opinion. I mean, I quite literally could not pay for these procedures, I don't know what she wanted me to do!
THEN she said to me "Annaliese, there is a reason there is a stereotype of British people having bad teeth." I could not believe my ears. She then proceeded to rant about why American dentistry was superior to British dentistry (completely unprovoked.) I had no idea where this was coming from! It was very bizarre. She became quite emotional. It was very unprofessional. All that I said is that I would like a second opinion. At that point all I wanted to do was leave her practice, and she made that extremely difficult for me. She put me under extreme pressure, was very belittling and made me feel very very very uncomfortable. It was a strange and horrible experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone.
After pressuring me and pressuring me, I agreed to have my wisdom teeth out, since I was in quite some pain. She took them out. It was quick and I healed very well. So i'll give her that.
HOWEVER this does not make up for the fact that she was extremely rude and unprofessional.
Thankfully I managed to leave her office without any of the other treatments that she tried to thrust upon me.
However, I was left rather unnerved. What if she was right? The news that I needed all this work came as a shock to me, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. So a couple of months later, I went back home to my dentist in London, nervous, expecting him to deliver some bad news. I told him the story, and he looked at my teeth and X rays and told me that I had "immaculate cleaning." I didn't need any crowns or a root canal and had no idea why Samira claimed that I did! Well, maybe you might have some idea of why she did....$$$$??
Absolutely awful. And the tragic thing is, if she was the only dentist I had ever been to, I would have no reason not to believe her. Why would I? I have no dentistry knowledge, nor does the average person coming into her practice (at least I imagine). I only questioned her claims because I have had a very reliable, honest dentist (private and highly qualified!! On Harley Street, London!) since I was a small kid, who's never tried to screw me or my family out of money. So if she's all you've known, I think it's time to go get that second opinion.....
PS. I have never previously written a review on Yelp because I have never experienced something so terrible. I had to create an account just so I could complain about Samira. BEWARE.
PSS. I would also like to note that she was EXTREMELY charming and sweet up until the point that I told her I needed a second opinion. So if you're a regular at her practice, find my review surprising or you are thinking 'but I know Samira, she's the sweetest! I don't believe it!,'....do not be fooled. I urge you to think twice. read more