Don't even consider this place for any kind of surgery or dental work.
I don't like to write negative reviews, but feel that I cannot, in good conscience, fail to warn others to avoid Sanoviv for major dental work. I had a cavitation extraction surgery there last week. I have the feeling they don't perform this procedure at Sanoviv often, if ever, and I should have done more homework rather than trusting blindly in the Sanoviv philosophy, which I'd been so impressed with when I spent time there previously on an educational retreat.
There were many times when the ball was dropped, from my first encounter with the dental supervisor who tried to bully my into undergoing the surgery without any kind of sedation, just local anesthesia (numbing medicine) because I had assumed it would be provided and hadn't specifically asked for it in advance. Luckily an anesthesiologist was available last minute! But she really made me feel like I was a jerk for even asking for it. And it seems clear to me that they are not set up to deal with the follow-up and properly assess for complications after a major surgery at Sanoviv. My dental supervisor (I assume this is the equivalent of a dentist in the US) failed to appropriately diagnose a secondary infection despite my increasing pain and pressure in the right mandible (lower jaw) over post-op days (POD) 1-3. On POD 2 I requested something stronger for pain, and at that point I was on 3 strong pain meds - tramadol/APAP 100mg once daily plus motrin 800mg and sublingual tordol 30mg three times daily, plus ativan at night to help me sleep, which I was lothe to ask for but I was desperate for sleep. On POD 3 it hurt more and the nurses actually gave me an intramuscular injection-tordol, I think-to help me finally get relief.
On the morning of POD 3 the dental superviser wished me goodbye, because it was Friday and she was off for the weekend. My aftercare consultant told me that unlimited email and one 30-min phone follow-up with her were available.
That same afternoon I asked for one last check-in with the dental superviser, before she left, explaining that I was concerned because the pain kept getting worse and there was a feeling of intense pressure in/over my right mandible, it was also hot, indurated and getting more swollen every day. She stated, there was nothing to worry about, this was happening because I talked too much on Tues after I woke up from surgery (though I didn't talk at all on Wed, religiously following all post-op instructions and writing notes to communicate only).
Luckily, the next morning (Sat, POD 4) a suture spontaneously popped out and pus started flowing into my mouth. After that I felt a lot less pain and pressure.
I went to the nursing station to ask for a flashlight so I could see what was going on, and the nurse recommended I let the doctor on call take a look. He diagnosed an infection and put me on a stronger antibiotic (Augmentin, to replace the Amoxicillin I'd been on since surgery). Since I was leaving the next day, he wrote me an Rx to pick up on my way home. I asked if I could get some Augmentin right away and he said I could try at the nursing station. Thank heavens they had it, and that I advocated for myself to get 2 doses of Augmentin (one for that night and another for the next morning), otherwise I would have had to wait another 18 hours from the time the infection was diagnosed before I could get to the pharmacy. Also, I asked the doctor to collect a culture so we could make sure we knew what organism(s) we were dealing with to ensure I was getting the correct antibiotic. He was reluctant, saying that's not how they do it there, but he said he would try. Later he said this wouldn't be possible, because cultures are not available on the weekend (Sat or Sun) since the lab is closed.
I am writing this from a place of love and understanding, and I am grateful to everyone who did their best to take care of me, but I wouldn't want anyone else to have this experience!!! read more