This has truly been the worst experience I have ever had with a dental office…read more
I initially made an appointment at Piedmont Dentistry to have my wisdom tooth evaluated. I was told to return the following day to have the tooth removed, and I paid for the extraction service that day.
The next day, immediately before the procedure, a front-office staff member came into the room with a credit card machine and asked me to pay a previous balance. I made the payment and proceeded with the appointment.
The dentist began the process of removing my wisdom tooth and administered the maximum amount of anesthesia she could provide. She then told me that she could not give me any additional anesthesia and that she could not sedate me because sedation was not offered at that office. At that point, she referred me to an oral surgeon.
My concern is: If your office does not provide sedation and the dentist knew I would need to see an oral surgeon, why was I not referred to an oral surgeon in the first place--before beginning the extraction? Instead, the procedure was started and then stopped after I had already received anesthesia and was experiencing pain.
Because the tooth was not removed, I had to ask for a refund for the service I had already paid for. I also asked what could be done for my pain since the dentist had already started working on the tooth. I was given a prescription, but when I went to the pharmacy, the prescription was incorrect. I had to wait for it to be corrected while I was in significant pain and while the anesthesia was wearing off.
The issues with the refund were equally frustrating. After approximately two weeks, I called to ask why I had not received my refund. The first person I spoke with apologized and explained that the manager was out of the office and that the delay was an error on their part.
When I later spoke with the manager, I was told that I would not receive a refund because I had a previous balance. I explained that I had already paid the previous balance on the day I came in for the wisdom tooth removal, when the front-office staff member brought the credit card machine to me in the treatment room. The manager then explained that my insurance had not covered the full amount of the visit and that the money I had paid for the wisdom tooth extraction had been applied toward the amount insurance did not cover.
Now, weeks later, I have received a message stating that I owe another $93. When I called to clarify, I was initially told that the $93 was for the amount insurance did not cover. I explained that I had already been told this was the reason I did not receive a refund for the wisdom tooth extraction. I was then told that the $93 was actually for a previous balance.
At this point, I am extremely frustrated because I have received conflicting explanations regarding my account and payments. I was told that I had a previous balance, which I paid. I was then told that the payment I made for the wisdom tooth procedure was applied to an insurance balance. Now I am being told that I owe another amount for a previous balance.
The entire experience--from the procedure being started despite the office ultimately being unable to complete it, to the incorrect prescription, to the lack of communication and conflicting explanations regarding my account and refund--has been incredibly frustrating.
I expected much better communication, coordination, and patient care. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I would not recommend Piedmont Dentistry.
