I am sharing my experience with Dr. Sharmilla Anand to caution others about what I believe to be her unethical and negligent dental practices. As both a student and a soldier, I trusted her with my care, only to suffer permanent damage, financial loss, and immense frustration.
Dr. Anand was contracted by the military to sign off on my annual dental readiness forms. She cleared me for dental readiness yet contradictorily informed me that I had a fractured tooth requiring a crown. Later, a military third-party scheduling service called to indicate she was under investigation for approving dental readiness while simultaneously diagnosing fractures, raising concerns about her credibility.
During the procedure, she shaved my tooth, and I immediately smelled burning bone--a concerning sign I recognized as a medical student. Another dentist later told me this smell suggests the drill was spinning too fast and too hot, which can cause irreversible thermal damage to the tooth's pulp. She then placed a temporary crown that quickly developed a hole, allowing food and bacteria to accumulate, leading to severe pain on my freshly shaved tooth. When I returned for the permanent crown, she reacted dismissively, asking, "Why didn't you just come back?" as if I should have known the cause of my pain was abnormal.
The permanent crown failed to cover the bottom of my shaved tooth and leaving it exposed near the gum line. Additionally, my bite was not properly checked, despite my vocalized concerns ("you're just numb"). The following day, my tooth was in significant pain, and I realized the only tooth making contact with my upper teeth was the new crown--indicating an improperly adjusted bite. When I returned within 24 hours requesting an adjustment, I was forced to sign a document stating I would be financially responsible for the adjustment if my insurance did not cover the visit. I expressed discomfort with this requirement, as correcting a bite is an integral part of the crown procedure and should be the dentist's responsibility. Dr. Anand refused to see me unless I signed, effectively coercing me into compliance.
Eleven days later on a Friday evening, while eating mashed potatoes, my permanent crown dislodged--an alarming failure for a newly placed restoration that should last 5+ years. When I contacted the emergency line, Dr. Anand casually suggested I glue it back with denture adhesive and wait until Monday. I followed her advice, but this only intensified my pain. I then sought help from another dentist that could see me over the weekend, paying out-of-pocket for a replacement. This dentist reviewed my original X-rays and saw no evidence of a fractured tooth, suggesting the procedure could have been unnecessary from the start. Furthermore, I was warned the flat shaping of my tooth makes it prone to repeated crown failure.
The pain persisted, and Dr. Anand later referred me for a root canal--a procedure not covered by my insurance and costing thousands of dollars. As a student, this expense was a significant burden. Thankfully, after six weeks the pain subsided enough to defer the root canal; I still experience occasional pain nearly a year later.
To add insult to injury, despite having already paid another dentist to correct her work, I received a collections notice for an unpaid $53 bill from Dr. Anand eleven months later. An email regarding a similar charge explicitly stated if I used military insurance (which I did), the bill should be disregarded. I inquired twice if this bill was my responsibility and never received a response. This lack of transparency further underscores what I perceive to be her unethical, deceptive practices.
This experience has been costly in terms of time, money, and health. I believe Dr. Anand exploited my limited dental knowledge for financial gain, performed an unnecessary procedure, rushed through critical steps of said procedure, and forced me into a likely fraudulent insurance claim. Her disregard for patient well-being is deeply concerning, particularly for students and military personnel who rely on trustworthy care.
*UPDATE* Dr. Anand has now threatened legal action for me sharing this experience. I strongly urge others to be cautious and seek an alternative dentist. read more
