My family and I have been patients here for just over a year, and we have generally had really good…read moreservice here. My wife just underwent extensive dental procedures and we were pleased enough to spend several thousand dollars at this clinic.
However, on my most recent visit, an extremely disturbing and inexcusable practice was witnessed and directly affected me, as the patient. While waiting in the lobby to be called back for my cleaning, my dental hygienist, I don't recall her name, but she speaks with a some-what central European accent, walked out into the lobby area accompanying her prior patient. She then called my name, and walked over to the lobby computer to check that my name was correct. She used the keyboard and mouse at the lobby computer. She greeted me and escorted me to the patient cleaning room.
When we arrived in the dental exam/cleaning room, she began to ask me a series of questions, typed and used the mouse on the cleaning room computer, then checked my blood pressure. She then handed me safety glasses, placed the protection bid around my neck, and began to handle the tools from under the plastic that were to be placed or used in my mouth.
I immediately stopped her and stated, you have had those gloves on this entire time. Aren't you going to change your gloves?! She then said no, this room is clean. I then mentioned to her that I watched her walk out with her prior patient, wearing the same gloves, check the lobby computer wearing the same gloves, and started preparing and touching everything in the room, including the tools that would be placed in my mouth, all while wearing the same gloves. She then started making some rambling excuses, like no, no, I cleaned this room, and you don't have to worry.
After much debate, she finally stated "fine I'll just change them." I said what about the tools? She said "what?!" I then said, this place has certainly changed in hygiene and cleanliness since my family first started coming here a year ago, and she replied, "maybe it is time for you to find somewhere else to go!"
Needless to say, I was shocked, but she wasn't wrong. So I immediately got up from the chair, and told her she is exactly correct and I'll let her Manager know that she told me to go somewhere else. She then started laughing loudly, it was so strange, but disturbing at the same time.
I reported this interaction with the front desk staff. They were very professional and sympathetic but unfortunately, the Manager was not in this particular day, and I was told that the Manager would call me the next day. It has been more than 3 weeks at the time of this posting, and I haven't had any contact from anyone at the clinic.
While I find this practice to be extremely disgusting, what I find even more appalling is the hygienist's decision to debate a glove change with a patient, to out-loud laugh at me when I displayed my concerns and frustrations, and this clinic's lack of attention or concern to an extremely serious patient safety matter that can lead to the spread of bacterial or viral infections. It was clear that she had worn the same gloves with her prior patient and was attempting to use those same gloves with me. Disgusting!
So now, and since I don't know what they have done to address this violation of the required workplace and patient safety standards, I am moving forward with notifications to OHSA and the state and local health department's oral health program. I hope in the meantime, no one gets Herpes or Meningitis from this place!
