I went to Dr. Patel's office in Ahwatukee to get a new TMJ bite guard appliance because the 10-year-old one from the orthodontist had worn out. I experienced this: 1. Predatory billing: They said I owed several hundred dollars in co-pays and forced me to pay up front. They wound up owing me hundreds of dollars in refunds but didn't tell me. I had to engage a third party to get the money back. 2. Rude and intimidating staff: One receptionist threatened, on my personal email, to bill me directly and not bill my insurance because two hours after she called to harass me about signing a consent form, I had not had a chance to sign it. Another dental assistant was rude because she was offended that I was upset the office charges $35 for a copy of your own x-rays but gives them to other doctors for free. 3. The TMJ bite guard was useless: Dr. Patel had to remake the appliance twice because it was off kilter. This took two extra weeks, two more 45-minute waits for more appointments, and two rounds of toxic, blue goop for tooth impressions. After the TMJ appliance was adjusted at two more appointments, it still caused horrible pain I NEVER had before I wore it. Headaches, jaw pain, teeth pain, eye pain, neck pain and ear pain! The TMJ bite appliance is too thin and does not work properly. The final result: I am going back to the orthodontist to get a new TMJ bite appliance. read more

Wish the doctor respected people's time more, on 3 different occasions I waited over 40 minutes without seeing the physician. I live in Camp Verde and try to make multiple appointments while I'm in the Phoenix area and can't keep waiting over an hour to see the physician. Now I'm at the point where I've wasted time, money, gas and mileage to get nowhere. Update: the office manager called me back a week later stating she was out of state that's why it took so long. At this point I'm 3 weeks from my last trigger point injection, I asked if there's even any point she replied come for a follow up and ask. I can see I'm just a dollar sign here. read more

Avoid this place at all costs and definitely don't sign anything! I was told to sign a form which stated my insurance only covers one out of the several trigger point injections in the series. Signing it was agreeing that I'd pay out of pocket for the trigger point injections "not covered." 4 injections and $672 later, I checked with my insurance and they said that if the doctor had submitted a pre authorization the injections would've been fully covered. Southwest's billing department won't help at all because I signed the waiver. Predatory and downright lazy of them not to go through my insurance. Guess it's just about wringing patients for all they're worth rather than providing adequate care these days. Dr. Dharti Patel also has zero bedside manner. She is impatient and talks over you. She seemed more interested in what I do for work rather than my TMJ pain. She asked for my personal phone number and was pushy about me doing freelance work for her. She is also rude to her own nurses! Sucks because the infections do provide mild relief but not worth spending $700 per month when all I should've paid was a $40 office visit copay. Receptionist couldn't hang up fast enough when I called and explained why I'm cancelling my upcoming appointments and seeking care elsewhere. Probably should've caught the red flag when I was in the waiting room and watched the receptionist treat a patient horribly who was confused why they were being charged $1400 for their day/night guard and she rudely snapped that she explained prior and he signed the form so he's out of luck. Yikes. read more

These reviews are crazy. Dr. Patel has significantly improved my life. I had extreme headaches, migraines and pain EVERYDAY since 2020. I went to so many specialists and tried everything under the sun including going to dentists who claimed they were tmi specialists (they were not!) Dr. Patel is extremely knowledgeable and caring but not outwardly affectionate and babying. She's not going to say aw you poor thing you're in pain. She's going to get down to the bottom of it and help find out why so you're not. I don't need a fluffy Dr who's going to do that for me - I want relief. I've been seeing her over a year and often. I know she cares about me and my progress and relief. read more

Dr. Patel came so highly recommended and while she's very nice, my experience at this practice was horrible. I came to this practice after a root canal and secondary dental surgery with pain in a molar and facial swelling and numbness. After what seemed like a very thorough and certainly very expensive work up, Dr Patel told me she had never seen x-rays like mine and wanted to send them to a dental school in California for which there was an out of pocket fee. The implication was there was something seriously wrong. Dr. Patel promised she'd call when she got the results. Several weeks went by and I heard nothing. I called and asked if the result were in. The receptionist said they were but they don't give out test results over the phone. She was phenomenally rude when I said Dr. Patel said she would call. I was offered an appointment weeks away. So I had to wait weeks and pay for an office visit to find out I had changes in my bone because I grind my teeth. I cannot tell you the anxiety this process caused me. This experience should have told me everything I needed to know about this practice. But I was in so much pain and desperate for help so I kept coming back. Ultimately, Dr. Patel diagnosed me with a nerve issue from the root canal and told me not to have the tooth pulled because it wouldn't fix the issue and I'd be out a molar. Dr. Patel made me new night guards and prescribed topical numbing cream. Fast forward a few months, I see an ENT on the advice of a neurologist friend of mine who was alarmed half my face was numb and found my whole sinus had closed off, endangering my vision. I had to have sinus surgery. Even after the surgery, I had perpetual pain in my tooth and my sinus never cleared. I finally talked an oral surgeon into pulling the tooth. Within two weeks I was pain free and my sinus cleared. It's difficult for me to know what/if anything Dr. Patel missed in making my diagnosis. That said, I believe I was misdiagnosed and my health suffered greatly because of it to say nothing of being in a tremendous amount of pain for an unnecessarily long time. I was recently referred to Dr. Patel again. I'm just going to call an oral surgeon instead and save myself thousands of dollars. Oh, and I very single time you have an appointment, this practice drug tests you even if you haven't been prescribed pain meds. So on top of everything, you get to feel like you're on probation. read more

No help. Pain so bad I'm sick and dizzy 4 yesrs. Need help bad. Unbearable. I've went everywhere seeking help it's so bad in mouth face and head and neck. read more

I am shocked by these reviews! I have been seeing Dr. Wight since September, 2020. He has been a lifesaver for me. I think he is very caring, helpful, understanding, and empathetic to me! I can't say enough about how much he has helped me! He is the best doctor I have ever had! I went to so many doctors for 4 years about this pain I was having. Finally the 3rd ENT I went to referred me to him for the pain. My first visit with Dr. Wight he diagnosed me with Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia (I left there and cried the whole way home because finally a doctor believed me) and started trying to find something to help the pain. I am finally able to live a much better life all thanks to him! I can't possibly express how grateful I am to Dr. Wight. read more

Horrible group. Dr Patel did not help me at all and then they want to be paid. What a joke. Run- find someone else to help you. read more

5 stars for Dr. Bill Costaras at SouthWest Orofacial Pain Management at the Peoria location. His knowledge, kindness, and genuine caring were immediately apparent from my 1st visit with him. After wasting over a decade with a Scottsdale pill pushing pain management physician and having NO RESULTS...finally I found real treatment with a brilliant doctor....a doctor who treats and heals. In just a few short months he has me off of all of the unnecessary meds and feeling better than I have in 10 years! I can't say enough about Dr. Costaras, but I will say THANK YOU DOCTOR C. AP read more

This office has No customer service what so ever. They are looking to make the most money off of patients! Beware of the poor reviews! Stay away from from this group of doctors! Seriously! read more

Referred by dentist for TMD. Called 8 times and didn't get an answer. Left 3 voicemails over 2 weeks. NEVER GOT A CALL BACK! Nuf said.

Although the office is not on the more modern side as some other medical establishments I've been to, the service is excellent. From the front staff to all other staff up to Dr Patel, the staff is a no nonsense, knowledgeable group that provides all options for your care. Very kind, patient and friendly as well. read more

I am going to make this brief. Yes, I was also diagnosed with TMJ the process was rather painful, in that, the trigger injections are painful yet helpful. Met with Dr Seena Patel initially in late October, but due to her limited schedule, did all my follow up visits with Dr. Costaras. Overall, Dr. Costaras was very polite, knowledgeable, and helpful in terms of my progress. The whole process of ordering expensive appliances was 110% confusing. Mine were never covered by my insurance. Therefore, I did not have them during my trigger appointments. In house assistance were ok, definitely could use a lot more training in dealing with patients. I think just because they have been there for a while, doesn't make them quality care. It's more like routine care. On one occasion when the gal had to take dental impressions, do you think she described the process? No- she just shoved her blue glove and mold shit into my mouth for almost 5 minutes. I did express my concern with the Doctor, that for future patients its helpful the staff describe what they are doing. Overall, I agree with other comments posted regarding the lack of quality staff. As for front of office staff, it was frustrating and too much time spent trying to schedule these appointments when Doctors are only scheduled once per week at each location, not to mention some confusion as to when they only make various appointments. So it shouldn't take 20 minutes plus to make appointments. Ms. Ivy, I am sure you are doing your best, but I am sorry you should find another job that best suits you, since I am not the only person expressing dissatisfaction. Calling the main line routes you to another location which I will give credit to for listening to my concerns and frustrations, yet she was not at the offices. Communication, Insurance, billing, services covered, phone calls, and customer service is super poor!! It should be very clear. I asked for a copy of my bill for flex plan reimbursement and they looked at me perplex and gave me a poor typed out bill with multiple errors. I guess they are still doing things old school and have not modernized their practice. Overall, again its more routine than an individual process. This office needs a lot of training regarding billing, communication, and quality of care. One more thing, in this day and age, with competition and options, this place needs a serious makeover, everything in the office is OLD furniture from the 70's I mean really invest in some new things even paint the place. It really does reflect the type of business you are running in addition to investing in the practice not just billing the insurance and pocketing the money. I finally had to pay for my appliances out of pocket. It has made a difference in my TMJ but a lot of time is needed. Oh and as for physical therapy, that was a waste of time and money. I just googled TMJ stretches which I have to continuously do on my own. Eventhough Dr recommended I return for more injections, I WILL NOT be going back. Sorry this was not brief, but hopefully helpful in choosing the right doctors and staff for TMJ. read more

Dr Canti told me at the end of my appointment that she would be sending me in prescriptions for a muscle relaxer and pain relief after my injections. I never got said prescriptions. I called the following morning and was told she would not be calling them in because I was already on a muscle relaxer (I was not aware that my sleeping pill was considered a "muscle relaxer" she reluctantly called them in the following day(she of course had the day off). Never received an apology. I call the office manager, didn't receive an apology. Against my better judgement, I went to my next injection appointment. The nurse (assistant) helping Canti give the shot, didn't know anything about my medical history. Canti told me at my first injection appointment that she would tell me at the following appointment results from the xray that I had done in the office. At that appointment, she informed me that she gives the results at the last injection appointment. Which doesn't make sense... wouldn't you want to know results before going through with a treatment plan? Makes me think that they treat all patients the same, regardless of the severity of the TMJ, which she told me mine was very mild. Why would I want to go through with injections if I only have mild tmj? The office manager was zero help. I've never been more disappointed in a drs office. I will be going back to get my appliance, and never again. read more

My first appointment was extremely eye opening to me as I really had no idea how stress was taking over my health. Dr. Patel changed my life and I would recommend her to everyone. Using my mouth guards and having the shots stopped my migraines and pain. I didn't realize how bad it all was until after the pain was subsiding. Her staff is all very friendly and I never had a long wait for my multiple appointments. I will be back for my follow up in a few months. read more

I suffered with TMJ for 9 months . After going to 2 ENT doctors, my dentist and chiropractor I was still in pain. My PCP referred me to Dr. Patel and my life changed for the better. Wearing my mouth guards and doing my physical therapy exercises each day I am pain free. As of yesterday I don't have to go back to see Dr. Patel for 1 year. She was a godsend. She and her staff have all been very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend Dr. Patel . read more

Well, it was not the horror story that those others had, but I did tell them about those other reviews. The biggest ding I'm giving them is on their communication skills. I went there almost 3 weeks ago at which time my dentist told me they would take the molds for the appliances. WRONG and even more WRONG. They said they had to wait until they pre-authorized it with my insurance, they left out the part of "IF I WANTED IT TO GO TOWARDS MY DEDUCTIBLE" What a bunch of idiots - they put me through 3 weeks of HELL due to my level of pain. I don't give a rats ass if it goes towards my deductible - I want them made so I can begin to heal and be out of pain. They almost cost me my job. So I go this coming Monday and the dang-gone things better be back fast and PERFECT on first fit. I'm putting them on my CC so I have recourse if they do not do exactly what I want. AND the appointment to have them put in my mouth when they come in has to be the very last one of the day - say 5pm. Company's that offer a service, even if in the healthcare or dental field need to stop thinking they are better than everyone else and we have to bend to their hours, they need to cater to me considering how much the blasted things cost. read more

After suffering with TMJ, migraines, neck pain, and facial pain for over a decade, I have finally found my MIRACLE WORKER! Dr. Bill Costaras is amazing!! His intelligence, knowledge, and genuine patient care were obvious from my very first visit with him. I have chronic pain and see him often. He listens, and cares. I am so grateful for him! I spent (wasted) over 8 years at a Scottsdale physician with NO RESOLUTION and tons of unnecessary out of pocket expenses. Thank you Dr. Costaras for helping me feel so much better in the last 6 months than I have in over 10 months....You are MY HERO! A.P. read more

Be aware of Dr Wight. i initially saw him for pain on right side of face. After he had appliances made (which he never informed me that what he was going to do), and after my second fitting, I developed tremendous pain on left side. He informed me after talking to other doctors they had no diagnosis. I was finally diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia by another doctor. I ended up in the hospital for 10 days with it. It was the most extreme intense pain one could ever imagine. DON'T go to Dr Wight, he does not seem to believe or care about his patients well being!!!!!!! No stars! read more

Recently I went to Southwest Orofacial Group for my TMJ. I have had my TMJ for years and when I Basilios Costaras I felt comfortable with his confidence that he could help my TMJ be less of a problem that I ever imagined. His knowledge, patience, caring and understanding of my dilemma became apparent and his goal to help me. I received my mouth guard and have used it religiously as prescribed and went back for my my 3 month check up. No longer have headaches in the morning, my TMJ clicking has gone, and I am pain free. I will be using my guard at night forever to avoid having the headaches, but it is worth it. Waking up in the mornings and feeling I had a good nights sleep was all worth it. Thank you to the group and Dr. Costaras. read more

I am referring to Southwest Orofacial Group in Phoenix Az. On my first visit to this business I met with Bill Costaras, DDS and found him to be very good. His assistant Melissa told me how much the plan for my treatment was going to cost. She was to submit my claim to the insurance company. The next week I called 9 times in 7 days for Melissa and she never got back to me. Finally a person named Amy said Melissa doesn't do that anymore. I then asked Amy to call me back. After borrowing $540.00 for the procedure, I never received a call back from Amy and I had to find another doctor. Terrible office and I never ever complain about anything but this office was horrible, don't waste your time! read more

I was referred to Souhwest aorofacial Group by my dentist for TMJ. I went there from August 8th through October 10th, 2019. They made me pay in advance for everything. On my last visit they charged me the $35.00 copay, but said I owed another $256.80. The receptionist couldn't tell me why I owed that amount. I paid it, assuming I would get a refund. WRONG! It's now March 10, 2020 and I am still waiting to get my money back! SOG referred me to Triton Medical Solutions because they do their billing. This is a really long story, but I'll shorten it by saying that I have been put off, lied to and ignored. When the did respond, Lavonna said that I owed it but wouldn't go over anything with me or give me an explanation. I tried emailing again, with a clear explanation and a table showing what I paid and what the insurance company said I owed. My calls and emails were ignored. I finally called my insurance to get a summary printout of fof everything I owed and I explained my issue. She actually put me on hold and called them herself!! After more than an hour of going back and forth, we finally worked out that I was owed $264.77. I spoke do Deborah Almondover, who assured me "the check is in the mail". That was in January. After a month I called Ms. Almonover 3 times to let her know that I never received a check. She had Michelle R. Call me back and I explained the situation. I asked her to please find out if they got the check back or if thecheck had cleared the bank. That was February 13th. I have called each of these ladies 3 times over 4 weeks and they have not called me back. So that's where it is now. Just for the record, in case you think I was rude or angry, let me assure you that I would not do that. I was always polite. read more

What is wrong with this business? I just tried to call and pay my bill by phone and was told I really needed to access the Patient Portal. UMMM.....really? What is happening there? Why is everything so secretive and difficult? Weird weird place. read more

This business will accuse you of narcotics addiction, deny antibiotics before ruling out a facial/periodontal abscess/infection. They'll call you an addict for $250 private pay. They asked me to pay for an additional $1500 in radiology, then told me: So sorry, your insurance doesn't cover diagnostics at our clinic, we are concerned with DETAILS, not your health! Orofacial told me to keep taking the GABAPENTIN. CANYON RIDGE ENDODONTICS advised for my INFECTION. Orofacial told me I should seek an ENT to figure out why i still had pain. I was informed by Dr. Patel that I did not have a life threatening issue. Dr. Patel in the Tempe office, SHE told me I wasn't in need of radiology for diagnostics, antibiotics or pain meds. A week later I presented to an emergency department with signs and symptoms of septic infection, I was charged $1500 for that diagnosis and IV antibiotics. What a great clinic! read more

Normally I never write a review but I felt like I had to for this. I've seen several dr that specialize in jaws and even had surgery. This is the first dr that took the time to help and figure out what I needed and I am starting to feel relief In my jaw. Very great place and staff at the Tempe location. Like I said I've seen about 5 different oral surgeons for my jaw and had one painful surgery over the course of 5 years; and now I'm finally feeling relief. Thank you Dr. Patel read more

Dr. Matthews is extremely knowledgeable and his office staff seems to go out of their way to assist in making everything flow smoothly. He was caring, attentive and eager to make sure the mouthpiece fit correctly. Dr. Matthews was a blessing! read more

If you are looking for someone to actually help you please keep looking. I have severe bilateral TMJ. I came here looking for some relief, all I got was thousands of dollars in bills. I went in for an initial appointment where they tried to sell me all these injections, appliances, and X-rays. I told them I wanted to just start with one appliance because I couldn't afford all they were trying to sell me and figured the appliance I picked would provide me the best relief. But I was told that I would also have to spend over $600 on X-rays. I asked why because I didn't want them, she told me they had to take the X-rays to see the extent of my issue. So at the end of the appointment they went and took me to get X-rays. The doctor never went over them with me, never talked about them, mentioned they were bad, nothing, not at that appointment or future. So what the heck was the point of spending all that money?? When I was there Dr. Patel gave me a couple stretches to do with my jaw to help with the clicking and pain I was having. Well about a week later while I was doing the stretches she gave me, my jaw totally locked out. I was unable to even slightly open my jaw. I called the office multiple times that day trying to see if I could come in because it was an emergency situation, no answer. So I found a PT office that could see me that day. The PT couldn't believe that a "specialist" in TMJ would of given me such aggressive stretches right off the bat when I was already having so many issues with my jaw. The PT worked on my jaw but wasn't able to open it. The next day I was finally able to get ahold of the office, I explained to them my situation. The lady who answered the phone said, "Sorry but we don't have any openings before your already scheduled appointment." (Which was a month away to get my appliance fitted.) I continued going to PT three times a week in hopes of being able to fully open my mouth again. By the time I was FINALLY able to see Dr. Patel I was able to open my mouth a little less than half way. I explained to her what was happened and wanna know her solution? She grabbed gloves and then proceeded to try to just force my jaw open, she wanted to just pull it open? I stopped her because it was too painful.. How does a "specialist" not have a real solution to this kind of problem? There were issues with my appliance and the lady who was helping fit it was so extremely rude. She asked how it felt, I told her the issues and then she told me that couldn't be possible because of this strip test she was doing. Why even ask me then if you're going to tell me what I am feeling is wrong? Dr. Patel came in and with some work we were able to get this $1,000+ appliance to finally feel comfortable. As I was checking out at the front desk later I could hear them talking about me and how ridiculous I was being.. For what?? Wanting this extremely expensive device to actually fit like they said? For it to not hurt my mouth and keep me up at night? (which for the record it does keep me up at night, I can't sleep with it on). But its safe to say I never went back to this "doctors" office. Its been months and I am still in pain. I have been going to PT still and that helps but my jaw still locks out from time to time and it constantly pops every time I open it. If you're actually looking for someone to help you go somewhere else. They are just looking for ways to take your money. read more

Referred here from dental surgeon to deal with severe TMJ. First, the office is dark and unfriendly. The guy at the front desk, Darius does not communicate fully. You will get tiny portions of information and it will be confusing to get the rest of it because you have to figure out how to ask the question so he can process it and answer correctly. Dr. Patel, upon my first visit did spend some time with me going over TMJ however never mention Trigger Point Injections during the conversation and when appt was over the dark haired girl - who growls under her breath (MA) (never gave me her name) took me to the front desk to schedule out series of injections which surprised me. I asked her "did the Dr. mention shots?" and she said " maybe maybe not but you are getting a lot of them!" I was then told, same appt by Darius that my insurance would cover all services at 100%. I scheduled to begin the injections. Set of injections weekly for 4 weeks at which time when I was seen for the first set the Dr. would pinch up my skin on my neck till it hurt and then ask me "do you have pain here?" Well, yes you are pinching me hard so it hurts - then she started injecting into those pinched areas. She did this all around my head and neck at each visit. I really only had pain in some areas because of her pinching so tightly. At second visit the dark haired girl employee was in a foul mood and I determined from the hall conversation that they had been switched to a new computer system and I had to refill out all the forms I had done on my first visit. I was appalled that they did not keep the written information and scan somewhere for safe keeping........she was very upset with the system.. It was worrying to me that maybe they would lose my records all together. At some time during the 2nd or 3rd visit the Dr. mentioned that I would be getting an appliance to wear on the top and the bottom of my mouth. Wear 4-6 weeks total to keep me from grinding. Along with the weekly injections I was undergoing PT to unlock the muscles in my jaw. During these visits I repeatedly hear Darius telling other patients that want to schedule the injection appt to include fitting the appliance that their insurance will not cover more than one item per visit. so I called my insurance company because that was news to me, you know like pap smear and blood tests - they get done at the same freekin appt. Then I realized that he's been told to say that and it the policy of SWOrafacial NOT to do more than one procedure at a visit so they get more office visits and co pays. My insurance, BC told me that was NOT their policy. So, next visit I am in the chair waiting to get my upper appliance fitted and Darius comes in , shoves a paper at me and say's "you have a copayment due for your trigger point injections!" I said "they were covered at 100% and they have been paying you!!" He runs back to his computer to look up something and the dark haired girl told me I should not be reacting so badly! I said, "are you kidding me?" It took them 45 mins to figure out that this was for additional injections after completing the 4 initial. WHY DIDN'T HE SAY THAT? By now I am seriously starting to doubt this office, especially when the Dr. had come in to my 3rd set of injections and asked me if I had gotten my appliance yet? WAS THAT INFORMATION NOT IN MY FILE? I told her that the appt for fitting top and bottom were scheduled after shots were completed. "oh, she said - I can't find your records." Seriously? WTF? Received the upper appliance 2 weeks before the lower and when the blond lady employee was trying to place in my mouth it was a terrible fit. She took it out with her gloved hands, shaved the chemical plastic down and then hands it to me, without washing my hands to put it in my mouth. I hesitated because I could not believe what was happening but l I took the appliance and put it in my mouth tasting the god awful dust of what she has shaved off. This chemical taste was gagging me and lasted for several hours. When she called the Dr. in to verify placement was correct, the Dr. made another adjustment however she rinsed the appliance prior to putting in my mouth! So the blond MA should have done that too! They must pay very little to have such awful help. I did complete the injections, got fitted for both appliances - they both fit terribly cutting my cheek on the right side. I wear them but after also trying to get a copy of my records for myself for over 2 weeks - told me diff story every time I asked for them! I finally reached a gal at the billing department and she emailed them to me within 5 mins! Thank you to her. This office is disorganized and there is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE! I have found a new dr. read more