UPDATE: Due to the Cease and Desist, and because we're being truthful and trying to warn others, we decided to retain expert help; a well-known and highly credentialed attorney specializing in free speech and anti-SLAPP, to help protect our rights and ensure this bully is exposed.
After the above update, finally a response, though hardly constructive. I'm not sure which is more disappointing; the horrible way I was treated, or this dentist's pathological denial of any wrongdoing.
Yelp did request I remove an assistant's name from my original review (a reasonable request as part of their privacy policy). After that, Yelp gave my review their blessing. I made further revisions for clarity, as by then I found out this bully was looking for any excuse to silence me. Many other users have found my review useful; a small consolation after this terrible experience.
I tried to raise my concerns right during the procedure, but felt bullied into silence by threat of leaving the procedure incomplete (update below). During a later phone call, I also raised some of my concerns.
I suppose bullies must live in a kind of denial; grasping for any technicality to excuse their terrible behavior.
I posted about my experience to warn others, as is common practice on forums like Yelp. Other dentists respond to such posts professionally & truthfully. This one didn't. Take that as you will.
UPDATE: Stone Valley Dental's first and only response to my previous review was to send me a Cease and Desist letter! In it ms yvonne chu-hyland's attorney demanded I remove my entire review or face a lawsuit. I believe in protected speech and mentioned an honest account of my experience with the dental practice to help people make informed decisions. And because she was apparently unwilling to address my concerns professionally, and instead resorted to bullying with a "cease and desist" letter, I feel I am morally obligated to warn others on every appropriate forum.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. I have never had such a bullying, painful and awful dental experience my entire life!
While extracting my tooth dr. yvonne chu-hyland was impatient and hostile to any questions. I feel dentists should keep their patients informed every step of the way because dental work is serious but I didn't feel I was treated that way. Halfway through the procedure she says 'I have only ten minutes to finish your procedure, my other patient is waiting'. While my surgery was incomplete - open & not even stitched up which obviously requires more time than that. I was on time for my appointment & had already waited more than 30 mins before she started my procedure I felt she was more concerned about her 'time' than my care. It was quite a painful procedure & I felt bullied. The bullying attitude made the painful experience even worse. I also felt she used an unreasonable amount of force on me when injecting anesthetic. Isn't the point of using pain relievers to ease a patient's pain, not cause more of it? Every time she injected pain killer I felt it was forceful and caused stabbing pain; not at all like my experiences with other dentists.
Furthermore, the dental assistant working with dr. hyland was paying no attention to my treatment and cracking jokes. The same assistant's behavior after I canceled the rest of my appointments over the phone was very rude. All this made me feel as if she had no formal education, and I found out later that she hadn't even taken her RDA exam until months after my treatment. Using interns may be typical but here in this case it was troublesome to me.
Before the procedure, dr hyland told me I have multiple cavities which would need to be filled before beginning my invisalign treatment. After all of the above, I went to a different dentist. My new dentist said that though I have some areas that may develop into cavities in the FUTURE, I have no cavities suitable for treatment NOW. I am going to believe the dentist who did NOT bully me.
Finally, I noticed Stone Valley Dental practices pediatric dentistry. Based on the above, I would personally be terrified to leave a child in the care of this dental practice. If they will treat an adult this way, how will they treat a child?
I think they should take a break and work on their practice and treatment of patients instead of yelp reviews & cease and desist letters. And my advise to them would be to treat people right and own up to their mistakes. Patients go to a doctor, or any business for that matter, and give them their hard-earned money as a sign of trust in them to get a good service & be treated right. They should respect people for the respect they get by putting such trust in them. They shouldn't threaten and intimidate people with a cease and desist but instead operate on truth & good morals. After this experience I read reviews even more carefully. It's a shame I came across such a place of business. I do not recommend this practice. read more