Have been going to the Smilist (Riverhead) for a few years. The care has been good and the receptionists friendly, but there have been issues. Recommended a root canal that I don't believe was necessary (haven't had it done and tooth seems fine) and I have a cap that was ill-fitted, causing food to lodge between teeth that they won't fix (too soon for insurance coverage, even though they placed the cap). Final straw was a letter dated 8/1/21, but postmarked 8/12/21, that said as of 8/8/21 that they would not be accepting our insurance. Mailed and received AFTER they stopped accepting our insurance?? In the interim, they set up an appointment without telling us they didn't take our insurance. Thankfully, we didn't have an emergency and we cancelled the appointment. Needless to say, we have switched providers and will no longer be patients at the Smilist. read more

I've been going to the Smilist in Riverhead for three years. After my cleaning today, I won't go back. The dental hygienist (Carol) was awful. She scraped and jabbed at me so hard, when I went to rinse I spit out chunks of my gums and blood. My mouth was bleeding for hours afterward. In my 52 years this has never happened after a dentist visit. I told Carol that I felt she was being too rough. She said that my gums were bleeding because I have a bacterial infection because I don't floss everyday. I told her that I do floss everyday. She said, well, then, you're doing it wrong and I'm a very dismissive way tried to instruct me how to floss my teeth. This was a bunch of nonsense. I've flossed the same way my whole life, and I've never had bleeding gums. No, they were bleeding because Carole kept jabbing and scraping my gums with her tools. She cut me repeatedly. Instead of listening or apologizing, Carol just dismissed me and said I was the one with the problem. It was beyond her ability to imagine that she could have caused me any unnecessary pain or problems. I don't know if Carol is a clumsy hygienist or if she was just having a bad day, but I found her work to be inexcusable. I will not be returning to this office. read more

Be careful when booking for "cleaning" here. I get 2 free cleanings a year with my insurance. They send bill to insurance saying it's "peri maintenance" which is not covered by my insurance. Before getting my cleaning front desk 2 people told me no charge for cleaning. Get email & text every day saying they're going to deduct bill from my credit card on file, which I never authorized them to use. After many calls, I have to pay for my free cleaning, plus got bad cold & staph infection right after visit, not sure if hygienist even wore mask. Won't be going back here. not sure if I even got "periomaintence" & not just "cleaning" which even the hygienist mentioned that I was there for "cleaning " read more

The most pain I ever had at a dentist. The Hygienist was great but the Dentist came in to give me a shot which was more pain than my recovery from my three cesareans. When I told him how painful it was he seemed unfazed. He lacked in interpersonal skills. Also they are extremely expensive. read more

The Smilist (cringey name, btw) took nearly two months to reimburse me for covered services that I shouldn't have had to pay for upfront in the first place. Zero communication, people don't know what they're doing and everything is backed up and delayed six ways from Tuesday. I will never again use a dentist that is connected to The Smilist. Horrible company. read more

I was told I had 2 cavities and they wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money so I made an appointment with another dentist and when I went to get my cavity's filled at the other dentist they said I did not have any cavities at all! Wow just wow! So the Smilest was willing to drill my teeth and weaken them just to make money! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TO HO HERE! read more

I have been reading the othere reviewers here on Yelp. I like the dentist. However Management and the front end staff are not good. I have to agree with with the others who posted negative experiences because mine were the same. The most disturbing part is the erroneous overcharging for services. I will be filing a formal complaint with my Insurance Company. I held off to give The Smilist a chance to fix the problem, but I have only gotten the runaround. The Smilist has shady billing practices, this wasn't the first time they overcharged. It's a shame because I endorsed them positively in the past. The " manager" is never there and never returns messages. Very unprofessional. read more

The Smilist front desk told me they took my insurance, let me get a whole exam and X-rays done, even let me set up a follow up appointment to get cavities filled. At the end of my initial visit, I was told I had no copay and that my insurance was covering everything. The day before my follow up, I got a voicemail that they in fact don't take my insurance and I owe them out of pocket for my previous visit and that my fillings would have to be paid for out of pocket as well. When I called back to try and clarify what was going on, I was informed that my appointment had been cancelled because my insurance was not accepted. I wasn't even given the option to potentially self pay. I took off work and everything for that visit and now I have to find a new dentist, get more X-rays, and wait even longer to get two very painful cavities filled. And I'm supposed to pay out of pocket for this? I'm extremely frustrated and would not recommend the Smilist to anyone. read more

I had several thousand dollars of work done in the Riverhead office. I heard the receptionists openly ridicule patients in the waiting room. I was once told to sit in the waiting room with a bleeding tooth. The surgeon, Dr. Hofer, purposely? stabbed my upper pallet with no pain relief prior. I have repeatedly gone back to Dr Chekada re two caps, insisting they were not covering the teeth, except for the moths when Covid was most virilent. Last August, I went back again and was charged for the complaint, as if it were new. He told me in was all in my mind basically. Now the caps are falling off and I am considering my next course of action. read more

I had a good experience @ Smilist Riverhead until today. Unfortunately we had to part ways. I was refused treatment for my cleaning and examination because I declined X-rays. Good god no X-rays since 2018! I thought I would be arrested by the tooth nazis. I have a healthy mouth & since it is my mouth it is my choice. This is unfortunate because the cleanings have always been a very positive experience. I will not be strong armed. I should also mention my sister had a tooth implant that was a total disaster. Shop around. Corporations & dental care are a bad mix. read more

I would highly recommend NOT going here. The first time I went in, they were not thorough at all and I felt like they were rushing a lot. I went for fillings, and have never ever felt more pain from a dentist in my life. I was in visible pain with tears streaming down my face and they just continued to drill into my mouth. I felt EVERYTHING. Even after putting numbing needles into my mouth. The did not talk to me at all to let me know what they were doing and I felt as if I was another number to them and not a person or patient . I quickly canceled my next appointment for the other filling and switched dentists. My new dentist said that the fillings were not even necessary. They will just try to suck money from you. Please do NOT go here for your own good. read more

Dentists are good, but the front office personnel is just dreadful, no class, highly disrespectful of the patients

Two stars for clean and new office but beware I was told needed two root canals crowns 1000s of dollars worth of dental services by the dentist there. Was referred to endodontist by the smilist for my apparent root canals and was confirmed by him I did not need them. Went to a dentist who knows what they are doing and was able to simply fill them as cavities. read more

Had an appointment booked for 9:45am this morning, they told me I couldn't come inside until I received a text message to come in, I told them I never received a text message, then they say my appointment was for 9am (it wasn't) and that I missed it. I asked why did I not get a text to come in for my 9am then? No answer. I asked to see my name on their schedule on the computer and as I suspected, I was never on the schedule to begin with. They offered to see me at 10am but I was already running late for work, I said I'd agree if we could skip the X-ray and whatever else, I just wanted a quick cleaning and get out of there so I can make it on time for work. They said I could not do so, will not be coming back here. They also had around 8 people working inside with not a patient in sight. Just socializing. read more

This office has TERRIBLE customer service with a very poor attitude. After waiting six months for my appointment, I was told the DAY BEFORE that they would not clean my teeth if I did not agree to additional deep cleaning services! Previously at another appointment, I was also told that without a full set of X-rays before my cleaning they would not clean my teeth at all! I've found the staff and personnel to be obnoxious at this office. read more

I would highly recommend. Not currently a patient and I had severe pain over the weekend and on the recommendation of a friend called this morning at 9 am - they fit me in at 10 am (of which I am truly thankful) even though they were busy. They addressed my current issue and scheduled a follow-up for root canal. I am looking forward to scheduling a regular visit and cleaning! read more

My wife and Son had appointments for cleaning. They were made months in advance. One day the receptionist calls and tells my wife they need to cancel her appointment and reschedule. They come back on the phone and tell her the next appointment is 5 months away. They cancelled the appointment and did not accommodate her for 5 months. If my wife cancelled then she has to accept what they have available. So she is supposed to go 1 year before being seen. I get a call for my son same situation. They have to cancel my sons appointment. They give me another date in 2 weeks in the morning. I purposely made an appointment for my son after school so he doesn't miss school. I tell the receptionist I need after school appointment like I scheduled this one 6 months ago. The receptionist told me to hold on and came back and said if I need after school then I have to wait 6 months(may of 2022) for his appointment. I told them how do you not accommodate someone who has an appointment for 6 months and you cancel then make them wait 6 more months. My wife and son now have a new family dentist so Im leaving as well and will join the family at the new dentist. read more

Stay clear away this is a chain franchise operated business.The dentists are Decent nothing to write home about.The staff has never gotten one referral prescription or any other paperwork associated with records correct. The place is state of the art and updated but the office personnel have no clue what's going on.They have you back multiple times for temporary work.Heres the twist this is how they get past your allotment for insurance and start to bang you in your pocket personally for work that is half completed that they started. Make sure you get copies of every bill every statement and all the work started and or completed. I never received a copy in the office or any type of billing services at home. I would imagine they pray on the elderly and anyone who is not to business savvy.They are known to change prices on agreed fees for services and procedures.Do you self a favor go to a private dentist locally that is a sure shot do not use a chain dental service or franchise BIG MISTAKE. Like every other New Yorker they tried to change the paperwork and or fees after Covid China flu how kind of them PRICE GOUGING in full effect Business 101 do not rob your local customers or normal patronizers. BEWARE OF CHAIN DENTAL SERVICES THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HELP YOU ONLY MAKE MONEY. read more

I am a new patient here who recently had a cleaning done. I admit it had been a long time since I had gone to a dentist and I am someone reluctant to go, but I really had a great experience. Kristen the hygienist was outstanding, and Dr. Menzies was very attentive as well. I never thought I would say this....but looking forward to my next appointment! read more

There is a new dentist there Julie Izen. I met her in Quogue, NY where she had a failing practice 2016/2017 I'm new to area so only met with Dr. Izen twice. Once for a cleaning which was done by a hygienist. The next time I walked in with a cap which had fallen out and needed to be glued back in. When I got there Dr. Izen asked me to place the cap in my mouth, examined it and asked me to take it back out. She then took this cap and proceeded to use the drill on it with her back to me. When I asked "what are you doing?" she replied she was cleaning it. Dr. Izen then placed it back in my mouth securing with plenty of glue. Never gave me a mirror and I didn't ask. When I got home and later that evening upon brushing my teeth I noticed the tooth was definitely shorter. This cap has not fallen out but doesn't fit as it did and I often have bleeding when flossing. Dr. Izen has anxieties that she doesn't know what to do with. I called Smilist office and told them before Dr. Izen started there in 2017. Doesn't seem that they cared. read more