TL;DR - This is a dentist office that profits off of finding problems that you don't have. I was told I have a cavities and I needed all of my wisdom teeth removed, however, I was told by an actual dentist office that two of my wisdom teeth need to be removed because they were impacted and I don't have any cavities. Washington smiles is very expensive and it felt like one of those hair salons where they wanna try and sell you the shampoo because they get commission. Instead of shampoo at Washington smiles it was unnecessary dental procedures, toothpaste, and $12 mouthwash.
This is really unfortunate because there were so many positive reviews for Washington smiles. I went in there thinking that it would be your regular dentist office, however, that was not the case. I had my x-rays done and I was told that I had eight cavities, and that I needed my wisdom teeth removed. When I asked why I need my wisdom teeth removed, I was told by Dr. Smith that, "You can either get them removed like I did when I was 23 and be out for a few days, or you can be like my dad and wait till you have a bunch of problems when you're 40 and get them removed. Your choice" this is not an explanation as to why I need to get them removed, I wasn't aware of what problems they could cause because I didn't have any problems. It was also time for me to have a cleaning and they had an opening so Krista, the hygienist, did my cleaning. She used a Cavitron which was extremely abrasive on my gums and she was not gentle. My gums were bleeding like crazy and I was told that I needed to incorporate a mouthwash into my routine. I stated that I use Listerine but then I was told that the mouthwash I use isn't as good as the one that is sold at Washington smiles and she really recommends that one. In my take-home bag I was given listerine. I then brought up the white line abrasions I have onto my teeth and stated how I've been told that am I paste would help, I wanted her opinion as to if it helps. I was told it does work, however, it's a lot of work to brush my teeth and floss and do everything else and then remember to use the MI paste but luckily they had a fluoride toothpaste that she could sell to me instead. Krista shared how because people forget, their MI paste expires and she has some paste in her own home that expired. Ashley the dental assistant was also there while I was getting my cleaning also chimed in about how, "I know mine is expired to!" I was then offered the opportunity again to add on there fluoride toothpaste. The whole reason I got a cleaning is because I apparently needed Fluoride for one of my eight cavities. Towards the end of my cleaning I was told I could add-on the fluoride but I would be charged $32 the insurance didn't cover it now that I am 20. After my appointment, I was then pushed into scheduling an appointment with a hygienist again six months later and to also schedule an appointment for my cavities but I would need three sessions to remove them. Then, I was brought into a financial room with Brittany who gave me quotes for my treatment plan. I was told that I would have to pay out-of-pocket for November because by then I wouldn't have any money from insurance. I was offered to sign up for a credit card to pay for everything. I also had to pay the estimation of my appointment same day in order to be scheduled again.
Two days later I went to Dr. Tobben. All of the staff was very friendly, including him of course. I was told that I do not have any cavities, two of my wisdom teeth need to be removed due to them being impacted in some way, but the other two were going to be removed just because that standard procedure for wisdom teeth and that I wasn't necessarily going to have problems with them. I was told that I have very nice teeth, compared to Krista, who said that there was a lot of decay in my mouth, and Dr. Smith Who said that my one wisdom tooth looked really bad especially worse than the x-ray. read more