I'll say this at the outset--I never actually made it through the door, so I can't comment on the dentists or their skills. The reason I never came in was, however, entirely due to the person who answered the phones on the few times I tried to arrange dental care. She was so unnecessarily unpleasant and unwilling to advise me that I made other arrangements instead (Dr. Fugaro is awesome). Her attitude was so remarkably uncalled for I felt compelled to write this.
I was preparing to spend a few months on the island and knew I would need some fairly major work done while I was here--I had a full treatment plan and X-rays from my home dentist ready to go. I asked the host of my guest house for a recommendation, and it was Wicklund. Some of the work was urgent-ish, but this woman could not find any time for me for a full month so I took the slot. Just before I left home, the work became very urgent, so I tried to get in sooner. Not only would she not accommodate me, she told me that the appointment I'd made to start work on a new crown on a tooth that had been causing lots of problems was actually only a 30 minute assessment where I'd have to pay $75 for this dentist to decide what needed to be done (though I'd already told THEM) and he would do no actual work. Actual work I'd have to wait at least another 2 weeks for, AFTER the 4 I was already awaiting. Reluctant to just choose a dentist without a recommendation, I decided to try to wait.
In the meantime, I knew I would need a root canal so I asked her to schedule that. She said they don't do root canals. I asked her to recommend an endodontist so I could schedule it, and she said she didn't know if there was even one on the island. I've never heard of a dentist who doesn't do root canals or even know how to refer a patient for one. Have you?
As my problems worsened during my drive to WA, I called to beg that they squeeze me in upon my arrival. She said no. I asked for a recommendation for another dentist on the island who may be able to see me, and she said, "They're all fine. Whatever."
My requests for dental care were clearly burdensome on this woman, so burdensome that she could not even muster a neutral tone as she endeavored to make me leave her alone. On top of all of this, she was the rudest person I've ever had answer the phone at a service establishment--and I have lived in New York--on 3 separate phone calls.
I've now spent over a month on the island, and this is the only rude person I've encountered so I've concluded that her rudeness was endemic to her place of work, to her chair perhaps. I took a chance on Dr. Fugaro instead. He went out of his way to provide outstanding care and made a few extra thousand dollars in the process. The people who answer HIS phones are absolutely lovely. I suggest you go see them instead. read more
