out of Read Reviews for Dr. Harvey Levin
After admittedly going too long between dentist visits, I chose Dr. Levin's office because it was close to my office, and they accepted my insurance. Upon my first visit, I received a thorough cleaning and exam. The hygienist informed me I would need to come back for an additional cleaning in two weeks--my fault for waiting so long between cleanings. After the examination, Dr. Levin remarked that I had a very healthy mouth. The only issue he wanted to address was replacing a single filling that was starting to decay. So I returned a few days later to have the filling replaced. Again, he finished to say things looked great, and he'd see me in six months.
Today I returned for my follow-up cleaning and polishing. After the hygienist finished, Dr. Levin performed another quick exam. Momentarily, he remarked, "There are only two small things I'd like to fix. You have two old fillings that are beginning to decay."
"And why didn't we fix this when I was here a couple of weeks ago?" I asked, annoyed.
"Oh, I just wasn't looking that closely then," he replied.
Needless to say, this should NEVER be something a dentist tells his patient. Upon checkout (and after paying another large payment that would bring my running balance after insurance to close to $300.00), I was asked to schedule that additional appointment.
I will be looking for a new dentist more closely than Dr. Levin looked at my teeth.
My Experience: Filling, Onlays & Inlays
Duration: 3 visits of an hour each.
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
I've been going to Dr. Levin for over 20 years and have referred a number of friends as well as my wife to his practice. He is the best in the business, hands down.
I have just seen reviews complaining of the front office. I've interacted with them over 50 times and never had a bad experience.
Dr. Levin is a pro. Pain free. And after 20 years of cleaning, has only recommended three procedures -- all simple fillings. I can't recommend him enough.
When his schedule is booked, i've started to see his new associate, Dr. Marko. She too is best in class and a delight.
About Hygienist: The hyginists, and i've worked with most of them in Dr. Levin's practice, are generally long-tenured and top notch. They also have a sense of humor, which can help nervous patients, like me.
I know this doctor: 21 years
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Do NOT go to this dentist!!
He barely checked my teeth, and concluded I had 2 cavities. Before my fillings, I noticed a large black spot on one of my teeth and when I went in for the filling I asked him if it might be a cavity. He said it was (how did he miss that, yet I could see it in my mirror??), filled that, and then was done. I asked about the other 2 I originally came in for and he just shrugged them off, my guess because he made them up in the first place.
About Hygienist: The hygenists are very nice.
I know this doctor: 2 months
Agree 1
Disagree 1
Agree 1
Disagree 1
My wife and I both had crowns put on by Dr. Levin, and both of us have had to have them replaced less than three years later due to continued decay which remained underneath. One such issue could be excused as an aberration, but two? Sloppy work.
In addition, my wife's crown was initially installed by a trainee instead of Dr. Levin, and was cemented incorrectly. Dr. Levin had to wrest it free with tools leaving my poor wife's jaw sore for days. She was not asked if she minded that a trainee perform the work, and Dr. Levin's poor supervision led to major discomfort.
I know this doctor: 5 years
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Dr Levin replaced a 4-tooth bridge with an implant (provided by the fine Dr Roy Eskow) and 4 crowns. There were delays due to bone implants and due to attempts at color matching the crowns. 2 weeks after the implant was complete and all matching installed, one front tooth was loose. When I went in to review this with Levin, he explained that in the duration of this procedure, the root atrophied to a proportion that won't support the newly-installed crown. He hadn't been reviewing xrays.He offered no compensation, no apologies for not having noticed this despite repeated xrays being taken throughout the effort. This is not professional. A good dentist assumes responsibility when he's made an oversight.
Additionally, I'd had my front bottom teeth laser whitened. It turns out that I am one of the people in the minority who experience dental pain after this procedure. Fine, but it's REAL pain nonetheless, and I expect a dentist to answer his emergency phone when a patient calls. If the dentist can't answer the phone, he should return voice mail. Levin did neither. I had to call him back later. Not good service.
He also misdiagnosed a molar cracked all the way down to the pulp. I was grateful to see a good endodontist.
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
I have had maybe 5 cavities in my entire life. Every time I go to this dentist he claims I have cavities. I told him that I wanted a clear filling and he put in a metal one. Also, every tooth that he has filled has needed extra work. I am in pain now and believe I am in need of a root canal where he filled the cavities.
I know this doctor: 1 year
Agree 1
Disagree 0
Agree 1
Disagree 0
Dr. Levin is an excellent dentist, but he likes to upsell. Why do a filling when he can prep you for a crown at three times the price? He has a way of smoothly guiding you towards such unnecessary procedures.
He also overbooks. He is the only dentist in his office and if you make a 7:30 a.m. appointment, you are soon to learn that three or four others have an appointment at the same time, and that you will be in his rotation with them. As a result, an appointment that might take an hour with any other dentist takes two with Dr. Levin.
But the worst part about Dr. Levin's office by far is his front desk receptionist, who also handles the billing. She has an attitude and a tone that are both so unattractive that she, in and of herself, is reason enough to stop going to Dr. Levin's office, which I am going to do as soon as the three crowns he prepped me for during my last visit are ready and put in.
About Hygienist: The hygenist I saw at Dr. Levin's office was outsatnding in every way.
I know this doctor: 6 months
Agree 1
Disagree 1
Agree 1
Disagree 1
He came recommended to my wife and I, so we went with it. Well, every tooth he has touched has needed extra work - mostly root canals. He doesn't seem to listen to patients either, and seems in a rush (and I think does a rush job, requiring more work in the future). I had two crowns done at his recommendation - one, after he did work, needed a root canal - and he didn't fit them properly. He also charges about twice as much as other area dentists.
About Hygienist: I did not have a problem with the hygienist - though I recieved different ones different times. My wife, however, did have a rough experience, and had to request a different person. A friend had the same experience.
I know this doctor: 1 year
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
I have been going since 1999 and from the front desk staff to the hygenists to Dr. Levin, everyone is always friendly and helpful. he DOES NOT do unnecessary procedures, he could have on me several times and did not. He is a laid back, gentle man and Karen at the front desk is always helpful. They are very helpful with insurance coverage and letting you know up front what is and is not covered. He has done several crowns on me and they are still in place with no problems. He is alwsys on the Washingtonian best list and he should be. Also, I have never had to wait more than a minute or so for my appointment.
I know this doctor: 8 years
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Dr Levin is a great Denist, very nice office staff. Everyone in the office is more than willing to accomodate you in any way. If you need an emergency appointment or if you have anxiety when you get into the dental chair. On the downside I wish he took my insurance.
Agree 0
Disagree 0
Agree 0
Disagree 0
