Review by
Smiling Patient
Stars:
2.5
on
2015-05-02
Link
Facilities:
Service:
Painless:
Results:
Cost:
The parking is terrible.
I went to this dentist and he has an office from 1970's. His secretary is still using xpearl or something for patient's database and a computer from early 1980's.
At first a receptionist mixed up my last name with my first and was calling me by last name. That sounded so odd. Then I guess someone told her.
Then she asked me out loud in reception area how long it's been since I've had my cleaning done. And it was a scheduled appoitment for cleaning ok? So they already knew why I was there and had my history and everything in front of them.
I told her it's been 2 years. Yeah I was critically ill with one foot in grave spent 2 months in ICU and then had to take 4 freaking long months to learn again how to walk and reabilitation. So teeth cleaning wasn't on my mind atm. So she goes to hygenist (who was sitting not far from front desk). It's a very very tiny office and she tells her I hear "she hasn't had cleaning in 2 years! It's gonna be a tough one".
Then I was called by hygenist who told me to sit in that 1980's dental chair and looked at my teeth/gum line and said that she'd have to do "deep cleaning". I've never had "deep cleaning" done before ever never needed one. And there it started. The pain was just horrible and then I stopped her and asked to do some numbness on gums. She replied "that'd be $800".. money is an issue for me with all medical bills I am still paying from ICU /hospital stay for 2.5 months and I have no dental insurance. So she said just brace yourself. There she went. She had me hold that sucking tube in my hand to suck water out of my mouth. Of course laying down and doing hygenist's work, I wasn't best at it. My blood with water was covering my face. I was soaking vet and debree from my mouth was flying all over my face. She would wipe my face with a paper towel every 3 minutes or so.
The whole procedure was a pure hell. I never expected that. I would've paid more to get numbness but that dentist does not have any payment plans nor he takes special dental credit card /sigh.
After the hygenist was done, she told me I need to get there for 2nd appointmet for smaller needle cleaning.. Price she said right now is $175 for deep cleaning. Then the dentist came in and said that I have 2 cavities in what seem like perfect teeth and he said he'd do crowns and that would cost me $3000. Eventually I'd want to whiten my teeth and he said since these teeth are going to be somewhat on back, nobody would see they are different in color.. but if I smile and the teeth he suggested to place a crown are visible!
So I go to front desk and the receptionist who could not get my name right said that would be $250....I did not ask just paid with a credit card. But it was odd when hygenist said $175 and receptionist said $250.
While browsing web I came across an educational video on crown and it showed that teeth actually have to be filled in order to place a crown on top of them. My dentist never explained that to me. He just said that if I were to come in next time for my 2nd deep cleaning, they'd do 3 crowns on me at the same time and I'll be there for 1.5-2 hours a least..
I don't know what to do. The technology he uses is from 1970's era, receptionist can't get my name right. The hygenist refused to do numbness. They tell me they save me money but I feel like I am a new milking cow for him....
My son goes to pediatric dentist and his dentist's office is a far cry from my dentist's office. Her office is slick and modern and top of the line technology and experienced hygenists. Here it's like I went back in time, horrible pain, blood covering my face, bleeding gums after procedure and being overcharged.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
#2
04-16-2011 09:24 PM by dknight211
Re: Worst dental experience ever
I had a pretty bad experience with a dentist and dental office that felt like it was from the 1980s. It was so bad that my shirt and body was soaking wet from a simple cleaning. The dentist then put temporary filling (Cavit) in my mouth that flaked and all fell out as soon as I got home.
I recommend that you probably search for another dentist, one with good reviews, by using a site like Yelp. Go to the dentists with consistent good reviews and who are honest. You can search for dentists in your area, and then call them up to see how much certain procedures cost.
I think you'll find that even "cheaper" dentists are priced close to the "expensive" dentists. In the long run, it might be worth it to go to a slightly more expensive dentist with good work, because a cheap dentist with bad work may lead to more work in the future (and more pain and overall higher cost).
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