About Front Desk: The first time I called, a receptionist answered the phone grouchily. After scheduling, I received an email. It had a signature, but no greeting, with a single line: "Here is your paperwork." I thought this wasn't a great sign, but I kept my appointment for the sake of my discount. The Alfa Dental front desk area is weirdly spacious, forcing the receptionists to spend a lot of time moving from desk to desk to work. When it was time to pay my bill, one receptionist abruptly motioned me toward one desk as I approached the front, again with little greeting. There, I met another receptionist who immediately began complaining that one of her coworkers hadn't done her job before leaving early for the day and letting her deal with my discount card. That desk wasn't hers, and was not near her own. I also think she had to sign into a coworker's email to get what she needed to process my payment. I was taken aback. She eventually became friendlier, but only with friendliness on my part. She offered to schedule my next cleaning, but I said no without explanation.

Front desk:

Hygiene rating:

About Hygienist: My hygienist was Nicki Zahmatkesh, RDH. I am rating the cleaning itself, though. On one hand, she was friendly and accommodating. She cheerfully answered my questions. During my X-rays, I asked her to change her gloves after awhile. I felt uncomfortable asking, but she changed without any hesitation. Later, I asked her for a fluoride treatment (an extra charge included in my $160 total), and she complied even though she didn't think I needed it. She also volunteered to show me how to floss more effectively. She was kind and attentive. She worked confidently. It would not surprise me to learn that she has patients who have received satisfactory results. On the other hand, my own cleaning disappointed me. At my former dentist, where I went for several years, all the hygienists could completely remove plaque and stains. Obviously, they could not remove the type of background discoloration that only disappears with whitening. However, they removed spot stains, particularly those acquired within six months. This cleaning did not remove those stains or look thorough in general. Moreover, I did not understand why Ms. Zahmatkesh insisted that fluoride treatments are completely ineffective for the prevention of tooth decay in adults. I called my former dentist's office to ask if fluoride didn't protect adult teeth, and they strenuously disagreed. I have experienced relief of my tooth sensitivity following fluoride treatment, too, and more sensitivity without it. In fairness, though, I am unfamiliar with peer-reviewed scientific literature on fluoride effectiveness. It is possible that Alfa Dental based its conclusions on this. Accordingly, Alta Dental only carries children's fluoride treatments. It comes in flavored foam that tastes unpleasant. The foam was sprayed onto a Q-Tip from a sad can with a large hole cracked into the lid before application. Overall, the treatment area left me with an impression of dinginess. This appointment included the longest dental X-ray session I have undergone. It was painful, gross, and included several do-overs. Despite reassurances, I worried about the cleanliness of the equipment the whole time.

Hygiene time: 50

I know this doctor: 1 day