Complaint Review: SmileCare Dental

 Below is my review of the dental services I received at SmileCare Dentistry located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, California. 

 Initially, I went to SmileCare to have a veneer cemented back onto a tooth that had become detached. On my first visit, I arrived at my scheduled appointment time but waited in the office for 45 minutes before being seen by a dentist.  Moreover, for the additional two appointments I made at SmileCare , I again waited in the office for a time before being seen.  I was not informed of any delays by any staff member in any of the visits.  I did note that during my visits that a number of patients were also waiting to be served. Apparently, SmileCare has a scheduling problem or they strive for patient turnover for monetary gain.  In my opinion, personal responsibility toward patients is nonexistent at SmileCare.

 I was scheduled to have my teeth cleaned on my second visit to SmileCare. My dental insurance covered a regular teeth cleaning.  SmileCare, however, attempted to add a number of additional options to the regular cleaning process.  The additional options were not covered by my insurance but would have raised the cost to more than a hundred dollars.  The staff member was insistent that I purchase the additional options but I refused. Unfortunately, this dentist office used “bait and switch” to “up sell” a regular teeth cleaning.

 On my final visit to SmileCare I was to have the new veneer cemented on my tooth.  I was told initially that the new veneer would take about a week to be made.  After more than two weeks from the initial visit for the veneer mold, I did not get a scheduling call from the office to have the veneer bonded to the tooth.  So I called them for status and was told the veneer had been received and was in the office.  I asked them why they did not call me to make an appointment for service.  I got no response.  I had to initiate the appointment for the veneer bonding appointment.

 On the last and final appointment to have the veneer bonded to the tooth, I was charged a fee for the office visit even though I was required to come in to complete the bonding procedure.  I guess they seen me coming.

 It is obvious that SmileCare is profit oriented; although I did discover later that SmileCare Dentistry is a corporation and not a private dental practice.  Dentists and hygienists are employed by the SmileCare Corporation.  Corporations, of course, must make a profit or they will not survive.  All too often, though, it is at the expense of the unknowing patient or customer. I learned also that the reviews for SmileCare  by prior patients were extremely negative.  (See http://www.yelp.com/biz/smile-care-san-diego)

 My dental insurance is with Kaiser Permanente and their affiliation with Dentral Care USA.  I will inform them of my unfortunate experience with SmileCare accordingly.

 Still though, the lesson I have learned is to always perform research when deciding on a given service regardless of any preconceived notions of the health care organization(s) giving the service.