- Report: #698892
Complaint Review: Esther S Rubin dds.mph - New York New York
Reported By:
Anne -
New York, New York, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Esther S Rubin dds.mph
18 East 48 St #1101 New York, 10017 New York, United States of America
Phone:
212 593-7272
Web:
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Esther S, Rubin, dds.mph Unsatisfactory and harmful treatment. The public should be protected from predatory dentists like her. New York, New York
If you visit dentist Esther S.
Rubin, hang on to your wallet and your teeth. I first saw Dr. Rubin on
October 25, 2010. Previous x-rays showed 2 teeth with tiny cavities, although I
was asymptomatic. Dr. Rubin took a new and “complete” set of x-rays,
$245.00, and $175.00 for the evaluation. At my next visit, however,
she recommended more x-rays, although the previous x-rays were supposed to have
been a complete set!
She then recommended porcelain onlays for three teeth, # 5, 31 and 32 at a cost of $1,995.00 each. The two teeth in my lower right jaw were the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it. It was only later that I learned that the treatment she recommended for these teeth, located at the back of my mouth, was unnecessary; composite fillings would have been sufficient. These teeth, after all, are not really visible, even when I smiled.
But, of course, she could not have charged as much for simple fillings. On November 8, 2010 she injected the upper and lower gums twice in rapid succession, without waiting for the first injection to take effect. She even indicated that there should be an extra charge for the anesthesia! She drilled # 5, 31 and 32 and placed temporary fillings in each. I was then asked to pay in full, and after a very upsetting discussion I reluctantly gave her $ 3,000.00.
When I returned on November 18, 2010, she placed two porcelain onlays, one on #31 and one on #32. However, she cemented the teeth so close together that I was unable to floss in that area, and while trying to force the space open she cut the corner of my right lip. But even worse, while I had no symptoms before this “treatment,” I am painfully sensitive to heat and cold in that area to this day.
It has become apparent that I may need some extensive and costly revision because of her unnecessary and harmful treatment. But that is only the beginning. At the same visit she told me that the porcelain onlay for tooth #5 in the upper right jaw did not fit well and she would return it to the lab. She refilled the tooth with a temporary filling. She then again demanded payment of the $ 2,985.00 balance with the ultimatum that if I did not pay, she would not finish the work and would not ask the lab for a new onlay.
I told her that I had already overpaid and until the job was completed, I was not going to pay anymore. Were her priorities on my well-being or in getting paid? Very distraught at the kind of treatment and attitude I was experiencing, I went to get another opinion the next day. The two new dentists I visited were very concerned about what they were seeing in the upper tooth, and recommended that I see an endodontist as soon as possible.
I did so, and was told the following: “There is extensive breakdown and destruction of the tooth and only a thin shell of enamel remained, with necrotic material within, leaving little support for anything but a post and crown; the tooth was non-vital, and only a root canal, post, and crown could save the tooth. If a porcelain onlay had been placed, the tooth would have soon collapsed.”
While working on my #5 tooth, Dr. Rubin knew, or should have known, its true condition! After the root canal treatment, I shortly thereafter went to another dentist for the post and crown. On December 23, 2010 we sent a letter to Dr Rubin stating our disappointment and frustration at the inappropriate and harmful treatment she gave me and the extra thousands of dollars it was costing me, yet Dr. Rubin had the audacity to send me a bill demanding immediate payment.
Dr. Rubin’s unsatisfactory and harmful treatment has caused me pain, suffering and mental anguish. It appears that charging exorbitant fees and getting paid for unnecessary and harmful treatment is her first priority, and the welfare of her patients a distant second. The public should be protected from predatory dentists like Dr. Esther S. Rubin.
She then recommended porcelain onlays for three teeth, # 5, 31 and 32 at a cost of $1,995.00 each. The two teeth in my lower right jaw were the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it. It was only later that I learned that the treatment she recommended for these teeth, located at the back of my mouth, was unnecessary; composite fillings would have been sufficient. These teeth, after all, are not really visible, even when I smiled.
But, of course, she could not have charged as much for simple fillings. On November 8, 2010 she injected the upper and lower gums twice in rapid succession, without waiting for the first injection to take effect. She even indicated that there should be an extra charge for the anesthesia! She drilled # 5, 31 and 32 and placed temporary fillings in each. I was then asked to pay in full, and after a very upsetting discussion I reluctantly gave her $ 3,000.00.
When I returned on November 18, 2010, she placed two porcelain onlays, one on #31 and one on #32. However, she cemented the teeth so close together that I was unable to floss in that area, and while trying to force the space open she cut the corner of my right lip. But even worse, while I had no symptoms before this “treatment,” I am painfully sensitive to heat and cold in that area to this day.
It has become apparent that I may need some extensive and costly revision because of her unnecessary and harmful treatment. But that is only the beginning. At the same visit she told me that the porcelain onlay for tooth #5 in the upper right jaw did not fit well and she would return it to the lab. She refilled the tooth with a temporary filling. She then again demanded payment of the $ 2,985.00 balance with the ultimatum that if I did not pay, she would not finish the work and would not ask the lab for a new onlay.
I told her that I had already overpaid and until the job was completed, I was not going to pay anymore. Were her priorities on my well-being or in getting paid? Very distraught at the kind of treatment and attitude I was experiencing, I went to get another opinion the next day. The two new dentists I visited were very concerned about what they were seeing in the upper tooth, and recommended that I see an endodontist as soon as possible.
I did so, and was told the following: “There is extensive breakdown and destruction of the tooth and only a thin shell of enamel remained, with necrotic material within, leaving little support for anything but a post and crown; the tooth was non-vital, and only a root canal, post, and crown could save the tooth. If a porcelain onlay had been placed, the tooth would have soon collapsed.”
While working on my #5 tooth, Dr. Rubin knew, or should have known, its true condition! After the root canal treatment, I shortly thereafter went to another dentist for the post and crown. On December 23, 2010 we sent a letter to Dr Rubin stating our disappointment and frustration at the inappropriate and harmful treatment she gave me and the extra thousands of dollars it was costing me, yet Dr. Rubin had the audacity to send me a bill demanding immediate payment.
Dr. Rubin’s unsatisfactory and harmful treatment has caused me pain, suffering and mental anguish. It appears that charging exorbitant fees and getting paid for unnecessary and harmful treatment is her first priority, and the welfare of her patients a distant second. The public should be protected from predatory dentists like Dr. Esther S. Rubin.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Dr E. Rubin
New York,New York,
USA
Rebuttal to Anne's Complaint
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, March 14, 2016
This review has come to my attention and I wish to respond. I am sorry to all those who were eager to utilize my dental services and knowledge but were thwarted by this nefarious and exaggerated review. I wish that I had responded to this review sooner.
Response to Ms. Morris
I am sorry for your experience. Your description of the event is not how I ever practiced nor would ever practice. I see things quite differently. While the thread of your ‘story’ is true, your misleading details are grossly exaggerated.
A few additional xrays after a full set: To provide you with the best care, I wanted to make sure that my set showed all angles and possible evidence of pathology. Being thorough is paramount to me. With digital radiography, the radiation of two more films is miniscule while the benefit of the information from those additional xrays was paramount to proper diagnosis.
Onlays verses composite fillings: We had a long discussion (as I routinely provide) ahead of time about the pros and cons of the two types of restorations. I showed you samples and drew diagrams. After given a thorough education, YOU, not I, made the intelligent decision that these teeth with thin walls and little remaining tooth structure would fair better with stronger onlay restorations.
Injecting in succession and charging; One of my strengths as a dentist is painless injections and profound numbness without heavy anaesthetics. Read my testimonials (at holisticdentistrynyc.com) and you can find evidence of such. Also, I never charge for extra anaesthesia, never heard of that. Ever.
Cemented 30 & 31 together + pain: It is true that I had 30 & 31 bonded together. It was a temporary overnight situation for which I apologize. I had to order (overnight) a special instrument to sever them. That is why I demonstrated to you how to clean between the two restorations for that one night. I accommodated you in my already booked schedule to get you in the next day so as to make good on my word and to make flossing easy in that area. As to the pain, yes, your filling was very deep and you were told that it might need a root canal (or extraction) because of its proximity to the nerve. I did everything I could with dental medicaments to try to prevent the nerve from devitalizing. To this day I believe that my attempts at saving the nerve were successful.
Tooth #5: It is true that the onlay's fit on that tooth was not perfect. Since I try to give excellent care I thought best to send it back to the lab for a remake for a better fit. You chose not to return to my office to insert the new onlay. I did not expect that tooth to devitalize or else I would have told you of that possibility at the start of our treatment. I cannot predict all reactions to drilling and filling. I wish as much as you that that tooth would not have needed a root canal. However, I don’t know if the other dentists told you that you could have still had the onlay as a full coverage restoration. (a post and core and crown were not your only choices)
Ms. Morris, when it came to paying, that was when you became belligerent and dismissive despite the signs and conversation in my office (ahead of time) describing the payment schedule. You simply did not want to pay according to our schedule which is commensurate with the progress of the work.
Again, I am sorry that you see things so differently than how it occurred. I hope that you are healthy and well, orally and systemically.
Again, I did not mean to cause you any harm- see the many testimonials on my website’ holisticdentistrynyc.com’ or read the reviews many of which are archived. My dental following generally has a huge amount of trust in my honesty and skills. Of course I wish that every person whom I treated has the same feedback as the author of this recent review.
[ Dr. Rubin is absolutely wonderful,… I recently had mercury fillings removed with her, and the whole process was flawlessly efficient. We have to go on now…there is still work to do, as my teeth are in a bad shape but I am confident she will find the good trade-off at the level of my needs and my payment ability.(I am from Europe)…and I never fully trusted a dentist until I met Dr. Rubin. She is so effective in medical, and budgetary approach when “planning” a course of treatment. I am really impressed and amazed by the whole activity of her dental clinic. If I had to “summarize” I would say: Professionalism, Honesty,Trust and KINDNESS.
Francis C.]
