I needed a crown placed back on my tooth and was very clear on that when I made the appointment. I also explained that I had my own dentist who was on vacation. I filled out all the forms required of a new patient and spent two hours in the dental chair. Two x-rays were taken as well as pictures of the tooth now exposed with the crown off. Mostly I waited. The dentist, Dr. Trainer, explained to me that I really needed to have the decay removed from what was left of the tooth, probably a root canal, and a post to anchor a new crown to....all the while knowing that I had come in just for emergency services, had to get back to work, that I am flying across the country in 4 days, and that this practice is not on the list by my primary insurance carrier. I felt I was clear in that I felt the pictures and films taken could be used by own dentist, but that I was there to get the crown put back on. Na hour and 45 minutes after I was in the dental chair came the financial manager for the practice who told me to pick up my crown from the tray it was in and to go with her. I asked where to--she told me she was taking me to her office to make the arrangements for the root canal and work. I reminded her that I already had my own dentist, that my primary insurance did not cover this practice and that I had come to have the crown put back on my tooth. She said there wasn''t enough of my tooth left to hold the crown--I told her the crown had been on what was left of that tooth for 30 years and until yesterday had held just fine. She told me to sit back down in the dental chair--I did, and waited a few more minutes when another dentist and assistant came to me. They dried off the ''raw'' tooth in my mouth, put some temporary cement on the crown and put it back on my tooth. I was shocked at the speed that the procedure was finally done in--I don''t think that the crown was ever dipped in any disinfectant, and I know none was placed on my tooth before the crown was cemented back on. I was given gause to chomp down on for two minutes, then an assistant cleaned off the excess cement from around the tooth. Next I was taken into a tiny room where I was given a chair so that the billing could be gone over. I reminded the woman that I did have secondary insurance that they had already called to verify, and I asked to use the bathroom. When I came out of the bathroom I was directed to the front office, where I was given the amount owed, the co-pay and I wrote a check for $58.60. My husband''s dental plan will cover the balance, $141, the new patient fees and exam. As I told the receptionist, I was surprised, having told them that I had a dentist that I was paying new patient and exam fees on an emergency situation. I am concerned about the cleanliness of the crown that was put back on my tooth, and that I was not even given antiseptic to rinse my mouth with before the tooth was mounted. I am concerned that they didn''t listen when I told them I had my own dentist and when I asked for a print out of the pictures taken I was given one photo, was told I would get the rest and did not. I asked to have the photos sent to my dentist and gave the receptionist the phone number, but by late afternoon my dentist had not been called for the address--I checked. Though the care suggested may still need to be done, I am concerned that my wishes were not respected and everyone kept acting as if I was there for major work, not a quick 5 minute crown re attach. Their time was wasted as was mine. While I appreciate the information that there is decay that needs to be addressed I felt that they were ignoring me when I told them I had my own dentist who accepted my insurance. I certainly won''t be returning to this dental office, except to pick up x-rays and pictures if they are not sent in a timely manner.
