Alan Esla, M.D., Inc

I was charged $150 for what I thought was going to be a free estimate for getting wisdom teeth pulled.
[redacted] had an appointment with Custom Dental with complaints of a toothache. We believed the procedure required the removal of the wisdom teeth. X-rays were obtained and a preliminary check up was performed by the dentist at Custom Dental. Records were sent to Oral and Facial Surgery/[redacted], DDS. We were told that we would be getting an estimate of the cost of the procedure. Upon visiting the specialist, we were placed in a room and the doctor looked over the x-rays and confirmed that the wisdom teeth would be removed. There was no check up or physical evaluation of any kind. The surgeon simply glanced at the computer and spoke with us for about three minutes regarding the procedure. We were then sent to a financial representative of some sort regarding cost and payment plans. We decided that we would not have the procedure done through this particular company due to financial restraints. Prior to the estimate, we were informed it would be free of charge. After receiving a bill, we realized we were being charged for a consultation. If we had known that this was going to be treated as a consultation we would never have come, and as far as we knew, it was simply to find out how much it would cost. Upon trying to clear it up with Dr. [redacted]'s office, [redacted] argued that a thourough examination was performed and it had to be paid. The first time I called was the end of 2013. I told [redacted] to let the dentist know that I didn't think it was right to pay for getting an estimate based on a referring dentist's xrays. I didn't receive a bill after that so I thought he wrote it off. I recently received another bill and called the office and [redacted] again took the call and started arguing with me again. So I told her I understood she was just doing her job, but did she run it by the dentist. She said NO. I said can I speak to Dr. [redacted]. She said he's in surgery and starting arguing with me that a service was performed and the bill had to paid. Her tone of her voice was very unprofessional. She wouldn't let me speak at the end so I just had to hang up. I felt horrible.