Desert Dentistry

I have already spoken to the patient to inform her that Mr. [redacted] did not have a balance.

The $93 charge was a result of a panographic and full mouth series of xrays taken on the same day.  We are aware that insurance companies generally do not pay for these xrays on the same visit....

 The doctor, however, wanted both taken for diagnostic purposes. We are always willing to assume the extra xray expense at the request of our doctors.  

On April 17th, our billing department received payment from the insurance company showing the denial of the second xray charge. Our billing department promptly wrote off the additional xray charge on that day leaving a zero balance on the patient's account.  I am sincerely sorry that a member of my staff told the patient that they would be responsible for the xray charge.  Dr. [redacted] had assumed responsibility for the charge when she requested it.  

We do not send out zero balance statements so unfortunately the patient had no idea that the balance had already been written off.  I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication and have retrained my staff on how this should be handled in the future.  

Thank you!

I'm new to Phoenix and shortly after I moved here my two front teeth (previously crowned) cracked, creating a situation where I could no longer eat solid food. Fortunately, (or so I thought at the time) the very next day I received a mailer from Desert Dentistry. I did some checking and decided that, since they are local to me and had positive reviews I would make an appointment. During my initial consultation, the doctor indicated that three teeth should be extracted, and that I should be fitted for a partial. No surprise there. He also advised me that it would take a few days after the impression was taken to have the partial made, at which time I would be notified of the partial's arrival and I could make an appointment for the extractions and the partial fitting at the same time so that I would not be walking around with a hole in my face where my three front teeth had been. I heartily agreed. The impression was taken that first appointment, I made a 250- payment against the cost of the partial and within a few days I received a voice mail that the partial had arrived in their office. I called to make an evening appointment and was informed that they were booked solid for the Monday evening appointments (the only day they do evening appointments) FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. After that shock subsided, I realized that I probably wouldn't starve to death eating just soup and yogurt for a month, so I went ahead and made the appointment for the following month. Unfortunately during that month, the condition of the cracked teeth worsened to the point where my two front teeth were falling out of my mouth, and I had to use denture adhesive to hold them in just so I could go to work, let alone eat any kind of real food (I've lost 8 lbs. so far). FINALLY the day of my appointment arrived (today) and I was SO excited to be rid of these teeth and get the partial in so I could EAT, but unfortunately it was not to be. When I arrived at the office I was told that I would have to pay for the balance owed on the partial (85-) and for the three extractions (600-) in full BEFORE any work was performed. I indicated that I had 200- in my checking account and that my employer will direct deposit my paycheck in two days, so could they take the 200- out of my account now and the rest out of the account in a couple of days and THEY SAID NO. I said that had I been able to get an appointment two weeks ago the money would have been there. They said I would have to wait until my paycheck was direct deposited and then I could reschedule and wait ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS FOR AN OPENING. I waited almost FIVE WEEKS for them, and they couldn't wait two days for me. I paid the 85- balance on the partial and took it with me. I will have another dental firm do the extractions and tell this story to anyone who cares to listen.