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Park Avenue Smiles Reviews (1)

Review: I started an implant(s) process in July 2011, which involved two doctors, Dr. [redacted] CT) and Dr. J[redacted]l. Except for the very beginning of my treatment with [redacted], my experience has been a nightmare. He and his office have not only dragged this unfinished process out for over two years, they never communicated costs or provided invoices (since Oct 2011). As we got close to what I thought was the end of the process, I asked for a deposit to return the permanent teeth from the lab - I provided $8,362.00 on 2/19/13. I was told that the perms would be put in when they returned from the lab. From then until now, I have been ignored, refused any type of invoice and lied to regarding appointments to finish the process. After paying over $13,000.00 and offering another substantial amount of money (5,000.00), they are refusing to work out a payment plan, which they said they would do, on the remaining balance. Now, with less than two weeks to my wedding, I am stuck with a broken plastic temporary bridge in my mouth (10 upper/center teeth). I did finally receive an invoice, after almost 21 months of nothing, either at the end of my visit(s) or by mail, with charges and a balance that was never explained. I was left in the dark, treated unprofessionally and they have even admitted to mishandling the entire situation.

Product_Or_Service: Dental ImplantsDesired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Refund

This process needs to be completed and I would like a full refund so that I can go somewhere else to have the process completed.

Business

Response:

I am writing in response to a complaint brought on by one of our patients requesting his money back for work that was completed as part of a very extensive dental treatment plan. He is asking for money back on exceptional dental work that was completed in good faith of getting paid when his case was completed because he cannot pay for his final crowns in full before they are cemented in his mouth.

Since our first meeting with the patient on July 28, 2011 he was extremely pleased with the dental care he recieved. He was also aware that he was beginning a very extensive, expensive treatment plan to put implants in where his natural teeth had failed and wear temporary teeth while the implants healed and integrated over several months.

During that time, the dentist worked on many sets of temporary teeth to keep the patient looking good and able to chew and function as normally as possible. Many visits were never billed to the patient as a courtesy and we developed a friendship with the patient as we got to see each other more often.

The patient is currently wearing and has been since June 22, 2012, the implant-supported temporary bridge that took the doctor several visits and many, many hours to fabricate. The money that the patient has paid and is now looking to get refunded is for the work that was completed and the patient was happy with. I find it shocking that the patient is trying to get the money back so he can go to another dentist to have the process completed. It simply does not work that way especially since the dispute has nothing to do with the dentistry, just the financial arrangements of his payment. Does he think that another dentist will let him make payments for the next 16 months? I assure you, from what our colleagues tell us, we are one of the more flexible offices as far as allowing patients to make payments. Most dental offices expect their payment at the time services are rendered no matter what the cost.

It seems like the only issue here is the fact that the patient cannot pay his balance in full prior to the final crowns being cemented in his mouth. He wants to get his finished teeth cemented and make payments which would take him about 16 months to pay his balance in full. I know he feels that our office did not communicate clearly about his financial obligation of the treatment. I agree that we should have done a better job of getting payments along the way as he was being seen. However, the fact of the matter is that we are small, fee for service dental office and the patient was aware that he would have to pay for his dental services before the final crowns would be permanently cemented in his mouth.

The fact that he wants to make monthly payments for at least the next 16 months to satisfy his balance is contrary to our office policy of having everything paid for prior to cementing the teeth in the mouth. It is way too long of a repayment plan as we are a dental office, not a bank. We tried to offer the patient alternatives to finance his treatment and nothing has worked out. We have been burned so many times in the past by trying to give people a chance to make monthly payments. We have a list of people who still owe us thousands and thousands of dollars who are happily wearing their gorgeous teeth that the doctor worked very hard to make and cost our office a lot of money that have yet to be paid for.

I feel this is a very unfortunate situation for the patient and for us as the dental provider. The complaint at hand is strictly about money and has nothing to do with the quality of the dentistry the patient recieved. It is in our best interests to work this out with the patient and come to a resolution that we both can agree on. I hope as you read this, you realize that we are a small dental office providing excellent dentistry for our patients and just trying to get paid for the work that was done. It would be a bit more acceptable if the patient needed to make payments over 2 or 3 months as we try to work fairly with all of our patients, but 16 months of payments (interest free mind you) is way too much to ask.

To be honest, I am shocked that the patient has filed this complaint requesting his money back for exceptional dentistry that was completed to his satisifaction. He is not dissatisified with any of the dentistry that was done and has never complained about anything before this. We always arranged to see the patient promptly when his temporary teeth were broken or fractured and he really appreciated the high level of dentistry he receieved.

Filing this complaint to request his money back is so unfair to us as the dental provider. He is upset that we will not accept payments for 16 months and is now trying to get his money back and go somewhere else to get the work finished. It just seems much easier for us to come to an agreement and finish the case so both parties can move on. The patient can get his teeth that he has waited a long time for and we can get paid on a case that the dentist has worked so hard on.

Thank you for your time reading this response.

Consumer

Response:

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT ACCEPT the response from the business.)

Obviously, this is partially about money, but as I stated (and the Doctor has noted), I was never updated on invoices for current work or a total cost estimate. The work [redacted] performed was fine, but the treatment by office staff (ignoring me as we approached the final step; making several appointments then cancelling the last minute; they admitted (doctor's wife [redacted]) to mishandling my case and we were trying to work out a payment plan for 12-months, not 16; this was ultimately denied by [redacted]. He refused to speak with me and left the negotiations up to his pregnant wife, [redacted] (who tried very hard to work this out. I am out over $25,000 (between two docors) and left with plastic temporary teeth that are breaking down. Had I known the cost was so high, I would have chosen an alternate solution. Also, I am not asking for all my money back, just the last $8,362 I paid because I was told they would put the perms in if I paid that amount (per wife, [redacted]). This office has been deceitful and failed to communicate my costs at any time during this two year process. If I had the funds, I would pay the balance in full - why should I be punished for their mishandling?

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Description: Dentist - Dental Implants

Address: 3738 Park Ave, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States, 06604

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