River Valley Dental, P.C.

This place has the most unprofessional and inept patient/customer care I have ever experienced. There is something seriously wrong with this staff at this practice. I was referred to them for a sleep apnea dental appliance: they totally screwed up the pre-approval with my health plan and tried to get me to pay for the entire thing (I refused and told them to get there [redacted] together) and then they held the appliance for ransom and asked to me to pay for 1/2 before I could pick it up and they would reimburse me after they got paid by the insurer. This is $2,500 appliance that is totally covered by my health insurance (except for my co-pay). After numerous calls to them, as they almost NEVER return phone calls or follow up, they finally straightened it out. BUT: when I went into pick up the appliance the dentist did an expensive (unnecessary but, he wanted to use his expensive fancy new machine) panorama ex-ray (with out knowing if it was covered) and when my insurance wouldn't pay for it sent me the bill. Now I have been calling them for OVER TWO WEEKS to get a part for the (NEW) appliance that is integral to the appliance working correctly - Hear me: without the spacers (the part I need) the appliance does not work correctly and I am having episodes of sleep apnea (HEAR: LIFE THREATENING) I will not be going back and I would not recommend anyone else to go there either. The stress that this place has caused me because I have had to deal with their complete ineptitude and lack of professionalism EVERY STEP OF THE WAY is completely unnecessary. No-one should have to tell their medical providers office how to do their job. I'm sure Dr. [redacted] is making a very comfortable living and could easily afford to hire and train QUALIFIED office staff. (one of the "good" reviews on google + was written by one of the Dentists at the practice...Babak [redacted] smh, face palm... ) I'll be reporting this practice to the [redacted]ate medical review board.

Unauthorized procedure performed by staff after specific request for procedure not to be performed. Patient informed after procedure was complete.In the beginning of June I became a new patient at River Valley Dental. I went in for my first consultation and an oral exam was completed by the staff. After all exams were completed I heard a hygienist ask the dentist if I would be getting a cleaning today I heard a laugh and then "no" from the dentist. The dentist then explained to me that my insurance would not cover the deep cleaning that he thought was necessary with the numbers that he had gotten that day and unless he just changed the numbers we would not be able to do it through insurance and asked if I would be willing to pay $800 out of my own pocket. I explained that I did not have that kind of money and if my insurance would not cover it would a regular cleaning that was fully covered be an okay treatment. The dentist said that a regular cleaning would be okay if the insurance would not pay.The dentist then asked me to speak with a financial person. I spoke with the financial person and she said that my insurance would not pay for the deep cleaning. She then began looking through my insurance and looking at all of the different codes for things, she said we could get my insurance to pay for this procedure if we did a different procedure first and then redid the oral exam and then get different numbers to get insurance to pay for the deep cleaning. I explained that I did not want to have to go through another painful procedure to then have a deep cleaning. She said that she was going to talk to the doctor about the full mouth debridement to see what he thought. The financial staff then came back into the office to say that the doctor wanted to do the full mouth debridement, that he was not going to charge my insurance for the oral exam today and then after the debridement we would do another exam to get different numbers to get the deep cleaning paid for. I asked why my insurance would not be charged for today and she said it was just a nice gesture. When I went out to the front desk I explained that this felt like insurance fraud and that I did not understand why they would hide that they did the first procedure. No one would address this concern and they kept trying to push the full mouth debridement and would not talk about the regular cleaning. I explained that I did not want to sit through three painful procedures and that the dentist had said that doing the regular cleaning would be fine if the insurance would not pay for the deep cleaning with the numbers provided. I told the staff that I did not want the debridement, that I wanted them to contact the insurance for the deep cleaning with the numbers we received in the exam. The office said that they would contact my insurance and be in contact in about 8 weeks. I wait three months and never heard from the dentist, I still felt like I was in need of a regular cleaning. I called the office and they explained that they did not contact my insurance company. I explained that all I wanted was a regular cleaning or I wanted my records to go somewhere else. After speaking with four different people I was told that if I signed a waiver that the regular cleaning was okay but not the best treatment that the staff would do it. I made an appointment and went into the office on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. When I walked in to check in for my appointment I said I was there for a regular cleaning and that I needed to sign a waiver, they said the hygienist would talk with me about it. When I sat in the chair I explained everything to the hygienist. I stated that all I wanted was a regular cleaning. She did an exam and told me she thought I needed more, like a deep cleaning. I said all I wanted was a regular cleaning. She said ok. She then did a very painful cleaning, when I was done she said "what I did was a full mouth debridment" when I got to the desk I asked why a procedure I did not want was done, they said they did not know why but it was bet, they charged me $30 and wound not address doing an unauthorized procedureDesired SettlementThe regular cleaning that I request multiple times and was told the the staff would do would have been fully covered under my insurance. I would like to be reimbursed that copay that I was forced to pay for a procedure that I did not authorize and actually specifically told almost every staff member in the office that I did not want. I am going to report this to my insurance and do not believe that we should be charged for this. There is the possibility that I will look for other settlements if this is not granted as the pain and suffering that I was caused was extraordinary. I spoke with multiple people at that office and said I only wanted a regular cleaning for fear of pain and then an extremely painful procedure was done, I was bleeding very badly, was extremely swollen and could barely chew even soft food after the procedure and after a week am still tender. I want my money back that I paid for a procedure that should not have been done at the very least.Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted] DMDContact Phone: [redacted]Contact Email: [redacted].comOn 6/6/2014 Ms.[redacted] presented to our office for an initial exam and xrays. She stated that she had not been to the dentist in 10+ years since her orthodontics (braces) were completed. During our evaluation, the patient and I determined that her gums were bleeding and tartar existed below her gums. We determined generalized scaling and root planing should be performed but due to financial reasons we determined could perform a full mouth debridement and have her present for cleanings more frequently until all tartar was removed to return her back to normal oral health. Patient agreed to mode of treatment and returned for a full mouth debridement which generally is not a 100% covered benefit with her specific dental coverage. Below is a copy of our notes for her dental visit on 9/24/2014 for full mouth debridement:Pt was seen by Dr * for a new pt exam, pt has not seen a dentist in over 10 years. Pt has gen sub and supra calculus w/heavy bleeding and inflammation. Discussed perio disease process and current oral condition. Pt was advised that STM III, SRP 4quads was rec and that calculus and bacteria would remain under the gums if not SRP was not done. Pt didn't not want to SRP at this time cause she is moving so I did a full mouth debridement with piezo and H/S. Pt is fully aware that calculus remains and SRP should be done, rec her to see a dentist in 3months to re-eval oral condition. Gave peridex to brush on at night for 7-10days and demoed proper brushing flossing. NV:3mrcThere is generally a co-pay associated for this particular dental code. Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)The report from the dental office is a complete fabrication of the truth. I NEVER agreed that a full mouth debridement was the course of action that I wanted. At my first appointment when everything was presented to me I stated that all I wanted was a regular cleaning if the full mouth scaling was not covered by insurance. The office said they would process and contact which they never did. I specifically told the dentist, the financial officer, the receptionist and one of the hygienists that I did not want the full mouth debridement and that I only wanted a regular cleaning. I was concerned about the pain of the procedure and that the only reason they wanted to do that procedure was to do two more painful procedures that I stated I did not want. After waiting eight weeks I called back for a new appoint for a regular cleaning and spoke to two different people on the phone who I specifically told that I only wanted a regular cleaning. The second person on the phone went and spoke to the dentist who said I would need to sign a waiver for a regular cleaning which I agreed to and then made an appointment. When I arrived at the appointment I spoke to both receptionists who were aware I only wanted a regular cleaning. When I sat in the chair I told the hygienist I only wanted a regular cleaning, she said it was not the recommended course but okay. When the appointment was over I was speaking with receptionist about the unauthorized procedure and the staff stated I do not know why she dud the full mouth debridement I reminded her before she started that all you wanted was a regular cleaning.This response is not accurate from the dental office. At least five different staff members knew and acknowledged that I did not want the full mouth debridement and that I only wanted a regular cleaning. I am still seeking a refund and will be contacting my insurance and the American Dental Association because this office has now performed an unauthorized procedure and has blatantly lied in their response to the Revdex.com.Final Business Response Patient signed a general consent form that we have a record of allowing us to make appropriate recommendations and provide treatment accordingly. Final Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)The form was signed before the first visit before any recommendations for treatment were made. This office is still failing to address that four people in the office stated that they understood I did not want any other procedure except a regular cleaning. They are failing to comment on the fact that a waiver was asked for by the patient on the day tge unauthorized procedure was completed. They are failing to address that one of the receptionists said to the patient I am not sure why she did the full mouth debridement we told her you only wanted a regular cleaning. I have already paid the co pay, I have no reason to falsify information. This office however has in no way showed proof that they preformed an authorized procedure. The statement above does not make sense. The statement above of response seems to be staying that a patient can never disagree with recommended treatment and that the office can just preform whatever procedures they want on patients even if a patient says no to a procedure for two months. That is an extremely unethical practice. This office was told countless times not to preform this procedure but they disregarded patient rights and violated trust and duty to care.

This place has the most unprofessional and inept patient/customer care I have ever experienced. There is something seriously wrong with this staff at this practice. I was referred to them for a sleep apnea dental appliance: they totally screwed up the pre-approval with my health plan and tried to get me to pay for the entire thing (I refused and told them to get there [redacted] together) and then they held the appliance for ransom and asked to me to pay for 1/2 before I could pick it up and they would reimburse me after they got paid by the insurer. This is $2,500 appliance that is totally covered by my health insurance (except for my co-pay). After numerous calls to them, as they almost NEVER return phone calls or follow up, they finally straightened it out. BUT: when I went into pick up the appliance the dentist did an expensive (unnecessary but, he wanted to use his expensive fancy new machine) panorama ex-ray (with out knowing if it was covered) and when my insurance wouldn't pay for it sent me the bill. Now I have been calling them for OVER TWO WEEKS to get a part for the (NEW) appliance that is integral to the appliance working correctly - Hear me: without the spacers (the part I need) the appliance does not work correctly and I am having episodes of sleep apnea (HEAR: LIFE THREATENING) I will not be going back and I would not recommend anyone else to go there either. The stress that this place has caused me because I have had to deal with their complete ineptitude and lack of professionalism EVERY STEP OF THE WAY is completely unnecessary. No-one should have to tell their medical providers office how to do their job. I'm sure Dr. [redacted] is making a very comfortable living and could easily afford to hire and train QUALIFIED office staff. (one of the "good" reviews on google + was written by one of the Dentists at the practice...Babak [redacted] smh, face palm... ) I'll be reporting this practice to the [redacted]ate medical review board.