Gentle Dental

 

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9

Mari K.

Honolulu, HI

Worst experience at a dentist ever! I have been getting regular dental care for my entire life and have had to change dentists from time to time as I moved around the country. I chose Gentle Dental in Makakilo because they are close to my home, accepted my insurance and seemed like a reputable place.
Since it was my first time visiting, I had to have an "initial visit" BEFORE I was allowed to have another appointment for my cleaning...it's not like I need anything special....just my regular 6 month cleaning and check-up. So, I go to the appt and I am ready to have a consultation before I have to make another appt for my cleaning- I'm okay with that (albeit, unusual and something I have never done before in my 30 + years of going to old and new dentists). I am called by a tech and he proceeds to do some x-rays. No problem, until he turns out to be rough and demanding. Apparently, they don't have any sizes for smaller mouths so it was incredibly uncomfortable and even painful! The tech was also very bossy and when I asked HOW many x-rays I still needed, he told me "like ten more" and he had already done ten painful x-rays. When he was on x-ray # 11 and it actually got stuck  in my gums that I had to pull it out with my fingers, I told him I was done. I wanted to reschedule. The tech proceeded to get another "tech" or hygienist to talk with me. She told me that all of these are necessary...why have I never had this many before? I told her I wanted to reschedule and she proceeded to push me back in my seat, told me that all of these x-rays are necessary then said the dentist will come talk to me. I kept telling her I would like to reschedule and she kept telling me to "wait, the dentist will come talk to you"...what happened to patient rights? I am a provider in the health care field and would never force any one to do anything.
I did not appreciate the way I felt I was forced to do all of these x-rays which were excessive, painful and done by an unsympathetic tech. I had to insist on leaving and rescheduling to finally have them leave me alone. I never waited for the dentist but I will not return to Gentle Dental in Makakilo or in any other location. The excessive number of x-rays are probably for the financial benefit of the practice, not for the patient's benefit.
I called another dentist in the area and was told an initial exam and cleaning (which would be done the same day only needed 6 x-rays and one panorama x-ray..that sounds like a professional and reputable place.

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