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Georgetown Family Dental Clinic
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"This is a review of my first visit. I went to get my teeth cleaned and also take a look at a toothache. I decided to go here b/c of the…" read more »
5 reviews for Georgetown Family Dental Clinic
This place is part of a small network of city-funded, sliding-scale dental and medical clinics in Seattle. There are others around the city, each totally worth looking into. If you're like me, with no insurance and little no paper trail income, your options are always slim. I'm just another U.S. citizen who puts my health at risk simply because I can't afford any care. As walk-in customer to a government-subsidized dental clinic, my expectations were low. I was utterly shocked at how clean, professional, and helpful the entire facility and staff were. In a historic site just recently restored and renovated, the building itself is wonderful and the clinic does it great respect.
Without any pay-stubs, employer info, proof of insurance, or tax records, I filled out a "self-declaration" form, and they put me in a pay "bracket". The pay scale varies, but I paid $45 flat fee for an entire work-up, including x-rays, some drilling and some filling. They'd charge much more for "major work" like a crown or root canal (still about 1/3 of what I'd pay at a regular dentist), but any other minor work all falls under the same category and my reduced-price $45 office-visit flat fee covered all of it.
Luckily I was the first to arrive as a walk-in, promptly at 7:10am. People were already lining up before the door opened at 7:15. They saw me by about 8 or 9 in the morning, did x-rays, and the decay I thought might need a crown or root canal was caught early. They drilled & filled right then and there. I'll have to go back for a check up, but there's also a process to start using them as a regular dentist and make real appointments.
On any given day you can try your luck as a walk-in (mine was good). Making an appointment isn't easy. From what I understand, it works as follows: about every 2 weeks they take appointments to see "new patients". BUT: on this day, you still have to make the appointment on a first-come first-serve basis. In other words, you have to get there early and hope for a good spot in line. Apparently, they only take about 15 "new patients" for each 2-week cycle. Right now, as May 11, 2009, their new-appointment days are May 13, May 27, etc. Once you're a "new patient" you can make up to 15 appointments, after which you're a walk-in again or start the cycle again. A real added bonus, though, is that the desk staff is super patient, knowledgeable, and constantly willing to walk you through the process, either on the phone or in person.
It's an idiosyncratic process and wait-times can rack up, but I've waited excruciatingly long hours on-end with well-scheduled appointments at private clinics in the past. Anyone with standard health insurance can also tell you that just maintaining their coverage can be a trying process. My biases obviously ran deep before this visit. I've always been disappointed with health care, never feel properly treated, they've made awful mistakes risking my health, I'd lost almost all trust, and most of all HATE the sales pitches of "pre-emptive" and recurring care that run rampant in the money-making business of the health industry.
Here at Georgetown Family Dental, they move efficiently without any sloppiness, they were all more careful and attentive than I've ever had with a "normal" health care "professional". To make it all the more relaxing, there wasn't the awkward pressure of condescending lectures and sales pitches clouding my past health care experiences.
"Etta W"'s poor review may be valid. It could also be overly biased based on expectations set too high for the out-of-pocket expenses of a service like this. If this were a normal clinic charging normal rates, it's the kind of on-par service you'd expect. We all know it's tragically rare to be satisfied by a normal dentist or doctor. Considering the sliding-scale rates of this place, the service rendered is the absolute best in the business. Yes the clerical process is tedious and time-consuming, but it is the only drawback. If your dental care options are exhausted and you don't have much money, you can't afford to be in a hurry. This place is a rare example of a government organization doing it absolutely right.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Thank Gawd for Georgetown Dental Clinic.
I am one of the millions of uninsured people in America. Dental is one of the harder things to get help with. This place can really help-but you must be patient (no pun intended).
They have a specific system and you have to follow everything just right....but once you get in you will recieve the finest dental care EVERYONE who work there is Wonderful-Receptionists, Dentists and Assistants all treat you wonderfully well. I was figured into the system w/pay-stubs and work info and I go to the dentist now for $25.00 a visit! AND they have sliding scale rates for things like Root Canals and its like, 1/4 of what you would spend at a regular dentist w/no insurance. I got a partial for $200.00 and I was quoted around $2000.00 by a WHITE CENTER dental clinic.
If you have an emergency you can just walk in-but you may be there all day.
I cant say enough great things about this place....I only wish I heard about them sooner.
People thought this was:
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hmmm It's weird that the other people here thought it was great.
I was referred here from the medical and dental low cost at high point, as they did not have any room in the dentistry. I was told to fill out some forms and that it would make sure it only cost me $30 each time. I went in and i had a pretty good first time. the lady who took my x-rays was pretty friendly, and i was scheduled to come back in to fix and old filling. When i came back i had my teeth cleaned by a nice man and was charged $30. and then i talked to a nice dentist lady. Great. It was agreed she would work on my teeth although i told her i was really frightened and it was a problem and could she prescribe something for anxiety and needles which i am so scared of! she said no. Well okay, i need this done so maybe I'll be alright. I came back in trying to be calm. She told me to breath during my tooth excavation. She told me to wiggle my toes. i wiggled. i breathed. the shot was working on the pain mostly and it dident hurt. she hardly lost her patience at all. I pay $30 on the way out. Next time, we are doing the other side. the student is the one to put the dam in, and she cant. we spent 15 minutes with me staying still trying not to freak out, and with the student messing it up, asking me if it's okay. i keep saying yes but of course i'm losing it. the dentist fixes it. she's pissed, but by this point my teeth hurt and i'm in a bit of shock. I feel so bad for being trouble. I look a little freeked. the dentist tell me to breath and to wiggle. i do so. she gives me that long needle. it hurts. more then last time. she starts. it hurts still. i tell her. she thinks i'm over reacting. Tells me to breath I do but i cry. she stops and gives me some more pain kileer. and then some more. by this time i'm high, in pain, freaked out and trying to not cry. When she's finished, she decideds it will be easier for me to floss if my teeth are further apart so she uses some wire to file then on the sides and then files some down on the side she was working on. she barely asks, and i'm in no mood to try to do anything. I was to make another appointment but never will..i need to find a dentist that will listen and not freak out. Oh, and my uninsured thing wasn't explained to me well enough so thay are charging me hundreds. NEVER go here. i promise there are dentists who are cheaper and better. just becuase they don't do "low cost" does not mean they are not. last words...dentists are allowed to have bad days, but they are not allowed to take it out on YOUR Teeth. these are the only ones i have!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
They were kind, polite, friendly and helpful. The dentist was not a huge personality- but she got right to the point. (Her assistant was much more chatty) They got me in on an emergency basis, and I was probably only there for a couple hours total- for a low income dental patient, I couldn't have asked for better care.
It took six months of calling once a week to finally get an appointment as a new patient but it was worth it. They take all patients on a sliding fee scale according to your income. I have been to many low income clinics over the years. This one is by far the cleanest and most friendly of them all. The staff is kind and intelligent. They have a system that flows beautifully. I never wait long to be seen. My Dentist and his assistant were friendly and pleasant people. When it hurt they stopped immediately and gave me more Novocaine. I have had two teeth fixed and am now ready for my deep cleaning. I am actually looking forward to it. This is the first Dentist I do not dread going to see.
If you're like me, without dental insurance, this is the place to call. It will take awhile to get in as a new patient, but once you're in you will be so glad you kept calling. I am.
Two Thumbs Way Up!!!
