Extremely Disappointed - Felt Like a Money Grab
I brought my…read moremother to Center of Beautiful Smile with Dr. Pham for a first appointment. She has Denti-Cal, and while that shouldn't mean substandard care, the whole experience felt like a strategy to squeeze money from us.
From the start, the approach was cold. Dr. Pham seemed unapproachable and rushed. My mom didn't even receive a cleaning at her first visit, just a quick exam where suddenly several cavities and a deep cleaning were diagnosed. This was strange considering my mom had seen another dentist just 5 months earlier who found no such issues.
But the real red flag came during the attempt to schedule treatment. We were told the deep cleaning was covered by Denti-Cal, but they insisted we pay $100 out-of-pocket for a "gingival irrigation with medicated solution." As a registered dental hygienist, I know exactly what this procedure is--and I know that it does not cost $100. Most honest offices use chlorhexidine, which costs around $20 a bottle. Others simply use diluted hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash, totaling maybe $3 at most. This office tried to charge $100 for something that costs pennies. When I politely refused the irrigation, I was told I couldn't refuse it. Why not, if it's not covered and optional?
At that point, I introduced myself as a dental hygienist and explained that I would administer the irrigation myself separately. Suddenly, the staff said they had to "check with the doctor" to see if she would still see my mom. We never heard back.
Shameful behavior. This kind of upselling, especially to vulnerable patients on Denti-Cal, is unethical and disgraceful. I will never return, and I highly recommend others seek care elsewhere where transparency, honesty, and compassion are prioritized.
