LONG: I had an awful experience at Dr. Johary's office.The initial exam was fine. The mostly-female staff was friendly and attentive. I went back on 5/31/17 for my fillings and an extraction. Because I had a late appt, I paid upfront for the services so I could leave right after. It started off okay. Dr. J was polite enough, telling me to raise my hand if I was in pain, etc. I was given a local anesthetic to numb the pain. At one point there were nearly 6 people in the room, only 2 of whom were actually working on my teeth. That was a bit weird but then it got much worse. When Dr. J was in the middle of my fillings, a young woman whose name I will not post came in. She was an employee and came in to speak to Johary about a gym membership. The following exchange then took place:
Young woman: "Dr. Johary, I'm really not comfortable with this."
DJ: "Do not piss me off. I'm already in a bad mood, it's been a long day, do not make me mad right now."
This certainly got my attention, as the person who was in such a "bad mood" was knee deep in my molars.
YW: "...I really just don't want to do this..."
DJ: "Well you've got to do something. You look horrible."
At this point I thought he was making a tasteless joke. However, it was evident from her humiliated facial expression that she did not find this funny. He continued to berate her in front of me and the other people in the room. "Everyone else in the office is using it. You're walking around here like a chubby-wubby, I mean seriously, you look like garbage."
This young woman is NOT overweight at all. Regardless, it doesn't matter. I was horrified at what I was hearing.
Then one of the other female dental techs chimed in and said "C'mon. Don't say that." DJ replied, "I'm joking. But someone needs to tell her the truth! I'm trying to help her." Again the dental tech said, "No, that's not okay."
At that point I spoke up. I told him what he was saying was completely inappropriate. DJ immediately got defensive. He once again claimed he was joking and then said, "I'm trying to help her. I help people and all they do is complain. We give people free teeth whitening, I bought gym memberships for all my staff, I'm doing a bunch of extra stuff on your teeth that I really don't have to. Your teeth are messed up and I'm trying to fix them but people want to tell me what I can and cannot say."
I expressed my distaste and told him he was out of line, and it was not a joke because she did not find it funny. He then said, and I QUOTE: "I paid for her gym membership so that gives me the right to talk to her however I want."
I was disgusted. I said "NO, it doesn't."
He responded, "Yes it does. Now keep still so I can finish fixing your teeth."
The young woman said nothing throughout the ordeal, but her face said a thousand words. A few things here:
1. Again, I paid UPFRONT for the fillings and extractions. I was not advised of any "additional "work he was doing to my teeth. If he hadn't been mid-procedure, I would've left.
2. After I voiced my opinion and called him on his completely unprofessional behavior, all facades of politeness went out the window. He became excessively rough with me, commanding me to "keep still" or "STOP moving" when I adjusted my legs or winced in pain. He no longer asked me to put my hand up if I was uncomfortable. He was irritable and egotistical and I have never been so uncomfortable in a dentist's office in my life. When he finished, the left side of my face was numb and swollen yet I was given no after-care instructions. However, he did insist that I view the before & after pictures so I could see his work. I had to GOOGLE "fillings after-care instructions". I now have extreme sensitivity in two of the teeth he filled, and despite me eating nothing but soup, a fragment of the composite material he used fell off the NEXT day.
3. Due to a miscommunication between the staff staff, my extraction had to be rescheduled. Immediately after my appt, I spoke privately to the dental asst. that spoke up for the girl who was being berated. I expressed my extreme discomfort at the situation. The next day I called Susan at the front desk, cancelled my extraction appointment, and asked for a refund.
I read some of the reviews before I went. Most were stellar, but the bad ones were AWFUL. I assumed it was fluke. Now that I have experienced it firsthand, I can tell you that my story fit right in. The female staff are great, however that doesn't make up for the hostile and controlling culture Dr. J has created. I have never witnessed anything like this in a professional setting. He body-shamed and verbally abused an employee in front of a patient, then tried to justify it. He essentially threw a temper tantrum when I disagreed. I will never return to this office, nor will I ever recommend Dr. Johary to anyone else. There are too many professional AND highly-qualified dentists in the area to settle for a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde experience. read more