Dr. Smutko is rude, disrespectful, condescending and accepts zero responsibility if there is a…read moreproblem.
I have filed a complaint against Dr. Smutko with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.
On February 11, Dr. Smutko performed a tooth extraction, bone graft and placed a membrane due to a sinus perforation evidenced on a scan my dentist provided.
Dr. Smutko said I had an infection and that she had cleared it.
On 2/13, I called to ask if the very considerable pain I felt was normal.
On 2/14, I asked if an antibiotic might be helpful given that there was an infection.
She ASSURED me I did not have an infection and that everything was fine, She said that an antibiotic would "only serve as a placebo."
On 2/18, I complained that I could not manage the severe pain with medication. She lectured me that it had been a "simple procedure," which completely contradicted her earlier statement that it had been a "complicated procedure" due to the tooth's proximity to the sinus cavity. "
On 2/21, I called and asked for an appointment.
On 2/25, again, I questioned the possible need for an antibiotic. I didn't know if I still had an infection but I did know that there was a serious problem.
I had spoken to another oral surgeon who said I should have been put on an antibiotic immediately following the procedure. She coldly dismissed me. I asked if she didn't think it was possible that there could be a problem that is not visible to her eye. She flatly said "no" but reluctantly prescribed an antibiotic.
After taking only 4 pills over a 24 hour period, my pain had decreased substantially.
Unfortunately, after a few days, the pain slowly returned, now accompanied by the strong smell of sulfur (research will point to an infection in that instance.)
I asked her if it was possible that the antibiotic which seemed very helpful initially, wasn't strong enough and I told her that now I was having to cancel my own clients for my aesthetics business I have owned for over 30 years and losing a considerable amount of income due to this situation.
She completely dismissed me, actually rolled her eyes and left the room.
I told one of her assistants that I was never returning due to Dr. Smutko's shockingly cold, dismissive and unprofessional behavior.
She said that she understood, apologized and told me that "Dr. Smutko believes the body should be able to heal itself."
I suppose that explains why the doctor coldly dismissed every question I had.
She never took a single CT to see if there was actually an issue causing weeks of pain and suffering.
She acts as though she is superior to her patients that their opinions or discomfort are of no merit or importance to her at all.
I decided to get a second opinion from a new oral surgeon.
On March 4, I went to see Dr. Nelson, for a second opinion.
He immediately did a 3D CT scan and determined that there was a substantial issue, either mucus, infection or something in my left sinus cavity, which he called Opacified and Pneumatized left maxillary sinus, which likely explained why I was smelling sulfur and experiencing severe pain.
He also checked that the bone graft wasn't contaminated, something Dr. Smutko didn't consider.
On March 6, Dr. Nelson performed a procedure to clear out whatever it was evidenced in the CT.
Immediately following his procedure, I no longer could smell sulfur and miraculously felt no pain for the first time in weeks.
Dr. Smutko had refused to consider, accept or scan for a problem.
While under her care, I was left to suffer for weeks and had to cancel approximately $7,000 dollars of aesthetic procedures income I had on my books.
Two different oral surgeons said it was negligent for Dr. Smutko to not to run a single scan for weeks following constant complaints after a dental procedure.
Just one scan, less than 10 minutes and she would have had all the evidence she claimed she didn't have, to identify and treat my problem.
Dr. Smutko is responsible for the worst medical experience I've ever had.
