I have been a patient at Life Smile Dental for many, many years and had always been very happy with…read morethe practice. I was a longtime patient of Dr. Seastrom before he retired. Unfortunately, my experience with Dr. Sean Sooferian, one of the dentists who became part of the practice, was very different. The reason I am giving it one star is because of this experience that caused me weeks of unnecessary pain and the way I was spoken to, I've never had any doctor or dentist talk to me in such a way.
After a dental cleaning last November, one of my teeth suddenly developed a severe problem. I knew immediately that something was wrong because I knew exactly how that tooth had felt before the cleaning. I had previously been involved in a serious boating accident that caused extensive damage to my teeth, and over the following two years I underwent extensive dental reconstruction, including root canals, crowns, veneers, and other major dental work. I know my teeth extremely well and know what is normal for me.
Because I have so much dental work, I am always very careful about cleanings and make a point of telling the staff that I need them to be gentle. I am honestly nervous about having my teeth cleaned because of all the work I have had done. Unfortunately, this cleaning felt extremely forceful. Even the dental assistant acknowledged that the hygienist is known for being particularly thorough. I understand that thoroughness is important, but there is a difference between thorough and excessively forceful. With my extensive dental work, I had specifically asked that my cleaning be done gently. Instead, the cleaning felt extremely aggressive--like having a jackhammer in my mouth.
After the cleaning, one of my teeth began hurting in a way it had never hurt before. I repeatedly explained to Dr. Sooferian that something had happened to this tooth during the cleaning and that I believed a nerve had been affected. He was adamant that what I was describing was not possible. I felt as though I was being treated as if I didn't know my own tooth or what I was experiencing. Even the dental assistant told me that it wasn't possible and referenced her years of experience as a dental assistant.
What was most upsetting was how Dr. Sooferian spoke to me. When I told him that I expected the office to pay for what had happened, he responded, "You don't think I'm going to pay for it?" I told him, "It's your responsibility. I walked in here with my teeth feeling fine. I left with my tooth hurting. So it is your responsibility to pay for it."
He was extremely angry and dismissive, and he strongly resisted removing the tooth. I ultimately had to insist that it be removed.
I eventually had the tooth extracted around Thanksgiving. Within approximately five minutes of the extraction, the problem I had been describing was completely gone.
Dr. Sooferian had previously made a bet with me that if I was right, he would provide me with a new crown. To his credit, he did honor that commitment and provided the crown, and I appreciate that he followed through.
I also want to be fair and point out that not everyone at the office treated me this way. Cindy at the front desk was always kind to me throughout the years and during all of these issues. I personally thanked her for always being so nice, and I truly appreciated her kindness.
Unfortunately, this experience ultimately made me decide to leave a practice I had been going to for many years.
Dentists are highly trained professionals, but they don't know every situation they may encounter, and they can learn from their patients. Patients know their own bodies and, in this case, I knew something was not right with my tooth.
My biggest disappointment is not that something went wrong. Things can happen in dentistry. It is that when I knew something was wrong and repeatedly tried to explain it, I was dismissed, challenged, and spoken to in a way I found extremely disrespectful instead of being listened to and treated with respect.
After so many years as a patient at LifeSmile, this experience was extremely disappointing. I don't like writing bad reviews but I would want to know something like this. I needlessly suffered for weeks and my Thanksgiving was ruined. I have seen doctors who reply that they've never heard of the patient and have no record but I do have all the necessary receipts to back up everything I've said.
