Beware of this slick dental practice, which is more interested in racking up big bills with high…read morepressure, but is loath to return money for work not completed. Yes, their office is gorgeous and straight out of Architectural Digest, and the staff is fawning, like overly needy friends (the word "Stepford" comes to mind) -- until the deal is closed.
I went to Center for Smiles when my previous dentist, Dr. Kuncio, sold her practice to him. He turned out to be the opposite of Dr. Kuncio, who was honest and straightforward, and very mindful of what her patients could afford. To my knowledge, none of her staff who went to work at Center for Smiles is still employed there. Indeed, there seemed to be a high turnover of staff at Center for Smiles in the 15 months I was a patient there.
Some highlights:
1. Vidya Sartorious, the office manager, collected $6,000 from Care Credit on my behalf when only $1,100 worth of work had been done.
2. Failed to file for preauthorization with my denta; insurance, as promised, so my claim was denied.
3. Vidya Sartorious (at the behest of Dr. Rallis) tried to rush me into completing this work, and pushed up demands for MORE money, directly contradicting Dr. Rallis' prior verbal agreements with me.
3. Dr. Rallis did not listen to my concerns, and failed to reconsider his treatment plan for a $23K bridge, even after I repeatedly expressed doubt because of underlying infections and pain in the affected teeth. ("We can take care of that infection afterwards, with an apicoectomy." But first we will put a $23K 10-tooth bridge on top? Umm,no.)
4. After I appealed to Care Credit, Dr. Rallis claimed to have done an additional $1645 worth of work, which, if true, was done without my knowledge, permission, or consent. I expressly withdrew my consent that very day, before this work was done, until my insurance preauthorization was worked out. I did not and would not have given permission for this work. I only agreed to a temporary bridge.
5. Did not file with my insurance company for this additional work, either, although it would have been denied for failure to get a preauthorization, the issue I confronted them with that very day.
6. Has yet to send me a copy of my x-rays after several months, and refused delivery of my second, certified mail request.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of this very unfortunate experience, with further legal action pending.