Truly Horrific Experience
I first contacted Prodental in May 2017. I booked an appointment and was sent emails with two different appointments - one of the many examples of their shockingly poor administration, which unfortunately is putting patients at risk.
I had my first appoint and was told I was suitable for treatment. I was booked in for a scan and another appointment with the dentist for the following week.
I had the scan and returned to dentist expecting treatment to start. Instead he took a look at my scan, said I was suitable for treatment based on my results, that I did not need a further CT scan and that I could be booked in for an implant. I was in and out of the treatment room in about a minute. I was then booked in the extraction and implant six weeks later.
3 days before my implant I received a voicemail saying I needed a CT scan - despite previously being told that it wasn't necessary. I had to take time off at short notice for the scan - and was also charged more than I was quoted for the scan.
4 hours before my appointment I received a call from Prodental telling me that I couldn't have the implant at the appointment because I now needed a bone graft. I spoke to the practice manager Nicola Burgess to try and understand what was going on. Like other reviewers of this surgery have experienced, she started shouting at me down the phone, saying it was my fault for not having had a CT scan insisting that all implant patients have one. When I asked her why the dentist said I didn't need one and why, if all patients have one, did they not book me in for one, she kept shouting over me. She was extremely aggressive.
I was given no pre-information prior to the surgery telling me if, for example, I should avoid any medication or whether or not I should eat.
The extraction of my tooth was, in the words of the dentist 'traumatic'. Now, I love going to the dentist - and I have a great dentist. I typically don't bother with injections (although they don't bother me). The bone graft surgery was brutal. I could feel and see thick thread pulling hard against my lips as I was stitched up and at the same time the dental nurse kept pushing the suction tube so far back I kept gagging. Four times I had to push her hand back. After the surgery I was given no post-treatment guidance to take away. I was given a prescription for 4 items including anti-biotics and steroids. I asked where there was an open pharmacy (it was almost 7pm) and was told 'round the corner'.
I had further appointments for check-ups that took me into the following year. I would book 9am appointments but no-one would be at the surgery including during the snow. My gum was opened up a further three times and not once was I given information before the appointment. In November 2017 I was given a document with pre-surgery information 4 minutes before I went in. It contained information I should have had in advance and information I needed afterwards. After signing the form (which I annotated to show I had only just received it 4 minutes before) they took it away from me so I still didn't get the post-surgery care information. That form stated that I should have been accompanied and I was not.
I had the impressions taken for the crown in on February 7th. It takes two weeks for the crown to be made but they made an appointment for 3 weeks later due to the snow. The appointment was postponed repeatedly . On 16th March I received the following email (copied directly):
"Unfortuatly we will need to cancel your next appointment on Saturday 3rd Febuary 2018 @ 11.30 , We have avalibility on Friday 2nd January 2018 6pm where we can move your appointment."
I had to continually chase them to find out what was happening. Finally I was given an appointment on 25th April. At the appointment they twice tried to get me to sign a form saying I was happy with the final results - even though the implant wasn't finished and I had yet to go into the treatment room. I notice in responses to poor reviews they claim that other patients who have had poor experiences have signed that form - no wonder if they are that duplicitous. Further, I understood all medical information to be confidential so I don't know why they publish statements about which forms patients have signed.
At the appointment my gum had to be opened up again. The receptionist, who had been typing on her computer, came into the treatment room to act as the dental nurse. She did not wash her hands or put on gloves before handling the injection or the scalpel and for some unknown reason kept giggling whilst leaning over my face. The dentist had to keep repeating instructions, as she did not know what she was doing. Again I got no post-treatment information. My gum was painful and so I went to my regular dentist who showed me how to clean the area and what to buy. Avoid. read more
