I selected Oak Park Dentistry specifically because they advertise themselves as a pediatric-only…read morepractice, and I expected a high level of patience, child-centered communication, and transparency. Unfortunately, our experience fell well short of that standard.
I initially scheduled my 6-year-old son for a cleaning and evaluation of a problematic tooth that likely required removal. The dental technician we encountered was kind and professional, and I appreciated that the practice focuses solely on children. However, my very first interaction with the office--during the scheduling phone call--was unpleasant. The front desk staff came across as curt and dismissive, and it felt unnecessarily difficult to secure an appointment. This already raised some concern.
On the treatment day, my son became anxious when staff attempted to tape a VR headset onto his nitrous oxide mask. We then waited approximately 25-30 minutes for the dentist to enter the room while my child sat in the chair wearing the mask. By the time the dentist arrived, he was understandably restless.
My son tolerated the lidocaine injections without resistance, but became uncomfortable once a mouth prop was inserted to hold his mouth open. At that point, I expected calm explanations and reassurance directed toward a young child. Instead, communication felt abrupt and procedural, with little effort to slow down or explain what was happening in a developmentally appropriate way.
Within a minute of my son becoming tearful, Dr. Alami stopped and informed me that he would not proceed with any treatment if there was any resistance. I was told that because nitrous oxide and lidocaine "did not work," IV sedation was now required and that oral sedation was not recommended or worth attempting. Dr. Alami explained that based on his 20 years of experience, if nitrous fails, oral sedation will as well.
What troubled me most was what appeared to be a zero-tolerance philosophy for normal childhood anxiety. My son is not a difficult patient--he responds extremely well when providers take time to explain procedures and allow him to move at a reasonable pace. Expecting a 6-year-old to exhibit no hesitation during dental treatment is unrealistic, particularly in a pediatric specialty practice. If this is the office's standard approach, it should have been clearly disclosed during the initial visit or before beginning nitrous oxide and administering injections. Subjecting a child to that process only to immediately discontinue treatment was upsetting and unnecessary.
I was then referred to the front desk to review financial arrangements. I carry Delta Dental PPO, and was informed that Dr. Alami is the only provider in the practice contracted with that plan. For any IV sedation, Oak Park Dentistry requires full payment for the dental treatment on the day of service, with reimbursement from insurance to follow weeks later. I was quoted $1,430 for one extraction (with space maintainer) and several composite fillings.
Additionally, the anesthesiologist--who is not affiliated with their office--requires payment in full at $750 per hour. I was advised the procedure could take approximately 1.5 hours, totaling an estimated $1,125 or more, plus a deposit simply to schedule the appointment (quote is solely for anesthesia).
Taken together, the handling of my son's anxiety, the communication style, and the substantial upfront financial requirements led me to decline further treatment.
I sought care at another pediatric dental office one week later, and the experience could not have been more different. From the front desk staff to the providers, everything was calm, communicative, and genuinely child-focused. Most importantly, my son responded extremely well and completed treatment without issue--confirming for me that the approach taken here was not the only option.
While the technician we worked with was courteous, this practice was not the right fit for our family, and I would strongly encourage parents to ask detailed questions about sedation philosophy, behavioral expectations, and financial policies before proceeding.
