The Ben Massell Dental Clinic

Reviews 4

A

A Private User

I have been apart of the Ben Massell Dental Clinic for three yrs now. It is a very slow process of getting what I needed met and still three yrs later I still have not received a fitting for a partial which I was promised for several appointments. I would come in for my initial visit which I was told I need a cleaning filled and my next appointment would be a filling. Those two visit consist all of 6-9 months of waiting because I can only get one procedure done at a time. I understand the demand of free dental help but I was push back more and more as my needs became more apparent.I was then told the fitting for dentures would take a year of being on the waiting list until then I would just have to do the best I can while eating. I was then told I would be notified of my next appointment by phone. I use to get the appointment in hand before I left, not anymore. .After about a year and three months was another appointment I had to go into the office. I was told I cant get a fitting because it was time for another cleaning. That my next appointment will be a fitting, and I will be called for an appointment. I waited for several months and after I didnt hear back I called them. I never get any answer for that office it is always an answering machine. I then went to the office and I was given an appointment, when I came in I was told I defiantly was in need of a partial and should be on the waiting list for dentures this was way pass the two yr mark. The waiting list is and indefinite wait I am very much past the waiting list wait for a fitting. I was told that It was time for another cleaning and the process continue in a vicious circle. I am currently on the waiting list for a so called filling in which I was never told that I had a cavity in any past visits and that I would get a call. I dont have many more teeth that can be filled because I need partials. It is now another month since I was told that. I think this is a stall tactic that encourages people to go away. I never received a fitting for dentures and canf eat properly. When I ask about the fitting I am never told an exact answer infact I was looked at by one of the head hygienist and as she started out the door never answered me on when but said "I have to have everything done before a fitting" Everything like what??? It keeps boiling down to its time for another cleaning. My son needs a filling or something for a hole in the side of his teeth. I was told they take patients on a a first call first serve process only on Mondays starting at 9am. If you are not one of the first twenty five callers then you will not receive a call back to become a new patient and try again next Monday. This is nothing but a rat race, not human at all for people who are in pain and need immediate dental treatment. It is impossible to get into the number then and always as I tried reaching them several times before. I think this is a poor process to do an intake of new patients especially when the needs of the old patients have not been met. You dont know if your information has been taken or not. If youre gonna have a dental office to supply the needs of the uninsured you should see to it that youre supplying for the need is well met and the needs,,, the real needs of the people care are met, not just take them threw a cycle of that are normally done in a routine check up but the real emergencies that that person need to survive.

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Tarsha Miller

3/25/2013 - I called the Ben Massell clinic to inquire about free or low cost dental services because I have no dental insurance and I m in need of a root canal and crown. I had previously learned that the clinic accepts the first 25 new patients that call at 9am on Mondays. The problem however, is that if you call before 9 you get a professionally recorded answering service. When I redialed and called the clinic at exactly 9am I received an automated message that my call could not be completed. This went on for about 20 minutes. At 930am when I was able to speak with a live person, The lady was very rude and told me to call back on Monday. When I explained what happened, this lady was very uncaring and on the defensive. She did not try to offer any resolution of assistance. She just told me that the clinic gets 25 new patients every Monday and I would have to keep trying until I get through. What I dont understand is if this clinic wants to give back to those in need why is the system set up for potential clients not to get through when they need to, why is the staff so rude, uncaring, and unhelpful. It seems as if this clinic is more concerned about their perception in the community vs. the quality of care, time, and understanding that it should give to customers. I have never experienced such poor service from a dental office.

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Mike Jaz

What you should know about the Ben Massell Dental Clinic. The clinic is has been around for 100 years helping indigent people with dental services that they would not be able to afford otherwise. You will see a mixture of reviews about the clinic. Some positive and some quite the opposite. Here is the one thing you need to know if you are considering becoming a patient. It is FREE! Anyone with common sense knows that free ain’t free. You will have to follow a strict set of guidelines before you will get an appointment. Once you get an appointment you will have to WAIT! You will be put on a waiting list. The wait could be several weeks to several months or you may never get an appointment. The fact of the matter is, you may never know. This outfit has no accountability. The staff is cordial but closely monitors itself and clients. If you are in need of urgent dental work try another source or you could be just putting all your eggs in one basket. Remember it’s not the end of the world. No matter how much pain you may be in now, work through it. If you believe and are diligent help will come. BTW I am also a client.

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Nikki DeYarmon

Because of the fact that I had to have every tooth removed I have spent considerable time in this facility. My most recent visit was the worst. Although the dentist I had was WONDERFUL, I can not say the same for the assistant. She was awful. She was rude, disingenuous and unkind. She had zero empathy when that particular emotion was (and continues to be) one of the most important elements in a clinic that serves the less fortunate. The dentist was as frustrated with her as I was. As if those things were not enough she didnt know what she was doing. The dentist had to ask repeatedly for things during the procedure. I had 6 teeth taken out that day and was suffering quite a bit. Any relief I got was from the dentist and certainly not this young lady! As this is a volunteer clinic my outlook is if you dont have the compassion it takes to participate in a facility like this DONT VOLUNTEER! Leave your unprofessionalism at home.

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