Smile Savers Dentistry

Reviews 4

MA

Matt Dressler

I visited Smile Savers Dentistry in the 2nd week of August to get an emergency exam done. My exam was comprehensive and had full X-rays, I was explained what and why I needed each procedure I was recommended, clearly. Was given a prescription for an antibiotic that removed the pain in one of my teeth. The staff were friendly and jovial, the atmosphere of the office is professional yet relaxed, the place is very clean. Here is where the good ends. Near the end of the exam, I felt like I was in a car dealership, being recommended special mouth rinses and overpriced electric toothbrushes. It was a strange and slightly uncomfortable experience but I shrugged it off. Like many other people writing reviews, the costs levied by this dentist are outrageously high. I was quoted around $9,000 for work that included multiple fillings, extractions, a root canal, and crown. Now, this seems high, but it is Columbia after all, and a lot of things are more expensive around here. I told myself this until I visited other dentists in the surrounding area. Two dentists (who both saw me without an exam fee, completely free 2nd opinions) both quoted me itemized prices of $6,000 and $5,500, respectively for the exact work listed on my Payment Plan sheet given to me by Smile Savers Dentistry. When I returned to Smile Savers today to inquire about getting itemized costs for each procedure they had recommended to me, they flat out refused to give out that information, stating that, "They did not want to deal with price comparers". Gigantic red flag. It is essentially saying to everyone, "We do not give out our individualized pricing on procedures because that is where we hike our pricing unnecessarily." I assume this practice is legal, but certainly unethical. I understand that dentistry, like any other professional service, is a business. You have to make a profit to keep paying employees and yourself, the owner. But when you consider that dental insurance is nigh-useless in America in covering any major procedures and other surrounding dentists in this very area are completely transparent in giving out procedure costs, you have better, and frankly, more honest choices in dentists that actually have integrity. Do not, under any circumstance, give Smile Savers Dentistry your hard earned money. Spend it somewhere that deserves it. If you have any questions about the validity of my review, feel free to message me. People need to be aware of who they are dealing with in regards to Smile Savers Dentistry.

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Jessica Padgett

Worst dental experience I have ever had. DO NOT go to this dental office. This office is nothing but money hungry dentists just waiting to take advantage of someone. A couple months ago my tooth cracked and exposed one of my nerves, so in a panic and in pain, I found Smile Savers due to its close proximity to where I live. I went in the day of my appointment expecting the dentist to examine me and determine what needed to be done and relieve the pain in the mean time while only paying a $50 deductible (this is what the receptionist told me over the phone when I made the appointment). Well within only minutes of sitting in the chair they told me I would need to get a root canal in 2 weeks but said they would fill my tooth that day to help the sensitivity and pain. As I was already a nervous wreck to begin with, Dr. Stewart then says that they are in fact doing the root canal in a few minutes instead and I had to pay TODAY. They never told me any other information other than that they accepted Care Credit, which luckily I already have. So in between working on my tooth, a woman came in and asked me to sign so they could charge my Care Credit account, and in the flustered state they could clearly see I was in, I signed and laid back down on the chair. Once the procedure was done and as I was continuously freaking out, I went to the front desk where she handed me the receipt and I nearly passed out when it said I would be paying $3455.00! I immediately asked them about this ridiculous amount and they assured me that my insurance would cover AT LEAST 50%. I left believing what they had told me until a couple weeks later I received my reimbursement checks from insurance for only $826.00! Not even 26% was covered! For weeks now I have been trying to get this all straightened out without any bit of help from the staff. Paying $2,700.00 out-of-pocket for a routine root canal is absolutely ridiculous and all they have done is claim they never told me insurance would cover 50%, that their prices are "FAIR" and tell me theres nothing they can do about insurance. Once again, I have never felt so taken advantage of then by Dr. Stewart and the rest of the office. I will never go back and I will tell every single person I know, not to go here.

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A Private User

I went to Smile Savers as a new patient a few weeks ago. I cannot complain about my treatment, but I do have major concerns about the business side of the practice. When I called for my appointment I asked if my insurance would be taken. I was told that they did things a little different…I would pay first, and they would file all paperwork with my insurance. It was my fault that I misunderstood that part of the conversation. What they should have said ,was that they did not take my insurance, instead of trying to mislead me. After my appointment I was ushered into a back office for what I would refer to as an “after-market car sale” I was given a “care plan” and asked to pay up front for future service (of course if I paid now, I would be given a 5% discount) I explained that I would never pay ahead of time for service. It was even suggested that I needed to pay ahead to make sure that the materials would be available for my return visit. I questioned why I would have to reserve a filling replacement?? I was also given a printout explaining the cost of service that day and the estimated insurance payment. I was very uncomfortable and declined (more than once) a follow-up appointment. As far as the insurance estimates; they are more that twice of the amount actually covered by my insurance. It should be noted that my insurance pays 100% of cleaning. I called and spoke with Summer and she explained that she just makes up the number for the amount of insurance reimbursement. When I questioned why she would even put a number down, she explained that she doesn’t have time to really figure out what the insurance would cover. I feel that this is deceitful. She was trying to trick me into paying ahead for service based on erroneous numbers. I just noticed the an review had the same issues. I wish Melissa had written the review before I went. I had to pay $366 for a cleaning visit and my insurance “Delta Prime” is only reimbursing me $167. Please note that the figures that Summer said I would be reimbursed were $332.80.

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TheMasterPhin

Sharing the experience offered by some of the patients years ago regarding questionable business practice by Smile Savers I cannot recommend using this practice. I started my preventive care with them after moving to Columbia in 2012 and have been on an accelerated cleaning program every 3 months (I only went to the first 2 at that schedule before realizing that my insurance doesnt cover more than once per 6 months). My "Treatment Plan" contains several crowns and filling replacements. Today I was informed that I need to get one of these and an adjacent cavity done right away and the $2k were due when scheduling the appointment. Additionally, I was informed of an annual x-ray schedule when sitting in the chair for my cleaning appointment. Paying $332 out of pocket for cleaning and x-rays was not something Im used to - nor the surprise with the $2k "urgent work" up front due. Besides these unfortunate business practices I dont like pushy people. Being an academic myself I lack any respect for a doctorate itself, merely performance earns this from me. In no terms will I accept being told that I have to have work done and pay ahead without the curtesy of a question if thats ok. Nor that I have to pursue steps in a treatment plan I have not agreed to. Since I cant really say anything about the quality of dental work (all I received so far was cleaning, and that seemed ok) I feel very uncomfortable and certainly not like a customer at this place. If you like your dentist - whom you just met - to treat you like a childhood buddy and give you all kinds of irrelevant sales information while developing a plan for major dental work spanning the next couple of years of your life, you may experience what some of the positive reviewers paid witness to on here. I for my part am leaving this one behind and go shop around for a place where I find honest service with fair transparent pricing and where Im being treated - as a well paying client - with respect.

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