Northside Dental Clinic, Derek R. Kaelin DDS & Associates

Reviews 5

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Joshua Kennedy

I am typically not one to speak negatively in a public setting, but I feel it is my duty, as a fellow human being who cares about your well-being, to warn you to avoid Northside Dental Clinic on W. Kearney at all costs. I went in a few months ago for what I thought was a routine wisdom tooth removal. The operation was botched not one, but two times. Pieces of tooth and bone continued to come up out of my gums, and I had to go in three times for the same procedure. On the third procedure, the dental assistant repeatedly jabbed my throat with a wooden tongue depressor to get my numbed and flailing tongue out the way, as I had no control over it to the numbing. These things happen; I understand they are only human and their job is probably more difficult than it looks. The dental assistant repeatedly apologized for jabbing my throat. I hold no ill will toward her. My beef, however, is with the way the rest of the staff handled the situation afterward. The secretary gave me the wrong persons prescription, some guy named Bill or something. I took it to the pharmacy, hoping to relieve the intense pain that comes with tooth removal and throat jabbing. Upon arrival, I was informed that my prescription was not for Josh Kennedy, so obviously they could not fill it. Okay, moving on. Whatever. Again, mistakes happen. My throat became so sore that I could barely talk or swallow food for several days. I went to the doctor and was informed that I had a throat infection. There were multiple sores on my throat and mouth, which the doctor said were caused by a foreign object…in all likelihood, the dental procedure. So, I went back to the dentist with pictures of the sores all over my throat and a doctor note and told them I didn’t want to pay my bill. I figured the least they could do for such a remarkable number of failures would be to forgive my bill. Even after vowing that they would be permanently losing my business and threatening to tell everyone I know to avoid the place, Northside Dental Clinic is unwilling to budge on this. Apparently their $80 payment means more to them than their future business, their customer service and satisfaction, or their reputation.

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Mike Manning

Avoid this scam dental clinic on Kearney St! You will regret doing business here just as I do! The staff (INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATOR) is very rude! Dr. Kelly Dove tried to get me to spend over $3,000 for a root canal and a crown on a tooth that I had already had confirmed from my reputable dentist elsewhere that it could not be saved, and only went here to have it pulled, only because my dentist does not extract teeth! (SCAM ALERT!) Dr. Dove had to stick the inside of my mouth with a large needle over 4-6 times just to get my cheek numb to pull the tooth, which tells me either she doesnt know what she is doing, or they use cheap medicine??? They refused to give me any pain medicine after having the tooth pulled. I called 2 days later asking for pain medicine, as I was in severe pain, which I was told over the phone "No problem, just come in and pick up the prescription." I drove all the way across town on my lunch break from work to pick it up, and when I get there, they tell me they cant give me a prescription, because I didnt get it the day of the extraction. Then of course Dr. Dove wouldnt take the time to come out and talk to me, as everything was dealt thru the receptionist. So after leaving, I called back and asked to speak to the manager, which then I got some rude lady on the phone who said she was the Administrator...needless to say that was a wasted call because she was nothing but rude and a smart ass. So had I done my research ahead of time, and read the other poor reviews this place has received, I would have avoided what I would say is the worst experience in 44 years that I have ever had at a dentist office!

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A Private User

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE SERVICE !!! On wed. before Christmas my husband (71 year old diabetic ) went to this office with an infected tooth. They not only extracted it before treating the infection,but sent him home with no antibiotic. By fri.he had a raging infection, called them and they said to come in. They gave him a low dose antibiotic, and by sun.he was in such pain I took him to the ER. They administered antibiotics intravenously and we left with a stronger broad spectrum antibiotic plus pain medication. He saw a new dentist on the 29th that told him he may need to see an oral surgeon if it didnt clear up soon.He also asked about his blood sugar and insulin dosage ( Northside didnt ask any diabetic questions ) When I called Northside to complain about what my husband had gone through the dentist in charge of the office rudely and arrogantly informed me that I was just a "layman" and didnt know what I was talking about. That there is absolutely no problem with extracting infected teeth and he wasnt given an antibiotic because he didnt need one. He insisted that whatever my husband had gone through was no fault of theirs. True, I dont have a degree in dentistry, but in my 62 years I have NEVER had a dentist pull an infected tooth without either treating the infection before or at least after. The fact that my husband got progressively worse and ended up in the ER 3 days later ? Even an ignorant person can see that was no coincidence. Please dont use Northside Dental Clinic !!!!

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Mark Cockrum

As a small business owner I am very conscientious of leaving a negative review on any business. However my experience here has been nothing but regretful! After a day of pain I went in on a monday for xrays they said I needed a crown so we scheduled an appointment for the next day. the xrays and crown was over 1100.00 (I do not have dental Insurance) I bit the bullet and paid it. By the next morning my jaw was swollen and very painful had a large bruise on the outside of my jaw. I called them back on wed they blamed the pain on a different tooth? I explained the swelling so they called in a prescription for pinasillin. No pain med. By Monday of the next week the pain was unbearable. I called them and they worked me in. They looked at it and Cleaned the tooth and referred me to an Endodontic. I went the next day and they did xrays the tooth is infected! Their saying that the same tooth that Northside Dental crowned needs a root canal..WHAT????? Why on Gods green earth didnt they tell me that before I spent over 1100.00. Northside dental refuses to do anything. So now Im going to be out another 895.00 for a root canal. The Endodontic Dr prescribed me with pain med and antibiotics. I am not Happy with Northside dental!!

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A Private User

In response to Dr. Kaelin. I am the 71 year old patient that presented to your office on Wed before Christmas. An Xray was taken, and shown to me with both the doctor and assistant identifying what they called "infected" tissue. I was then told that a root canal would likely cost approximately $1200 and an extraction would be only $150. I did choose the extraction. When I asked about antibiotcs, I was assured by the doctor and his assistant that the doctor had "squeezed out" all of the infection and an atibiotic was not necessary. All of your medical expressions and terminology in your response post does not deflect the fact that the diagnosis was an incorrect judgement call on your doctors part. Of course when I returned on Friday the doctor agreeded that antibiotics were necessary and prescribed the amoxicillin which had done nothing in two days resulting in my going to ER on Sunday morning and being aministered intra-venious clindamycin and a 20 day supply of oral clindamycin. Now, while I am not questioning your medical terminology, it obviously was not accurately diagnosed. While I can understand a simple misdiagnosis, I cannot understand your arrogance in defending your staff in the face of contradictory facts.

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