ComplaintsforStart Smiling Dental Implant Centers

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  in april 2020 I went in for full mouth implants and 2 zygos in ***********( that is for major bone loss),over 4 years later I am still waiting for final upper dentures! I have been thru many temporaries that only last abou 4 months and then almost impossible to get an appt or even a response from office.I have been thru alot of money,stress and sleepless nights.Do not give him money up front,I learned a valuable and expensive lesson.I now know he is on probation and office is officially closed.I feel sorry for all his patients and I personally got screwed out of at least ****** dollars for my uppers.

• Initial Complaint

  06/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Thiis business staff which does dental implants informed me that they would provide upper and lower implants if I provide a deposit of $ *******. The remainder of the balance would be charged to my insurance company BC/BS.For over a year they have flip flopped on whether the procedure had been approved, telling me it was, then later that it wasn't and to come in to negotiate a new price. Then i was told it was approved and a surgery date was scheduled. The day before the surgery date they called and cancelled and stated it was rescheduled for the following month. Just before that date they called and stated the procedure was not approved. I questioned them about why the delay which was going on a year to which i was told that there was a problem with my file and that it had been stolen by the previous office manager. I explained that I was in pain from missing, loose teeth ant which point the Offender ********** told new Office manager ******** that he would do the procedure for the deposit I had submitted due to the length of time i had been suffering. Later i was told to come in for a consultation again so I could geta different price on the procure. The business then retracted its offer and attempted to sell me another package deal. I Demanded a refund to which i have been given numerus excuses as to why a check hasn't been issued, (the dentist isn't in today, the file has to go to the accountant, they don't write checks out of the office etc. etc.) Finally I was told that a check would be sent to my house at the end of May2024. No check as arrived and all attempts (hundreds) to contact the business have gone unanswered. I call the business numerous times a day

• Initial Complaint

  04/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My process took over 2 years to get the right implant. The office never returned my phone calls to schedule a follow-up. Just recently it took 3 weeks to return a call and even when I got there. I had to ring the doorbell 3 times and although the receptionist saw me she did not let me in. A patient did. I was then informed after a wonderful maintenance appointment I owed $400. Because I was only allowed 2 free maintenance treatment in a year. This was not my fault...the office has issues with their office personnel answering and returning calls. I do want to say the work is outstanding but making appointments is a nightmare and cost me $400.

• Initial Complaint

  02/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In June 2020, I began my treatment with ************************************, intending to have two implants placed along with a bone graft, abutment, and installation of the implant with a permanent crown. The first tooth/area underwent the graft healing, abutment, and implant installation, followed by the final crown. Unfortunately, the final crown, meant to be permanent, keeps falling out, and I've resorted to using over-the-counter adhesive, which works better than their own application. This process has been ongoing for 2.5 years in the second area. Initially, ************ was professional and accommodating during my consultations, but over time, he became increasingly inconsiderate and arrogant, forcing me to seek another surgeon within the same office. The technicians, however, have remained competent, professional, and polite throughout the entire process. Unfortunately, the administrators have been unprofessional, flippant, and passive-aggressive. On several occasions, I received text messages the night before my scheduled appointments, cancelling them without any follow-up to reschedule.The missing teeth and spaces in my mouth have caused me embarrassment, preventing me from smiling and limiting my social interactions, including work-related ones.

• Initial Complaint

  05/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  4-26-22, I had an appt. For complementary consult at 3:00 pm. The office was like no other dental place I have seen. I started out with a lady that took a picture. I then meet the dentist when he looked at the photo on a tv screen. He never looked in my mouth. He left the office and left me with the woman. She stated if I wanted to schedule an appt. she needed a credit card to make a reservation. She stated repeatedly that it was no charge if I decided to cancel the appt. I then spoke to another girl in the office. She was asking questions that I did not feel comfortable answering. She was not looking me in the eye. I told the lady I wanted to cancel the appt. because I was having trust issues. She said the manager was going to take care of it. I told her I wanted to make sure before I left that it was cancelled. They put me in a room again alone. I waited about an hour. They called me out and told me they were closing. I told them I wanted to make sure there was no charge on my card as I had cancelled the appt. They gave me a form to fill out. I was filling it out and they kept trying to rush me out. I quick took a photo of the refund and they got all upset stating she is taking a picture. As I walked out, a police officer pulled up and asked if I had called the police. I said no. He then went to talk to the ladies leaving. He came back to me and said they claimed I owed them money. I explained it was a free exam. He said to watch out for scam artists. I then found a ticket for ***** dollars in a folder they gave me. They put the charge on the credit card. It is in dispute with Discover. I do hope you can help and maybe help others from having this happen to them. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.Sincerely,*****

  Business response

  06/02/2022

  ************** visited our **************** office for a complimentary consultation on April 26, 2022. A CT scan was taken and a consultation with ************************ was completed and a treatment plan was developed. ***** wanted to proceed with the discussed treatment plan and was given the option to complete her clinical examination the same day as consultation or to schedule for a future date, and it was explained to ***** that the $750 fee for the clinical examination is included in the overall fee presented.. She elected to complete the exam at that time to reduce trips to the office. ***** paid 50% of the fee with her Discover card, and a copy of the signed charge slip is attached. After the completion of the clinical examination and scheduling of her surgical appointment,  ***** abruptly decided to cancel the surgical appointment. She indicated that she had already contacted Discover to dispute charges, but was asking for a refund. ***** was advised that we could not issue a refund directly as she would need to complete a refund request form. It was also reviewed that the examination fee would not be refunded as the services were now completed.  ***** was provided with a copy of her signed sales receipt.  
  
  Thank you

  Customer response

  06/06/2022

   
  Complaint: 17214644
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I was told by woman in the office that in order to schedule an appt. a credit card needed to be used only as a reservation.  She stated that it was fully refundable if I decided to cancel the appt. This was stated numerous times to reinforce my questioning. There was NEVER  any mention of ANY charges.  As the other girl began asking questions and asking for initials, I kept asking questions.  She kept telling me I did not have to know about it at that time.  She would not look at me when I was questioning her.  I decided I wanted to cancel the appt. while this woman was questioning me.  The woman that  had told me I could cancel any time and fully refundable had me wait in a room alone until closing time.  They finally provided the refund slip but then were ******* me as they were closed.  I took a picture of the refund and they got really upset and then called the police. I was very confused why the police were called.  I looked in the folder they had given me with information and found a charge of ***** dollars I didn't even know they had charged.  There was never any mention of a charge.  I was only told that in order to make an appt. a credit card needed to be used as a reservation and that if I decided to cancel it was fully refundable. I cancelled before I ever left so there should be no charge.    
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩