ComplaintsforPark Dental

• Initial Complaint

  05/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  After Covid, a few months ago in late ************************* to do routine detail cleaning. Park Dental did an exam and suggested a long list of treatment, including a set of deep cleaning, which they recommended before. When I came in the second time to do the deep cleaning, the doctors were actually doing some fillings for me and informed me this has to be done. All together I think 3 teeth including #** receiving the filling and this planted the nightmare later. About 2 months ago, I came in again for a cleaning, my #** tooth was in severe pain and the doctor immediately said I would need root canal because I have a crack on #**. I was in panic and went to Endodontic Professionals at St. ******* for a consult, which costed $177 out of pocket since the 3D scanning was not covered. The pain went away and I need to get it done urgently due to my traveling schedule. Today I went to ***************************** in Edina and got the root canal done. They had to do another 3D scan and ************** performed the procedure and reported that there is no crack. And she also concluded that the damage to the pulp and nerve was done because of the filling on #** was too deep by Park Dental and it touched the pulp and compromised it. I had to pay another $575 to cover the 3D scan and out of pocket expense for the root canal. Now I have used my maximum of the *************** for 2023 and still face another $2000 out of pocket expenses for the crown to put on the root canal, all because of the inappropriate filling procedure that I did not want in the first place!

  

  Business response

  06/06/2023

  On June 1, 2023 our doctor called the patient to listen to his concerns, talk through his complex treatment plan and answer all of his questions.  The patient now has a clear understanding of his treatment needs and expressed his gratitude for this conversation with our doctor.  He also told our doctor he would be withdrawing his complaint and is scheduled to continue his care with our practice on Monday June 6, 2023.  

• Initial Complaint

  11/09/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been going to the Brooklyn Center location for over 20 years, but it's nothing like it used to be. I recently went in with a toothache and was told I had several cavities that needed fillings and a crown. After getting fitted for a temporary crown, I was taken to the front desk to make appointments to come back for fillings and a permanent crown. At that time I was given an estimate of the total cost and my out of pocket estimate after insurance. I was told this would be finalized when I came back in for the fillings.2 days later the temporary crown cracked apart and fell out of my mouth while I was eating chicken noodle soup. My exposed tooth was in pain, but when I called the after hours number the dentist on call told me it was not an emergency and I shouldn't have bothered calling after hours. I went in the next day to have another temporary crown put on, but this time the dental assistant tried to do it without anything to numb my gums. After crying and screaming ouch several times, I was finally given something to numb my gums as she finished putting on the crown. It's the first time I've cried at the dentist since I was a child. I had to go back to get the permanent crown 2 weeks later, and at that time was given the final **** of $1,400 out of pocket total, including fillings that were supposed to be done on November 8th and 15th. On November 5, (3 days before my next appointment), they called to say they made a mistake in their previous communication about the ****, and that the total out of pocket is actually $2,400!! A thousand dollars more than originally communicated. They apologized for their "error", but how were they $1,000 off?? And just telling me this on the Friday before my appointment? Not to mention the tooth with the permanent crown still hurts - like it's not done right. When I asked for a detailed breakdown of costs, they couldn't provide it and ignored my requests. This entire experience has been horrible and stressful.

  

  Business response

  11/10/2021

  We reviewed the patient complaint and the patient record.  The Practice Manager called the patient as requested to provide an explanation of the charges.  The original estimate of insurance coverage provided to the patient did not take into consideration the patients annual maximum coverage of $2,000 per year.  When this was discovered last week, the patient was called in advance of her scheduled appointment to let her know that she would be reaching her maximum and that not all the remaining fillings would be covered.  The Practice Manager explained again what had happened and apologized that the estimate did not include her annual maximum limit.  The Practice Manager then let her know that she still has $538 remaining in 2021 towards her annual dental insurance maximum and recommended if she did not want to exceed her maximum benefit that she have two of the fillings completed before the end of the year and then the remaining 6 fillings completed after her benefits renew at the first of the year in 2022.  The patient responded that she felt she was going to be going elsewhere to have the work done.  In addition, the patient was asked about how the tooth with the crown was feeling, she said that there still was pain.  The Practice Manager told the patient we could schedule a follow up appointment with the doctor to evaluate and she said she might do that in the future.  According to the Practice Manager the patient was very cordial and seemed appreciative of the call and the recommendation to maximize her benefits.

  Customer response

  11/15/2021

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  
  ********** manager was cordial and gave a satisfactory explanation of their previous error estimating my out of pocket costs for the remaining dental work.However, the teeth that were worked on in the upper and lower left side of my mouth still hurt. It hurts to chew on my left side (upper, where they did the fillings), and lower (where they did the crown). What can they do to fix this, since the dental work and fillings should have fixed the problem on upper and lower left side.

  

  Business response

  11/16/2021

  The Practice Manager called the patient again and was able to schedule an evaluation appointment for her on Friday with the doctor. He asked her why she didnt want to schedule when he called last week and made that offer and she said it got worse over the weekend and she was afraid of how it would affect her remaining benefits.  The Practice Manager let her know the doctor would do a no charge follow up appointment to determine what is going on.

*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. ↩