ComplaintsforDr. Amy M. Sementilli DMD

• Initial Complaint

  03/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  During a visit to this dental business in December 2023, the dentist recommended an additional service to be performed on two future visits. I accepted the recommendation to have a bridge installed on my left side lower teeth. The service was to be performed over two visits on 1/8/2024 and 1/18/2024. On the 1/8 visit, the dentist sawed down 3 of my teeth to prepare for the bridge installation to occur on the 1/18 visit. On the 1/18 visit, the dentist was unable to install the bridge due to it not fitting. The dentist blamed it on the lab and rescheduled the installation for a later visit on 1/30. On 1/30, the dentist was still unable to install the bridge and again blamed it on the lab. Another visit was rescheduled for 2/13. On that visit, the dentist again was unable to install the bridge and blamed it on my mouth requiring further sawing down of other good teeth. She recommended additional work that would cost me even more money after having already charged me $789 cash and $3,000 to my insurance company for the bridge that was never installed. I declined this offer of additional work and expense. After seeking a second opinion from another dentist, I was informed that the work by this dentist should never have been recommended in the first place since it was apparent that the bridge would not have fit beforehand. Furthermore, the dentist committed insurance fraud by charging me the $3,789 for the bridge job that ultimately was not performed because it could not have been done. The dentist permanently damaged 3 of my good teeth by sawing them down when she knew that the service recommended would not work. She then attempted to perform and bill me for additional work that would damage more of my teeth. I am seeking $7,289 in damages - the $3,789 I was charged as refund for work not performed plus an additional $2,500 for repair work to fix the damage caused by this dentist. Additionally, I am seeking $1,000 for my pain and time wasted.

  Business response

  04/22/2024

  Dear representative of the Better Business Bureau,We received your letter dated Monday, April 1, 2024 and would like the opportunity to respond.November 30, 2023 the patient, **** *******-****** was in our office for an initial visit and consultation. At that time several different treatment plans were discussed. In regards to the patient’s mandibular left, an implant consult was recommended and the patient was referred to Dr. J**** for evaluation. When the patient returned in December for treatment on the maxillary left, the patient stated that she was not interested in discussing implants or a removable prosthesis. At that point a bridge was discussed. The patient scheduled for the bridge in the beginning of January.  At that appointment, teeth were prepped to begin the bridge. Due to the fact that the patient did not have teeth in the area for many years, the opposing tooth had super erupted, thereby limiting the clearance for the bridge in that area.  We tried framework for the bridge in several times as we were trying to limit the amount of reduction of the teeth necessary to complete the treatment.After several consultations with the lab, it was determined that we should reduce the occlusal surface of the opposing tooth, tooth number 15.  In discussions with the patient, it was recommended that we place a crown over tooth number 15 for several reasons.  First, it would allow for much-needed clearance between that tooth and the opposing tooth. Second, it would allow us to essentially return the tooth to nearly its original position. Third, it would greatly increase the cosmetics of the case.  The patient requested time to discuss this with her husband. She did not reschedule.  We are sorry that she is unhappy with the situation. We would of course be open to refunding the insurance in the amount of $3000.00 which they paid to us.  This enables the insurance to reissue payment to ****’s current dental office.  We would also refund **** her payments in the amount of $789.00.Please feel free to contact our office with any questions or concerns.Thank you,Amy Sementilli

  Customer response

  04/27/2024

  The dentist’s counteroffer is disingenuous as it fails to recognize the damage caused by the “prep work” that was performed, which never should have been performed in the first place.   The dentist is using medical explanatory terms to cover up and avoid addressing the plain language in the complaint.  Another dentist who corrected the damage found it incredulous that a bridge was recommended in the initial consultation, asserting that any licensed dentist would have known that a bridge would not fit.  Therefore, the multiple visits involving sawing down of the good teeth was destructive and completely unnecessary. Furthermore, the dentist clearly committed insurance fraud by billing my insurance company the full cost of a bridge, which was not performed for the above-mentioned reason.   The subsequent repair work that was paid out to a different dentist was not for a bridge, but to fix the damage caused by this dentist.  The full amount that I have requested in the amount of $7,289 is the minimum I am willing to accept.  I think it is very reasonable under the circumstances.  Permanently damaging my good teeth and wasting my time is worth quite a bit to me.  In addition, I expect to have more issues with my teeth as time goes by, which may be directly attributed to the damage caused by this licensed dentist’s behavior.   

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