Columbia Dental Morningside Associates

I went here for a cleaning and a checkup. I was told I had 11 cavities that needed to be filled. I had seen my family dentist just a year before and she declared my teeth to be in fine condition so I went back to her to confirm the cavities. She told me I had not a single cavity. Morningside Dental either wanted the money or someone to practice on, but either way, be EXTREMELY wary if they want to do any major dental work on you. You probably don't need it.

Truly awful service here. The only reason I go is that I have no other choice on my delightful Columbia University plan. One time the dentist managed to gash both my tongue and lip. Another time the dentist put in a filling that fell out 20 days later. If these dentists are students of Columbia Dental School, the admissions standards must only require a pulse and sadomasochistic tendencies.

I have tried 4 times now to get an appointment each time they have called me to cancel. It's been nearly 6 months since I was supposed to go to the dentist! What kind of doctor doesn't want to see their patients?

If I could give it no stars I would.

After informing me very clearly over the phone that the my apointment for a check-up and cleaing would cost nothing, they informed me moments before treatment (only because I asked carefully) that x-rays would cost me $80 out of pocket. I declined the x-rays (I just had them x-rayed a few years ago) and they declined to see me. I walked out. Thanks for nothing.

Apart from being overall unfriendly, the staff seem interested in extracting the maximum money from patients. They keep telling me that X-rays need to be taken every 6 months, while my previous dentist told me they need to be taken every 3 years. I had to fight with them each time in order to refuse having my X-rays taken unnecessarily (of course, after taking the X-rays, they only stored them away, never to be used or seen again). I recently visited the office for a check up, as I thought I should have my unnecessary wisdom teeth taken out. After reviewing an X-ray, the surgeon said that it should be a "routine" wisdom teeth removal, with no foreseeable complications. Later, when signing up for an appointment, I was told that a complicated "surgical extraction" would be required, instead of the routine "simple extraction", for all three wisdom teeth. When I asked the surgeon what complications made it necessary to carry out a surgical extraction in my particular case, he evaded the question, instead insisting that he was a professional and I did not understand the practice, hinting that it was none of my business to ask such questions. The end result, of course, is that he would extract more money from me. I am currently looking for a more honest dental practioner.

I agree with what posters have said on other sites. I too went to Morningside while a student at Columbia. It took four months to get an appointment, and it seems that was only possible because of a last minute cancellation and my willingness to go on Dec 26th. The staff was gruff. The cleaning stations are separated by only curtains, so you can hear what other people are having done to them -- squealing of drills and tools, moaning, etc. The Hygenist scolded me to the point of yelling at me. Her stories made me feel so nauseous that other members of the staff had me remain at the clinic for an extra 20 minutes in the waiting room to make sure I didn't pass out while walking out. I think the dentist/surgeon 'examined' me and spoke with me for only about 2.5 minutes - including the time it took him to introduce himself and tell me about the mission of Morningside Dental. The administrative staff (on the phone) were gruff to the point of being rude. They make you feel like they are doing you a favor just by doing their jobs -- and being mediocre at them. After more than five failed attempts at getting through on the appointment line (it is ALWAYS busy), I finally had to walk in to the clinic in person in order to get my appointment. I've since never been able to get through on the first try. I went because I needed extractions. Suffice to say, they price they wanted was so high that two years later I still haven't the necessary teeth pulled. In general, the entire process made me feel like a chocolate on an I Love Lucy assembly line. Or, perhaps more accurately, like someone in a scene from the dental school in that book, "Day in the Life of the U.S.S.R." I would never go back to Morningside unless I had no alternative.

Columbia Dental Morningside Associates is a group multi-specialty faculty practice. I went there once for a cleaning while studying at Columbia University. You have to call months in advance for an appointment. The hygienist x-rayed and cleaned my teeth. Then the female dentist appeared to give me the "results." I didn't like the attitude that she gave me about my teeth. I had braces before and did not consistently wear my retainer. She made a really big deal about the straightness of my teeth and I just told her that I was fine with them.

PROS: faculty practice (?)
CONS: attitude, really difficult to get an appointment