Banuelos Martha - Smile Care Dental

I went to smile dental a couple months ago to get my wisdom teeth removed and I had the worst time. First I waited for 1.5 hours before the assistant took me back. Then they told me I couldn't even have the surgery because I had a cold The hitch is I told the assistant that I had a cold as soon as I walked in! Then they wanted me to pay the cancellation fee for the 2nd appointment 2 weeks later because I was still sick. I was on the phone with the assistant for 30 minutes trying to explain to him that Im not cancelling, the doctor told me to call if Im still sick. In the end he made me go into the office and wait for another 2 hours so the doctor could tell me I cant have the surgery. Don't ever go here. The reception is rude and has serious communication issues.

Posted 07/03/09 | Report Abuse

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I agree with the other reviews. DO NOT EVER GO THERE. I too was a new patient. I called and made an appointment asking to see the periodontist per the instructions of my regular dentist. On the day of my appointment, after I filled out the new patient info, and returned it back to the very surly and unfriendly receptionist. she yelled across the sitting area and asked me what my social security number was. I got up and went back to the counter, and asked what was wrong , she was not able to make out one of the numbers, so I wrote it down for her. How unprofessional is that, not to mention, exposing my identity to the world. This is a violation of HIPPA. That should have made me leave. The wait was not too long, BUT after the x rays and seeing the dentist who was not the peritonitis, I was then told he was only there on Wed/Thur, I don't remember now what day. I made another appointment for that day. I was 20 Min's early. After watching person after person come and go before me. (Many people who had come after me) I went to the desk to ask when I would be seen. It was now an hour past my appointment. One hour and 45 Min's later I was called to the back. I saw the same dentist from my first visit and he asked me to refresh his memory, why I had come there. Then I was told , i needed a referral and that the periodontist. I was very up set by then, and I left never to return. Sorry I did try to may this short.

Posted 06/03/09 | Report Abuse

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I wished that I had thought to check reviews on Smilecare Dental before going in for my first appointment. My 5-year-old and I arrived about 15 minutes early so that I could fill out new patient paperwork. After turning in the forms, my son and I waited for over an hour. During that hour I heard one of the front receptionists repeatedly contacting my insurance company to verify info, etc. My son had been in school all day and was very antsy. When we were finally called back for x-rays, they must have taken at least 10 x-rays each with the old-style cardboard films. After x-rays, we were taken to a large room that contained many cubicle-type rooms. For being a chain dental company, the equipment seems old and worn. The chairs were ripped, the floors, walls and vertical blinds looked dirty. The 80s-style pastel wallpaper had rips and sections missing. My son was in the cubicle next to me and he fell asleep while waiting a good 45 more minutes to be seen. When the dentist finally saw me, all she did was look at me teeth and gums. She told me that I was a good candidate for braces. I'm in my mid 30s. I'll admit that my teeth aren't perfect, but they are far from being in need of braces. All my previous dentists were competent and never suggested I was in need of braces. She also highly recommended I purchase an extremely expensive only-in-dentist-offices toothbrush. She also highly recommended a special oral exam not covered by insurance and was going to put a bonding on four of my teeth without asking me which would have cost me $75 out-of-pocket. After being there for over three hours, I was then told that the person who cleans teeth is only in the office Wednesdays and Fridays and that I would have to make another appointment for the cleaning portion. Never in my life have I spent so much time in a dentist office in one day and not even receive a cleaning. When I did return for my cleaning it was obvious that it is the norm to wait a long time to be seen in that office. One lady came in with her daughter and asked the receptionist if she had time to run to the bank before she would be called back and the receptionist told her that she had time to do so. The only positive is that the reception ladies were nice to me.

Posted 02/28/09 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Make sure you're not in their 6 month whatever cleaning program - they'll bug you forever. I did not set up an appointment and they told me that I had one - I never signed up for anything! Also make sure that you or your insurance agency are not billed twice for anything - they're notorious for this - check and double check your billing for the list of the items. They have a terrible scheduling system - am never going back there ever again! Can't trust them at all.

Posted 06/23/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Made an appointment for myself and daughter over two weeks prior to my appointment as a new patient. Showed up 15 minutes early to fill out necessary paperwork, not even a hello from staff when I walked in the door. 15 minutes after scheduled time of appt (4pm) went back to take Xrays, while my daughter waited in waiting room for her appt (430pm). At 445pm I was seated in the dentist chair waiting on dentist to see me and my Xrays. I had to ask the staff at 5pm whether my daughter was seen yet for her appt and was asked, "Does she have one?" That first ticked me off. Finally I was told that she was next. Then at 515pm (me still waiting in the dentist chair for dentist) my daughter came and sat with me. I asked whether she was going to get a cleaning also, since we were new patients. Told again we were waiting on dentist. Finally at 545pm (after sitting in chair for 1 hour), I was approached by the assistant and told that the dentist was behind (DUH???) and if I would reschedule. I said no because I live 30 miles away and my experience with them was not satisfactory. During this whole time of me sitting there, I was never approached by staff letting me know what was going on. I feel as though as a new patient, they should have done their best to make me feel comfortable. Unfortunately they made me not want to go there again!!!!

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS OFFICE!!!

Posted 05/08/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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the front office is very rude.they will just put some appoinment on your name and wont even care to let you know.and will give you huge cancellation charges

Posted 10/17/07 | Report Abuse

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You must know what it is like to be looking for a new dentist. Not only is the front office staff very helpful, professional and quite pleasant, the dentist is very professional, on the top of her game, and more than anything she is friendly, and she has her patients best interest in mind at all times. I had a very good experience a few months ago, when I needed alot of dental work. You wont be dissapointed.

Posted 05/29/05 | Report Abuse

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