Eastern Dental Reviews

I have spoken to an NJEA attorney and will be calling the NJ Dental Board in Newark. They are dishonest and lie. Dr. Molina told me to take my partial home and make it fit with a nail file. He asked if I knew what a nail file was. I said I did. He ushered me out telling me to go home and fix it with his hand on the lower part of my back. I think that's called the bums rush. Don't go there to Parlin or Sayreville. The Doctor Who does the extractions is excellent and so is Dr. **. But Dr. ** and Dr. ** are not. ** couldn't find a ribbon of coconut between 2 of my lower molars. I showed him the space where it was. I went there 2 times and finally Dr. ** found it. He called Dr. ** in to show him. I believe ** is now the head dentist in the office.

2 weeks after getting the braces on I got a phone call from the office saying the billing department has an overdue balance. I was told the billing department would reach out to me but they never did. I contacted the billing department and never received a call back. My next appointment was cancelled due to scheduling. All of a sudden the orthodontist went from being in the office once per week to once per month. The day of my next appointment I attempted contacting billing again and the rep was rude saying I just needed to wait for a call back.

Once I got to the office there was a different orthodontist. I was never given an explanation why or what happened. Before leaving I was told to wait in the lobby. After waiting 15 minutes Deana comes out and tells me I have a pass due balance and I need to sign a contract. Deana was rude, she cut me off several times and never took accountability or even acknowledged the previous orthodontist told me it would be no additional cost. I’m now forced to pay for braces I was talked into getting. I felt ambushed in the lobby when I was trying to handle the over the phone before even getting there. I was embarrassed and disrespected by Deana and no one in the office redirected her about it. Once I get these braces off I will never use this ortho department again. They are the absolute worst.

Next day I have lots of pain and my ear drum moves in and out while breathing. I attempt to get my records and the dentist office “lost” my X-ray. Now without my record I have struggled to get help. Over a year to get diagnosed with a Patulous Eustachian Tube. Over 3 years to get diagnosed with TMD. It’s been 4 years and I struggle with nerve issues, jaw/face/ear movement issues, balance issues. Without my record doctors will not acknowledge that I suffered a trauma to my jaw. The dentist office ruined my life and covered it up. Stay away from Eastern Dental.

This time I went, and because I believed her when she said, "Your teeth were really good." I thought it was 2 or 3 years again but it was 4. I heard other people say they don’t clean your teeth good and left them for a regular Dentist. I told the Dentist about the cleaning last time and said I needed a good cleaning. I asked why he sees me before and not after the cleaning and he said he likes to see you before so he can see what kind of cleaning you need. I thought that was odd but I found out that this means is if he puts a certain number down you have to pay an extra $100 for a precleaning. Even though they say everything is included in your plan and you don’t pay except for about $1500 for braces, they lie.

I asked why I have to pay the extra $100 for a cleaning and they said they have to do extra work like using the pick to go under the gums to clean them. I reminded them about the bad cleaning last time and also said that is how a regular dentist cleans your teeth and all I want is a cleaning but he did not care. The lady who calls the insurance company and always comes out and asks for more money said there is nothing she could do. They can’t clean my teeth because of the number the dentist put down there and insurance won’t pay for it. Not even just their regular lousy cleaning. I have more stories too. Like one about how they charge extra for my wife’s cap and the free included one is the cheap one you don’t want. Don’t sign up for these thieves. You’ll be stuck for a year if you're part of the Union plan. If you are not in a plan I have no idea why anyone would come here by choice.

Now 8-10 weeks I'm in pain. I call for emergency. She said nothing wrong with my teeth. I said it is. She tried touching it. I jumped it hurt so bad. She still said nothing wrong! She gave me ** because might be a sinus infection, 3 days on it got worse. I end up at urgent care then straight to ER. To find out I have a abscess in my tooth same one the dentist examined. I'm now on ** and antibiotics and got a shot of steroids and they sedated me to calm down all because the dentist didn't do her job! When I complained to the supervisor she said if come back there I will get her again so I have to transfer. Not acceptable!!! She didn't have anyone number for me to call to make a complaint. She should be fired! And shame on the supervisor for doing nothing! I want something done. If I have to get a lawyer I will!

The Director Labega totally turned on me and acted like I was a problem patient. He was the one that was too scared to remove my last 2 teeth (because of my heart) but have taken 8 teeth out in 5 years (I had a heart attack 5 years ago). This whole Dilemma is Wrong. They have my Medical Records and Said they are Mailing them to me. I was Treated Unfairly and I will speak to an attorney regarding this Matter. You should be able to Disagree with a worker WITHOUT being Disrespected and Removed from Going there. I was there Longer than ANY worker.

Original Review: I just had my 2nd Argument with the Office Manager in Clementon NJ. She didn't like that I told her that I didn't like how she was talking to me, she argued with me & yelling at me.. I asked for a Corporate Number to Complain and She said No. She was Racist to me Twice now and Hung up the phone on me. I am thinking about getting a lawyer because I don't want to deal with her, but I've been going to Eastern Dental for 35 years. I am in the middle of getting prepared for partials and should not have to Kiss her Butt to get an appointment. I have been getting the Run-around with my Treatments and Appointments. I Think her name is Stephanie, just Know that She will Treat you Wrong if you don't Agree with her. She is Very Rude.

Today my daughter has a follow up appointment, scheduled months ago, to see if she's ready for braces (she's 11). We did not receive ANY reminders either by email, text or phone; I checked, so I called the office one hour prior to scheduled appointment to confirm. The female who answered the phone told me that their system is down and she cannot gain access to confirm the appointment and that she could not help me. I politely informed her that my daughter's appointment is a follow up for braces (which I know is a separate department from general dentistry) and I asked her if she could check with the appropriate department to see if they have her chart already pulled out or if anyone in that department knows anything because her appointment is in an hour.

I work in health care and some if not most patient centered offices usually have an idea which patients are coming in for the day at the beginning of the day and try to have their charts ready. I also explained to her that my daughter would be missing her play rehearsal in order to be at the appointment. She put me on hold to check and never came back. After being on hold for 14 minutes I hung up because I'll be late picking up my kids at the school carline; by then it was 2:15 pm.

My daughter and I arrived at the dentist office at 3 pm. There was a lady with 2 teenagers sitting in the waiting area. As I was beginning to sign in when one of the 3 females at the front desk asked me who I'm signing in and I gave her my daughter's name and that she has a 3 pm appointment. She said she tried to call me and that their system is down. When I asked when she called, she just gave me a dumb look and didn't give me a time. I told them that I called earlier to confirm my appointment and was put on hold and I hung up after being on hold for 14 minutes. Another one of the females at the desk said that their system went down when they came back from lunch break. If that is the case then why didn't they just cancel my appointment when I called? I showed up with my daughter because that female staff did not say that they are cancelling all appointments for the day.

I figured their computer system may not be working but the dentist's hands and tools are still working (they have electricity in the office). Then they told me I have to call to reschedule the appointment but of course they don't know when the "system" would be operational. I left the office disgusted of their inconsiderate behavior and inability to make appropriate logical decisions. Somehow I'm not totally surprised...it is Eastern Dental of Vineland after all.

When I got home after driving my daughter back to school so she does not completely miss her play practice and get in trouble with the teacher, there was no message in my answering machine or cell phone. My ex husband told me that there was a message left on his home answering machine before 3 pm. Don't these people allot for travel time that they call you to cancel just a few minutes before your appointment? Don't they try the cell phones which are more likely to be with the person you're trying to contact? If they really want to make contact. I told my ex husband that as long as the kids go to this office because the dental insurance he picked requires them to, he could call and make the appointments. I will drive the kids there but the least verbal interaction I have with any of their unprofessional, unfriendly office people the better.

This is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I tolerated and never complained through all these years we've been going there. I've been patient and understanding through all the poor appointment schedulings, unfriendly and unaccommodating office staff and unreasonable long times sitting in the waiting room with 3 children. But my patience had reached its limit when it comes to this Eastern Dental office and that is why I am writing this review. Judging from the reviews I've read regarding this dental office and the verbal comments from some past and present clients, I am not alone in having this poor opinion. I would never recommend this office to anyone.

I called Eastern & was told Aetna raised their co-pay. What???? Lie #1. My Aetna plan doesn't charge me a co-pay...the girl insisted that it was Aetna's co-pay. I asked her if a pre-note had been done for this service, but the girl told me that Aetna doesn't require one. Lie #2 So I called Aetna. NO CO-PAY. Eastern changed/upgraded from the covered crown to a porcelain crown WITHOUT telling/asking me. Now the crown is in my mouth 2 months & I'm responsible to pay for this crown that Eastern upgraded without my permission or knowledge. Maybe if I had been made aware at the time of the procedure that porcelain would look better, wear better, but not covered by my insurance I would have agreed, but Eastern blind sided me.

I'm 70 years old and really don't care what the crown in the back of mouth looks like so long as it does the job. And Aetna DOES recommend that pre-notes be submitted and that it was Eastern who decided NOT to do one. This is a crappy way of doing business. There is NO personal care at Eastern. When my dental insurance changed from Delta to Aetna...I just looked for a dentist convenient to my location. I guess that was my first error. I went from a small dental office to a place that looks like a cattle call...I'll be looking for a new dentist that takes Aetna, that is smaller & personal. And I will never let a dentist put his/her hands in my mouth without a pre-note.!!!!

The painkillers did not provide any relief and I was completely disconsolate, desperate and traumatized by the thought of having to endure this horrible PAIN for 12 more days. I went to another dentist the next morning and had the tooth pulled, paying out of pocket almost $300.00. Guess what, it was not a SURGICAL removal. It was a run of the mill extraction. My insurance will be billed by EASTERN DENTAL for an EMERGENCY which I assume is at a higher rate than a regular visit and I had to pay for the removal of a tooth that could have been performed by a dentist that can perform regular extractions. When I returned 2 days later to cancel the original, ridiculous appointment I attempted to arrange a general checkup so as to avoid any potential future problems and was told first available was almost 3 months hence.

Ergo, if I have any problem in the intervening time I will have to use another emergency appointment for which I will have to pay, as the insurance carrier allows only 1 per year. I will be filing an official complaint with my insurance carrier and my union. If you can't provide REAL and COMPLETE emergency service it is incumbent upon the provider to at least notify the user PRIOR to the visit and it is unconscionable for the provider to bill the insurance company for EMERGENCY service as well.

So I decided to get a second opinion since it didn't make sense. I am so glad I did!! There was a less intrusive method that my new dentist office found!! Also please double check with your insurance before having any procedure done. The billing department will say it's covered and it's NOT. Word of advice please get a second opinion. I am done with Eastern Dental.

She then said "can you tell Lourdes I will call her now or you can just hand her your phone if you like." But the lady from the insurance said, "I will call her now." In less than a minute Brenda was talking to my insurance. Brenda looked at me with an upsetting face like if I did something wrong. As if I was telling on her. Well I did. I was not going to let her say I couldn't be seen when she had already given me an appointment and I was there 30 minutes early to be seen (I was in a lot of pain). After Brenda finished talking to the insurance lady she gave me the phone because the insurance lady wanted to reassure me that I was going to be seen today. This bothered Brenda, I can see it in her face.

Once I returned the phone thanking her, she said in a not very nice way, "I can't do something I do not have in the computer/chart". Then I said, "what are you talking about, you told me that after speaking to my insurance I was accepted as of the same day and you gave me an appointment for the following day, today". She then said "I am doing my job, I will not do something I am not suppose to do". Now why all the attitude with me. I did nothing wrong but verify with my insurance that I was okay to see this dentist. Brenda was extremely upset, her face was red and as much as she tried to play it off she couldn't. That was my first incident. The second one was my bill. Charges were just ridiculous. They were charging me as if I didn't have insurance. Meanwhile they charged me full amount and they also charge the insurance. Smh.

The staff manager is unprofessional and extremely rude. After I was given the bill, I questioned it because I have dental insurance. I asked why did they put 0 for what the insurance pays. I was told that's how they have it in the system. So I called my insurance and asked about it and the bill I was given from them. I was told they have a chart with all the prices and they have to go by that. In other words they were charging the insurance and they were charging me the full amount as if I didn't have insurance. When I went back to the office a couple of days later, I questioned it again and Lourdes told me they would look into it and to bring the chart (chart with the correct price). Excuse me!!! This is your job not mine. They should have this already.

They have a contract with my insurance that they should follow. After discussing this matter with the financial coordinator the staff manager saw me upset and asked me what was wrong. I explained myself... She immediately attacked me by saying we all make mistakes and at least she gave you almost a $500 discount. This got me so damn furious. So I said to the staff manager, "she did not give me a discount. You need to follow the insurance contract you guys have with my insurance". Besides she was still charging me the wrong amount. The staff manager kept talking I de me. She would not let me speak. Her voice kept getting louder and louder saying that she gave me a good price because the bill was almost $500 less and that I should be happy.

I was so upset that I went to the back to get the work done, I was upset and shaking. When I get upset I tend to cry because I am angry. What I really wanted to do was tell her off but I am not that kind of person. I was asked what was wrong by my dentist. After explaining what had happened they looked for the director so I can speak to him. But he was out to lunch. After the filling I got my next appointment, meanwhile the staff kept staring and talking about me. I left after getting my next appointment. It feels weird when I go to that office. They are in the middle of a root canal which has taken them more than two months to finalize it.

Once they finish that I will be looking for another dentist. And regarding a review I read about the staff texting and all that, it's true. This Clifton office is just as bad. The staff is always texting and using unprofessional language (cussing). Not professional at all. But the worse thing is... I noticed that if you have to spit, they out this thin vacuum sort of thing in your mouth in which has no plastic cover and it's not replaceable. Meaning everyone uses the same one. I have never seen them disinfect this. I always watch them. They use and make sure they use new supplies... Now that I think about it, it's very scary. If someone is sick with any type of disease and these people are not cleaning the supplies they are using with other patients, we are all in danger here. No wonder every person I have talk to has the same complaint. They all get really bad infections... even when they just go for a simple thing like a filling.

I have an appointment today, and the more I think about this, the more scared I am to go. BEWARE, make sure if you have insurance you know exactly what they are suppose to charge you. You can call your insurance. They will mail you or tell you to go on their website to see the prices. And if you don't have insurance like my dad, get ready to get a big bill and when you question something... get ready for the attitude you will get from the staff. They seem not to know anything about customer service. Everything is with an attitude and they are always right no matter what. So stay away. I have no choice than to let them finish what they started since I already paid for this procedure (root canal).

One last thing.... pay as you go. Do Not Pay in advance. They will not do everything you paid for. If you do it as you go, they will make sure you come back to keep charging you. I recently found out I have a co pay of $15. What!!! A co pay? Now is when you tell me. I have been going to them since March or April at least four or five times a month. Now do the math. This means I owe them that too on top of the "regular bill". This is why they keep making you come back so many times, they keep billing the insurance for nonsense and they charge you for co pay???

Stitches started to loosen a few days after–had to go have them removed. Final removal of stitches 8 days later. After 9 returns for temp adjustments the post and abutments were installed then five more trips for adjustments. Another dentist did final impressions for dentures as well as extract another tooth from bottom which should have been done before plus 2 fillings. The last impressions got stuck so bad he could not remove it and finally had to pull so hard I was in tears. This guy was so nervous he kept dropping instruments as well as my denture. In trying to fit final denture he pulled them in and out so many times the pain became unbearable and I ask him to stop. After that I was back 9 times for adjustments which never get any better.

In final I did not receive the denture explained to me. I continue after 15 months to have problems with swollen and sore gums. I still cannot use my lower partial. In short after spending 16 thousand dollars I have suffered undo pain, anxiety and frustration and fully do not recommend Eastern Dental. At this point we are on the way to court. BEWARE!!!

People, these are humans with imperfections like all of us. If you need to get in/out quick, suggest setting appointments before 10am... or JUST ASK THEM THE BEST TIME TO GET IN OUT QUICK. The dentists that run Hamilton are great. Just ask them, talk to them; they listen. Take the time to thank them too... seems when I go all I hear is complaints. Thank them for a great job, have a nice day, etc. It goes a LONG way.