Western Dental & Orthodontics

So now in late July I start getting bills from them for 1,000 +. I call and tell them this is a mistake as I was told by the account dept that I owed nothing and I quit going to them. The woman from the account dept in my city said she would call me back and never did. She said it was for impressions and I told her when I left that day they said I owed nothing! Then I get another bill and I call that office and the guy says a 'audit' was done for 2016 and 17 and I owed money from that. This is not true as I paid for my rotten dentures in full. They are liars and thieves and I do not know what to do. I am retired and do not have this money and wouldn't pay them even if I did. I am so stressed out over this. Never go to Western Dental, they are a terrible company that does shoddy work and tries to shake you down for money.

After I got the cleaner and took it to my doctor to look at, my doctor told me that it was not safe to use while pregnant and to avoid it. I took it back to the dentist and asked them since it was in a sealed package and unused and unsafe for me to use while pregnant if I could return it. The manager said they will never in any way do a refund and too bad for me, I signed the paper so I was stuck with it and if I didn't pay it they were going to send me to collections. I then spent months writing letters to and calling their corporate office and trying to get somebody to talk to me about the issue. The collections department called me every single day sometimes up to 4 times a day but all of their people would give me different numbers to call to talk to someone who could actually help me.

After dealing with this for several months and never talking to someone who did anything except waste 45 minutes of my time they sent the bill to a outside collections department who said if I didn't pay it immediately they would put it against my credit report. At that point about 4 or 5 months later they had already charged me hundreds of dollars in fees and my bill ended up being over $900 for literally nothing since they never even actually gave me the product that they were charging me for. This was absolutely with no doubt the worst possible dental experience I could imagine and the tooth that they refuse to fill, by the time my baby was born, ended up rotting to the point that I had to have it pulled when if they had just filled it when I asked them to and my doctor okayed it then I would still have my tooth.

A different doctor examined my broken tooth and told me she thought it could be saved. Again back to the waiting room. TWO HRS LONGER!!! I was called in back, sat down and prepared for what I thought would be a teeth cleaning. When the doctor came in she asked me what the doctor had recommended. I told her the doctor said my tooth could be saved with a crown. She said that she wasn't comfortable with that and that I would need to have an independent outside doctor give another opinion. WHAT!!! At this point I was upset, confused, hungry, tired. I just wanted my teeth cleaned so I could have what was left of the day. She began to walk away so I asked the young assistant about my cleaning. He ran off then they both returned.

She began to unwrap her instruments while telling me that there was no time left for a cleaning. She had me open my mouth and she scrapped maybe 4 teeth on the bottom, flossed the bottom and that was it. Now they are charging me 200. 00 for the cleaning. I filled out an official grievance report and was told I'd be contacted with a decision. I was never contacted by anyone but the billing dept with an outstanding balance I needed to pay for. I told them it was in dispute and that I hadn't been notified with a decision yet. He said that a decision was made. And of course it was in favor of the doctor. I asked who made the decision? He said that the doctor did. WHAT?!?!?

After this I have gone to a real dentist and they were kind enough to give me perfect pictures of my teeth which clearly show that my teeth need to be cleaned. Along with the photos I was given a diagnosis of what they recommended for my teeth which included 4 deep cleanings over the next year along with a crown for my broken tooth. So if you were able to make it through my review, I say you've been informed and if you go to Western Dental now. May the Tooth Fairy be with you.

Original Review: I spent the last seven months in and out of the dentist office and my dentures were never made right. They took all kinds of x-rays. Didn't need cleaning and they just took me for my money and nobody wants to do anything about it. I got very upset with the manager that works there. She's very rude. She doesn't like to let anybody talk. She has to get in her word first and somebody needs to do something about her and that dental office or I'm going to.

Total cost - $7200 cash price. The "extra" items listed by WD were unnecessary and would have done more damage in the future. Recalling my diagnosis consultation, I recall how they really pushed to have me sign a contract at 11% to finance the all the procedures. I'm opting out of WD as a dental provider when the time comes to change our company insurance plans and will recommend that all my coworkers do the same.

On top of that, apparently there's 3 types of cleanings and 2 of them such as deep cleaning or "polishing" is covered and not just a regular cleaning. They told me that the regular cleaning would be $131 if I wanted that. I think I'll check into my benefits for that. Honestly, I felt they were trying to scam me in 2016. I also wanted to know that even before that exam and cleaning in 2016, I had some of those dark spots on some of my teeth before and my other dentists didn't see them as cavities. My former dentist I was assigned to years ago (When I had Blue Shield HMO at the time) already filled my ACTUAL cavities and those spots Western Dental pointed out as cavities in 2016 were there during the time I had cavities being filled. That dentist never told me those were cavities. Anyway, I am glad I paid off my orthodontist and I will be going to another facility for dental care.

Cosmetic dentistry is a huge racket. If you have missing teeth and these people want to pull them all out with no other choice you should write this number down and get a partial the same day, leave in comfort and with your confidence intact for $200 per front tooth and $100 for each additional tooth. Money back guarantee, If you don't like how they look or they don't feel comfortable, which won't happen, but you get to keep your money and the partial, courtesy of the time you spent waiting for it, which btw is the same day. While you wait. ** I suggest you take my number even if you have all your teeth, you never know and you may not be able to find me. No one else has the skills to create a beautiful smile outside the box and you can actually afford it. Go back to your next visit with your new smile and tell them to kiss your **... :) Smile.

Second call: I navigate the phone tree, sit through two holds, then get through to customer service. I'm asked to walk the rep through the issue. I ask if the rep has taken the time to read my review on any number of sites or review the complaint I submitted directly to the company. Answer: Nope. The rep hadn't taken the trouble to do any of that and I was asked again to explain the issue from the beginning, which I had already done in writing. I told the rep that I was unwilling to talk through something I'd already taken the time to write down and that the rep should read the complaint, then contact me. The rep agreed to do so. Since then? Crickets. No callback.

If it is not already crystal clear that Western Dental doesn't care at all about their patient’s time and convenience, that they are utterly unconcerned about providing good customer service and addressing the problem when they fall short, it should be now. This is the worst kind of healthcare company: One that makes appointments it doesn't bother to keep, trundles out old equipment it doesn't bother to update, hires doctors who show up late, sits you down in chairs it doesn't bother to clean, and copy-pastes responses to public complaints but doesn't bother to actually address the problems raised therein. The sooner this practice goes away, the better for all of our teeth. Western Dental: Where your time isn't important.

First appointment: 3:00 pm on a Thursday. Waited until 5:00 to be seen, then had to schedule a follow-up, because they were trying to close and there wasn't enough time to finish the treatment. Next appointment: 9:00 am on a holiday morning. It is important to note that the office opens at 9:00 am, so there were no patients ahead of me. In fact, I was the first patient in the door and the only one in the building for 30 minutes. Somehow – amazingly - it took until 9:47 for them to summon me to the back for the filling. What they were doing for 47 minutes in an office with no patients, I have no idea. Nor was I offered any explanation other than "They're still setting up...", which begs the question, Why schedule a 9:00 am appointment if it takes 47 minutes for you set up?

After I was brought back to the treatment area (there are no private rooms here), I waited several more minutes before the doctor showed up and administered the **. She then left "to give time for my mouth to get numb." That usually takes 5-10 minutes, right? At 10:15, the doctor still hadn't returned and the numbness was starting to wear off, which meant that she was going to have to inject me again. At that point, I took off my bib and left. I stopped by the front desk to let them know that I wasn't pleased with the service I'd received.

I got a mealy-mouthed apology and was told that the doctor had been late to work. Never mind that I wasn't told that at all until now. In fact, I was given no explanation at all. I was just made to wait. If the lack of cleanliness and outdated equipment of this dingy facility aren't enough to keep you away, the total disregard for their patient’s (customer’s) time should be. I will not be going back, and I hope that others will do likewise, so this squalid, rude practice will be forced to close and dental services in the area will improve as a result.

A couple of months went by they tried entering it again and apparently it wouldn’t accept it without my account number and routing number fast forward a couple more months and a barrage of phone calls (relentlessly) from corporate saying if I had a payment plan set up with the Napa office then I needed to go back to them and set it up with them which I did. I told them I wasn’t comfortable giving them my bank info and that I wanted to continue making the monthly payments that I was agreed upon and which I signed. So they referred me back to corporate. Their sudden payment change and utter incompetence is not my fault nor my concern. As far as their little threat to send me to collections or as they put it “another agency”... B.S.!!! As long as I’m making my originally set monthly payment I can’t see how that’d be possible. To be continued.

What they did to my girlfriend is even worse. They told her she needed an expensive treatment. She trusted them and gave them nearly $1,000 only to find out later she didn't need the treatment at all. She was examined by two other dentists including a periodontist who said so, but Western Dental refused to refund any of her money even though she cancelled the order for dental trays they said she needed later on the same day she visited and never received the bulk of the treatment. In my opinion Western Dental is an unethical, ripoff operation that preys on people that put their trust in them. Run Away!

So he was telling me how this place is always trying to promote their brand because when he goes he hears them trying to sell products to the people who go (new patients) which is the treatment they made him do. So I make an appointment with them - just going in for a cavity I knew and could see one developing. My gums did not and do not hurt at all. So I was attended. Got my Xrays done. The girl sat me down and told me they would be with me in a moment. This other girl came and I made it clear with the girl who was attending me that I did not come for any gum treatments. She looks at me and tells me that in order for the doctor to even check to see if I have cavities she needed to see if I had any gum disease. I asked if it was mandatory and she said yes it was because I was a new patient.

So I'm waiting for the dentist. This lady comes and I tell her that I am only here for cavities. Nothing else you could see right away. She tensed up. She started looking at my teeth saying different numbers and she just told me I had 1 cavity which I thought she wouldn't tell me because of the information I got from the other female. She walked away fast and the other female asked me to watch a video while she summed up how much my procedure would be. Me confused I said nothing and watched the video about gum disease? I gave it back to her and she told me that medical would cover for my cavities but that she recommend me for the long run that it was best for me to get deep cleaning for gum disease to prevent me and help me later on in my life.

She gave me a paper of the cost of everything which was weird cause the whole thing rounded up to $2600 but it would go down to $1600. So I told her that no I was not getting that and I was only there for a filling - that if I didn't have anything I did not want any treatment for that. I told her that I didn't know what was going on promoting everybody to get their plan for gum disease but I wasn't buying anything and that it seemed so weird that every new patient has to do that specific treatment with them with the same amount of price. She was shocked that I told her. She didn't deny. She just told me that if I wasn't going to get it and pay; that they were not going to help me and basically I can leave since I wasn't willing to pay for that. This place is so unprofessional. Don't go here. They just want you in debt. This happened in Watsonville CA Western Dental.

They proceeded to have a dental hygienist "polish" my teeth without scraping the basic plaque accumulation off. I did not want to have them "polish turds". The dentist would not perform the general cleaning. At every dental office that I have ever been in prior to Western Dental, the dental hygienist is the one who does the cleaning, not the dentist. I was quite taken back by the fact that they are so unorganized, and would not perform a general cleaning. I called later that day to speak with a representative to explain what I just experienced and requested that I have a general cleaning scheduled (without any up-sell, or hassles otherwise). The representative put me on hold to speak with the office manager & dentist. She came back to the phone and confirmed that the dentist approved it.

When I came back for my appointment, the dentist declined to perform the general cleaning. On another note, every representative that you will talk to on the phone try to up-sell products and asks multiple times if there is anyone else in your household that they can schedule for appointment/screening. Horrible company. Highly suggest that anyone and everyone avoid this place.

My daughter also had a great a experience on her visit as well. She had 3 cavities filled, had her teeth cleaned, and braces put on - all in the same day. The dental staff that worked with her did an excellent job as well. Her words to me "Mommy, they were so nice, I wasn't even afraid. They said I have beautiful teeth and that made me happy. It didn't hurt like I thought it would. They were so nice." All I can say is that anyone going to the Western Dental located on Winchester Rd in Temecula is in for a very pleasant surprise. Oh, and before I forget, the front desk and admin staff were very nice a personable as well. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

In other words, if they could not bill for x-ray, you would not be seen despite your appointment. They serve the poor neighborhood and sadly most people are clueless. They don't want any educated customer to question their practice. I think the California State Health Dept needs to investigate their practice. There is a reason why the organization cannot get their accreditation. We are not going back.

I asked the dentist "can't you just numb her mouth and pull the tooth?" She tells me, "Oh no. We are not pulling it. We are going to do a baby root canal." Wth? For a baby molar with a huge hole in it, that I know for a fact cannot be saved based on my own experience, but because baby root canal is covered they have to throw in something that isn't like $180 for my daughter to laugh? Dentist said it was to keep her from having a bad experience? I'm having a bad experience! You cant just numb her, pull it, and put a spacer in? You wanna do a root canal and a silver metal cap to last what... 2 months? I only chose Western Dental for their evening and weekend hours. I have to wait until next year's open enrollment for my family to see a dentist. I refuse and rebuke Western Dental.

Anyway, I had had a cleaning and check-up just six months previously. My primary-care dentist then, who was also a periodontist, mentioned nothing about any of these supposed problems. In fact, he complimented me on the health of my gums and told me he could tell I flossed every day just by looking at them. Needless to say, when WD's dentist told me about all the work I supposedly needed done, BS alarms immediately started going off. I ran, not walked, out of that clinic and to a family member's dentist for a second opinion, a dentist she's been with for over ten years and who Is highly rated on both Google and Yelp, a dentist I trust implicitly.

That dentist told me my teeth were in fine shape, and to go back to my old dentist because WD sounded like a bunch of crooks to him -- which I'm doing. P.S. When you go into WD as a first-time patient, they make you sign a release promising not to sue them if something goes wrong. That right there speaks volumes. Google "Western Dental lawsuit." Caveat emptor.

I was told I needed a bone graft but I had just had a CT scan with contrast done at the emergency room 24 hrs before and there was no bone loss that could justify that. I asked to be shown why I needed a bone graft and all I received was more double talk. I was told the dentist was not willing to do this simple extraction without the bone graft. Even though my health depended on removing this infected tooth as soon as possible.

I felt taken advantage of when I was desperate and in need of emergency treatment. They wasted my time when I had no time to waste. I did not feel that the patient's well being is their top priority. I felt that their only interest was to get as much of my money as possible for what was a simple extraction. I should've listened to the myriad reviews that indicate this is how Western Dental operates.

When I went to call to get things corrected; they would ignore my calls. Western Dental in Palm Springs and Cathedral City both took payments out of my account on the same day. They then said I was overdue on payments and charged me $25.00 late fee. I had to get bank statements to show them that two payments were taken out of my account. They still continued to say that I was overdue and turned me over to collections. How can this happen when you have access to remove funds from my account when they are due. I then had an emergency call for a broken bracket and they told me bring my son in to repaired, but once there they would not take him in.

I just got another call yesterday saying the lab had to have another impression just after having an impression taken not but a few days ago. We then proceeded to wait hours for another impression to be taken for the second time. Once we were able to go in the back room to take the impression the dental assistant did not want me to stay with my son, and told me to leave the room. I refused to leave because of the many ordeals of them not doing the correct treatment plan. I watched as the dental assistant blamed my son for not doing the impression correctly after the third time. The dental assistant did not know how to do impressions correctly and was told by the dentist she did not know what she was doing. I am very sorry I ever had braces put on my son through Western Dental. I just an awful place to get your child treated!

When I finally was able to schedule, they made me wait almost 2 hours even though I arrived on time. The dentist, Kang **, screamed at me to trust him, then after working on my root canal for 1 hour, said he couldn't finish, needed to acquire "another tool" and to schedule me to come back! My face is swollen like a balloon, and excruciatingly painful. I pray the next dentist can fix this problem as I am afraid he damaged my jawbone.

Then I try to call Farmers Lane, Fabiola ** the business manager and she would never return my calls. Absolutely the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my 55 years. I urge you, stay away from this company like the plague, because if you have a billing dispute or question they will never resolve it. Dealing with Western Dental was the worst company I have ever dealt with in my life.

Skip ahead 2 1/2 months and we get a call from their collections department saying we needed to pay $955 immediately and were late. Um WHAT!?! Not only did they charge my husband for work he had already paid for according to the contract they didn't even tell him and it went straight to collections. We then received a bill in the mail. So husband goes to office and talks to office manager Stephanie and she tells him that no he doesn't owe anything. After weeks of her saying she would take care of it, many phone calls to corporate and collections they have decided that we owe them for the hard reline. So they have lost the business of 5 family members because they decided to be sketchy and double charge us. AND the dentures suck anyway!

Don't even get me started on $$$ -- $50 is $50 and got my large amount back by calling the MAIN office daily, oooppss --- think you forgot that $50 on some denture appliance when I didn't get work done. I have complained to their customer service dept., management in O.C. and any where I can on-line. READ, I am telling you, do NOT rush, READ --- and have explanation about EVERYTHING from beginning to end. They will curve ball you! Believe that.

Instead, they offered me a prescription for pain meds, which I turned down. So... before my next appointment, I called to clarify what we were going to do during the appointment, which was to pull the remnant of the broken tooth. During the call, we discussed the implants, and I made it clear that I wouldn't want to do that until the following spring. Somehow, the cost of the procedure came up, and the receptionist mentioned a price of OVER $7,500. I said "WHAT? That was not the price we'd agreed upon!" And she said that I could discuss it with the dentist when I came in. I decided to go in, just to get the tooth pulled, and figured that I would work out the details after I did that. So I went in, waiting an hour and a half before being led to the dental chair, where I finished 5 chapters of the Grisham book I was reading before the dentist finally came in.

He began talking about the implant surgery, I told him that on this day I was simply getting my tooth pulled, at which time he told me that I would have to work that out with the managing dentist. I asked to speak to him and was informed that he would not be in that week, and that I needed to make another appointment. I told him I wouldn't be coming back, that they had wasted enough of my time. I know that most people who have bad experiences with Western Dental don't leave a review, and that is how they are able to continue doing this to people. For me, I was just researching implant costs, and came across this site, and realizing that, I decided to leave my own review.

Reading through some of these, I now realize that I need to find out exactly what they have charged my insurance, because until reading this, I just assumed it was office visits. Also that before getting expensive treatment, I really need to read the reviews of considerate people who are trying to warn their fellow humans. Because, again, for every review left, there are probably thousands of bad experiences. Good luck, my fellow humans.

I didn't want another bill and requested that they bill my card for all services and then I would pay my card company back. The receptionist then advised that all services would be triple if I didn't sign up for their plan! Also they would triple the consultation, examination, and x-ray charges and triple the charge for whatever work was done to my aching tooth! Does this sound like a company that cares about people? Sounds like they're chasing the almighty buck! I'm not in pain to the point where I will allow them to scam me with their in house insurance policy. And how in the world can they triple the cost of items that they said were free? Needless to say, I won't be crossing their threshold again! ** and ** here I come!

When I returned for my scheduled appointment the Dentist Dr. ** told me my insurance decided they were not going to cover a crown because the tooth was not in bad enough shape, so a crown isn't necessary. THEN IF IT'S NOT IN BAD SHAPE WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A ROOT CANAL?? Why couldn't they just do a filling? I had no problems with the tooth before. No pain. Anyway, I called today to check status of approval for crown they keep having me return for. To avoid going in a fifth time for nothing. It was of course still not approved. So I told the rude, rude lady over the phone I was going to file appeal with Medi-Cal. She said "so do you want me to schedule you another appointment to come in or not". When I tried explaining to her that I needed to appeal Medi-Cal she kept talking over me repeatedly asking "do you want me to make the appointment or not"?

Finally I asked her if she would just listen to me for a minute so I could explain something, she responded with "so you don't need me to make you an appointment right"? What I was trying to ask her is about my maximum yearly limit on my insurance because I went in over a month ago (one of those appointments that were basically just to be told they still didn't have approval). They gave me a paper listing procedures and the cost/amount they were billing Medi-Cal for. On this paper is xrays- THEY ABSOLUTELY DID NOT DO ANY KIND OF XRAY OR ANYTHING ON THIS DAY! But they charged for it. Also they had a charge for an exam of some kind-there positively no exam of any kind done on this day either! But they did charge my insurance for that also. I'm only concerned because what if that's part of the reason my crown is now denied? Maybe Western Dental has charged up maximum benefits allowed for this year.

I have in the past 4 years been told many of the same stories. Doing unnecessary procedures to bill the government at the cost of $50,000.00. Well that's what one of the bills I seen was. They don't even attempt to match your dentures to fit. They don't tell you your jaw will shrink which the dentures will no longer be able to seal to. So ones on top that look hideous and not able to wear the bottom ones for $50,000.00. All I needed was a couple thousand dollars which I would have eventually gotten. Now it's going to take $56,000.00 to get implants.

They have been deceiving the people who receive government assistance for years milking the system. I use to be very outgoing. A people person. Now I rarely go anywhere. They've made me miss out on a very good life. I've become depressed enough to seek out mental health help just to survive. I feel like I'm grieving every day. They need to be stopped and be held accountable for all the damage they've caused the many people they have scammed.

My last attempt to resolve this problem was March 30, 2018. I was told again that the manager was not in and if I did not hear from them by 10:30 that day, to call back again, which did and was placed on hold for some 3-4 minutes and the phone went dead, that I contacted Attorney General’s office. I contacted the State of California Department of Justice, Attorney General office on March 2, 2018 of which, they just got back to me and is in the process of contacting Western Dental. I highly recommend, anyone having problems with Western Dental that they contact the Attorney General Office here in California. The contact information is: https://oag.ca.gov/ and file a complaint. I personally think, a class action lawsuit is appropriate.

My daughter was in a lot of pain, so I called my wife and she and myself were very upset. I called their corporate number while I was there and they were upset and called the office where I was at. They said that they would try to get my daughter seen to at least to give her some pain killers or something to help her with the pain. The receptionist said that my wife was being aggressive, and she wasn't, but my wife was basically just trying to get my daughter the help that she needed. The receptionist called the police on my wife and when they arrived, they told her they are refusing her service and had her escorted out of the dentist office.

Well my plan of the day was to get my daughter some help, that's why I made the appointment. It just sucks that Western Dental can just make you feel like a number and let my daughter leave there in pain. I did end up taking to urgent care at Kaiser and they prescribed her some **. And I did manage to get her seen by a different dentist. I have been going to Western Dental for many years and will not return.

An estimate was brought to me for extraction of four teeth for 460$ to be billed to Medical under chart no. **. At the time the doctor proceeds with the numbing of gums and extraction. I am told that they will also place four bone grafts at the same time of doing this procedure of extraction of the four teeth, only that the bone grafts are not covered by Medical and have to be paid separately. I am already in the chair and the doctor is already in process to extract first two teeth. I am telling her that I was not told anything nor given any additional estimate for such. From front desk comes a miss ** with a calculation of 1,700$ for the four bone grafts (425$ for each) and an extra 33$ to have them financed thru Western Dental, a total new calculation of 1,733$.

I am told that I either have to pay in full for the bone graft I was never quoted nor informed or apply for financing thru Western Dental. I ask who is giving the financing, I am told that is Western Dental and same Mrs. ** proceeds to open on their computer a screen where she starts imputing my informations. I state to her that I consider making payments over the next 12 months but I want statements sent at home. She says yes, but we just need a debit card to have on file to be able to get this financing approved by the office. I make very clear that I do not want any payments deducted from my debit card nor wish to have Autopay, I wish to receive statements and reiterate again the fact that I was not informed of bone grafts to be placed at same time with the extraction until the doctor started to work on my teeth. She says that they will remove the card number immediately from the file after financing is approved.

She brings me paperwork back and a receipt for 200$ they just debited from my debit card ending in 8147 and a new chart, additional one it is created for the bone grafts being "Financed" by Western Dental, chart no. **. Receipt says Sale, Order ID **, Amount 200$, shows last 4 digits of card ** and was created at 5.09.23 PM on May 16th 2018 with Ref.no. ** and Auth. Code **. As I see such I get up from the chair and go to the front desk where I speak with the manager that is wearing a name tag ** and ask her to cancel everything in regards of financing the bone grafts as I have never agreed to charges to my debit card and for my debit card to be on AutoPay and be debited. Manager refuses to remove the card from the file, I request again cancellation of all regarding any placing of four bone grafts.

Dr. ** comes after me asking to return to dentist chair so she will finish extractions, I tell her I do not want bone grafts and she says she will not put any. After extraction of teeth is finished my gum is sown and I go immediately at front desk to request the money to be put back on my card. They did not use my debit card at the terminal where they take co-pays, the card no. ending on ** was put on their computer on their Pay system.

Manager ** writes an e-mail to supposedly Western Dental Headquarters to have the 200$ reversed back to my card but refuses to give me a print-out with the reference number and tells me to call HQ and obtain it at ph.1-800-4174444 next day. In same time I am on the phone with my bank at 7.38 PM and tell them of unauthorized use of card to be billed at and input in Autopay and the bank is asking for the reference number from the manager of Western Dental office - she refuses to speak with the bank representative.

At that moment in time manager ** goes ahead and cancels the finance contract and chart no.** for the bone grafts. It is 7.45 pm, I am leaving the office at 2626 Mission St., San Francisco of Western Dental. In same evening of May 16th 2018 at 9.15 PM I file a dispute thru Citibank dispute dept., ref.** in regards of the 200$ debited and my card being placed on an Autopay system without my permission by the staff at 2626 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110, Next day in the morning of May 17th 2018 I call Western Dental at ph.no. I find as 888-8793290 - the one provided by Manager ** ph.1-800-4174444 does not connect at all - and thru Customer Service I get to speak with Mrs. ** at Billing Department.

I give her my name and date of birth and phone no. and she is not able at all to open the chart no. ** created for the financing contract for bone grafts and before speaking to her Customer Service also has a hard time finding my informations in their system under the initial chart no. ** created for the extraction of the four teeth. They cannot do anything to proceed to put back the money on my debit card and keep connecting me to the local office at 2626 Mission St. San Francisco.

Three times I go this route and wait for more than 20 min. each time to speak to the manager **. She does not pick up any of the calls. I end up going to the office at 2626 Mission St. San Francisco in person and request to speak with the manager as directed by Western Dental HQ three times before. Finally I get Customer Service on the phone again and Mrs. ** at ext. ** places me on hold and phone calls the local office and speaks with the Manager **. At that time supposedly per Customer Service the manager is trying to void the transaction from the previous day that they processed on my card ending in ** but they cannot do that anymore as amount already debited on my account., Customer Service Mrs. ** says that Manager ** will contact the Refund Dept. of Western Dental to request a refund.

The manager of local office does not do anything and does not provide me with anything to reflect payment being reversed back to my card. After another approx. 1h of asking the staff to call the manager to speak with me I tell them that I am going to the local police station to file a police report. The manager brings me a paper of Western Dental with Ref.no ** created at 12.54 pm by her, with my name written wrong on it as last name, by one letter. In the same time Customer Service is telling me that they do not have my debit card in the file anymore as the finance contract chart ** is already deleted from their system. I ask both the Customer Service Mrs. ** and in the same time the manager of the local office how would the money be put back on my card and bank account if there is no more card in the system and also point of the fact that on the paper I just received.

Now my name is written wrong by the local office Manager **. Takes another 30 min approx. for the Manager ** to issue another paper with Ref.no ** that has this time my name written correctly, but none of the two papers issued as the local office request for refund of my 200$ have mentioned on it my card no. or its last 4 digits, it is mentioned " Request Phase: Created and Credit Card: Yes". I ask again how many days it will take for the money to be posted back to my card and bank account. I am told 1-4 business days, then 14 business days, then 5 to 10 business days, by three different employees at front desk at local office 2626 Mission St., San Francisco.

At this moment in time show up two police officers from SFPD, badge no. ** - officer ** and ** - officer ** that were called by the local office manager from the nearby station Mission Police Station ph.415-5585400 asking me to leave premises of the office. I go outside with police officers and explain in detail what has happened to me and what the office has actually done using deceptive practice to try to get me to agree to the bone grafts.

At the same time the dentist was already working on the extractions and using my card info. to get a finance contract approved for such without me previously agreeing to such and by misleading me that I will receive statements and then actually them charging the 200$ to my card ending in 8147 that they have inputted in their system and that I am trying to have this charge reversed and that the headquarters does not have any notes placed by the manager the previous evening for a refund and that was them the headquarters who prompted me to speak with the local office and when three times I could not do that when they transferred me I came in person at the office.

The police officers tell me to go immediately to my bank with the receipt of the debit of the 200$ I was given the previous evening on May 16th 2018 by this office and with the papers that show the ref.no. ** on my correct name written by the local manager ** of the office of 2626 Mission St. SanFrancisco of Western Dental and they take a police report from me, case no. **, taken by officer ** with badge no. ** and to request to my bank to help me get the 200$ back and to sue the office of Western Dental but not to come to the office anymore at 2626 Mission St., San Francisco.

I leave after filling the report with the two police officers and I go straight to the branch of my bank where I speak with the branch manager and explain him the situation and give him the copies of the original receipt created by this local office of Western Dental when they debited ny card on May 16th 2018 at 5.09.23 PM and with the two copies of the ref.no.created by the Manager **, first one Ref.no. ** with my name spelled wrong by the manager ** and the second one ** with my name spelled correctly.

The bank manager looks up in the bank's computer and sees the reference no. from me calling the bank the previous evening and the Dispute Dpt. of the bank creating a dispute upon the debit of the account thru my debit card, ref.no of the bank for dispute ** and says that if the money are not being posted back to my account by Western Dental Refund Dept. my bank will file fraud charges. I call the Dispute Dept. of my bank after I reach home and I give them the ref.no provided by the Manager ** on my corrected name ** and they say they will submit this to the bank to be investigated and my money to be returned.

I call back the customer service no. of Western Dental to try to get in contact with somebody from management to give them the dispute no. from my bank and to ask the status of the refund, person at customer service places me on hold, calls the local office, is being told that a request was supposedly placed by the office manager and refuses to connect me further with anybody at the Refund Dept. of Western Dental or with any manager at Billing Dept. The Refund Dept. of Western Dental at HQ does not have a direct number and cannot be reached by a customer of Western Dental Directly, the number for Customer Service is 888-8793290 found by me and the number for the Billing Dept.at Western Dental HQ is 1-800-3263254 as provided to me by Customer Service I first spoken to on May 16th 2018.

I wish I would have read these reviews sooner than today upon the deceptive practices of the Western Dental, as from them I see it happened to many people in many locations so it is a practice they have into trying to get people to agree to finance procedures not previously described to them and to which they did not agree, just at the moment when dental work it is done to them, then their card informations are obtained and their cards are being debited without their permission and the local offices of Western Dental do this and the corporate office does not do anything to assist people that are ripped off thru this methods to receive their money.

In my situation if the money 200$ that Western Dental debited without my permission and used my card to create an Autopay under the chart ** for the financing of bone grafts without my permission are not posted back to my card ending in ** by tomorrow my bank and myself will file fraud charges against the Western Dental HQ and local office at 2626 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110.

After she was done she then said, "We need to get sealant on her teeth." I said ok, and we again waited another hour before they came to do the sealant. Why does it take so long to do something so simple? And why can't a dentist do a filling? She's a dentist, it should have been done. When I asked why it was taking so long and explained I have another child getting home from school soon, and I live 30 minutes away they didn't seem to care. This place is worthless and we WILL NOT be coming back. It's ridiculous. People who came in after us were seen and done before us. Is it because they are minorities and everyone here working is minority? Go figure.

Please don’t go to Western Dental! There are so many horror stories dealing with them I can’t believe they are still in business! I wish I had known this before my mama went and got her tooth pulled. Oh get this. I was waiting over an hour to speak to the manager who I called two days ago and she said she’d call me back that same day and nothing from them... so I called and waited and waited... and still nothing... Please share this so other people do not have to go through this.

No matter how I explained I paid this debt, they insisted I did not! The rep put me on hold saying he was going to call the local office. He came back on and said "they said you did not pay the debt!" I flipped out and hung up! I drove across town to the office and saw the manager who said I have a $0. balance, because it was paid the same day. She assured me it was cleared out. Then the harassing calls kept coming and they are getting nastier and nastier. I got one such call and asked for a supervisor who said, "Ma'am, it shows the $483.00 was paid on Dec 9th 2017." But they tried to run a charge of $9.91 in early Jan. I asked for what? I never set foot in there after they did my tooth and then a few days after to deal with the billing fiasco. He told he would submit the $9.91 bill to be audited and that should clear it up. Now here we are again today Friday Feb 2nd 2018.

More calls and a letter in the mail that I owe this money to which they added late fees, bringing it up to $508.00. I don't owe these people. I paid my bill. I am at my wit's end. I do not know what else to do. I know I am not paying a debt I already paid! You cannot speak to these people, you cannot reason with them. I have severe health issues. Two of which are uncontrollable asthma and recently diagnosed with lupus. I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone with them. Do not go to Western Dental if you could help it!

I couldn't believe it, I told her I absolutely could not afford braces at this time. She got me to sign paper work for $120.00 month payments. Again I told them I was upset 'cause I could not afford them. Now they won't work on my daughter. They the braces on and the billing has gone to collections. My daughter's teeth are worse now. The braces were put on in April last yr and was seen about 5 times. I tried my best to make payments but could not afford it. I talked to the newly appointed manager and told him what happened. He said he would take care of it. I said I just want this taken care of or I would be taking them to court. He said he would waive all late payment and interest and asked what I could afford. Again I said I could not afford anything.

The next appt I went to they refused to work on her until I made a payment. I told them I want them removed and I'm taking them to court. The next appt we went in offered $100.00 to take the braces off. They refused and denied us service. I will be getting an attorney and taking them to court. This was illegal and absolutely unacceptable business. To this day I had never even seen the orthodontist only the receptionist who is at fault for everything and manager one time. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILD TO WESTERN DENTAL OF ESCONDIDO. Worst ever!!!

Two days ago, I went to Western Dental & Orthodontics for the last time. My appointment was to have a tooth pulled. I was and am still in extreme pain. While there, the dentist told me that the oral surgeon would be there tomorrow and for me to come back then. I had to wait close to one and a half hours, in a room with 2 screaming toddlers and a tv blasting cartoons. All of that, combined with severe pain, caused me to have a panic attack. The employees kept asking me why I was shaking and I told them that I have a condition called familial tremors and it is being exacerbated by my pain and the long, uncomfortable wait in the waiting room. Also, I had gotten hungry. They could not get me out of there fast enough.

Not one person in that clinic showed one bit of compassion or asked if there was anything they could do to help me. Just lying down in a dimly lit or dark room would have greatly lessened my problem. Not one person cared about my well-being. The dentist asked me if I took medications and when I mentioned getting injections in my spine she told me that the steroidal injections would cause too many problems with a tooth extraction. She never asked me anything about taking aspirin or drinking alcohol. It was obvious she wanted me out of there. Their cold and uncaring treatment in addition to my bad toothache only exacerbated the symptoms of my panic attack and familial tremors. They took my blood pressure a couple of times and then told me that they could not help me because my blood pressure was high.

With what was going on, it could not have been normal. A young man then came in and gave me a sheet of paper. He told me that they could not help me until I saw my medical doctor and had them fill out one of their forms. He told me that I could have a stroke or start bleeding out of control if they did any procedures on me and they could not take that risk. Apparently my panic attack and familial tremors seemed too serious for them to help me get the underlying problem under control. That problem was a severe toothache. From the way they treated me, it was obvious that if I had been a person with a serious health issue, they would run me out of their facility, just like they did two days ago.

They did not do anything or suggest anything for me to do that would help lessen the pain. They expected me to continue to endure the pain, make an appointment then see my regular physician, make another appointment with them, drive the 15+ miles to their clinic and on the return home, sit in that waiting room for 1 plus hours. My wait at my previous appointment was more than 2 hours and then risk a dentist not being there who can pull my tooth and me having another panic and them refusing to help me again.

I am a 61 year old retired Clinical Laboratory Scientist. I do not drink or smoke and I take very good care of myself. It is hard for me to believe that I was more of a health risk than many of the patients they work on. If they had only cared enough to give me a few minutes in a relaxing situation as opposed to making me more miserable, they could have easily extracted the tooth. I did not care to have a general anesthetic. The tooth was already very loose. At every facility where I worked, if any employee acted as rude, uncaring and unprofessional as the people at that clinic, they would have been fired the first day.

After submitting my writeup on Consumer Affairs, I kept thinking that the people at Western Dental and Orthodontics treated me like I was a drunk nuisance. I am still shocked that they would treat a person in pain so cruelly when they were the people who should have been the most capable of dissipating the terrible toothache. Dentists are highly trained medical professionals and for her to turn her back on me when I desperately needed her help was incomprehensible. Maybe they did not know what it was like for a person to have a panic attack and maybe they did not know what hereditary familial tremors were; but, they should NEVER have turned their back on me while I was in such a state of distress.

Now I should have done my research before making the decision in having what I thought was going to be a good experience at the dentist office. When I on August 12, 2017, I paid $1141 for half of the root canal because that is what they said was going to be happening that day, but like an hour or so through the root canal going through extreme pain I have never experienced before and assumed the dentist would be gentle says to me, “the tooth must come out, you have too much calcium built up around the tooth.”

I was in extreme pain, crying from all the pulling he was doing and then says that to me while some just looked at me with no empathy for what he was doing to my mouth. Looking at me, a grown adult crying after an hour of my mouth opened wide, staying in that position, jaw hurting, pulling at me, hurting my mouth and trying to get the tooth out, tears flowing down my face, goes and tells me that “oh no we can’t do a root canal, we must do an extraction of the tooth,” which they told me was no charge for the extraction because my insurance paid for it.

The only thing I paid for that day was the bone replacement graph which was $420.00 dollars. They put a temporary in, took an impression of the tooth, but never received my permanent bridge because of all the problems I have had since day that day on August 12, 2017. I have had more problems since they took the tooth out then when I first came into that office for an exam on August 5, 2017. It has been a nightmare for me.

The temporary tooth broke after putting it in on August 12, 2017 and I spent another 4 hours on August 16, 2017 in the office waiting to fix it but that didn’t work either because the temporary broke again and I had to miss work, with no pay and go in on August 18, 2017 and spent another 4 hours trying to fix the problem. During all this time telling me I owe them $2300 for the other ½ of the money for the work with the permanent bridge they planned to put in my mouth on September 23, 2017 which never happened because I cancelled it all, yet I paid $1141.00 that I feel I should get back. Their main office has harassed me by calling me and telling me that I owe this money and that it will go to collections as well as go on my credit report (which now it is on there) before they could do anything else for me.

The temporary tooth broke once again and I went back in the office on August 25, 2017 to collect paperwork and they told me that I owed them the rest of the money by September 2, 2017 and I told them I didn’t have that kind of money and they explained to me that they would do a set up plan and would need my card and I told them no way will that happen. I told them that I was not paying because I am not happy with what they have done and that they haven’t really done anything for my mouth except leave my mouth in distress, which I am unable to chew on my right side, hurt beyond belief and that my temporary broke again. I cancelled all services with them and I told them I will not pay for this because you have done absolutely nothing for me. You quickly get me to sign for payment and that you are only about getting your money, yet you have done nothing to help the patient.

I called my insurance on Monday, September 11, 2017 appalled with everything that has been going on and filed a complaint with them against Western Dental, 19071 Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley, CA and they told me after I explained to them about what happened to me and that they ruined my mouth and how afraid I am to go to the dentist, they suggested that I need to file a complaint with the Dental Board to see if I can get my $1141.00 back from them. I did file a complaint with the Dental Board, but they did absolutely nothing for me. Now I am embarrassed to smile because of what they did to my mouth.

They continue to harass me for the money they say I owe them, YET they refuse to fix the problem they left in my mouth. They pulled my tooth, left one of my teeth down to the bare minimum to have some crown that never got put in there or any permanent bridge that is suppose to be in replacement of where I have no teeth that they took out. It is embarrassing and I fear the dentist because of what they did. They just want their money, yet they haven't taken care if mouth.

I paid 150.00 towards my total balance with my debit card. They were suppose to set up 2 installments for October and November but failed to then they charged me 25.00 late fee for a mistake they made. Payments were made and paid in full November 5, 2017. The remainder went on Care Credit. I requested my 150.00 debit/cash back and they refused. Said it never happened. Just the worst most embarrassing company. I had to talk to several people to get someone to find my 150.00 Credit. I had my copy. They still wouldn’t give me it back and said it went toward the product I had returned. I got my bank involved and they gave me the 150.00 Credit. Bank of America thank you. Finally matter was resolved and my bank sent me the letter in November all is resolved. Maria from Corporate called and said case closed. Finished.

Well in November I received another bill for 225.00. Late fee of 25.00 is still on there that initially they removed due to their error in October being they never set up automatic deduction. I sent it back saying I paid off my part and returned product case closed. Now I just received another bill something but also stating I’m 75 days past due. This is by far the worst Accounting/Billing Department and Organization ever. They won’t let up. No one knows what they are doing there. I told them this better not be affecting my credit and they need to fix this immediately. This Company has horrible reviews same type of stuff trying to scam people out of their money. They owe me an apology for harassing me for months. They get negative stars. I wouldn’t use their payment plan or visit them. It’s not worth it.

I went in. Everything looks nice and clean, checked. Then I show them the result I've gotten from the dentist I went before that, I have done the exam just need the cleaning part and do the 2 fillings if possible (to save unnecessary work but they said they need their own exam... Okay, makes sense). So the exam-done, then the dentist and her assistant came and check my gum with the code 5-4-3... Then left. Leave the assistant who started to explain about the numbers they were testing to me and told me I have to get the treatment which cost me $1,800 with the payment option like $78/month for 24 months! I asked why can't I just get the cleaning? She said just regular cleaning will make it worse!! So I gave up not getting my cleaning done like I suppose to. Oh they also told me I don't have cavity??? (I might have to find just the regular dentist (not fancy) to make sure what is happening in my mouth.)

From my lifetime seeing dentist every 6 months for my checkup since I was young, I've never had this kind of confused experience. I left with the big question mark in my face that "can they do that?" Refused to do the basic checkup if I'm not interested in what they're selling. (Oh they try to sell you braces too but I already had it done.) Not a good day.

We then were taken back into an office to have a girl that barely spoke English try and tell us we would need to pay $7200+ for his two year braces experience. Huh? So, I tell them that this is outrageous and to give me a breakdown. This lady tells me it's for clear braces, which we don't need or want but apparently that is not our choice anymore??? She continues to tell me that they are now charging a 9% interest rate. lol. WOW... ** experience to begin with and now they are taking advantage. After I said, "No thank you to this rip off of a place", I did the research to find that there are places out there with good orthodontists that don't make you give a down payment. Please parents do the research and get multiple opinions if need be. Don't let this crap of a place take all your money.

I returned to Western Dental on October 30th to see if I could get an emergency appointment because the pain had returned and it was worse. I also asked the receptionist for a complete list of everything I needed done and the codes so that I could cross reference the coverage with Delta Dental. I spoke with my insurance company and they informed me that the extractions were covered but the bone grafts were not. I had no idea what a bone graft was. I was able to get an appointment to be seen by Dr ** that same day. She didn't examine me or anything however she did look at the xray. Dr ** says to me the teeth need to come out. I said ok and told her I agreed. I told her that Mark told me the last time that I was there that it was gonna be $990 and I didn't have that also that I didn't understand why the charge was so high if Delta covered the extractions.

Dr ** says, "Yes but you NEED a bone graft" (and she kept pressing the issue and telling me that I NEEDED the grafts) still with no explanation to what this is or what it's for. Next I spoke with Mark once again and he again told me I NEEDED the grafts and again they couldn't do the procedure without a deposit or full payment. I agreed to make a deposit (which the money came out of my rent money). The day of the procedure a lady (I guess she was from billing) takes my payment and I explain to her I still don't know what a bone graft is, why I need it and what the process is for such a thing. She tells me that she will have the dentist speak with me to explain it.

Dr ** never comes to explain so at this point I am getting agitated because I still know nothing. Finally Darlene explains it to me after it was already too late and she informs me that bone grafting is an optional procedure. Now I'm confused because Dr ** and Mark both told me that I indeed NEEDED bone grafts. At this point it's already too late because I've already made a deposit because I was misinformed. I had the opportunity to speak with 2 different dentist and 3 different oral surgeons outside of Western Dental that told me there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR BONE GRAFTS ON WISDOM TEETH, THEY ALL have said that first I should had been informed about what it actually was and what it was for. They informed me that they only suggest bone grafting for visible teeth or for future implants but you will never get a wisdom tooth implant so there was no need.

Now my bottom gum line has no bone left to hold on a full denture, so I need bone graphs and implants that my insurance won't cover. I feel Western Dental’s neglect owes me my smile back they were suppose to give me 9 years ago. I do not have $6000 they wanna charge me to get my top and bottom dentures. Who do I contact to ensure they do the work they owe even though 9 years have passed. This place needs looked into, new staff but same business practices. THEY CAN’T PRACTICE like they do and get away with screwing people over.

The dentist says to me that my teeth are good, but my gums aren't so much. I later learned that the normal values are 2-3 for that test. She mentions that the assistant will go over the financials and says once done "hopefully" we could start the treatment. The assistant says to me that I have very good insurance and this procedure the dentist prescribed to me was going to be $570. $570!!! So was needed this procedure that wasn't covered by my insurance. I was completely caught off guard. The assistant then starts trying to sell me their credit line that way I could pay it off monthly. I still was having doubts. She then shows me this video on this small tablet about my condition. I asked about this type of cleaning and what different was it compared to a regular cleaning. The assistant mentions this type cleaning is halfway between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning.

As soon as the assistant mentioned "deep cleaning" I got a little worried and caved in. She then starts generating the bill. It included an electric toothbrush. I questioned about since I already have one. She then took it off the bill and it went down to $440. WTF. I was about to get charged for something I didn't need. I was then transferred to another chair for the cleaning. I waited another 20 minutes before a different dentist and a different assistant came in and did the actual cleaning. Apart from the additional medicine they added on my teeth in the end it seemed like a regular cleaning.

I left after it was all done and will not return to this place. Thinking back it felt like they used a lot of salesmen tactics. The assistant saying it costed her $2300 vs what I would pay $570. Trying to soften the charges by saying I could set up a monthly plan. Trying to include a $120 electric toothbrush without asking if I needed one. There were things that took place that really doesn't make sense. Why was the assistant doing the selling and convincing that I needed this procedure and not the dentist? Why did the dentist that prescribed this procedure was not actually the one doing the procedure? I am very unhappy about my experience with Western Dental and will not return.

I have tried calling the Finance person and it's going on a week now since my first visit and have yet to settle on a cheaper option... I know that there's a $300 option for a much less aesthetically appearance but I am willing to take that option just to get rid of the pain I have 24/7... Wish me luck because I am going to keep trying... IDK why... This is a farce. I guess it's time to seek someone else's services...

They told me I had to go sign a form at the local office which I did immediately. The bills stopped for about 3 weeks and then they started to arrive again now with late charges. Currently, 7 months later and having gone to their local office to talk to their manager numerous times, the bills and harassing collections calls are continuing. Western Dental even charged my dental insurance for work that has not been completed. Also, I’m convinced there are no supervisors at their corporate office because every customer service person only transfers you to a full voicemail box which won’t accept messages. I’m ready to start seeking legal advice. Do yourself a favor and don’t ever use Western Dental. Bad dental work and even worse customer service.

Fast forward 10/11/17 have been told by corporate that they can't resolve until they speak to office manager. 29 phone calls to office manager, she will not take my calls or return calls. I'm stuck between both passing the buck and found out today that they are claiming I never returned the partials. I never thought to get a receipt as I assumed this was a reputable company.

I have spoken to three supervisors at customer service promising to call the office manager and get back to me. They haven't turned my calls. Customer service needs to be restructured as no one is accountable for the unfair business practices. I've had CPE tracers enacted and their claims refund line is a message line. No one ever calls you back regarding your concerns. I have called the IRL line and transferred so many times. They have lied to me, tricked me into thinking the claim was in the mail and now saying I can't get my refund. How do I prove I returned the unusable teeth? Help!

Well, I have insurance now and went to my regular dentist... and yay! I need it to be completely redone. There is still major infection in the tooth area. (x-ray shows way more infection than last year.) I knew something was wrong and called Western Dental and went back and they assured me that everything was okay. Obviously it isn't OK, gum is responding badly to whatever metal and there is a major I that could have been prevented of they would have done the root canal correctly to begin with. I will be calling Western Dental... but I think I should get some kind of reimbursement!! I feel like I was taken advantage of because I was in so much pain. I would have agreed to do anything to stop it. NOT OK.

Then he said that she would need braces back on again. Western Dental charge me another $3,000 fee to have my daughter get braces put back on again because the first braces didn't work. The dentist did not want to charge me. He thought that I should not be charged again but the office that takes care of all payments and paperwork would not go for it and wanted me to pay again. So I got her braces put back, for another fee so I had to pay another $3,000 for 6 more months of braces. Sucks. Western Dental does nothing to work with its customers.

It had been cutting into my mouth and bleeding would occur. Now from not having them over a year, my teeth where pulled have grown in weird and I have lumps inside my cheek that interfere with biting. The worst place ever... Everyone I think is just out of school and you are being experimented with. Very sad for people not knowing and children especially at young ages not getting proper care. I can't get my son to go back. Too painful.

I expressed my alarming symptoms to the dentist which included a sudden severe migraine-like pain in the back of my head, pounding heart and tremors. He asked the nurse to take my blood pressure. It was 200. I was told by the nurse to "just relax in the chair for a while." I was in full crises mode and was not given any oral drug whatsoever to counter this often deadly or debilitating occurrence. Instead the nurse was told to check my blood pressure again in a little while. I was left in the cubicle in extreme distress.

It was by the grace of God these symptoms lessened over the next 40 minutes and I was able to exit the office. I contacted my physician immediately. She was appalled and expressed that responsible action by the attending dentist should have been exercised immediately. In the strongest terms I would urge anyone to find another Dental Group other than Western Dental and in particular the Santa Maria office. To bring a child there or an elderly person should be unthinkable. No one should ever experience such suffering at the hands of their dentist. For me personally it could have been a matter of life or death.

Of course I called them and they explained that my insurance did not pay them therefore, I need to pay. I got all the info and then proceeded to call my insurance. My insurance told me that Western Dental were NOT to charge me for some things they were charging. Well my bill came down to $333, according to my insurance. I called Western Dental back and explained the situation. Of course they had to adjust the price but they still charge me $3.85 for a Hallow tip brush and $3.85 for a short tip brushed used in my regular cleaning... Insane. Final outcome: from $520.40 down to $340.70 but my insurance had said $333.

DON'T BELIEVE WHAT WESTERN DENTAL STAFF THEY TELLS YOU. GO BASED ON WHAT YOUR INSURANCE TELLS YOU. It all depends on your type of insurance. They will charge you the toothpaste and mouthwash. Hahaha, no wonder they are growing in clinics. From all the money they charge and they charge the clients much more than what you should pay.

She went on to saying that they have come a long way over the years blah blah blah. I was almost convinced but then I snapped out of it and said I am 43 years old and do not want my teeth pulled out and wear dentures. The dentist seemed disappointed but went on to making a treatment plan that was covered by my insurance. I went back for a lot of appointments mostly for fillings. Well Tuesday night I Iost a pretty big chunk of my filling that left a hole exposed down to the nerve. It hurts bad even when I breathe and air hits it. Besides that I have been having a weird gum thing happening. They are not bleeding but very inflamed and going over my teeth. Very painful. I took 1000 mgs of ** to help put me to sleep but woke up hurting throughout the night... So I called yesterday (May 24th 2017) to make an appointment after being put on hold off and on for over 20 minutes (Because they couldnt find me in the computer).

They came back on to tell me that they are sorry but I am blocked from appointments. I was like WHATT. Blocked from appointments... Why?? They said for debt... I was shocked and didnt understand because I never authorized any treatment not covered by Medi-Cal. I was then transferred to another representative. Was then told that this an old debt in collections from 2005. I asked her why is this happening now. I have been going to ongoing treatment and appointments for 3 years now. She just started to give me another number to call. Being in both pain and confusion I called and it was Western Dental Collections Department I once again was asked my name, birthdate etc and put on hold again for 5-10 minutes. I asked him what is going on. What is this. He told me it's an outstanding debt from 2005 for $538.00 at Oceanside office.

I told him that I dont have any kind of collections on my credit report. I have excellent credit. He interrupted me and said this doesnt show on your credit report so I asked. Well how was I supposed to know about this 12 years later... He said until I pay it I can not be seen at any Western Dental branch. I asked him if this was legal because I know that hospitals don't turn away patients because they owe a bill. He said rudely with a louder voice and tone, "This is NOT a hospital and we can deny anybody services". This is a business and you were provided services so you have to pay.

I just hung up. I didn't want to say something I may (Or may not) regret saying. I suffer from major depression and anxiety disorder so this experience is NOT definitely not good for me. Especially knowing that my 72-year-old grandmother passed away in her sleep from an infection in her mouth from a bad tooth. The infection went to her heart. I am going to put in a call to Medi-Cal to explain my dilemma and try to find another provided dentist because unfortunately, only Western Dental is where we are all sent to go. So I truly hope that Medi-Cal will look into the way we are all treated as patients. In Jesus's mighty name. They will be exposed because They are a non-compassionate, shady business. Thank you for listening and letting me vent. God bless!!

Because the braces is already in the final stage when we went to them July 2016, which actually they dont have plans to stop until I made a second opinion to another orthodontist which advises me to tell Western Dental that it should stop since, and now they are telling to pay the full amount of the contract which 3500 usd for a 8 months treatment of just adjusting the wires. I hope and pray that Western Dental Services should consider what they had told to their patients and not making the excuse that the person who made the contract before is no longer employed in the company. I want to seek legal advice.

I complained to dentist and she tried to get the stains off to no avail. Then they show me this video about an antibiotic called ** which she says dentists use after scaling instead of laser. Well she does this treatment and then I see the detailed bill. $660 for the **. Now I'm getting upset because I do not recall lined items on the bill and I would never have agreed to $660 for an antibiotic! Anyway, I feel screwed because I signed the contract. I truly believe they added the line items after I signed but can't be certain. Anyway, there are so many complaints about this company that they should be shut down for their business practices. Run away from Western Dental!

A little over a week later I get another message saying to call them. Again I'm told, "Just making sure you'll make the appointment." Again I tell them YES! I had to go to the hospital on 4-28 but I rescheduled so I can get this bad tooth out. Today 4-24 I get my third call. I tried for a half an hour to understand them. I couldn't so I asked my friend to listen after 15 min. We think we got the call back number. I get the same man I talked to the first time. Again he doesn't understand why I'm calling.

I told him, "This is the third time you've called me and you don't know why you keep calling me!" Then he says, "Oh here. There is a note. We need to reschedule your appointment!" I asked if he was kidding. "I to go to the hospital but cancelled it to get this rotten tooth out. Now you're telling me you have to reschedule my appointment!" He wants me to come back June 8 to have my tooth out. I told him, "The tooth is making me sick. It's so bad and now you want me to wait 4 months to remove one tooth!!!" He tells me that's the soonest appointment they have! He couldn't understand why I was upset! I hung up and will find another dentist.

Look this Manager is not being held accountable for the Standard of Care, she continually treats patients with discrimination and is very rude and uncaring. I don't think an Office Manager Should be making emergency dental work decisions, let alone have the final decision on which of the 9 ruptured broken teeth should the Oral Surgeon remove. Especially when in my case... all the most painful infected teeth were not approved by this woman. WTH??? This is what they left me with! Old wore out rotten teeth.

I contacted BBB and they chose to accept my complaint. They told me that Western Dental never responded! I have now contacted Senior Service Legal Firms. I will not give up and I will not give in. Western Dental ripped me off big time! They offered me to "appeal" with their appeal department!! I will have no more to do with Western Dental or with any of their departments. They are just too inept. Instead, I will seek legal advice in order to obtain my proper refund. What a rip off!

I got 7 fillings done and haven't been able to eat right since and it's been a year I kept going back to them to tell them to fix it or at least try to fix the situation, but I guess they got tired of me because on my second visit after my work one of the dentist yelled at me and she wasn't even the one who did my work. She tried to tell me I have to come back to see why are my filling causing me sensitivity. She made a appointment for me saying "come back when your insurance starts again." I clearly said I'm not coming back.

Next appointment five days later after seeing my mouth never felt like the pain was decreasing still on pain pills. I trusted the dentist in doing the right thing three temporary crowns insured. All staff had left the office with just a dental assistant to put on the last temporary crown on my molar tooth. I sat there so long waiting. She place the crown on. I left. It broke just as I got home. I called 800 number the Western Dental appt. desk. She sent me back to the same location. The same dental assistant put a second crown on we were leaving together. I watch her turning some of the out the lights. I got home (10 minutes away) drove in the driveway the crown broke again. I called appt. Receptionist center 800 appt. desk she had left yet the receptionist stated to me what are they doing in that office? She said go back. I did just that. She put another temporary crown on the same molder.

Once I got home and closed my mouth the same crown she placed on the same molar it broke so I called her once again. She stated the dental assistant has left for the night to come in the morning be the first appointment in the office. I did that. The dentist arrived after waiting over a hour. I ask the dentist why didn't he say he was leaving me without finishing my services. He walked out without saying anything. I was still alarmed. The other assistant placed a temporary crown on the tooth the next day. My mouth never stopped hurting even after placing the permanent crowns. I go back and get permanently placed crowns inserted. He does impressions for dentures none I'm thinking it's a crown bridge because I had told the dentist I didn't want any more metal.

By this time I am on ** the pain still hasn't stop. My mouth is turning gray inside. Each other day I'm taking pictures with my cell phone. I leave nine days later my mouth is turning black inside. I called the receptionist 800 number. She makes a next day appt. At this time I am on panic mode. I asked the dentist what is going on with my dentist services. At this time the dentist looked in my mouth and I saw the panic look on his face. I started crying and he left me sitting in the examine chair returning with two prescriptions handing me a previous one written on the date I had a tooth pulled and one have the current date. And Ask me why Didn't I take the Voided slip of medicines. I was scared at this point because I just realized they didn't know what's going on. The dentist at this point told me to go to Kaiser Emergency NOW. GO NOW.

The dentist told me I had diabetes that is why your teeth won't heal. He went back to talk with the office manager telling he want a copy of my entire medical records and X-rays. At this time I truly realized how unprofessional the entire staffing were in the front office. I just wanted this to be over. I had no teeth. My mouth is in a serious condition and my insurance is their HMO so now I starting asking about a second opinion and saw that was going to be very difficult. I went to the next appointment because this office makes all your appointments in advanced even the last appt. on the first date of services. The dentist place the temporary dentures in my mouth. I felt like I was going the puke. He started taking pictures and writing taking pictures of both sides of my mouth.

When I open my mouth to tell he the fix was very uncomfortable I couldn't move my tongue. The top area of the denture laid on top of my tongue. I removed the denture to asked him is it supposed to fix where you can't talk? He replied it's only temporary. Now I'm not at anytime being disrespectful and at this point realizing he is just becoming abusive towards me and both my dentist don't like me. And I say both because at one time I thought my second dentist in the office was a dental assistant simply because he didn't do anything without asking the first dentist. So now I've gone the farthest I'm going to go without starting research. Went to the dental board making sure they are licensed.

Texted online researching the corporation office to speak to the head person in charge. (There was no luck calling to get this information because some of the numbers will tell you there is no one person in charge. Many numbers will tell you they don't know if there is a number because each location is in charge of itself.) I was giving fabricated information after realizing once I the particular subject is to file a complaint. I'm filing a complaint I will not get the information I'm looking for. I have proof once I contacted this location telling them everything that's happen to me to five different locations which were 800 numbers. I was assaulted tell all details of this first visited to date and to be told this is the wrong complaint's department. I call the HMO insurance and tell them this is a health concern five weeks after the first surgery. I want a second opinion and do not pay this bill. My mouth is in horrible condition.

At this time I had four different doctors stating there's still an infection and a host of other findings. I don't want these two dentist paid without services render. I don't pay in advance. I filed a complaint on everybody involved. The Head of the HMO told me to return to the dental of for a referral to get a second opinion. I walk in the door, saw the dentist was extremely angry while watching him trying to attack the office manager and the staff holding him back. I was in shock! I sat in the waiting area then they called me to go back in the examine chair. THE DENTIST CAME IN AND SHOUTED AT ME USING THE HIGHEST LEVEL spoken words ever. So close I could feel his hot breath in my face! The dentist he waved his finger in my face told me, "I don't care about you! I don't want to touch you! I don't care if you are sick!"

HE REPEATED "I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE SICK. I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH YOU! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU REPORTED ME TO THE insurance company. I don't want to touch you!" My eyes started tearing up. I just said "I have major pain in my mouth. It hasn't stopped hurting since your appointment and I want a second opinion." The Dentist Yelled at the assistant and told her to take a Xray of my tooth. I ask the Xray tech for copies of all my Xrays in this office. I saw this was a unsafe moment. I didn't know what to say so I apologize for making him upset and told him I don't know what was said to him. I just want to be made whole! He shook my hand. I knew at this point he should not be a doctor. How many people has he hurt?

I now have out of pocket expenses and no teeth. My fillings has fell out and needed addition surgery plus a referral to two different dental surgeries. Went to small claims court. Filed lawsuit. The dental office told the Marshals they had the wrong address!!! As if I was never there! So now I went to legal services referred by the courts. Now filing law claim against Western Dental Corporation. They rotate these dentist from office to office making it impossible to locate EACH DENTIST AFTER THEY CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGES AND FEB.1st 2017 THIS YOUNG MAN 26 YEARS OF AGE DIED FROM A TOOTH INFECTION. This case is a senior abuse and the dentist malpractice should be majorly corrected!!!

She refused to give me any more numbing medication even though I was in tears and didn't want to stop. After the procedure, I was very angry and in so much pain. She did not care that I was in pain and didn't give me in antibiotics or anything for my pain. I would never ever in my entire life go back to this place again. They do not care about their patients, well at least this woman didn't.

3 days later Western Dental withdrew $115.00 from my bank account. I have been on the phone with Western Dental's incompetent employees ever since trying to get my refund. I called the local office and they told me to call corporate, corporate told me to call customer service Refunds. No one answers the phone, you can only leave a message and hope that Western Dental staff will call back but they don't. I was told by Western Dental in a Texas office to contact Patient Relations and speak with a complaint staffer named Jessica who was absolutely no help at all. As a matter of fact she didn't want to help me at all and told me to go back to the local office in Hawthorne. I have contact a channel 2 investigative reporter to look into all the similar complaints about how horrible Western Dental is. Just a word of advice and warning DO NOT GO TO ANY WESTERN DENTAL OFFICES, they are the worst!!!

I pay the balance and sign another EFT authorization. Now these guys charge me twice a month for $77 and $99. I did not notice right away so here I go again to the office to fix it. So far the payments are ok now. Now today in the mail I got a collections notice for $176 past due. I called right away to the Western Dental billing to see what is going on. Earlier this year I had gone for a general dental checkup but due to the wait in the lobby and then waiting in the back for a dentist I had decided to reschedule. A week after that I get a call from collection due to not paying. How can I be billed when no services were rendered? I remember getting an estimate. I had to call back to the billing department and make a claim but I guess these idiots never actually processed it after I was told it would be ok. Nothing but problems. Stay away from here. Now I have to fix the mess this office has made.

Dr. ** spent five minutes yelling at me. I was wrong, he was right. That to take the sides down would reduce the surface area of the dentures. Finally he did reduce them slightly. The bottom ones still gouge into the back of my mouth and the lower areas, under my tongue and the front of my gums. Dr. ** began the session by yelling at me after I said they don't fit, without listening to the problems. The other comment I remember during his rant is that my gums would grow into the new dentures. I found no research to back that. Rather my gums will continue to shrink, especially with loose fitting dentures. Because of my disorder there is not much else I remember of what he said. The nurse just stood there looking at the floor and did nothing.

I have chronic post traumatic stress disorder. Being in a dentist office causes me severe anxiety and distress. No one wanted to know that. Dr ** would not listen. I did yell back, by that time I was in tears and embarrassed, humiliated. I left. I will not return. I need the dentures adjusted to fit my mouth. I have tried to eat, wear them, but I cannot. I know I have to adjust to a new pair, I get that, just as I had to adjust to the first ones. The dentist I saw 20+ years ago took great care in educating me in this process. I did my homework, I know a hard lining can be put in that will help adjust them to my mouth. Even a soft lining can be used for a short time. Dr. ** refused.

The first dentist I saw there passed me to Dr. ** because he did not want to deal with a difficult patient. Had I been listened to, rather than ignored, I would not have been distressed and "difficult." I was told not to expect them to fit like my old ones. That I could not expect to have these new ones fit like them. I get that. But I do expect to have them adjusted to fit my mouth. I do not do well with being yelled at, no more than I do when I am hungry and have to take time out of work, for which I do not get paid, to be told that I cannot be helped. I apologized for my outburst and did my best to make it right.

I was told not to go to Western Dental, that they have a poor reputation for this type of treatment for the patients, that their services are poor. I did more homework after the fact, I found no complimentary reviews that convinced me that I made the right choice. I want my dentures adjusted to fit my mouth. Denti-cal paid for them, but I pay my taxes, so I am not a charity. I believe those of us on government services deserve the best treatment available. Yet I am finding that to be a misled belief.

Went to the Vacaville, CA office, gave them both cards, was told "We'll use this one first, then this one". Was taken in for xrays and exam. The assistant went out of the exam area and returned with a proposal of $10k+. I said thanks, but no. She left and returned with an update to $6k+. Had they applied any discounts from the cards I gave, these would have been factored in already, so they either didn't apply them at first, or padded the estimate anyway. She handed me the only paperwork I got from them, one page with my FICO at the top and two payment plans for services that were not itemized. She said to hurry up before the end of the month when they change their financing schemes.

I said I'm ill prepared to agree to such a deal right now, but thanks. She said, as she deleted line by line a bunch of stuff on her screen, that today's visit was my free exam and xrays anyway so I wouldn't be charged. All I could see on there were several entries in one column that read "400-something", maybe some code. She went pretty fast. I asked at the desk on the way out, and they said all done.

This week I took from the mail a notice apparently from their collections people for 'an attempt to collect a debt' of $321.30, of which I'd paid $0.00. Nice trick, scammers. I entered into NO agreement for the services, received NO service that I was told was not free, NO detail of charges or work to be done, and NO prior bill. This agency is supposedly correspondent with both discount/coverage plans for which I presented eligibility.

Calls to the their central number only get me "That department is closed right now" or a voicemail. This is abuse of process, fraud and deceit. In light of WD's hideous record of fraud, malfeasance and lies, I am preparing to file suit for damages, including impact of having to pay this bogus fee and deleterious effect upon my immediate plans for travel for work pursuit imposed by an expense that I both said I did not agree to and was told was free.

I can file IFP at my level of finances, and I'm considering naming those individuals who were part of this process as well - they were part of the scam and they have incomes and assets that may help to redress what threatens to become a protracted loss - it's already consumed several hours' worth of time that should have been better spent before the flight for which I've saved, bought and was on my way to a better job environment. I am further, today, filing complaints with any pertinent State and Federal agencies.

Now I'll have plenty of time to sit here and do nothing productive but seek proper redress for this crime against my financial security and good name, as now I have to stay here to receive any further mailings regarding their next scam or risk having my credit shot while I'm in the dark for months to come. It looks like a quick $321.30 to them; now paid, it hits me well hard right now. What do they care? I'll make them care, for a change.

I couldn't wait as I live an hour away from the office and had to pick up my son from school. I made appointment for the next day at 10:30 am. I was given 1 vial of numbing medication for 3 different teeth. I was told that if I felt any pain to raise left hand. Well a little bit of drilling into the first tooth I could feel it and raised my hand. I was told that she (dentist) was almost done drilling. Then she had to scrape and drill a bit more I raised my hand again. She said that she was done. Started drilling on my next tooth which hurt as well and raised my hand. She said "you are feeling it because the numbing med I gave you is not as strong and the regular stuff we use." Why wouldn't they give more if they know it doesn't work as good? (I have a reaction to **.) She refused to give me more so I had to bear it. Really don't understand why I had to suffer when they get paid for the items they use.

I now have rough fillings. They are not smooth like all the other ones from several other dentists I have used. Showed up to appointment early. It was at 10:30 I got there at 10:00. At 10:55 I asked how much longer it was going to be. I wasn't having any work done I just needed my stay plate. I was told I was next. Around 11:05 I was called back. Guess what my stay plate that only takes an hour to fix was NOT done. So I waited until 11:25. When it was brought out it looked funny. So I gave it a try. It didn't fit in my mouth I couldn't get it to click into place. So the girl who made it adjusted the wires that hold it in place. It still wouldn't fit. So I got mad and also said that they could have cleaned that holes out not just seal the food in it. I was told I would have to wait for a dentist. Every chair in the back was occupied. They only have 2 dentists that I am aware of at this office.

I waited until 11:55 am (1.5 hours after appointment time) and I wasn't there for any work. So I took my stay plate up to the front. Told them I wanted my money back that this was a joke. I have had a stay plate for 7 years and have never had this problem. I was told that I would have to wait for the manager to call me about the money. Another girl from the front said that the dentist wanted me to wait. I did enough waiting I want my money back. So now I am waiting to hear from the manager.

After sitting in the waiting room fro 38 minutes to be seen, my daughter went back and saw Dr. ** who told her that everything was fine and that the pain is normal and would last for a week or more. Upon my daughter telling me this, I immediately asked to speak with the Doctor myself, the Doctor's assistant when asked about the pain medication informed me that she was sent home on Saturday with pain medication and antibiotics, to which I informed her that no she was not, just the antibiotics.

We are far from junkies and my daughter is in a lot of pain, can't eat, so what am I supposed to do?? Over the counter ** does nothing for her, she has never even taken pain medication before, so telling me that this is normal??? This is far from normal, I have had several teeth extracted in my lifetime and have ALWAYS been sent home with some sort of pain medication. Do yourselves a favor and don't use Western Dental. They could care less about their patients.

However upon reading the contract that night I found it murky and open ended in which extras not mentioned in the contract could be added. I found the identification as to the type of implants were simply called bone. The very denture itself was billed at only 130.00 which made no sense for an all-on-four denture. Further there were no guarantees expressed or even implied as to the work to be done. The only point expressed in the contract other than the money I owed was that called through the truth in lending practice.

So six days after signing the contract, I cancelled it formally in the dental office. I was told that I would need to wait to receive the 1,500.00 deposit money according to their processing. Well after many calls and waiting, I received only 500.00 and this after 5 and one-half months of waiting. After disputing the charges with corporate and the dental office I was told that I had another 700.00 coming but I would need to wait again. I have so far been treated with disdain and without the professionalism one would expect with a company so well known.

I still don't expect a resolution any time soon But I advise that anyone before signing with Western Dental or any contract, please take it home and read it. I was not even offered a chair to sit down in to read mine in the dental office I was in and like a fool I hurried up and signed it. My own experience showed me that Western Dental will foot drag as long as possible so if anyone does sign and change their mind, like I did, prepare for a very, very, long wait as I am still waiting.

When I called to dispute the charges, I was told Western Dental didn't charge me late fees and amount owed was the remaining Tricare Dental didn't cover. Good thing I believe in keeping my bills. I found the bill sent to me that noted a $25 late fee that had been accessed to the account. The customer service representative backtracked on his previous statement that Western Dental had not assessed late fees. He then offered me a 'discount' of $179 off of the disputed charge. I paid the $333 to be rid of the company. Had I not kept the bills, Western Dental would have probably continued to bill me late charges and noted a negative remark on my credit report. I am waiting for the Class Action lawsuit.

They royally ** me over badly. When I tried to seek treatment from Brident Dental that was 11 minutes away from my residential, they told me that I had to get audit, close my account with Western Dental (via paying off my braces - $1,800 worth) and start a whole new contract with them (with treatment ranging up to $3,000+). They told me that they done away with merging accounts 1.5 month ago without notifying me. I asked if I was the exception to the rule since I'm a old patient. NO! I talked to everybody from the old office to their corporate office. They don't give a ** about their patients, but their money! A newly veteran from US Navy, this company was the first thing that screwed me.

I decided to pay them off once I liquidated my TSP funds and go with Invisalign with Groupon for $1,500 total price treatment. I'll be saving way more money than if I stayed with them. And you know what, I liked them to the point I would've have stayed. Thank God! I hope this company go bankrupt! Preying on people who don't have insurance. Do yourself a favor and don't go to this company. Western Dental/Brident Dental are **!

Ditch my insurance, extend my CareCredit to $10,000 and the bill to WD will only be $13,000 for a total of $23,000. The condo I live in now I paid $50,000 for. OK, I've been to three different dentist this year and paid $900 for a root canal and $900 for a crown. In all of the x-rays I've had no other dentist told me that I needed a tooth extraction until today! My complaint is that when I was leaving the office, I was informed that my insurance does not pay for whole mouth x-ray with pictures, $94.000. Thanks for coming in. WD are crooks. They take the respect out of the trade of robbing people by adding insult to injury... going after people's money when they know some people can't pay! DO NOT GO TO WD!

I was asking if I could have implants, so they suggested I get another x-ray and appointment with another specialist to give me advice. Another appointment, they added the cost to my contract. After three specialist and x-rays, (Yes, they do not have a resident dentist in that area. Instead, they have a different doctor each time you visit) who had different opinions each time, they were charging me for each visit and each x-ray. Of course, different specialists have different opposing opinions, so even though nothing tangible is happening to my person, my bill is getting huge.

Finally, they wanted me to get a tooth extraction. Well before the extraction, they fitted me to a tray in my mount -- to get a better fit on the dentures, they say. Well, during the tooth extraction, the doctor said I needed two bone grafts, to better fit the dentures, he said. That added another $800.00 to my bill, and since I am under anesthesia, and I am not a medical person, I reluctantly agreed.

Each time the doctor makes suggestion, they had me sign more amendments to the cost. They had me come one week later to see how my gums were healing. Another bill for a three second look see from their specialist. They said this is necessary because they can address infections or such. Then another fitting on the gums, but this one is one of five other fittings, so five other appointments before I even see the dentures. Then they brought another tray, just to make sure that there is a perfect fit for the dentures. Another very uncomfortable tray fitting. Finally, the dentures came, but these are just temporary ones. The real ones would, as they said, be perfect. I should hope so, because I already wasted seven trips with all the fittings, each one I did not know were being added to my final bill.

The permanent ones came. Oh-oh, they are very painful in my mouth. Besides, I could not close my mouth because there is a gap to my mouth. Obviously, they must have made a mistake. I told them I could not talk, close my mouth, or let alone bite into anything with them. The dentist told me to keep them in my mouth and suffer the pain, because these are new ones, I can adjust in two weeks.

Three weeks later, I still have the stabbing pain in my gums each time I wear them. The doctor says this is but natural for new dentures. But, "doctor, how come I could not talk without gagging or could eat anything with them". He said they just needed a little adjustment. So I had a series of appointments with, not a dentist, but dental technician to chisel the imperfections.

After the fifth attempt to fit them into my mouth without pain and to at least be able to perfectly close my mouth so I can function as a normal human being, they said they cannot do anything to it. I told them that maybe another denture is appropriate because clearly, this does not fit my gums or even my mouth. With them inside my mouth, I can only talk with a slur, and since I go to school, I do not want anybody taking me to the hospital thinking I am having a stroke. I speak like I just had a stroke every time the dentures are in my mouth, I said to them. They said that unless I am willing to pay for a new set, they cannot help me because that is too much money. That I do not need to go them anymore because they can not help me.

Now I am stuck with an $8,500.00 bill, for an unsatisfactory experience and then after two years of paying them, I cannot even afford to go pay for a real competent dentist in my area. After paying them for two years, I still owe them more than three thousand dollars. They arrange with me an automatic bill pay, which I agreed as long as they won't bother me again. Who would have thought that not only are they staffed with incompetent dental people, but the office bill collectors are as well. I got a bill from them that states that they are automatically getting paid from my checking account.

A few days later, I kept getting calls from them all throughout the day, collecting money again. I told them I do not want to be bothered and besides, I got crappy service from them and absolutely no use for their product, which, by the way, they are not willing to take back because they said, "We cannot re-use the product ourselves and it would be too expensive for us to replace it for you. Just go somewhere else to help you with your own problem."

Well, right now, I am out of money and cannot afford to go to a real dentist because of the humongous bill they kept sending me. I do not believe they even took out the denture bill, which is absolutely no use to me. They are telling me to pay up on the automatic machine they use to harass me with or suffer bad credit score. I may have to sue them to get justice for this hellish nightmare for trusting them with my business.

I have been fighting them for 9 months. In order to sue them, I have to have disposable funds, which as a disabled senior I don't have, so I'm forced to take them to small claims, and how do I fight their lies? The CA dental review board stated they would only get involved if the offending dentist made a habit of pulling the wrong tooth. Can you believe that! Western Dental should get their license to practice revoked or put on suspension for the way they handle things. I intend to do as much as I can to get justice for their dishonesty.

So #1 billed my insurance, #2 billed my Care Credit, #3 sent me the exact same bill. They are flat out criminals. While I was there a little man comes and tells me I need fillings and the silver will be in the 60 dollar range and the white will be in the 70 dollar range I get to the counter the receptionists says they will be from 90 dollars to 120 dollars. I call the Corporate Office. I got transferred to 4 different people and none of them could help me and to file a grievance which I will and report to the BBB and maybe go to small claims court. Lost money, time and sanity. This is the worst criminal activity I have seen followed by the worst customer service I have ever seen in a company that calls themselves a business.

Anyways in June a lady actually sat down and reviewed my account because my insurance covered 484 dollars for my crown and Western Dental charged me 623 because they thought my insurance didn't cover it. I got a printout of my receipt and owed 493.80 from what the lady fixed. I was overcharged 500 dollars. In July I made my monthly payment and it's saying I owe 900 dollars. I asked the girl that isn't right. She said keep my receipts and "wait until you make another payment." I called the corporate office but all they tell me is it's the office who has to fix it and when I call the workers don't know if the manager's in. But when the corporate office calls they say she won't be in today. So I still have to get my account fixed, which I thought since the lady made adjustments it was good, guess not. Some of the receptionist are unprofessional and ignorant.

After this experience I will not go back for my general, and I am hoping I can finish with braces over there because I wish I would have done research and went to a private dental office because I would have gotten way better service. If they don't fix it I might just take them to small claims court or something because my insurance paid a portion which they did not inform me and were still charging me the full amount. I'll file a complaint with my insurance saying they're committing fraud.

He has being treating me like this every visit for the past 2 years but I didn't care about he being rude, unfair, full of himself because he don't think that he should treat his client with proper respect, because he is a doctor and know what he is doing, and I'm not. I didn't care because I am not going there to be friends with him, I just want him to do the job I was paying him to do. I never liked him or was ever comfortable with him. So when I was 18 months into the treatment I pointed out to his assistant and ask him to tell Dr. ** some things that was bothering me and hurting and sometimes bad and that I would like him to do something about it. He didn't like that I asked and that I was complaining so on my next visit I insist on that he would fixed. He not only didn't do anything but also said to me that the time that he established for my treatment was over so there was nothing else that he could do for me. It is what it is.

I said, "But what about this space right in the middle in the front of my teeth?" He gave many excuses blaming on me and the shape of my teeth. I said, "You have to close it Dr. **. This space was never there before the braces." His response was, "I don't want to" and that in three weeks he was going to remove my braces. I freak out and began to cry. I just couldn't believe, my teeth has a big space right in the front of my lower teeth that was never there before the braces and the left side of my mouth my bite close nice, but the right side doesn't so when I am eating I chew most on the left side. So I insisted with him again asking him to please do something about this before removing the braces, so he gave me more time about 4 months more, but didn't do anything. All he did was changing the rubber bands.

I am so angry that I went to get a second opinion elsewhere in two different places and both Doctors said the same thing - that there's work that needs to be done and that the braces shouldn't be removed just yet and this space in the front can definitely be fixed. So now I will have to let him remove my braces in 25 days, today is 7/5, and go to one of this good professional that gave the second opinion and start braces again. I am very angry at Western Medical and Dr. ** and I am very sorry I ever went there, they don't know what they are doing. I talked to everyone that works there including the manager who always tells me she will talk to the doctor or help me getting another doctor, but she never does.