Western Dental & Orthodontics Reviews

This is so ridiculous but I am claiming damages for the cost of the braces, which includes pain and suffering, harassment from their debt collection department; the money I paid for months I received treatment (3 months) and (3 months paid of non-service) and the cost to remove all the metal so another orthodontic can only begin treatment. The contract was breached at the 3rd month but I continued payment for 3 more months hoping they would come around. Now at this point I don't want to be in contract with them.

I was called back at 3:55 and waited in the chair for the dentist another 20 minutes and when he finally came I'm really irritated now. Now this is the same dentist we talked about my next appt service. The dentist asked me what are you here for, and did you talk to the finance lady. I said, what am I here for oh lord. I asked him do you need to talk to one every time you come. Then they have the finance lady come back for nothing again. Then they moved me from one chair to another. Ridiculous - this week I had two appt. I called in to let them know I would be 10 minutes late and a lady named ** answered and said hold on. I stayed on the phone for twenty minutes before I hung the phone up. She never got back on the phone. I had to call back. I had an appt. on July 24/14. They made the appt for 6:00 pm. When they made the appt. I asked the lady don't you close at 7:00. She said yes. I said the dentist said he needed two hours with me - are you sure. She said yes, the time is o.k.

I get to my appt at 5:55, go to the desk and sign in. The lady gets my name and she said one moment, gets up go to the back, comes back about 5 minutes later and said to me. I'm sorry but the Dr. can't see you because our lab tech was gone for the day. Now you mean to tell me a 6:00p.m. appt. and not one person in that office could not make a call to me and cancel the appt. I asked to speak with a manager. She comes out about 5 minutes later with a card in her hand and say I’m sorry we can reschedule you for July 28/14. She already had it plan to give me appt. Without asking me what was good for me. Every time I have appt with WD I have to take antibiotics 1 hour before any dental service. WD is aware of this. So all the antibiotics that was taken my last 3 appt. was wasted .They charge all this money for service and their service is garbage. I'm through with WD. Take my advice and please save yourself the headache and find another dentist.

Thanks to the customer service person who then stayed with me on the phone to make sure I was taken care of. They made ever effort to make sure I would no longer get any calls harassing phone calls/letters regarding my bill. Now that's the way customer service is suppose to work throughout the whole company, from top down, and not just a few. Too bad other companies/customer service agents don't understand what service is, especially collections.

Original Review: July 10, 2014

On or about Nov 2013, I went to Western Dental in Reno, NV to have my teeth extracted and replaced with dentures. The service I received was provided was unsatisfactory. After my dentures were made they were very painful and didn't fit right. I had to return numerous times to have the dentures fit corrected which was never corrected. I still was unable to wear my dentures because of pain.

Dec 2013, I moved to Marysville, CA. I looked for a Western Dental in my area and found an office in Yuba City, CA. I made an appointment with the Yuba City office. I told them that my dentures were so painful I was unable to wear them. The Yuba City office had me to come in and fill out a new patient application before they could schedule my appointment. At that time I was informed that I would be responsible for any services rendered. I told them that the Reno office did the work and I shouldn't be charged because the work wasn't done correctly. I was told by one of the managers that they would have to contact the Reno office.

Once they contacted the Western Dental office in Reno, they would told me that I was their patient and to go ahead and take care of me. After examining the dentures, I was told by the doctor that the reason I couldn't wear them is because the fit wasn't incorrect and in addition, the dentures were too large. Jan 2014, I was told by the Western Dental Yuba City office that I would be taken care of and that they would bill the Reno office.

Fast-forward to June 23, 2014. I receive a call from Western Dental Collections notifying me that I had a balance of $2065.00. Right away I explained what I was told by the Yuba City office and was told that it didn't matter, that I was still responsible for the bill. I further explained that the military had already paid my bill to the Reno office. I couldn't get anywhere with the collection person I was talking with named Valery. On or around June 24, 2014, I called Western Dental Corporate Office, and explained my situation and was told that they would handle the issue and was sorry that I was contacted.

On July 10, 2014, I called Western Dental in Yuba City to see when I could get my dentures readjusted because they were causing me pain. I was put on hold. When the receptionist returned she told me I still had an outstanding balance with the Yuba City office and that Reno had not contact them to make any payment. I was told then that she would make an appointment for me two weeks out but her manager told her if the Reno office still had an outstanding balance, they (Yuba City Western Dental) would not be able to see me. I told the receptionist that I would call their Cooperate office and call them back to make an appointment, thinking this issue would be settled.

On July 10, 2014, I called the Western Dental Cooperate Office and ended back with the same collection person Valery at the Yuba City office. At that time I am feeling that I am not only getting ripped off but getting the runaround too. Reno's Western Dental has been paid for poor services and then I was given misinformation by the Yuba City office that the Reno office would take care of the bill. It appears that Western Dental doesn't honor their warranty although they are the same company.

Furthermore, I was told that when I moved back to California, I didn't notify the Reno office that I was moving and that's why I am being charged as a new patient, according to Valery. I explained to the Valery that I wasn't given that information and when the Yuba City office contacted them, they knew then that I had moved before any service was provided. I do not understand nor appreciate Western Dental's policy of not honoring their work no matter what office I go to, they are still the same company. Any help with this matter would be truly appreciated.

The first day she was not there I went back the next day and she told me the audit had been submitted and I should be hearing from someone in about 2 weeks. This is what I was hearing when I called. I asked for a paper print out of my bill with charges and every payment made. After 30 minutes, she came out with a paper. I over paid over $1,700. My payments were set for 14 months and I was told "whoops, someone calculated it wrong". If I had not inquired about this I think they would have never admitted an overcharge. Now I am being told it will be about 2 more weeks before I get my money back. I am really angry. I have taken time off work to deal with this and there has been so much run around. Is there anything I can do about this? I don't feel I should have to wait 2 weeks for my refund. I think they need to refund immediately and do some kind of compensation for my troubles.

I received another call a couple months later and explained the same thing - this person actually took down my mailing address this time. I still have not received anything in the mail as of today 6/9/14, but have been sent to collections instead. I have tried calling and e-mailing Western Dental to still get the final bill as requested....... Apparently nobody knows how to do this and it is apparently my fault that it went to collections because they didn't get any money. I don't know why it is so difficult for a final bill to be produced?

The original amount they called me about was for a full ortho contract for two kids, even though they had braces put on in May and we moved in Aug - they still wanted me to pay the full balance. I am only paying for treatment actually received and they can't seem to be able to bill for that time and that's where the problem is. I would not recommend them to anyone after the billing issues I have had. I have insurance and they have received a nice payment from my insurance but apparently that is still not enough.

In the meantime my mother became gravely ill and we were dealing with medical issues and surgery. While she was getting her health back, her toothache happened again. I took her back to the office on a Saturday in March. The front office staff treated her terrible. The dental technician kept repeating to her that she was there for a cleaning. I kept telling her we were there for a toothache and I wanted the Dentist to see her. They took an x-ray. The Dentist came in the room, only spent about five minutes looking in her mouth, barely spoke to us. Then stood up and said it was a bad root canal, and why didn't I take her to the periodontist? I said to him first, we never got a referral to the periodontist, and second that she was gravely ill, but we are here and need to get started.

They got very rude and said they have to put through yet another authorization. I told them I never got the first authorization. I asked to speak with the office manager, he never came to see me. The receptionist came in and asked why didn't we go to the periodontist. I had to explain all over again. She said she would have to put another authorization in. I asked if they will be calling, she said no they don't get involved with the referral, that my mom would hear from her insurance company. We left the office and the next Monday I called her insurance to change dentists. When I took my mother into the new dentist, she told my mother and me what the issues are with her teeth. I started looking into the bill Western Dental gave her to see if there was anything they already billed for which this whole time, my mother has been paying monthly payments to them.

I called my mother's insurance company and they kindly went over what the descriptions were and what Western Dental should be charging her. My mother's insurance company also said they have never received a claim from Western Dental. I have finally gotten a call from the office manager **, who said the dentist that last saw her was fired and said that he will have to review her chart. Now I have been calling for over five weeks to talk to someone about her bill. I have called The Western Dental clinic to get hung up on, or to never receive a call back. I have called the Western Dental Corporation that I filed the grievance with them, and they tell me that my mom is a cash pay patient.

This matter is still not resolved. It's been weeks of calling her insurance company, who say they don't have any record of Western Dental seeing my mother, Western Dental Corporation stating they haven't received anything from her insurance, The Western Dental customer service stating they will email the collections department to put a hold on her bill, the Western Dental collections department stating they have no information about a grievance, or an email to hold the billing, and the office manager, that keeps stating he is reviewing her chart, and the office staff ** and ** that keep telling me the her billing is out of their hands.

I feel Western Dental has taken her for her money and they are making it impossible to rectify any wrong doing on their part. My husband and I have been with my mother every time she was in the dentist office, and we know what they have done or should I say not done with her, although the chart and billing say different. The people that work at Western Dental can make any notes they want in charts and any billing they want to charge for. I think they are swindling money out of people and no one does anything about it.

By god's grace I was able to come up with the money. I signed contract saying I would pay 35.00 month for term but I paid them off in 4 months breaking down four large payments. When I received my teeth, my uppers, I was amazed with they fit like I never imagined yet my lowers are way too big and the front is too thick making it look like I have chew in my lip. When I went for adjustment the dr sent me away unable to wear my lower denture and I tried. I went in for another adjustment and he then made them even more un-wearable. When I came the third time, stated how I felt, he rudely said to me well then maybe I should have saved my money up to get implants then. My heart was crushed hearing this and being treated like this by the man who prior to doing this had assured me he would fix me right up and I will walk away with a smile if I decide to go ahead and have a upper and lower made.

One year later and I still have no lowers. Last week the 800 office tried to send me back to same place I have been treated wrong and no results. I said, "I won't go back. Can you transfer my file to the location near my house?" They said they would and the other office will contact me. I've yet heard anything. They also sent me away with blue stuff they molded to my mouth all over my neck and cheek. I said something to dr about how I went to gas and store with his gel all over face. He says things like that happen, "what can you do real professional ha."

I began this because my biggest fear was dying with the mouth I had. I'M in poor health and haven't had a smile since two weeks after turning 18 in which I skidded upside down with my face injuring my mouth..anybody want to get together and create our own western dental experience video and blast it out on youtube.

I received a bill and I called to let them know I didn't get my teeth cleaned. Which is what I was there for NOT AN XRAY. Western Dental has turned $100 into $350 by turning into a collection agency and all the Credit reports. I called corporate 4/23/2014 and They will not listen to me or work with me on this miscommunication. It is a law that one has to charge someone for services rendered. The service I requested was not rendered; therefore, I did not get my teeth cleaned. If it was their policy that you need to get X-ray before teeth are cleaned, someone should have explained.

I called billing on 4/11/14 and the refund has not been asked for. The billing transferred me to the Lancaster office and now I'm told it will take 30 days before they can get to my refund. Which I know it does not take that long to process a refund because for them to get my payment it did not take 30 days. I would like my refund the same way I gave the money to the company. I don't understand why I'm getting such a hard time on getting my money back. If this is how your patients get treated by your office staff then I will look for a new place to take my children. I would like my money and please let me know when I am getting it.

I contacted corporate again and was told the same; my account is in good standing and paid in full. They told me someone forgot to uncheck a box on my account profile indicating my account was in good standing. I called to schedule a third appointment and verified that everything was good to go and could finally get this done. When I arrived, they told me it would be an additional $3500 to complete the work. Needless to say I was shocked and quite upset. They have a bunch of hidden charges and don't inform you of them until you are at their office and in the chair. They are unprofessional and unethical. I would, under no circumstances, ever recommend Western Dental. Avoid them and find a competent and honest company to have your work done.

So I went down to the office that I received the care and one of the workers who verified that I did not owe them anything gave me a copy of my bill. I went back to the office and put it on an excel spread sheet. It turns out they were charging me late fees when my bill had a negative balance to a tune of $395 dollars. So I had over paid them $395 dollars. How they get away with it is that they put these amounts in a reference balance. They then did an audit adjustment 2 years later in the amount of my over payment instead of issuing me a check. When I was looking at it I was like how are they charging me a late fee when I have a negative balance? And what is this auditor adjustment for 2 years after my service? They were like, "Well maybe your insurance didn't pay or maybe we forgot to bill you." I was like, "And it took you 2 years to figure it out?"

But the truth is I over paid for services and they created an auditor adjustment to keep the money. Here is the kicker how they get away with it. They do not bill you for these charges, they are a credit adjustment that reflects on your bill, but you have not been billed for but show up on your account receivable total. They will not clear your bill for you. When you can get a live body on the phone they give you the run around and of course are very concerned. But can not help remove anything from your credit report or just reflect accurate information. I called an attorney and they said whereas it is unethical to send people to phone numbers that no one ever answers and to apply charges to your account that are not true-unless they bill you and take your money that have acted unethical but have not broken the law.

So they are unethical and a nightmare to deal. The sad thing is I did receive good care from them. Their billing and account management is a nightmare. Here is the best part of my complaint-the one time that someone answered my phone call after 10 days of getting the run around was from a 1800# from the bottom of a complaint website. Go figure.

I made an appointment at Western Dental to begin work. However, when we came in for the appointment, I was informed by the dentist, I would not be allowed to accompany my son to the treatment room. I said my son is a minor and I go where he goes or he doesn't have any work done at Western Dental, Murrieta, California. The dentist was adamant and we walked out.

I made an appointment at another dentist down the street from Western Dental to have a complete checkup done on my son. That dentist informed me that my son had "ZERO" cavities. I am so glad Western Dental denied me access to the back with my son. There are a few possibilities here, but from my point of view, I believe Western Dental was creating work to get money.

I asked if they could work with me and change the due date so I could handle the payment. They said all kinds of stuff to not allow me to change the date. Now as far as the payment every month if you are late one day, the FEE is $35. Ridiculously HIGH of a fee for being late one day. For anyone, that is way too much for a Late Fee and no way around that either, they don't CARE! Other places have Grace Periods and less amount of a Late Fee... These people act like they are a business that will go BANKRUPT. DIDN'T help HERE EITHER!!! Really you better not get so Happy because when your child needs BRACES really BAD and you feel WESTERN DENTAL ORTHODONTIC is the place for HELP... think TWICE before you sign the CONTRACT.

After my child finishes the treatment (that's if I don't leave her in the middle of the Treatment financially) I will never RECOMMEND NOBODY TO THIS OFFICE. They will find misleading information after you have signed the contract..... AFTER!!!!!! Then you will feel regret each time you have an appointment with them. I feel no business ethics when I step into that office. The staff does not Feel we the patients have nooooooo CHOICE BUT TO SUFFER if you don't make the payment.

The following week, we checked in and waited in the lobby for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We were called in for the dental surgery to be performed. We waited in the dental room for about 1 hour before the hard to understand dentist came in with the patient coordinator. He asked about any health issues. I told him about the heart murmur which I had checked off on the form a week ago. Well, I guess they don't look at the forms because they did not know nothing about it. The dentist then said she will not perform the surgery without my daughter's doctor's consent. The patient coordinator said he will take care of it and he rescheduled the appointment for one week later.

During that week, I would call the patient care coordinator for updates. He never returned any calls. One day before the appointment, the receptionist told me to call the doctor myself and handle it. I did call the doctor's office and they never returned my call, but that's another complaint another day with them. On the day of the dental appointment, I called before the appointment time to confirm that everything was ready to go. The receptionist then put me on the phone with the actual dentist who was going to perform the surgery. She told me that the reason she gave me the consent form was so I can get it signed myself. I told her that she or anyone never gave me any form to take care of. The patient care coordinator said he was going to take care of it. She then said she can't do anything without that form.

Now, I understand the reason for that form. But, this Lancaster office needs to get their stuff in order and read the forms they have us fill out especially when it deals with a child. They also need to stop taking in so many clients if it's too much to handle. They obviously don't care about people's time. Either that or it's just the way they treat Medi-Cal recipients.

After 1 hour I was called back and X-rays were taken and was told that the dentist would be in shortly... I apparently fell asleep, and it was TWO hours later that I awoke and a bit confused as to how they could allow me to have wasted over three hours of my time already, so I got up and walked out and stood in the doorway and asked what was going on! And they said it will be just another minute and the doctor will go over my X-rays with me.Five minutes went by and a woman came in and looked at the X-rays on her screen and said they are all rotten and walked out...That was it! Nothing about the extraction procedure that I was there for! And the assistant told me to go to the front desk and they would reschedule me.

When I paid my $100.00, they had me sign a few papers that were barely legible because the printer was out of ink and led me to believe that this was my insurance and contract for payment for the future extraction to be performed after again prescribing another two-week dose of antibiotics. So two weeks went by and I schedule for the next day off work, and at 8pm that night I receive a call from Western Dental indicating that my appointment at 10am the next morning had been cancelled due to emergency reasons and was to be rescheduled the following two weeks later, and I indicated that I had already been taking antibiotics now for over 4 weeks and that I was concerned about the amount of time on them and she stated that if I didn't have any pain then I could stop taking the antibiotics. I didn't agree with her cancelling my appointment so late notice and informed her of my lost day of work due to it being scheduled prior, so now I have lost 2 days of work due to Western Dental.

Anyway! I wait the two weeks and go in 20 minutes early and sign in electronically, where the machine asked you the first three letters of my last name, I enter them and it automatically comes up with my details and confirms my sign in, and appointment. I wait as I see there are several people in the waiting room and for over an hour and a half I see them all leave and new people coming in and being seen and leaving, so I go to the counter and speak with a Dennis, and state my appointment time was over an hour and a half ago and he asked what is my last name, he says my first name and I reply yes and he states that he doesn't have me on the sign in and sorry! That was it! It was obvious that the doctor wasn't there again and no procedure was going to take place, so I returned home, again an unscheduled day off...

Two weeks later Dennis calls and wishes to make another appointment for me which in return I tell him that they cancelled my prior appointments and that I had no longer any need for their services although they had received the initial $100.00 as a Deposit, and wished to schedule for other work that I may need. I told Dennis I was receiving statements for work that hadn't been performed and he stated he would check into it and get right back to me, but no call was ever received. I continue daily to receive phone calls from them and they continue to ignore my statement that no work has ever been provided by them, and I have sent registered mail to them that I am in dispute of the claim and their attempt to tarnish my credit and court actions against me with requests for them to provide me with a copy of what services I am being billed for with continued late charges, which they refuse to acknowledge or respond in writing.

We waited over an hour before I was taken back to an open exam room. X-rays had been taken prior to this appointment, and I just needed the tooth treated. We waited for a half an hour before the dentist decided to make an appearance. I had given the front desk personal the paperwork my OB-GYN had written me. The dentist was agitated and stuck the paperwork from my OB-GYN in my face and demanded to know why he would approve the drugs mentioned on these documents and accused me of forgery and being a drug addict. He pushes the X-rays on the screen and tells me there is nothing wrong with that tooth. My son started to cry as did I. Other patients are hearing his accusations, and it was embarrassing and humiliating. He told me to leave or he would report me to child welfare services and the police. He then said women like me have no right to be a mother.

I left hysterical and became violently vomited in the parking lot, and I could not stop crying. I am not sure how I managed to make it home. My neighbor had to come over and calm me down. I was so upset. I never saw the document my doctor signed, and it is a unfounded horrible accusation! Even though that tooth hurt, I did not see another dentist until my son was three months old. The tooth was seriously infected six month later, and had I had to have some major dental work done. At first the dentist was angry I had not gotten it taken care of sooner until I told her what happened to me.

A couple years later, we went to the Western Dental in Costa Mesa, CA because that was the closest place we could find that accepted my husband's dental insurance. The wait was long, but the customer service was much better. The problem with this Western Dental is after a root canal the dentist refused to prescribe pain medication, and OTC pain medicine was not working. Luckily for me I had a nice primary care doctor who did prescribe me something for the pain. The dentist was decent to my children, and I was somewhat satisfied with my dental care.

Eventually, I moved to LA County and had crappy dental insurance, and went to Western Dental in Bellflower, CA. I hated this place with a passion. The customer service is horrible, the wait time is always long, the faculty is never clean and the place is awful! I had a root canal and was not given any pain medication. Even when I called and begged for it because my mouth felt it was on fire, the indifferent dentist could care less about my comfort or distress. I went to another dentist that my parents paid for and they messed up the root canal, and it was severely infected. I tried to charge me for the root canal even though I had credit, and had it confirmed by two of the office personal and the dentist. It just disappeared without a trace! I refused to pay them any money for their botched up job!

Western Dental is horrible and the staff is uncaring and rude. Most of the offices are open so there is no privacy offered at all. The wait time can be up to 3-4 hours, and the dentists are untrained and verbally abusive to their patients and underlings. Most of the offices are not cleaned well and are dirty and ghetto. The dental work is shoddy, half assed, and hurried. Most of the dentists are not gentle while performing dental work on adults or children. Most dental offices offer pain medication when complex or painful dental work is performed, but Western Dental refuses to and could care less if you are in horrible pain. All this agency cares about is money. Stay away from this place!

They are only seeing patients every six weeks and they have knocked off brackets and not replaced them. I have expressed how important it was that we got in and they said it was not an emergency. I had to take her to another dentist who is now charging me $1,335 dollars to change all of her hardware and fix what Western Dental would not. The new dentist had advised me that she has to be out of her braces in 4 months as her braces have been on too long and her roots are in danger. No one at the office or call center is helpful. I lost a family lawsuit also due to them violating my HIPPA rights.

After a few weeks I went back in and the impression still didn't fit with repeated jamming it in there. I was in pain. Then she informs me that I am going to have to have my bones shaved to be able to wear a denture (Alveoplasty). Here I am sitting there toothless on top, and no other recourse but to have this procedure done. Here comes the payment plan lady again. I was told that I would have to pay $230.00 before it could be done, and another $230.00 the first of the next month, then my payments would go to $125.00 a month after that. I had the Alveoplasty done which wasn't pleasant, and after the healing I went back in for another impression.

Two weeks later I go in to try it on and it fits pretty good so I pick the color of teeth to go in it. Two weeks later I go in to try it on again and the wrong color teeth are in it. They were so white that I could have landed planes at the airport with my smile. They didn't match my bottom partial at all. The dentist even said that it was the wrong color and told the Assistant to be sure and tell (?) to make sure he looks at the tooth color number. By this time I so am livid from all of the setbacks and having to go without teeth that I'm about ready to scream!!

I am given an appointment for another two weeks (it's always 2 weeks). I go back in two weeks and everything seems okay. I grab my teeth and run!!! When I get home and take my denture out, there is white cement looking stuff all over the gums and one of the front teeth. It doesn't come off. The dentist had mixed up some adhesive paste and put it on the denture to hold them in place until I get my reline. I haven't dealt with this cement problem yet but will next month when I go back in for my reline.

The first few billings were right at the $125.00 a month. At the end of last month I get a bill saying that I am 30 days late with my payment. BE SURE AND SAVE EVERY RECEIPT WITH THESE PEOPLE!! I DID!! I called them up, and right after you give them your account number they say, "would you like to make a payment right now" before you can ever explain why you are calling? NO, I wouldn't, because I am not behind!! I tell the guy why I am calling and he keeps saying that I missed a payment for $230.00 for the Alveoplasty. I'm sitting on the phone with him looking at both the $230.00 receipts. He's making me mad so I hang up and call and talk to another person a few minutes later. I tell the girl why I am calling, and she starts the $230.00 subject also. I said, look, I am sitting here looking at the receipts for both of them and I give her the dates. She said, “oh, you are current with your payments, and I will let the billing department know.” COOL!!

Yesterday I get another statement in the mail from them and it is messed up also. Now it is saying that I am 44 days late plus they added a $25.00 late fee. I will be back on that phone Monday morning going through this again. All in all, the thing that I want to point out is, read reviews regarding any business that you are planning on dealing with. I wish that I had read all of the horror stories regarding Western Dental before I ever set foot in their office. They will drag out your treatment plan, shoddy dental work, and a billing department that doesn't know how to do simple math!!

Long story short, the lady was so persistent that I gave in, because I just wanted the pain of the right tooth to go away. I ended up getting 2 root canals & got my 3 wisdom teeth removed, even though it never gave me pain. I feel like they weren't going to let me out, before they made a sale & I had to go pick up my kids. So I went back to get my 2 root canals & wisdom teeth removed & it's been a couple years now & I always get abscesses & I'm developing one right now again. I just don't know what to do. I'm a scared single mom. I have 2 daughters who need me & it's scary because each flare up gets worse & worse & at the moment I have no antibiotics. I feel my cheek going numb. For the same amount of time too, my hearing goes in & out. I don't know exactly what happened. All I know is the minute I touched my teeth with my tongue, I felt something on my left side (the side I never had pain on). It felt like something loose. Maybe the filling next to where my root canal was done or maybe because he was so aggressive when I had my wisdom teeth removed.

I not only had to pay extra for one wisdom tooth, because of the way my gums were hugging it, but he was so aggressive or it can be the actual root canal that felt loose. I felt something. 6 months later. I called for a cleaning, because that's one thing my insurance did cover & I was going to tell the dentist that I feel something loose. Well they once again sent the financial person to me & this time, I was thinking, why are they going to ask for my money if my cleaning is free. The girl said I can't get my cleaning, that I had scheduled done, until I do a deep cleaning and she was asking for nearly $400 for a deep cleaning & bargaining again. I asked if I can just get my cleaning & I was going to have a friend's dentist look at it for free or low of cost; it was her family member. They said no & I never even brought up that feeling of a loose filling, because they made me feel so used.

I have 2 daughters by 1 man & don't get child support & he started a new family. All I do is try to take care of my health for my kids. I would've been better off living with the pain of my tooth, because every abscess just gets worse. I even went to another Western Dental this year. I told them my situation. The end result was that I need a whole new root canal & cap, which was going to be a couple thousand. They said I had an infection underneath the cap. That much I knew, but I told him this time... I feel something still. Besides the infection inside. Something was touched during the procedure or done wrong, because I can feel something. Maybe a loose filling. I believe I had fillings done with them too. I spent so much of my kid's savings on my tooth, only to make my life worst.

Now its my kid's 1st day of school tomorrow & I can feel a flare up & I know I will be swollen in the morning. I just don't get how it's okay, for WD to make a single mom's life worse & they just care about money. I felt like I was bargaining with my teeth & now it feels like my life. I'm up while my kids are asleep, and I fear that they're going to find me dead from having my whole mouth swollen, along with my throat, to make me stop breathing. I don't know what else to do. I had to quit my job because my life revolves around my teeth. I'm so numb right now and in pain. I know besides the root canal they gave me that I didn't need infection... There's something else. An open filling. Something is moving & God forbid I pass away.

I want to share this, especially with my kids, because we do a lot less things together because of my pain. We used to have so much fun & all I can think about is my hearing & losing it, because WD just wants money. I can't believe a company like this exists. I put my faith in God, but it's upsetting for my kid's 1st day of school. I will look like a chipmunk. I guess staying alive is all that matters, because I feel like death right now. I have no meds to take. I'm in pain. It's getting numb as it gets swollen and I have no real help. No family, but my kids.

Shortly thereafter, the crown fell off. I went back to have it re-cemented. Shortly thereafter, it fell off again. I went back to have it re-cemented. Shortly thereafter, it fell off again, but this time 6 months had passed and they could not re-cement the crown without a whole new check-up including X-rays, a visit from the financial dept., etc, etc. Again, it was re-cemented and fell off, and again re-cemented and fell off, but the last time it came off the entire tooth; the post and crown fell off. Surprisingly, it was my fault as the dentist told me "Crowns are like sneakers; you would not buy a pair of sneakers and expect them to last longer than a few months." Crown and post were re-cemented and put back in and I was charged a few hundred dollars.

Less than eight weeks later, the whole thing fell out. I went to my regular dentist and I discovered shortly after figuring that Western Dental is only in business because they service medical patients and he takes an X-ray. I still have a root and an infection... I have to pay to have the entire thing redone. But the best part is after my dentist pulls apart substandard Western Dental work, I have to wait 10-14 days to let the infection clear up. Western Dental is an absurd organization; they have NO business touching anyone's teeth. Their dentists are absolutely 100% incompetent.

I looked into low-cost or free legal aid in my area; surprisingly, most places have this service available. I spoke to the receptionist and explained my situation in brief, and she gave me the name of an attorney who specialized in what I needed, promising that I would be called by the lady within a couple of days. I got a call back that very afternoon!

Fortunately, I had kept all my records, copies of bills, the letters that WD had been sending, and I'd even started a handwritten phone log detailing dates, times, and phone numbers used by WD to try and reach me (Before it was over, I was getting calls from five different numbers). By this point, I also had the oral surgeon's records on me, and his notes showing that I'd been lied to by WD, as well as proof that they never removed any of my teeth. I made copies of everything and sent it all to the lawyer.

It took a month or so, but finally I received a call and a packet in the mail. Both explained the same thing: After reviewing my case, the lawyer wrote a letter to WD stating that I clearly owed nothing and that any further contact would be punishable as harassment. She also detailed the procedures I would need to go through if they chose to fight me on this and take it to court. Thankfully, it didn't go that far for me. I haven't heard from them since they received that letter.

For anyone else who has had trouble with them, look for a local low-cost legal service! It's so worth it! I didn't pay anything for the letter that this nice lawyer lady wrote on my behalf, and I've had peace of mind ever since. And don't let this corrupt organization bully you into paying anything you know you don't owe them. If you owe them nothing, that's exactly what they deserve to get!

When the year 2012 ended, I changed to the new insurance and I made an appointment again for braces. I spoke with a consultant named Christina. She looked at my insurance and said it was accepted so I filled out the paperwork. She told me the price was $4860 but with insurance, I would be paying about $2860. Since I went in on a Saturday, they couldn't run my insurance because the insurance company is closed on weekends and Monday was President's Day. Christina told me she would mail me the new amount on Tuesday (but I never received it).

They started putting on my brackets for the top 6 teeth. Then they told me they couldn't finish putting on my wires until I had a teeth cleaning. Later that night, one of the brackets fell off. I made an appointment for a teeth cleaning and I asked them if they take my insurance and they said yes. So I went in, gave them my insurance card and got a teeth X-ray and when they started checking my teeth, the lady said I had 11 cavities. I told her to check again because I have only had one cavity in my life but she insisted that it was all in between my teeth. They told me the total was going to be $4365 but with insurance, it's $1089.

I got 3 teeth done and left because I had a feeling I didn't have anything wrong. So I got a second opinion at another dentist and they told me I had no cavities. I was really mad at that point. So I called Western Dental back and told them that I was canceling my contract and to send me the bill for the 3 teeth I got done and nothing more. They said my price is $170 but when I received my bill it was $180. I paid $110 and when I got my next bill, to my surprise, it was the full $1089. I called back to complain and see what the problem was and now they say I need to go in to fill out some new paperwork to cancel it.

I called my insurance company and they told me that Western Dental doesn't accept the insurance I had and now I might be paying more than what I expected. I haven't seen Western Dental for three months and they are still billing the insurance company for fraudulent charges.

Additionally, my husband had gone in because he was having pain and they told him he had cavities. Being extremely afraid of dental procedures, they gave him nitrous oxide. He was on it for over an hour while they kept coming in and telling him, "I'll be right with you." After they filled 2 cavities and knowing he had been on laughing gas for quite some time, they let him walk out of the office unattended. When I went to pick him up (nobody even called to say he was done), I was told by one of the assistants that the last time he saw him, he was standing on the street corner trying to cross a busy 4-way intersection. He pointed out the window to show me where he saw him last. I cannot believe these people would allow someone in that condition to walk out of the office like that.

I called corporate and the credit manager yelled and screamed at me! Ultimately hanging up in my face! I went to my local branch and arranged payments so that I could catch up. I quickly caught up, but Western Dental corporate has continued to charge me monthly late fees of $35.00, accruing over $400 of late charges. When I spoke to the credit department (again, very rude customer service reps), I was told that there was nothing they could do about it. The payments would continue because Western Dental's system automatically adds the fees to my account monthly. Also, the credit department assured me that they were an in-house credit department and that this would not show up on my credit.

All lies. I now have a $4,000 default from Western Dental on my credit, which has hurt my scores substantially. My local branch told me to write a grievance against their corporate office because there's a glitch in the system when it comes to automatic payments. Despite their efforts, they could not stop corporate from adding these fees. Instead of owing a total of $500.00, I now owe over $900.00 because of unfair fees and horrible treatment by Western Dental corporate staff, who were unwilling to be helpful or fair in this matter.

I want the fees accumulated taken off of my account. It was Western Dental's mistake for stopping payments. I didn't stop the payments; they did. They also took unauthorized amounts of money out of my account that I didn't agree to. They made a mess. Now I have to suffer a default on my credit, along with late fees that continue to accrue. I want the default removed from my credit and the late fees removed. I will never recommend Western Dental ever!

When I returned a week later, the office manager said to me, “We couldn't do the work on your partial because you took it with you, and there’s nothing we can do for you at this point.” Long story short, I went in for emergency appointment the next day and was told it was the infection that was causing me so much pain. I suffered for over 10 days in horrible pain because they didn't give me a prescription for antibiotics. Unreal. Now, I am out a $1,200 partial plus the money they collected from me to do the work.

The receptionist was described as a black female, about 5’ 5” tall, very thin. I did not get her name. She said we would have to get written consent from the doctor. Being a Saturday, it would be very hard to do that. I asked if she could accept a verbal authorization to have her seen. She said no. We contacted the on-call Dr at Sutter Gould/OBGYN, who was Dr. **. We drove over to the urgent care office of Sutter on Hammer Lane to either get some kind of authorization from the ER doctor or have Dr. ** fax over an authorization to be seen at the March Lane office.

Dr. ** was able to write up an authorization with instructions for them to see her, as she's also stating it was very important she gets in to see someone because it could be deadly to the baby without care. We left Sutter to take the authorization back over to the March Lane office to now be told that appointments for exams take priority over the emergency and it could take 3 hours or more to be seen, even after we originally arrived after 8am before anyone was in there. I then requested to ask to talk to the office manager, Peter **. He had no compassion either and also said we would have to wait, that appointment exams take priority. He suggested we try one of the other offices to see if she could be seen sooner. He made a call to the Hammer Lane/West Lane office and said the wait time there was about an hour. We drove over to that office to be told the same thing, that appointments for exams take priority over the emergency and we would have to wait.

This is unacceptable. I cannot believe a simple exam, appointment or not, would take priority over an emergency, especially when pregnancy is involved that could be very dangerous. If something is to happen to the baby because of this, there will be a lawsuit. The procedures of your offices need a definite change and your employees need to be informed that emergencies take priority over a simple appointment. These places need a change in policies and procedures or be shut down.

To make a very long story short, I have contacted their call center three separate times with affirmation that my name would be removed from their list. This past time, I sad, "No. Your assurance isn't good enough. Take me out of your system." I was told they would not do that and there was no one in the call center who could help me. The rep refused to give me his supervisor's last name. At this time, I have been advised by my family's attorney to contact the US Attorney's office, file a report with the BBB and to file suit for harassment and invasion of privacy per the Consumer Protection Act. If the company doesn't respond to my email within 30 days that I sent today notifying them of everything that has transpired, including names and dates, that's exactly what I'm going to do. It'll be worth it.

The one thing on the conversation is, "bring cash to the office." The whole point of this is, because I had insurance, they did not want to bother because they wanted me to pay cash. This is the worst service I have gotten in all of my life. I will be forwarding my complaint to higher ups, because it seemed like a money hungry business than accepting my insurance. I will never give this company the time of day. I will make sure that it is known on Twitter and Facebook what they have done to me, rejecting my service because I was not a cash-paying customer.

I picked them up and the spot where they fixed them is really scratchy and lumpy. I called back and they said to come in. When I got there, they told me it has been 6 months and the swelling has probably gone down enough to be able to put a permanent liner in them. But this would cost me another $280.00. I still owe close to $800.00 on them and I don't feel I should be investing more money for these when they are cracked to begin with! I made the appointment but then I went home and thought about it, and I cancelled it. I called the corporate office and sent an email, but I haven't heard a word from them. Go figure. I feel they should make my bottom plate over again and not make me pay for something that was poorly made to begin with! I also went there because that is what insurance I have, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone!

Then, when I was seen by a doctor, I was told that I would need all of my wisdom teeth out, as well as two molars - the broken one and the one right next to the impacted wisdom tooth due to a cavity in it that they said wouldn't be cost effective to fix. I made an appointment to get the impacted tooth and the molar next to it out and when home. In March, I went in to get the extractions done. I paid the first part of the payment, $61.50, and was taken to the back. I had been told, again and again, that I would be fully sedated for the procedure. But when I got into the chair, the doctor grabbed a syringe and a pair of pliers and acted like he was going to start right away.

I'll admit, I had a meltdown. I went into hysterics and told them, "No, you said you could sedate me. You're not doing this without sedating me". The doctor got very huffy and went over to his computer, printing me a referral to go somewhere else for the work. Since the office didn't do anything and I didn't exactly have money to spare, I went back the next day and asked when I would be refunded for my first payment. They told me it'd take about ten days. Months went by with me popping in about once a week to ask and finally being told that the corporate wasn't allowing them to refund my money because my initial $99 wasn't showing up in their computer. It turned out that the lady I had paid the money to had never put my information in and as she hadn't given me a receipt, I had no way of proving it.

Basically, she stole $100 from me. The office staff either couldn't or wouldn't give me her name, although they admitted to knowing who she was and I was told that she quit working for them a week after my first visit. Figuring I'd just take that as a loss, I asked specifically if I owed anything else and after being told no, I left. Fast forward to May and I began receiving calls and letters from Western Dental, stating that I was months behind on my payments for work that they had never done. The most recent of these letters informed me that they would be forced to report me to the credit agencies (whom I'm already trying to work with over legitimate debts that I'm currently paying off) and possibly taking me to court over this. June 5th was a red-letter day, in which I received two letters and six phone calls all on the same day.

These people are terrible, their dental offices are a joke and the only good thing I've gotten out of them was that referral. I found a wonderful oral surgeon, who not only told me that I didn't need so many teeth out, but also managed to get me into surgery just this weekend for the first two. I'm finally out of constant pain, but now I've got the legal hassle of trying to get Western Dental off my back. Thankfully, I've also found a law office who just finished calling me back and hopefully, I'll be able to walk away from this nightmare $162 short, which is much better than the other horror stories many people have gone through with them.

After a little while, the manager did come out and he was already upset saying " you want services for nothing" and "I did you a favor by letting 5 months go by before payment" of this "so-called" mistake in billing. We started to get upset too and he threatened to call the police if we didn't leave and he said he would make sure Corporate wouldn't help us either. So far, we've tried contacting corporate several times and they never call us back to get this resolved. They keep billing us with late charges and we keep sending a $5 payment until this gets resolved. The BBB is investigating this right now. Western Dental is the worst place I've ever dealt with in my life. I would not recommend the Chico, CA location at all.

I have two older boys that both had full braces for five years each and never had issues like this, but we went to private orthodontist for them, not Western Dental. I wish I had never tried you guys out. Horrible service. I contacted the 800 number and told them everything and I wanted to make an appointment for removal of braces, because I am paying for treatment that is not working. She told me it would be $200 upfront to remove them and that I still needed to pay the remainder of $800 that was left. I feel this is not okay and expect a free removal and the $800 to be dismissed. If I need to contact my lawyer, I will do so. I am hoping you will understand and further actions will not need to be taken.

I requested a meeting with the manager, Anna, to show her that she is wrong. She failed to call me back. First, we set up an appointment and then she called me and said if we can push the appointment back three days because she has to request the original contract. Don't they have the contract there anymore? Anyway, she never called me back, but we got a letter from the corporate office saying we still owe the balance of $362. What foundation on? I am so angry because we had to straighten things out with her before. Apparently, the transition from the old manager to the new manager wasn't going too well because she kept asking us, "What do you think you owe?” And she seemed to be lost with the numbers.

I requested the corporate's phone number so I could follow up with corporate. When I called the corporate office, I spoke to Laila from the billing department and was informed that the paperwork was just received by corporate from the Redding office and that we will get payment in 7 to 10 days. After 10 days, I called again and spoke to Sandy. I was told that there was an audit place on the file and payment has not been approved. I informed Sandy that it's been almost 2 months since payment was made for services that my dad never got and that it doesn’t make any sense to hold onto the money since no services was completed. She put a hold on the file and told me that I will get a call back soon from Erica who is processing the file.

Today, I put a call into the complaint department. I spoke to Jessica and updated her about the whole situation. She told me that she will have to contact both the billing department and the office in Redding to see what she can do and she will put a rush on it. My dad and I have been pretty patient dealing with each person on the phone and waiting the 7 to 10 days that it supposedly takes to process the refund, but enough is enough when the answer you constantly get is that it’ll take 7 to 10 days. Can Western Dental keep money for services not received for this length of time? On top of everything, my dad gets harassing calls daily from Western Dental because his account is past due. How can the account be behind when he never received any work? We are very frustrated and constantly get the same answer. It takes 7 to 10 days to process. It's been almost 2 months! Who else can I contact to get the $80 refund?

Funny thing is when I went in to take x-rays, they didn't have any on file for me because I was never seen by a dentist, etc and the dentist said file did not match me, yet they billed it anyways. I took time off of work to prove it wasn't me so that they would stop the harassing phone calls and I am still getting the harassing phone calls. They wouldn't return my medical record to me and remove me off their records either. Probably so they could fraudulently bill again.

So we tried paying but they wouldn’t accept it because it wasn’t our full balance we owed. Horrible service and to add to it, the very last time I was seen by a dentist at Western Dental, a dental assistant who worked there even told me she was a patient under them and they are horrible.

He then offered me a refund on the denture as I am unable to wear it. I agreed. He then proceeded to write me a referral to another dentist. He then apologized and said we would take care of the refund at the front desk. He then hands me off to a receptionist who says that is not possible, and then writes a phone number on a Post-it and says here is the grievance number. Unfortunately we can not accommodate you. Keeping in mind I do not have the denture, and I have already made two cash payments of $897.00. And one monthly payment of $183.00 in a 5-week time frame. At this point I am just stunned that they would basically defraud me in such a horrible manner. I do not know what to do, so I go to my car and call the number. They proceed to tell me I have no basis, as I signed and accepted for the denture, and I had not.

The dentist would not have acted so if I had signed the contract or at least had the device. I do not have the device or the money, I explained to the grievance department. They are shocked and instruct me to go get the device. So I go back in to the office and get the device. Not a word is said to me. They all act like this is just normal procedure. I am just stunned. I went to get a fitting and that was not accomplished or even attempted. I was sent out in a very humiliating manner to basically go through a grievance process. Also, when I called the number and asked to speak with a regional manager, I was told I could not get that number. So now I am proceeding with another dentist; however, I must say something to the Board of Dentistry about the poor business practice and ethical violations of the dentists in the Sparks office.

I have been over drilled to the point I am going to have to get root canals on two of the teeth now; these teeth were not in bad shape in the first place! Which they act like my teeth are just ultra sensitive, after drilling & drilling the nerves are aggravated & each job they have done has been re-done 4 to 5 times! I have had so many of Western Dentals dentist's work on my teeth, one preps & another one tries to complete the job, then if there is something wrong they give you to another dentist or dental assistant, this has happened to me over & over again.

I have been very understanding, but I have had to return over & over! I started in 2011 & I am still not done it is 2012 now, I can't afford the root canal's & I really need to sew Western Dental. I have to look into an attorney, to find out if I can sew the office for damages done to my teeth & all the time & money I have lost, they make you sign a waiver to settle out of court, hence why they seem not to care that they have made mistakes on my teeth. Please whoever you know guide them away from western dental, it is not worth the money or time.

I have spent excessive personal time, money, time off work, and gas just to accommodate Western Dental's numerous mistakes. I am distraught that I have to wear braces for another 6-12 months because they did not have the correct retainers allowing my teeth to move considerably. Due to the sudden shift, I had migraine headaches because my teeth no longer touched in the back. So every time I bit down, it was a forced bite. I had taken time off work due to these headaches. It's horrible.

I'm waiting for the bone graft to heal in order to get my two front teeth. My life has been altered by not having two teeth. I was a victim of a crime so my new expenses are being covered and I was able to get a retainer with teeth. The retainer causes me pain due to the incorrect bone graft. Also, Western Dental's collection agency Mr. ** is creepy and unprofessional.

I cannot tell you all the grief I have suffered trying to get my teeth back and trying to talk to Western Dental. Talking to them is like talking to a wall. Do not ever deal with Western Dental; I am sorry I was sent there.

Sadly, I didn't know this until after I started having the work done. My insurance company even sent me checks to help cover what I had to pay out of pocket because they knew I was supposed to be fully covered. Now they are calling and harassing me every day. I had to take about a month and a half off from work because my father was in the hospital with cancer, and while he was in there, my mother died.

They called me on the day of my mother's funeral trying to get money from me. I told them that I can't talk to them right now because I am getting ready to go and bury my mother. They basically told me that that wasn't their problem and that I still owe them money. I told them to go screw themselves and hung up on them. They just sent me a letter saying they are trying to get over $1600 from me for a bill that is $583 because my brother wrote them a bad check trying to pay it off without me knowing what he was doing. I had nothing to do with him writing the bad check, and now they are threatening me. They are telling me they are charging me 3 times the amount of the check because it was bad. I don't want to bring this up with my father, about the bad check, because he has already been through enough. I just want this matter resolved and wish these people would just burn in hell.

I said, "I still want my cleaning today." They said okay and told the assistant to erase the charges for the periodontist and set me up for a cleaning. The assistant came back and said, "Can you come back tomorrow?" I said no. She said that they were too busy and that they were down to one dentist. I would have to wait for 5 other patients first before they could give me a cleaning. I felt that they just didn't want to give me a cleaning because I said I wanted one before seeing the periodontist. I got nothing for my insurance being paid. My daughter was there too and her appointment was at 5:00 p.m. Dr. ** attended to her without saying one word to her about her whole experience after me. She gave my daughter a cleaning and didn't say or ask her one word.

Now they will not give me a balance due, just a runaround. They call me every single day; wanting payment on a work they did not perform. They refuse to give me a balance due for the work that was performed; so that I can pay it, and be done with them. They will not do the remaining work. I don't know how much money they make by bull dozing people like this, but i have two boys that need braces, they will not be getting anymore business from me. I wish I knew who to turn them into for this nonsense and harassment.

Second time we went was way worse! We waited to be roomed for about 2 hours! People who got there after me were being seen first. I kept on checking with the front desk for our turn and they continue to lie, telling me I would be next. That happened after 2 hours. Once in the room, I kept seeing bad bedside manner towards other patients as well. I witnessed when a mom was explaining to the Dental Assistant what was wrong with her son's teeth, as soon as the Dental Assistant turned her back on the mom, she rolled her eyes in frustration! I couldn't believe it!

When it was my daughter's turn, it got worse for us. The doctor gave my daughter a numbness shot and waited a few minutes to kick in. He started working on her and she was screaming. His assistant told him, “She's just acting like that, because her mom is here.” I explained to her that she's not acting, she is simply nervous because this was the first time she had a root canal plus she's only 8 years old! The doctor told my daughter if she didn't be quiet, that he was going to give her another shot, and he did!

Then they told me to leave the area because I was just making it worse... for them! I left, but at this point I just wanted to grab my daughter from that chair and take her home! Instead I just took a deep breath and left very worried. After she came out she looked frightened. I asked her if she was alright and she said that they had treated her really bad after I left! She said that they told her that if she didn't be quiet, that they were going to tie her down! It wasn't enough for them to give her two shots, but they also wanted to tie her down!

The clerk who handled the call said they cannot do anything. I requested the payment history once last year, but I have never received one. Every time I call, they transfer me back and forth between departments. At one time, after persistence, they did upgrade my complaint to the manager but nothing has been done. I believe that my account has been overcharged. They want to do the history by hand so they can manually/retroactively change and adjust the charges at their will. I don't think that they cannot run the payment history through their computer system.

I made it clear, called to corporate, called the office and explained them I have nothing pending, is all paid in advance and is not done yet because I do not have my partial which I did pay for already. They sent me to collections after I was back and forth with them, and they know I do not owe them but they owe me. I have a collections and unfairly untreated tooth and a bill pay without the product done. I need to sue them big time.

I'm on SSI and was sent to collections agency. 8777452329 told me I owe 900.00 dollars. They keep harassing me and won't talk to my mom. I only had 300.00 dollars work done, and they overcharged my insurance Delta Dental for X-Rays.

After having the x-rays, I was told the price would be $191 for the simple extraction (not $159) and $386 for the surgical extraction (not the $286). I was also told that the oral surgeon is only there 2 times a month - and this was his day. Having spent $99 for the exam, and facing having to wait 2 more weeks for the surgeon to return, I felt I had no other option other than to agree to their greatly inflated price. I have called no less than 5 different phone numbers, only to be hung up on several times. I left multiple voice messages that never get returned. And I endured repeated statements that Western Dental does not make adjustments. I have repeatedly been told that I am at fault for accepting the pricing and having the work done; that I had the option to not accept the quote (and walk away with only a $99 loss).

I understand an estimate is an estimate. But common sense dictates that the estimate is somewhat in the ballpark of the actual cost. The estimate I was given was more than 40% lower than the actual quote. I feel I was backed into a corner and had no choice - make my son suffer or pay their extorted rates. I will never go back to this place and will advise everyone I know to never do business with this institution.

I went in May to have my teeth done before I turned 21 on July 15, and Alondra *** didn't file the request until the 26th of July. Why is this okay? Is this how you run your offices? I want a complaint filed with this office and something be done about your employees. Now I don't know what to do and I'm in terrible pain. I hope this will not happen to another patient. I tell all my friends and family members my story and to not go where nothing will be done, but pain and suffering.

I came back and they told me the person handling it, was gone for lunch. But assured me this would stop. Today I got another bill, threatening collection this time. But my receipt proves I do not owe and they did not perform this service. What can I do? I am being emotionally harassed and can't cope with this anymore. I am a senior citizen with a limited budget and do not know how to make this stop. The stress is wearing off my physical health. Please help me!

Yesterday, I underwent extremely painful and extensive surgery to repair my fractured jaw bone and remove the debris and abscess that was left by Western Dental. I was told by one of their own dentist and the oral surgeon that repaired their work that they could have killed me with what they had done. I have spent the last 3 weeks in extreme pain, two visits to the E.R., and no food or sleep due to the pain. This is not right! This has caused loss of income for almost a month, two hospital visits, 6 prescriptions, the surgery they paid for and they are refunding the money paid initially.

I finally started filling out my papers. I waited another hour. Finally, I was called, given x-rays and then seated 30 minutes while the same guy who gave me x-rays misplaces them? I wasn't really aware of the other stuff yet until I go to another dentist to get a second look. After all that waiting, the dentist comes in, takes a quick look and says I need a bridge. I lost my crown and I had a piece of sharp post sticking out. He didn't talk to me about a cleaning or composite or anything which is what my regular dentist told me. He didn't even bother to seal my post from my root canal which my regular dentist did. All Western Dental felt like was they wanted 2000 dollars from me. I'm low income and I chose not to get my bridge there.

I have made every payment. So far I am wondering what those people are doing. Also, the letter wasn't signed by anyone at the bottom, only type is credit counselor and that to me is not professional and the stamp the envelope came is from another zip code which doesn't match to the office. The economic part damage is that my credit is not good at the moment. I do not wish for my credit to get worse. I am working very hard to fix it. Physical: yesterday I didn't sleep well and felt very nervous. I worry a lot.

The first thing they did was replaced all of my silver fillings with porcelain ones. Fine, now I no longer look like a silverware tray. The next thing was to fix a space in between my two front teeth and fill a couple of cavities along the top right side (front) of my mouth. When I declined a root canal to fix the space, they finally fixed it by filling it. No problem there. As to fixing the cavities mentioned above, I now have a hole behind my front teeth that I can almost stick my pinky finger in. Although they did fill the tooth with porcelain, they failed to remove any signs of decay before doing so. The tooth they pulled directly next to the one up top was pulled out, yes, but not entirely.

I now have tooth fragments coming through the gum, causing severe pain on a daily basis. All of the fillings that were switched from silver to porcelain on the upper left side of my mouth have since fallen out, causing great pain. Now, let's move right along to the bottom of my mouth. Right in front, along the gum line, on the lower teeth, it looks as though there is mold. Apparently, this does not concern Western Dental because they say there is nothing to worry about, it's normal. You must understand, I am a person who brushes and flosses my teeth constantly; at least three (sometimes more) times daily. So, it's not like I don't take care of them.

It's now two years later (maybe less) and I am left with 20 teeth that are still attached, one of which is turning black and rotting (top front); six of which are black after the fillings fell out; an entire row of bottom teeth that are molding from the gum up; and bone fragments that try and force themselves out through the gum but never do. I have no partials, although they have been paid for through C.M.S.P., and the $7800 in dental work that has supposedly been done (and paid for) in my mouth, wasn't worth 78 cents. Unfortunately, I qualify as low income, and I am no longer covered through C.M.S.P.; and Lord knows, I would love to sue Western Dental for malpractice, but I can't afford it. I don't even want any money, but I do want my mouth fixed. I can no longer afford buying toothache medicine on a daily basis. It's not cheap.

Approximately two weeks later, I woke up with severe pain in my right jaw and neck and my cervical lymph node was swollen. I called my doctor and she gave me antibiotics not even thinking about my teeth. So I was on antibiotics for about 7-10 days. The pain went away but not the lymph node swelling was still there. 3 weeks later, the same pain came back. She then got worried because when I came in, I had lost 12 pounds in a matter of 3 weeks. So she started running tests. So being under care of my doctor, I was going to the orthopedist at Western Dental to get my braces tighten, no problems with the orthopedic services received. After numerous testing and expensive trips to the ER, my doctor finally said go back to the dentist and see what they say.

So on 01/25/2010, I go back and told them how I was feeling and the assistant said, "Did you take the antibiotics we gave you?" I said, "What antibiotics? I would have taken them but no antibiotic was given except for the ones by my doctor." Then Dr Hassan took me to get x-rays and said, "There is no infection and you're fine but here is a prescription for Penicillin (the strongest antibiotic)." I said, "Why a prescription for penicillin if there is no infection?" Either there is or there is not, he said take the prescription and come back tomorrow and walked away. After this, I was about to scream because I have been so sick and losing weight for no explained reason. The next day, I contacted my insurance company and advised them of what was happening and they advised me to go to another dentist.

I then went to Market West Dental on 01/28/2010. DDS Shelia ** was so upset at the treatment and mishaps of the office of Western Dental. The root canal that they done didn't get a crown put on it, supposedly because of my braces and they put a composite which can still allow infection to get in and braces were put on with three wisdom teeth, which are now infected and to them being impacted which I was unaware of. So now, I have to miss work and get all three extracted immediately and then possibly have the braces removed and risk my permanent teeth of falling out because of the movement of my roots. I am a mother of two and I don't have money to blow and the risk of my health is completely unacceptable. I now have to come out more money to have the teeth extracted and possible risk of teeth falling out.

Something needs to be done ASAP about this office. Going to the dentist or the doctor, we go in with faith and hope that we are going to get treated fairly and not have to worry about the treatment or having to get sick. To make the matters worse, my brother went to the Chico location and had a root canal done as well and ended up getting an abscess and was hospitalized for two weeks with cellulitis and almost died. This is ridiculous that they are still in business and having all of these complaints submitted to your office and other associations and nothing is being done. What does it have to take? Will it be for someone to die in order for someone to take action on this company's organization? This is ridiculous of the type of services provided.

When I went to Market West Dental all of my x-rays and exam coverage was used up for 6 months. What are they doing? I refuse to pay them anymore money due to the damage and mishaps and misdiagnosing that this office has caused and trauma to my health. I am very devastated. I hope your office takes this into consideration, along with all the other complaints that I seen listed on your website in regards to this office and sub offices of this organization of Western Dental, and that some type of action is been due to fix all of the issues and concerns with Western Dental. I'm a very upset and mistreated customer of Western Dental Office located on 3645 Northgate Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95834, 9162867750.

They denied her medical care and soon she started having trouble with the braces worse than before they were put on. I finally found another dental office that processed all paperwork correctly and in a timely fashion and lo and behold, the claim was approved. They had to remove the first set of braces and by that time my child had a very bad case of gingivitis so they had to treat her for that before they could even attempt a new set of braces. Since that time, my child’s orthodontic treatment has been wonderful since it is at a different office altogether. Western Dental has reported this to all credit bureaus, which is showing as a negative factor. They caused my child unnecessary pain and suffering. It is their duty to continue care once they have begun treatment, which they did not.

Then I get another notice in the mail saying they will not be accepting medical and or CMSP as of June 30th. So, I called the Folsom branch and they told me they can't accept me anymore even though I got a letter sent here. Their website also states they will not accept insurance as of June 30th. I do appreciate the way in which Sandra handled this. She found the only dentist that would cover me but they are in Lodi and I am in Cameron Park. It's false advertising. I have the notices and you can look on their website.

I went to another Dentist, in May of 2008, and they xrayed and examined my teeth. I was surprised when they told me that all of the work Western Dental had completed, would have to be redone, including the crown. They also want to do a deep cleaning (even though Western Dental said they did a deep cleaning). They said that my gum under the crown is inflamed, and it is causing problems in the bone under that tooth. There is decay under all of the fillings that Ms. Kumari put in my mouth.

The work that was done by Western Dental was through the Denti-cal here in Alameda County. The second Dentist I went to is under my employer, San Francisco State University (and I pay a deductible). With my deductible the work is going to be around $4,000.00 with my deductible.

Once I found out that they had done a shoddy job, I tried to file a complaint through the state, but cannot find this Dentist (her name is Sutri Kumari). I put her name in to find her license number, and there was no match. I asked the receptionist if (Ms. Kumari), today when I spoke to her, and she said yes she was. Then she told me she was not in today (May 29, 2008). I feel that I am getting the run around from Western Dental. I do not want any Dentist from their office going in my mouth again.

In fact I don't trust any Dentist at this point, and do not know what I should do.

Thereafter I begin sending in $80.00 per month (3-months totaling $240.00),however none of the payments have been applied to my account. At this point I began receiving letters demanding I pay $402.00. I have called Western Dental on numerous ocassions (office in Claremont & the corporate office), as well as sent in numerous letters requesting a printout of all my payments, but my calls are never returned. However Western Dental's collection department contacts me once a week, but when I try to explain the situation they tell me "WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAYMENTS YOU SENT IN, WE ARE CALLING TO COLLECT, YOU NEED TO CALL THE CLAREMONT OFFICE." In February 2008, I attempted to take my daughter to the Western Dental office in Rancho Cucamonga, but was told she could not be seen until I pay the amount of $402.00, nor would the Claremont office transfer my daughter's file. Western Dental also had the audacity to send in a false claim to my insurance company stating my daughter was seen in the Rancho Cucamonga office on 02/19/08.

This is simply not true. My daughter was declined to be seen, because Western Dental is demanding I pay $402.00. Since Western Dental has refused to cooperate with me by not applying any of my payments, failed to return my phone calls, has not responded to my written letters & last but not least sent in a false claim to my insurance company, I have stopped sending in my monthly payment of $80.00.

Dr.Ray said rudely to the nurse "I exit this patient ,I can't no longer work on him!" Failed to advise my wife. Left my son in the chair and walked out of the operating room. My 5 year old son cried out "Don't leave as Dr.Ray walked out. "Don't leave me with this tooth!" My 5 year old son cried out!" My wife and 12 year old son noticed that Dr.Ray did not change his gloves prior to touching our sons mouth. My wife and 12year son also observed Dr.Ray handling chemicals he used to clean his head gear with the same gloves he touch our sons mouth with.My wife addressed Dr.Ray's behavior to him personally and he replied "Oh,you think I'm being rude?

He shouted at my wife. I myself personally filed a complaint with the office on this same day. Selema, the office Manager contacted my wife via phone on this same day but never offered an apology. Selema simply stated that Dr.Ray would be spoken to so that "this" doesn't happen to anyone else. On 01/30/08 my wife contact Western Dental Coporate (consumer complaints)and advised them of this situation. Regional will be advised by Corporate. Action pending.

SHAME ON YOU WESTERN DENTAL! Why are you even allowed to remain in operational status? I am absolutely livid that your institution is degrading Denti-Cal and low income patients! I, personally, had private insurance however used your services based on the fact that you're open on Saturday. Here, in short, is my experiance thus far:
A. Absolutely FILTHY conditions of your Briggsmore Office;
B. MASSIVE overbooking of patients - my visit was nearly four hours AND INCOMPLETE;
C. Staff that admittedly perform duties out of their scope of practice;
D. Innappropriate billing - which is why you are currently under investigation for insurance fraud;
E. It's been three weeks and STILL NO CROWN;

F. Your corporate offices continue to ignore my requests for resolution.

Western Dental I fully plan on making as much noise as I can with the appropriate agencies to make sure that you pay attention and make change to the inhumane treatment of patients and the misappropriate collection of state funded insurance monies! I encourage anyone with any influence - including complaints - to do the same.

YOU ARE A HEALTH HAZARD AND A PRIME EXAMPLE OF EXPLOITING THE SYSTEM IN PLACE TO HELP LOW INCOME FAMILIES!

He was clearly angry, he was verbally abusive and he frightened me by his behavior. He even asked me did I want him to stop, because I was yelling from the pain I shook my head "No". After he finally finished he had his assistant clean up the mess and he handed me a prescription for antibiotics and pain. The assistant asked if I was OK I said NO! I was so devastated I left my eyeglasses and book I had been reading. The dentist never said anything once he had completed the job. I was crying, and holding my face. My husband showed up and could see that I had been traumatized by this experience. I later returned to pick up my eyeglasses and book, but at the same time I informed the front office staff that I would be contacting Better Business Bureau and Consumer affairs regarding the matter.

My boyfreind has had his dentures for 17 years with no problems. I need to know what I can do about this. Aren't they suppose to last longer than 6 years? Shouldn't the dentist have to pay for these improperly made dentures? I beleive they should!! Please contact me and let me know.

even my kids were amazed of what he have done! not only that, I was so sore and noticed my gum was ripped off on the side of my tooth!!! no wonder he said that I will be bleeding for awhile but that is normal...I went back and told the front office it was unacceptable, reminded them that they gave me a copy and made me signed papers saying that they follow cleaness and caring practice! I showed her what he have done, and what I look and was covered of blood! they took me inside and told me another doctor will see me. Next to know, there HE was! this time with another assistant, who held the water hose and actually clipped on the towel on me, he then sanded my tooth so it looks like a tooth not like a blob! did not apologized at all, he only comment I heard you were not satisfied with our job, I told him, I told you so many times, he proceeded to finish and it looks decent enough, I had filling covering even my other tooth!! he did not removed everything still, refusing by saying that it needed to stay in the other tooth.

Never in my life, I had experience the most Nightmare, horrifying, mistreatment in a dentist!!! not only that, the first 4 days, my head hurt on the right side, a pain that goes from my eye to my jaw!, I bleed every time I brush and it hurts up to date when I touch it! my tooth had not root as it is ready for a crown. and thinking I will do it with them, because he said, that he will not do just the filling, unless I do a crown, so I agreed. by the way, my root canal was done before. Anyway, I paid that day, $113.25 thinking I was going to finish, get done with it on the next appt. Sept 29th, and will make other payments accordingly and to my surprised and to topped it all. June from the office called on Wed Sept 12th spoke with my husband as I was at work, she said: "they have lost all my molds and they need me to go in there to re-do them".

I was very upset, I believe this doctor did not like I complainted and "lost" all my molds, 4 of them which he pushed and pushed and gagged me and did not care, and pulled my lips so hard down, that I had skin burn!!! on my top lip!!! either that or as he was as dirty when he treated me and sloppy, he really lost my molds each one of them!

I was like my husband told June, furious, so I waited until I calmed down and although I do need badly my crown, I decided is not worth it for me to go back there, so on Wed Sept 19th I called and spoke not only with the girl in the front but also with June, who did apologized but I again explained all that had happened, she offered again another doctor, but they did when I came back and still gave me the same guy. (by the way, if I do not have his name spelled correctly, is because they did not even gave me his name on that day, nor a card for the next appt, I had to filled that myself and found his name when I called the last time, in any case, he is an asian man in his 40's) I told June I will not come back, I also told her, that I know that filling cost is only $55.00, I paid $113.25, thinking I was getting a crown, but because they lost my molds and I will not go back with them, I asked for the difference to be returned to me. She said she was going to talk to her manager and I gave her my home phone number and said for her to refund my money. I have not heard from them.

I will still give them more days, but, I do need to report the awful treatment, dirty, inconsidered to the pain, specially the cleaness of the job, because they gave me a copy (which I have) of the way how sterilized they are. then, how come I ended up with blood and fillings and stuff all over me that people were looking!!!! I don't know if there is an association of dentist where to report this man, he should not be allowed to practice!!!