Navaya Kft
map-marker French Camp, California

Smilecare Dental is a Disaster!!!!

Sadly I thought for many years that Smilecare was the only office covered by my HMO Insurance, and the list of horrors is embarrassingly long. What I will say is that we have 100% dental coverage and consistently are given "treatment plans" that are pricier than if we had no insurance at all. Furthermore, they beef up the bill by including unnecessary work. The wait time is extremely long, the staff unprofessional and rude, the office run down and dirty, and the dentists need anger management. Honestly, there is nothing I can say that is positive about Smilecare. They should be run out of business.
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Anonymous
map-marker Los Angeles, California

Going on 2 year unresolved refund issue!!

I am referring to Smile Care in Mission Hills. I have also spoken to "Corporate" which has been absolutely USELESS. My daughter got her braces off almost 2 years ago in Nov. She got them off way early. I am due a refund for the extra months that I paid for. At one point they issued a credit on my account, then they made adjustments and cleared out my credit and tell me I am not due a refund! why?? You would think there is ONE person competent enough to explain to me why I shouldn't be due a refund. There is nobody that can explain anything to me. Everyone drops the ball, everyone says I need to speak to someone else, "they are not the person that handles that". Ive heard it all! I am due a refund. I am so disgusted with this company.
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Loss:
$500
Aldrich Her

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker San Francisco, California

Incompetence

So I went in today for an appointment I scheduled last year for this month. They suggested that I have 2 quadrants deep cleaned plus some fillings redone. I waited until this month so that I wouldn't pay out of pocket as much and I had the funds on my FSA card. However, when I went in today I had to tell them that for now I could only do a basic cleaning and would have to schedule my deep cleaning after I find out the cost of my daughter's surgery. My 7 year old dislocated and broke her elbow last week, which obviously wasn't expected. So before I spend a total of $500 on dental work out of pocket, I just need to know how much her accident is going to cost me since I'm on a budget. And they actually told me that since they recommended the deep cleaning I must have gum disease and they WON'T perform a regular cleaning. I asked "so if I have the gum disease, it is better that I have NO cleaning at all because I can't do the deep cleaning until I know how much my daughter's medical bills will be?" and they said yes. I walked out. This place is always trying to upsell on everyone. Even when I do find out that I have the funds to get it done, I honestly would rather pay cash at a dentist and not go to SmileCare. The only problem I have is that my daughter's ortho contract is under them.
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Tannah Nmn
map-marker Los Angeles, California

Smilecare has Excellent Service

Are you afraid to smile because others will see your bad teeth? Me too! Do you really Wish you could have a Gorgeous Smile? Me too! Guess What? You Can!! I know because I did something about mine, and so can you!! I went to the Orthodontist at SmileCare Orthodontics in Temecula, and he has changed my smile from disparaging to Spectacular! Professional Bedside Manner? He has that in spades. He is kind and gentle in his approach to oral care. But, more importantly, he has accomplished a miracle with his brilliant work on my teeth. Two of my teeth on the lowers, grew in behind the others when I was a kid. Hideous!! I actually have all my teeth in one row now, and they are straight!! I never dreamed it was possible. I will tell you, in the orthodontists’ hands my worst dental issues were a challenge that he happily applied his unbelievable skill and creativity to solve! He is an amazingly professional and brilliantly skillful Orthodontist! My Dentist at this facility is another testament to outstanding dental practice. He has corrected my existing dental problems, and prevented decay and other potential issues with his superb and very gentle care. I would trust him to take care of anyone in my family. Oh, and my oral hygienist? She is first rate amazing! Under her skilful hands my gums are actually improving to help save me from further gum loss and tooth decay! QUESTIONS: Pain with braces and dental care? Minor discomfort, but a little Ibuprofin for 1 or 2 days after a visit took care of that. Expensive? The office team of front office staff helped me to set up the financing to make it affordable in my budget. Would I recommend this Dental Office and staff? Absolutely!! Hands Down the best dental care I have ever received! TAKE AWAY MESSAGE: Doctors and Staff at Smilecare of Temecula really care about you! And, they will do everything possible to give a smile to be proud of. And, they will do it all with kindness! Do not let anything stop you – Keep your eye on the prize and get the amazing smile you deserve! Go to Smilecare of Temecula and meet the people that will make you free to smile from ear to ear beautifully!!
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1 comment
Guest

This is so obviously a Smilecare employee.

Anonymous
map-marker College Place, Washington

Worst "care" ever!!!!! Super UNprofessional!!!!

David M Garate DDS offers the worst experience in all of San Diego available. The clerical staff discusses personal information in front of other customers, does not fully explain procedures/expense. Major HIPPA violation! David Garate talks down to patients and treats as if they are liars. If you get an appointment with him plan on being be Little and get comfortable cause appointments are NOT on time and he will leave you alone in exam room for many hours, allowing the anesthesia to where off and his technique is HORRIBLE. The only good thing about this place is Julio dental assistant. Julio has a great/caring attitude and is very professional.
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Loss:
$8000
1 comment
Sherrice Als

they are verry rude unprofessional and so is the manager in vista smilecare its all business to them they charged me for my braces and made me get a loan from care credit last year now im stuck payin it and they wont reinburse me for work they havent done because i was pregnant the receptionist doesnt even bother to tell me to sit down while i wait for her to give me my follow up she looks like she hates her job im ending my contract tomorow i found a better dentist that is legit. :(

Anonymous
map-marker Chula Vista, California

David Garatti WORST DENTIST EVER!!

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!! EPIC FAIL!! clerical staff gossip and speak about patient info in front office located in waiting rm. the dentist DAVID is a big Bee "S"er. his quality is based on commission. that should say it all. this guy is in it for the dollar not the patients. the more patients the better and if the office is packed as usual he will keep you waiting long enough for the anesthia to where off. and then you get another shot and he'l return in 30min later "maybe". Im not sure but this seams like a facility that students in school get practice and training cause there definitly not proffessionals. I even over heard the kid that cleans teeth tell David the dentist that he needs direct supervision to conduct a procedure and David laughed and said no worries I can hear if the patient screams from here.. this is while David was in the cubical with me disscussing potential procedures.. wish i would of left then but me being the big dumby invested money into future procedures. to all you brave enough and wealthy enough to have treatment here.. good luck I highly DO NOT RECCOMEND this place
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Loss:
$10000
Anonymous
map-marker Clovis, California

Ripp Offs

The employees are really nice. But when it came down to it, the clinic was all about taking your money. They keep saying what good insurance I had but I still walked out paying $900 dollars out of pocket for a crown. They try selling you these electric toothbrushes, fluoride, ect. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time and if your not sure they make it sound like if you need it.They didn't give me a detailed statement on what exactly was charged after all. The next morning I had to go back because the temp crown was hurting me. So I asked for a statement and asked if there was a cheaper crown and the lady rudely said it was to late ,it had been shipped out. It hadn't been more that 48 hours.And its not like it was made and in my mouth for he to do something about it.They clearly try to get you for all these things you don't really need. If your not paying attention, they will get you.
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Loss:
$900
2 comments
Guest

They have dental assistants doing work that only the dentist is supposed to do.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-609243

WE all need to report these things to the ADA and CDA.

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Anonymous
map-marker Sacramento, California

Fraud

I paid for service that was never completed. I ask for a refund and it has been over 5 months and the employees or corporate have yet to return my phone calls. When I call and talk to the office manager, she lies and says she is not the manager and does not know why her employees continue to tell people she is. DO NOT GO HERE!!! I have made many attempts to communicate with Smilecare to no avail. They will not even update me on the process or how long it will take. This is not right to treat people this way.
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Loss:
$400
1 comment
Guest

Thank you for your comment. I'd like to help you, but your comment was posted anonymously. Please call the SmileCare Patient Relations team at 1-85*-***-**** for assistance.

aimee a Aio
map-marker Los Angeles, California

Smile Care is the worst place ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updated by user Jan 04, 2013

Thanks I will. I will not be holding my breath waiting for a response I will tell you that much.

I will respond here and let you know if I do get a response. Also I got a patient relations number last week called left a message...and called a second time yesterday and left a message and guess what?? NO CALL BACK of course.

Soooo not surprised! 1-85*-***-**** Tracy Zepeda is the name of the person that has not returned my 2 phone calls

Original review Jan 03, 2013
My daughter got her braces off early and I have been due a refund for over 1 year now. I have been completely IGNORED by every single person I have tried to solve this with. Every number I dial, nobody calls me back. Nobody has responded to my complaints. I have never in my entire life dealt with such a HORRIBLE customer service. I am disgusted with this place I could spit. Everyone has done nothing but drop the ball. These people should not even be in business working this way as far as I am concerned. Absolutely ridiculous useless
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Loss:
$650
3 comments
Guest

Thank you for the additional information. I received your email a few minutes ago and am following up.

aimee a Aio
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-589303

So here we are again...its Jan 10th. I still have yet to get this resolved.

Alicia from the Mission Hills office has sent numerous emails to John in Collections to inquire as to why I am not receiving my refund and he has not responded.

Im sick and tired of this place. :(

Guest

Thank you for your comment. Please email Beth@***.com with your daughter's name and office and I will forward it to our patient relations team to follow up. Thank you.

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Tara D Jny
map-marker Manteca, California

Smile-care finds extra ways to charge

High turn over, incompetent dentists, never waited less than 20 min to be called. They always find ways to to charge me more than what I expected. My son has seen at least 3 different dentist in 1 year. They said they have a new data base/ filing system, lost my sons records. The front office staff are unprofessional and can be rude. At one time I counted 6 front office staff , they all ignored me with side conversations and acting too busy to acknowledge me. There is one dental assistant who is more professional than the rest of the entire staff combined. Horrible service at the San Ramon location. It's obviously upper management, since the complaints seem universal throughout all locations. Who's responsible for watching over these folks and protecting the consumer?
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2 comments
Guest

It's time that Smile Care pays for the mistakes that they have made. I would like to start the process of filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Anyone interested in joining the potential class action lawsuit please email

smilecareclassaction@***.com

Guest

It's time that Smile Care pays for the mistakes that they have made. I would like to start the process of filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Anyone interested in joining the potential class action lawsuit please email

smilecareclassaction@***.com

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Anonymous
map-marker San Diego, California

Received bill from collection agency 5 years later

If this has happened to you, please file a complaint with the FTC. 1-877-FTC-HELP. If they receive enough complaints, legal action will follow. We stopped going to Smile Care 4 years ago. I paid all bills from them at that time. I just received a bill from a collection agency (AWA Collections) for services my husband received in January 08. I never received an original bill or explanation of services from Smile Care. They are threatening to ruin my credit rating. Last year I got a similar bill from AWA collections regarding the same date of service and I tried to find out what it was about. Smile Care said I had to provide the records from my two insurance agencies. I tried and they didn't have records back that far. I felt extorted upon, but paid the $190.00 to AWA, who promised that my debt to Smile Care was now cleared. Just got another bill from AWA for $140.00.
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Loss:
$330
3 comments
Guest

Thank you so much I am going to file a complaint such a horrible place.

Guest

I'm going through the same situation. My bill went trough AWA collection without smile care advising me that I owe them money.

It started in Aug 2012 and it is now Sep 2013 and it hasn't gone anywhere besides the collection agency harassing me and my credit score going down. I've been calling them for that long to check on the status of my situation but the manager only answers me with "I have not heard anything from the corporate".

I'm now thinking about going that route to file a complaint. Thanks.

Guest

Dear Anonymous, as manager of the SmileCare Patient Relations Department, I ask that you please call a member of our CA team at 1-85*-***-****. We will be more than happy to research your concerns and resolve in a timely manner. Thank you.

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Anonymous
map-marker San Diego, California

Hard sell, poor quality service

This is the worst dental office, ever. They have a tremendous staff turnover, from office managers to the dentists. In the last 2 years, my kids & I have seen 3 different dentists & my daughter has had 2 orthodontists. Over the last 4 visits in 2 years, I have been told that I grind my teeth in my sleep & need a $350 mouth guard; at my next visit with a different dentist, I was told that I am brushing the enamel off my teeth & need a $150 tooth brush; the next visit with yet another dentist, I was told that I now have 8 cavities, need a root canal & a deep cleaning for a cost of over $2000, which is not covered by my insurance. When I asked how it was possible that I could have gotten 8 cavities & need a root canal in the 6 months since my last visit, (when I am now 58 & have not had a cavity since I was 17), he stated that not all dentists are as thorough as himself, thereby discrediting the 2 previous dentists that SmileCare had working for them. When I asked the dentist to show me the damage on the the xrays, he said that they did not show up on xray. Really?!? 8 cavities & tooth damage that requires a root canal & not one shows up on xray? This month I saw the same dentist & now he says I need an additional root canal & all the same stuff from the last visit, now with a total of $4, 031.99. In addition, they gave me an estimate of $860 on top of what my insurance covers for dental work, toothpaste & a toothbrush for my 17 year old son, who has previously always had great exams. The orthodontist has completed work on my daughter's top teeth & we requested that the top braces come off. @ her next visit, he looked at her *** & said how great it looked & recommended top & bottom be removed , when the previous month he said that the bottom ones would not be ready for a few more months. When I reminded him of this, he again looked @ her *** & had the tech make retainer molds for only the top teeth as we had originally agreed. We set her appt for October 1st to get the top braces off & get the retainer. We kept this appt & after they checked her teeth & left us waiting for an hour, we were told that the retainer had not been sent from Florida & that they knew this on Friday & could have called & saved us the trip to their office on Monday. This is typical of how this office functions & I would not recommend them to anyone!!! This is a hard sell dentist with no personal touch, they do not remember your name & you can expect to wait interminably for your dental appts, although the orthodontist wait time is much better. I am now in the process of getting 2nd opinions & finding a new dentist.
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2 comments
Guest

THE WORST DENTAL OFFICE IN SAN DIEGO!! I WOULDNT SEND MY WORST ENEMY THERE!!

THE WORST PART IS HYGENTIST AND A FEW OTHER DOCS GREAT!!

THE STAFF THE WORST!!! MANAGER NEVER CALLS BACK (LEO) OFFICE GAL RUDE & LIES(SANDRA)

Guest

Dear Anonymous,Thank you for your comments. I would like to address your concerns, but your review was posted anonymously.

Please call our Patient Relations team at 1-85*-***-**** so we can discuss your experience. Thank you.

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Anonymous
map-marker Charlotte, North Carolina

Total Rip-Off

After going to the "Lancaster, California Location" for services, I was quoted an amount for the services needed. Although all services was "not-completed" they continued to charge me for the complete-balance, I refused to pay "the-balance" and they sent it to their information to a collection-agency and also submitted the information on my credit-report. Jessica who's suppose to be the "Office-Manager" at the Lancaster office is rude & unprofessional, not-to-mention very "racist" towards Black-People. After trying to-resolve the issues regarding my-account along with the help of my "provider's-rep" Jessica continued to ignore both of us as if she didn't care, again showing how "un-professional" she is being in her position. Contacted the "Corporate-Office" and received the same type of treatment regarding my-account, no-help what-so-ever. These people are only out to "Rip-U-Off" and take your money, I would "Avoid" doing business with these people & not-recommend them to my worst-enemy.
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Loss:
$2000
3 comments
Guest

It's time that Smile Care pays for the mistakes that they have made. I would like to start the process of filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Anyone interested in joining the potential class action lawsuit please emailsmilecareclassaction@***.com

Guest

It's time that Smile Care pays for the mistakes that they have made. I would like to start the process of filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Anyone interested in joining the potential class action lawsuit please email

smilecareclassaction@***.com

Guest

SmileCare strives to provide excellent customer service. I'm sorry to hear you feel we did not meet your expectations.

I would like to address your concerns, but your review was submitted anonymously.

Please call 1-85*-***-**** so we can follow up with you. Thank you.

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Anonymous
map-marker Denver, Colorado

SmileCare thiefs

I will never ever go to this dentist again. The wait is ridiculous. What is the point of making an appointment. They do not know how to run your insurance information. They will charge you upfront and then send it to your insurance company. And they will give you the run around for your money they owe you. So basically they will charge you upfront and turn around and charge your insurance. I am pretty sure they have ripped off a lot of people especially when the customers are not educated on how the insurance works. ! STAY AWAY Go somewhere else!!!!!!!
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Loss:
$80
1 comment
Guest

Dear Anonymous,

I'd like to help you but your review was posted anonymously. Please call our Patient Relations Team at 1-85*-***-****. We would be happy to answer your questions about how your particular insurance works.

Idris Nyf
map-marker Irvine, California

SmileCare in Palmdale, CA is nothing but crooks

In 2006 my daughter had a teeth cleaning done at the above facility. At the time she was covered under DHMO insurance which provides these services to her for free. The agreement is between insurance company and the dentist, we are not part in it. After the procedure they issued a charge "debit adjustment" which is nothing more than a fraud because the insurance makes monthly payments to the dentist and the dentist promises to provide some services to us for free and some require a co-pay also established by the DHMO/dentist agreement. We told them to remove the charge, they said they will, but they never did. Recently, we got a letter from a collection agency and they want money plus interest. Can somebody tell me how a phony charge incures interest? We are planning a lawsuit against SmileCare so we never have to deal with them again. We are so sick of them we decided to sent letters to every insurance company to prevent them from sending patients there so they can't be subjected to this dispicable practices.
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