Dear Anonymous,

I am sorry that your initial visit did not meet your expectations. I do not consider myself a "seller" of dental services and most certainly would not have given treatment recommendations based only from xrays; I always perform a thorough exam first. We NEVER promise a patient that the cleaning will be completed at the initial visit, but try to accommodate the request. It is impossible for me to know how long any new patient's exam will take or what level of cleaning they will require--everyone is different. It could take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours to complete the cleaning, and I unfortunately cannot afford to book out 4 hours of time for a new patient if all that time will not be needed.

Perhaps my explanations of your dental condition & treatment options sounded like a sales pitch to you, but that is never my intention. Part of my job is to educate you on what is going on in your mouth and to provide you with recommendations and information to be able to make informed decisions. Treatment is always elective.

You stated that you feel you received nothing for your $185--I would be more than happy to go over my exam and xray findings with you again at no charge. The comprehensive exam includes checking your head and neck, skin, and the tissues in your mouth for cancer or other problems; assessing your jaw joint; checking for gum disease, gum recession, and tooth mobility; checking for decay, cracks, broken teeth, and failing restorations; checking your bite and for signs of tooth wear and/or chemical erosion; and checking the esthetics of the teeth, if that is important to the patient. The exam fee also covers discussing what the patient wants, the treatment options and the advantages and disadvantages of them. Again, I would like to add value to your $185 by going over all of this with you again (and complete your cleaning at the same appointment, if you would like)--just call the office and schedule with Debi.

Sincerely,

Lisa Kajimura