My husband and I came to the valley and decided to try Southwest Dental as they were on our Assurant Insurance plan. We have gone to them for approximately three years... Having 3 month cleanings and yearly check-ups as prescribed. We have always paid our bills at the time of service and have a good credit rating.
In January of our regular dentist at Southwest Dental again changed along with most of the office staff it seemed. After our regular three month cleaning, we were told that both of us might benefit from seeing their periodontal group in Peoria. The hygienist was concerned about my upper right side and my husband's care was a bit more extensive, but nothing serious. We made our appointment with the Periodontal Office and went to see Dr. Zuch there on February 9. We noted how dingy the ofice seemed, girls acting very unprofessional chewing gum, visiting, etc.
After the young Dr. Examined us, he said we both needed surgery and the billing person, Ruth would talk to us about insurance benefits and our costs. We were told to wait... Then ushered into basically a closet area where "Ruth" began telling us that we needed EXTENSIVE surgery while she continually sneezed in our faces... All four quandrants on both our left and right sides needed work along with bone grafting for BOTH of us. We basically got the same diagnosis. The cost: was nearly $12,000 but our insurance would pay nearly half! How great was that? We DID NOT agree to anything... And said we'd let them know later.
We were astounded, to say the least since the regular office hadn't seen nearly this kind of treatment needed from our recollection.
After finding a new dentist within our insurance group, we visited them... The regular dentist also didn't see that much needing done, but went ahead and referred us to the periodontal office they work with.By the way, he found a fractured tooth which he showed me pictures of after new digital xrays were taken that needs to be fixed that they didn't even find. I never saw any xrays at SW Dental, since they are using old methods. We then went there for his second opinion and the periodontist was dumbfounded as to WHY Southwest Dental Periodontics would give us this kind of diagnosis! I didn't share their diagnosis until he was done giving us his opinion either. I only need a deep cleaning on one tooth, my husband needs cleaning on his teeth and a tissue transplant. Our bill for everything will be almost 10 times less.
People beware of using Southwest Dental. I have written their corporate office in Tempe and never even gotten a recognition of us let alone any satisfaction for such inept diagnosis made by their periodontist in Peoria.
Clearly, they are trying to rip off people to their benefit! I'm glad we weren't stupid enough to believe them... But it gets hard to know who to trust out there now, doesn't it? No wonder people are foregoing dental and medical care during these times of economic stress!
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