We took our 12 year old (minor) daughter for a tooth exam where Dr. Calleia indicated 1 filling was necessary & 1 tooth to be "sealed" to ensure it would not turn into a cavity.
We agreed to a follow up appointment and explained we no longer have dental insurance, would be paying diretly and need to know what will be required in advance.
I sat in the waiting room for the entire appointment and Dr. Calleia took it upon himself to fill both teeth without consulting me. I found out only when I stood up to pay the nurse?
Not wanting to make my daughter uncomfortable needing dental work, I waited till getting home and called to notified them they should have discussed this additional work with me in the waiting room before causing me to incur additional expenses without my consent.
I requested they issue a credit for the difference in the 2 procedures (sealing vs. Filling) and said I will glady pay what the sealing would have cost that I previously agreed to. Dr. Calleia did not apologize but agreed to this.
When the credit card statment arrived "surprise" NO credit for the agreed $110.00 upcharge. I spoke with the office manager who claimed they didn't have the credit card number to issue a credit? You mean the one I just used to pay with? They clamed to have issued an office credit but produced no documentaiton to support this and nothing ever arrived in the mail as you would expect from someone who intended to validate they honored their agreement.
These are challenging times for many families and we want to do right by our children. Upselling someone you know is paying with cash (without dental insurance) is no way to show you are the kind of "trusted professional" I want to be associated with. Shame on you!
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