In April I contacted this dentist to inquire if he able to treat me. I required several extractions due to chemotherapy that I had undergone ruining my teeth in addition to some filling that had fallen out during my treatment. I would also need to have partial denture placed and had heard that he was a "one stop shop" rather than having to be referred to multiple specialties. I spoke with him directly over the phone and discussed clearly my needs and my insurance coverage which I might add is very good insurance from the State.
I had already reviewed my copay per partial which was $365 per partial so I knew what the ball park cost should be. He told me that 4 extractions and the partials could be done along with the fillings in 2 visit and in less than a month from start to finish. He told me "bring your checkbook it's gonna be expensive". I then asked him what "expensive" was. He replied "oh about $1000". This being in the "ballpark" of what I had figured, I agreed.
I arrived at my appointment and he was an hour late.By the time that he got to me, I had to leave to pick up my son from school so he merely peeked in my mouth (his assistant had already taken the xrays and made the impression) and wrote down on a piece of paper the sum of $1600. I told him that I was not required to pay that amount because I had insurance and it was much less than that. He told me then to just write a check for $800 and his insurance lady, who was out sick, would be in the next day and make the necessary insurance adjustments and call me with the total. I quickly wrote the check because I was already late picking my son up and left thinking that the $800 would cover the entire expense once his billing specialist followed up with my insurance company.
I did not hear from his office until I called them a week later. I assumed that his insurance employee had been out longer than anticipated but I was getting anxious so I called. At that time, I was told that they would require an additional $1100. I told them absolutely not. They told me that the partials had been ordered and they were not the ones that my insurance company paid for. I told them that they had better order the one's that my insurance company pays for they told me just to wait a little longer and they would try to sort it out with my insurance company.
Over the next 2 months, I received 3 nasty letter from Dr. Larrick informing me that he was giving me SUCH a deal that I have neglected my teeth and essentially should be greatful for the price. I had to get my insurance company involved to get him to agree to do the work for what I had already paid. I would never have let him touch me after all of this if he hadn't already cashed my check and the possibility of getting a dime back from him was nil.in addition, in the process of dealing with my insurance company, I found out that he had billed them for a cleaning on my initial visit which never occurred so he defrauded my insurance company as well. It gets worse:
3 months after my initial visit, I arrived back to his office to have the extractions. He numbed me with many shots then brought a new bill to me while sitting in the chair numb. The bill asked for an additional $800. Fortunately, I had printed off the explanation of benefits from my insurance company and brought my benefits book. After all was said and done, he still made me pay an addition $373 which according to my insurance company and my booklet, I should not have paid. During the extractions, he brutalized my gums. I had a post crown that had to be extracted so he removed the crown then used his tool to push deep into the remaining natural tooth. He slipped with his tool but I was numb so I did not feel what he did to my gum. The day after this appointment, I looked like a cabbage patch doll with all of the swelling (I was not swollen at all prior to the procedur).
It was only days later when I took the partial out of my mouth that I saw what he did: The gum by that tooth that had the crown on it had a gash on the outside of the gum all the way up to my lip. Right now, the good and natural tooth that was next to the extracted tooth now has the roots completely exposed due to his methods. Now, this tooth needs to be extracted as well and my partial added a tooth. He kept saying during the extraction "oh this crown is making me nervous"... Now I know why. The gash on the outside of my gum is about 7mm's in width so cannot be put back together unless surgically and extends upward to where my lip meets my gum. This man should be sued! He is incompetent. Barbaric and a fraud and as the previous reported on this dentist said, I would not take my dog to him!
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