My dentist referred me to Dr. Abdel Fattah in Boca Raton, FL after having a root canal in their offices over 2 1/2 months ago. They told me that he was a dentist who "specialized" in pain disorders. They said they believe I had TMJ becuz I was in excruciating pain after the root canal.
So I made an appt. To see him on 11/23. After a series of tests, he indicated that I had TMJ Disorder, which stands for Temporomandibular Joint in your jaw/skull. I explained to him I was in excruciating, throbbing pain which seemed to be coming from my upper molar (which I had the root canal on). He suggested I go get a 2nd root canal. Since this was the day before Thanksgiving, my endodontist was booked. So Dr. Fattah "referred" me to someone he knew (which I'm SURE he got a kick-back from!). So, I went to see this Endodontist which performed a 2nd root canal next to the other tooth. A week passed, two weeks - I was STILL in pain. The endodontist couldn't explain it since all nerves were removed from both teeth!
A month later (now December) I finished both root canals & had temporary fillings put in. I was STILL having throbbing, excruciating pain! I called Dr. Fattah's office again out of desperation! Dr. Fattah was not only inconsiderate & rude in his bedside manner but uncompassionate towards the pain I was in. Right away, he said I would need different shots to "determine where the pain was coming from". As hesitant as I was, I was desperate for some kind of relief. So I let him give me the most HORRIFIC, PAINFUL shots to the outer side of my face! There was no anesthesia. Just a cold spray prior to the shots! I screamed at how PAINFUL the shots were. He had the audacity to tell me to "be quiet becuz i was going to scare the other patients that were there" and i replied, "i don't care. THIS HURT!" And he replied rudely, "WELL I DO CARE!" I couldn't believe the way I was getting treated. The shots relieved the pain. Yes temporarily! Each shot was a whopping $125.00! Then he told me he wanted me to go get an CT-Scan at one of his "fellow friend's" office (another dentist next door) which I'm sure he got a kick-back for that too! My dental insurance was maxxed out for the year so I had to pay $150.00 for that CT-Scan! Dr. Fattah told me to go back to his office after I got the CT-Scan so he could "INTERPRET" it. I went back there and he said I had "bone loss" in my jaw joint (which now it turns out another dentist who READ the REPORT says it is nothing significant!). Then he said to go get an MRI! I drove far away to an MRI center & had to pay $250.00 co-pay for an MRI! After going through 1 hr. Of different, painful tests in my mouth inside the MRI tunnel, I had to go back to Dr. Fattah!
Dr. Fattah looked at the MRI disc & said I had "inflammation of the facial muscle" which was causing this pain. (I was charged for him looking at the MRI disc also!). I did not know any better, so everything he was telling me I believed & we went along with! He said I would need an Ultrasound treatment & that I may see relief from it. So, I went along and accepted what he said. He charged me another $100.00 for an ultrasound treatment that lasted LESS than 1/2 HOUR! He then prescribed "Soma" which is a muscle relaxant and said to take it for several weeks. Which I did. It didn't do anything. He said to take Ibuprofen 600 mg. Which also DIDN'T do anything! That entire office visit that day ended up costing me $570.00. He charged me for the office consultation $110.00, $250.00 for the shots, another $110.00 to "read" the reports, and another $100.00 for the useless ultrasound!!! I couldn't believe it. I tried explaining to the girl at the front desk (who is also rude!) that I had Blue Cross Blue Shield, but she said they DON'T accept any insurance. That is was "up to me" to file it with them - which I tried doing but they said I had a huge deductible that I had not met. So I was ultimately responsible for this bill!
So, one week passes, two weeks, three weeks pass & I'm STILL in pain, the throbbing is there every minute of the day. So I decided to make an appt. With my primary care physician a couple of weeks ago. After reviewing my MRI & CT-Scan reports, he said he did not believe it was TMJ that could be causing this pain. He said to go get a 2nd opinion from another doctor! So I did. I decided to go see my mother's dentist in Miami, FL last week who is very good. He read every report, looked at the MRI disc & CT-Scan, read what this other scam artist did to me... And he disagreed that the TMJ was what was causing this pain. He said he believed it was being caused by the Trigeminal Nerve in my face... Thus called "Trigeminal Nerve Disorder". So he said I needed to see a Neurologist to put me on some Tegretol (which is an anticonvulsant but also used to treat this condition). I called my M.D. And he was nice enough to call in a prescription for it. But said I do need to go see a Neurologist when it runs out in order to increase the dosage & get labwork. I am still in pain but I just started taking the medication and I was told it could be a week or two before I see relief.
I am filing this report to WARN people NOT to be scammed by this dentist. He robbed me of almost $600.00 in one visit - not to mention the MRI & CT-Scan I had to get done! He has a fancy office, in an affluent community of Boca Raton so you think he is trustworthy. He is rude, cold and ruthless! He doesn't care about his patient's pain & how much they are suffering - on the contrary, he takes advantage of this to be able to rip them off. When you are desperately in pain, you are willing to do anything, pay anything to get relief - and that's what he does. He takes advantage of poor people like me that went to see him!
But I am disputing the charges with my Visa credit card in hopes of being able to reverse the charges. I hope that anyone who reads this doesn't go see him! You have been warned!!
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