SMALL TOWN
DENTAL
HORRORS
The growing Palm Springs area desert resort communities, including Palm Desert which has been my home since 1983, are still considered small towns "where everyone knows your name." Drawn by winter tourist dollars, more dentists (most calling themselves "cosmetic dentists" nowadays) can be found here than in other small towns.
When choosing a dentist, as when seeking a "second opinion," it is important to understand that each primary dentist usually works exclusively with specialists he or she prefers. Like doctors, their businesses rely on referrals. Like doctors, dentists are self-policing -- their Dental Board is made up of dentists. For obvious reasons of liability, there can't be two dentists working in the same mouth at the same time. And when there is the slightest hint of past malpractice, regardless whether or not the patient sued, the patient is often re-victimized or quickly referred on, by dentists fearing liability for another dentist's mistake. My life in local dentists' chairs began in Y-2000 when my dentist of many years retired just when I was due for a routine annual routine cleaning....
1. BRUCE UY, DDS, Palm Desert, CA, took full mouth X-rays and decided to have his Dental Hygenist do a Perio Debridement (cleaning) which triggered pain. He then decided I had gum problems beyond his expertise to treat and advised me to seek a Periodontist. (10-19-00, $237.00)
2. ANNE A. NICHOLAS, DDS, Periodontist, Palm Desert, advised surgery at 3 of my 4 gum quadrants, and required $3400 CASH ONLY (not check nor VISA) to be paid in advance despite my spotless credit history and that I was a long-time resident in good standing. Uncomfortable with the idea of handing over CASH in advance, instead of (typically) half down and the rest on completion, and suspicious of her dispute-proof policy, I moved on in search of a Periodontist with different business practice (1-25-01)
3. FRANK A. HERNANDEZ, DDS, HERNANDEZ DENTAL, Indio, CA attempted to replace an old Root Canal that developed while my appointments with his Periodontist were repeatedly postponed. I was eventually informed that the Periodontist went to Iran for an indefinite time. During HERNANDEZ attempt to re-fill the Root Canal, he fractured the tooth and had to extract it. Later, CRAIG CONROW, a Prosthodontist, informed me the tooth could have been saved. Lacking a Periodontist, HERNANDEZ' had his Dental Hygenist d0 a Root Planiing (deep cleaning below the gumline). Neither the extracted tooth nor the Root Plaining resolved my pain... so I moved on. (2-27-01, $665.00)
4. GREG PARISH DDS, DESERT CROSSING DENTAL, Palm Desert, CA, had a Periodontist,on staff, but first required patients to have an "occlusal (bite) adjustment" before doing any work. There was nothing wrong with my bite. After his "adjustments" which he performed after stating he hadn't had enough sleep (and looked it), he placed 2 composite fillings.(tooth #18 & 19) & did more "adjustments." My bite was no longer tolerable. (4-11-01 to 5-1-01, $405.00)
5. PETER WARSHAWSKY, DDS, Inc, Periodontist, Palm Desert, CA, recommended gum surgery and he scheduled me for later that month. In the meantime, I also had tooth pain, but snce he "didn't work on teeth, just gums," he suggested I seek a dentst. I ruled out the dentist who caused me to lose a tooth and the insomniac dentist who kept filing down the rest of my teeth. (5-01)
6. MAISEY D. IBRAHIM, DDS, Indio, CA, took X-rays but felt I needed a specialist, so she referred me to McLAUGHLIN GROUP in Palm Desert. (5-01, $56.00)
7. DESERT DENTAL SPECIALTY GROUP, Palm Desert, CA - ROBERT T. McLACHLAN, DDS, Prosthodontist, ELLIE KHEIRKHAHI, DDS (Periodontist), DAVID D.ADAMIC, DDS,,Endodontist. McLACHLAN replaced the #18 filing placed by PARISH with a Temporary filling and recommended extracting that tooth as ADAMIC determined it was "non-functional." KHIERKHAHI disagreed with WARSHAWSKY stating I didn't need extensive gum surgery, just a better Root Planing than I'd already had, but sent me back to WARSHAWSKY as professional courtesy or protocol. (5-19-01)
8. PETER WARSHAWSKY, DDS, Periodontist, upon hearing I had my tooth treated by McLAUGHLIN, ordered me out of his office, stating "You didn't follow my dental plan by being treated by McLACHLAN." I left in tears, disbelieving that this was happening to me, not knowing that WARSHAWSKY and McLACHLAN, were feuding ex-partners. (5-19-01)
9. ELLIIE KHEIRKHAHI, DDS, Periodontist, satisfied that I was no longer property of WARSHAWSKY, re-did the Root Planings and, upon followup, found improvement in all areas but also advised gum surgery in some areas "with poor prognosis" ... Additional cost estimates by KHEIRKHAHI and McLACHLAN were escalating, and as there was "poor prognosis," I resumed my search for a qualified primary dentist to do the work for less than a specialist would charge. (5-30-01 to 7-10-01, $1,130.00)
10. GEORGE L. AVANS, DDS, Palm Desert, CA - decided to save instead of extract #18 which had a Temporary Filling and to replace my old silver Amalgam fillings at #13, 14, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31 with permanent white Composite fillings. There was much controversy at the time (on CBS-60 Minutes and other media) about possible damage from the Mercury in Amalgam fillings, including possible bone loss such as mine.) But after AVANS' replacements and very limited "occlusal (bite) adjustment" I had more sensitivity & pain. AVANS then went on vacation with no backup dentist, so I was again left in pain with nowhere to go for help. . (6-19-01 t 7-2-01, $867.20)
11. GERALD LIM, DDS, MS, Endodontist, Palm Desert, CA did Cold & Electrical testing of #13-14 and #18-22, advising "All pulps are alive; no Root Canals needed" but referred me to BERGMANN DENTAL ASSOCIATES. As BERGMANN was both a Periodontist and Prosthodontist, he seemed the ideal choice to diagnose both my gums and teeth. (7-20-01)
12. RANIER BERGMANN, DMD, Periodontist & Prosthodontist, Palm Desert, CA did gum pocket measurements and advised "No surgery needed!" He did an occlusal (bite) adjustment of #12, which did not resolve my bite pain & advised a bridge, but refused to do the work due to finding that on that day I had high blood pressure....undoubtedly from dental pain. He required that I take blood pressure medication before he would treat me -- which my doctor at the time advised against. Subsequently I offered BERGMANN my doctor's note clearing me for dental treatment when my blood pressure was back to normal, but BERGMANN still refused to treat me. I was trapped in a dental nightmare...and again forced to move on. (7-30-01 to 9-6-01, $134.00)
13. DAVID A. PERRONE, DDS, MONTEREY DENTAL, Palm Desert, CA placed a 3-crown bridge on #3 & 5 (fake tooth at #4). He required payment in advance, including undisclosed "lab costs". When PERRONE cemented the 3-crown bridge onto #3 & 5, using Vitramer cement, I felt sudden excruciating pain... PERRONE said he had no explanation. so he referred me for Endodontal pain testing... (9-01 to 11-6-01, $1,786.00)
14. FRANK C. CRAWFORD, DDS, Endodontist, Indian Wells, CA did Cold testing of #12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 23, 24 & just a "tap" test of #30. He advised extraction of the recently filled #18 (which did not pain me at this time), falsely diagnosed "possible Tic DeLoureaux" (Tri-geminal Neuralgia) and referred me to his colleague down the hall, MARC C. JONES, MD, Neurologist. (9-01)
15. MARC C. JONES, MD, Neurologist, Indian Wells, CA refuted CRAWFORD's diagnosis. CRAWFORD agreed to refund his fee. (10-12-01, 75.00)
I was still in pain when I returned, in desperation, to the referring dentist, PERRONE, but PERRONE refused to treat me further, claiming he didn't know what to do for me. I tried returning to GEORGE AVANS but he dismissed me for seeing PERRONE during his absence. I later sued PERRONE and AVANS together in small claims court for "abandonment of patient" ... I did not know at the time that PERRONE's bridge was placed on erupted teeth with exposed roots and I could not win against 2 dentists supporting each other in court. I was still in pain.
16. STEPHEN L. KREIZENBECK, DDS, Oral Surgeon, Rancho Mirage, CA advised that I replace all my new white Composite fillings with Gold and treat the roots for sensitivity. He also refuted CRAWFORD's "Tri-geminal Neuralgia" diagnosis, extracted the repeatedly re-filled #18, and took a Panoramic X-ray to diagnose my bone loss. Another tooth gone.... yet I was still in severe pain. (9-10-01 to 10-18-01, $180.00)
17. RONALD W. MILLER, DDS, Periodontist, Rancho Mirage, checked PERRONE's 3-crown bridge, and did an "oculsal (bite) adjustment" of the bridge. But he never informed me that PERRONE had placed the gold 3-crown bridge on 2 teeth that had erupted from the gum - In other words, the roots were uncovered, causing my pain. He refused to provide his written opinion, stating he gets referrals from PERRONE and that I was "a danger to his practice!" Further, he claimed that PERRONE's bridge was 'a good bridge." I was still in pain. (10-01, $85)
18. MAX BURGESS, DDS, Palm Desert, CA examined the 3-crown bridge and refused to make a diagnosis stating "I don't want to be involved." He instead referred me to CRAIG CONROW, Prostodontist. I left in tears still in severe pain. (10-16-01)
19. KIRK R. RYSCAMP, DDS, Endodontist, Pam Springs, did 2 "occlusal (bite) adjustments" of the 3-crown bridge on 2 visits, which did not alleviate the pain. He said the gold bridge prevented accurate pain testing but rather than provide a written opinion about the bridgewrok, he waived his fee.. (11-01 to 11-12-01)
20. CRAIG W. CONROW, DDS, FACP, Prosthodonist, Palm Desert, CA did an "emergency exam" of the bridge and X-rays. He advised that PERRONE placed a "bad bridge on exposed margins that are 'rough' with a 9mm gum pocket at the bridge "- In other words, he was the first to honestly tell me the gold bridge was placed over erupted teeth and the roots were exposed, causing my pain all this time. He stated that I also had a periodontal problem that was "too far advanced" and referred me back to BERGMAN who previously refused to treat me unless I take blood pressure medication. CONROW refused to remove the 3-crown bridge, nor treat the teeth, nor to provide any written opinion and blamed me for going to a "cheap" dentist (PERRONE). Again, a dentist refused to "get involved" due to another dentist's malpractice, and, again, I left a dental office in tears and untreated, So I disputed the bill and sought a dentist willing to remove the gold 3-crown bridge. (11-16-01, $170.00)
21. MICHAEL W. LONG, DDS, PLAZA DENTAL, Palm Springs, CA would not remove the 3-crown bridge but "was certain that a deep cleaning and fluoride treatment" should relieve the pain. Still in excruciating pain after his treatment, I continued to "dial for dentists" seeking relief from the pain. (11-19-01, $105.00)
22. YOUSSRY GILPATRICK, DDS, Indio, CA "Cold tested" #2, 13, 14 and the 3-4-5 bridge and referred me back to RYSCAMP (Endodontist) for more testing & "re-evaluation" of #2" but stated he cannot test teeth covered with a gold bridge to find out what the problem is (despite he must have seen bare roots) and refused to remove the 3-crown bridge. (11-21-01, $30.00)
23. ROBERT M. DADDIO, DDS, Palm Springs, CA mercifully removed the 3-crown bridge and tested the 2 teeth that it had covered....on condition that I not tell PERRONE that he had done so. He placed Temporary crowns on #3 & 5, advising Root Canals. But then he left for extended Christmas- New Years vacation, with no backup dentist, leaving me in pain. Angry at being lied to by PERRONE and others, and forced to protect them in order to obtain dental treatment that I still wasn't getting, I returned the gold bridge to PERRONE and asked a refund of my $1785 which I then needed for root canals. The pain had caused me sleep loss for months and my health was declining. Racked with unbearable pain for the holidays, I took the first appointment I could get (11-27-01)
24. DOUGLAS J. McKENDRY, DDS, MSD, (Endodontist), Palm Desert, tested 14 teeth and advised root canals for #2, 3 $ 5 but refused to use Carbocaine anesthetic instead of Lidocaine which contains Epinephrine, despite that I informed him that (from past experience) Lidocaine dangerously raises my blood pressure and races my heart causing dizzyness. Rather than order Carbocaine, he dismissed me and refunded his initial $150 fee. (12-01, $150.00)
25. ROBERT HOLT, DDS,, Periodontist, Palm Springs, CA advised #3 & #31 were "untreatable due to furcations and abcesses" and should be extracted. He suggested I seek an oral surgeon. (12-01001)
26. ROBERT L. BASS, DDS, DESERT ORAL SURGERY, Oral Surgeon, Palm Desert, CA, when attempting to extract # 3, 5 & 31, accidentally administered Lidocaine despite the dental record I completed clearly stated I could not have Lidocaine, only Carbocaine. I immediately felt the room spinning and my heart racing. I asked what he had given me. He apologized profusely for "not noticing" that I could not have Lidocaine. His partner, MARC. P. SALOMONE, took my blood pressure which was extremely high but he assured me the effects would soon wear off which was the case. I told BASS and SALOMONE that I had no ill will about it, as it was an accident, and I was still alive. Besides, I had hopefully reached my quota of bad luck. After talking with SALOMONE about other options, I agreed to have SALOMONE do the extractions using Carbocaine and Intravenous Sedation. (12-01)
27. MARC P. SALOMONE, DDS, DESERT ORAL SURGERY, Oral Surgeon, Palm Desert, extracted #3, 5 & 31 with Carbocaine & IV Sedation, without problem. I was FINALLY out of the main source of my severest pain -- except that one of the extractions left a "dry socket" and I was again in pain until that problem was fixed. I was still without a primary dentist which SALOMONE advised I seek to resolve other dental problems. I tried returning to DADDIO but he dismissed me for allowing SALOMONE to extract the painful teeth he had wanted to "save' (but not until after his vacation) and DADDIO was also angry at me because PERRONE had been phoning him. (12-20-01, $1,782)
28. ROSELLA RONSON, DDS, Endodontist, JAMES EBERHARDT DENTISTRY could not test my teeth on the day of my appointment because,she said, her equipment was not working, but she advised that #2 & 6 should also be extracted as they were also "erupted, calcified, had perio problems and a poor prognosis." I had sensitivity, so she wanted me to return at an unspecified date if and when her equipment was working but also felt the teeth must be "alive" and referred me to CHUN KIM, DDS for pain evaluation. I later disputed RONSON"s $150 fee in advance for "testing" that was never done due to non-working equipment. (12-27-01, $150.00)
29. CHUN KIM, DDS, "TMJ Specialist", Rancho Mirage, CA mis-diagnosed me as having "TMJ" and required "$3500-$10,000 plastic splint treatment." I then consulted SALOMONE who, in my presence phoned CHUN and refuted CHUN's diagnosis and CHUN's planned "treatment" while CHUN was telling SALOMONE not to extract any of my teeth. My trust in SALOMONE was strengthened and my suspicions about CHUN were confirmed. I still had no primary dentist. (12-28-01, $225.00)
30. ARTHUR WILLARDSEN, DDS, Cathedral City, CA provided new X-rays and advice. I decided to have SALOMONE extract the additional "problem" teeth. (1-8-02)
31. MARC P. SALOMONE, DDS, Oral Surgeon, extracted #2, 6 & 30 with Carbocaine and IV Sedation, warning me that extracting key teeth could result in other problems. All that mattered was I was FINALLY totally out of pain. (1-8-02)
32. GREG K. BALLIS, DDS, Prosthodontist, Palm Desert, CA provided "perio-maintenance' (cleanng) and followup to try to relieve a new "dull pain," but the pain persisted.. (2-27-02 to 3-5-02, $255.00)
33. DENNIS J. WOURMS, DDS, Endodontist, Palm Springs, CA, diagnosed an abcess at #14 and performed a Root Canal using a special microscope,saving the tooth. But I still had pain at the site for 2 weeks after the Root Canal and, weary of the dentist merry-go-round and pain, I began to wish for a denture, but the dentists I had seen and who I asked about an upper denture, did not want to consider a denture as an option.. (4-24-02 to 4-25-02, $945.00)
34. ELVIRA JUAREZ MATA, DDS, Santo Tomas Dental, Cathedral City, CA sympathized and, after consulting with SALOMONE, agreed that SALOMONE would extract the remaining upper teeth and MATA would provide the denture tho SALOMONE said he "hated to see someone your age get a denture." While waiting for the denture to be made, the pain at the Root Canal tooth suddenly stopped! No one had told me that a tooth with a Root Canal could still feel pain for 2 weeks (because there are severed nerves still in the gum). I didn't know what to do then, so canceled the denture but it had already been made, so was only refunded $200 of the $625 paid. (4-02, $625.00)
35. RENE DELL'ACQUA, DDS, DELL'ACQUA DENTAL STUDIO Palm Desert, CA was a part-time fashion model, Nowadays, DELL'ACQUA's image with a big white smile adorns Palm Springs area billboards and she's appeared on local TV infomercials hyping her “Spa Dentistry” where pateints are offered chocolates with dental procedures. When I agreed to have her "save" my remaining teeth by replacement of (7) remaining upper crowns and a partial or implants where teeth were missing, I had been completely out of pain for a couple months. I was also ready to remedy improve esthetics as half my upper teeth on one side were then gone.. DELL'ACQUA had me consult with my choice of oral surgeon, MARC SALOMONE, about implants. At times each of them urged me to have implants, which would require bone grafting, and at times each dissuaded me from having implants. The crowns needed to be placed before either a partial or implants, for a precise fit. The midline of new crowns was crooked. Dell'Acqua and her assistant and her lab guy tlted their heads at an unnatural angle while stating "it looks fine," and, more importantly, the bite of both the crowns and temporary partial was painful. DELL'ACQUA didn't agree that my pain was from the new crowns, so referred me back to DENNIS WOURMS, Endodontist, for a "second opinion" via pain testing. Wourms said he didn't see any problem with the crowns (but did not test my bite), but opined in writing that my pain was from "traumatic occlusion (bite) from extensive dental work" (which I didn't know 'til much later). DELL'ACQUA left for a one-month vacation in Mexico on my $8,000 without a backup dentist to treat me. Upon her return, when my pain did not subside, she stated she had done all she could do for me. Again abandoned by a dentist after paying, I disputed $6,000 of the $8,000 I had paid her with VISA, and obtained a permanent chargeback of $6,000. I then filed a small claim for the other $2,000 . (6-11-02 to 7-20-02, $8,010.00)
NOTE: Click here for "OCCLUSAL ADJUSTMENT" per federal government's National Guidelines" on bite adjustment.
36. DENNIS WOURMS, DDS,Endodontist, Palm Springs, on referral from DELL'ACQUA (because he treated me previously), opined in writing that my pain was from "traumatic occlusion (bite) from extensive dental work" yet DELL'ACQUA claimed she did enough "occlusal adjustments." (8-26-02)
37. ROBERT M. MAHER, DDS, El Paseo Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, Palm Desert, CA, who I then consulted for an additional "second opinion" scheduled me for "computerized occlusal testing" but canceled my appointment after phoning DELL'ACQUA (he said), stating he didn't thiink there was anything wrong iwth the crowns or bite (despite not actually examining or testing the bite as as scheduled). (9-6-02)
38. DENNIS LIBER, DDS, MERaZ SUPER SMILES, Indio, CA, refused to provide an opinion after charging me for "Diagnostic Study Models" (9-02, $215.00)
39. LAWRENCE L. TRAN, DDS, DENTAL OFFICE PLUS, Indio, replaced all of DELL'ACQUA's crowns, He used a new glass-like material that squeaked when the uppers rubbed against the lowers and which I was not able to adjust to. He then began replacing some of the glass crowns with porcelain but that left me with two different shades of teeth in front. There was also a problem retaining the crowns on the over-cut teeth. Finally he removed all the crowns, leaving me in Temporaries, but refunded all I had paid him, ($4,700 for the first set plus $5,300 for the second set) without dispute, but would not state in writing as to why he had to replace DELL'ACQUA's crowns, (9-12-02, $10,000)
When I went to Small Claims Court against DELL'ACQUA, armed with several dental records from dentists who had seen me before and after she had replaced my old crowns, a secret letter surfaced that DELL'ACQUA had written to SALOMONE advising him NOT to treat me with implants, stating "she is so in tune with her body that she would never adjust to the unnatural bite of implants." I did not know that the source of my new dental problems was due to her over-cutting my teeth, causing increased sensitivity to bite pressure, while she had laid the groundwork for deflecting blame for worsening my bite by blaming the patient as being overly sensitive and persuading other dentists from treating me. DELL'ACQUA counter-sued for $5,000, the maximum allowed for small claims at that time, and obtained affidavits from all my past dentists, some of whom outright lied (which I proved to the Court by comparing their Affidavits to their own handwritten chart notes, etc), yet I lost my small claims case against DELL'ACQUA.
I appealed. She had an attrorney in court for the Appeal, which is permitted on a small claims appeal that was then elevated to Superior Court, while I could not get an attorney -- One lawyer stated he could not get an expert witness dentist and that the reason he and others won't take Dental Malpractice cases is there's simply "not enough money in it" as there might be with Medical Malpractice -- Besides that, I was not damaged severely enough. In other words,I was still alive. So she won on my appeal. I was not only out the $2,000 I had sued for but also an additional $2,000 that it cost me to litigate the matter without a lawyer. I doubt that it was about the money as much as about the reputation of a young dentist that was at stake. (The case is a public record.)
40 & 41. DANIEL TOLHURST, DDS, Bermuda Dunes, CA; PETER LINDSTROM, DDS, Rancho Mirage, refused to treat me. LINDSTROM wanted me to sign 3 Waivers of Liability and an agreement for a non-refundable $2500 and other fees, or to sell me nw Temporaries in hand for $450 to take elsewhere for cementing (as if another dentist would cement someone else's work). When I rejected these outrageous terms, he dismissed me.
42 & 43. MARIA A. VASQUEZ, DDS, DENTAL DEL VALLE,, Indio, and AYMAN K. EL RAHIB, DDS, Cathedral City, both refused opinion or treatment; VASQEZ said I needed a Prosthodontist for my ongoing bite problems.
44. CHRISTIAN J. LUZAR, DMD, Prosthodontist, Rancho Mirage, CA provided an exam and estimate of $15,000 for upper crowns. Having lost so much money to previous dentists, I could not afford the escalating fees to correct mistakes of past dentists and I was uncomfortable with his secretary telling me she remembered me from her previous employment at the office of one of the dentists with whom I had a problem. It's a "small town" indeed...(5-21-03, $100.00)
45. LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY at LOMA LINDA MEDICAL CENTER, Loma Linda, CA was my next stop on referral. There was a wait of several weeks for an appointment with the head of the Dental Faculty (not the Clinic), who provided his consultation and informed me that I would have to return at least 6 times (it was hours away from my home) to have at least 6 of their dentists test and examine my problem before they would then offer a dental plan. While Loma Linda is famous for innovation (the earliest heart transplants, etc) I felt that if no two dentists back home could agree on what to do for me, how would 6 ever agree on a single Dental Plan -- and what if I did not want extraordinary means used, only to end up in more unresolved pain? But also, any dental work would require adjustments and weeks of waiting for an appointment while in discomfort or pain and the long drive was impractical. Been there, done that. (2003)
46 JOZEF T. HAMILTON, DDS, Indio, CA did yet another Root Planing due to infection he attributed to TRAN's Temporaries. He then did gum surgery by cutting away my gum line which exposed more of the teeth that had been cut too short by DELL'ACQUA, and placed new crowns without disclosing the material he used. For several weeks following placement of the new crowns, my face and then my arms itched incessantly and my bite was intolerable but HAMILTON refused to provide more than an initial "adjustment," saying "Get used to it!" I later discovered my itching was an allergic reaction to the 79% NICKEL in HAMILTON's crowns and had to have them removed (which HAMILTON refused to do, nor would he refund me). Later, in small claims court, HAMILTON denied I had complained nor that he refused to correct his work, stating "Get used to it!" (7-9-03 to 7-31-03, $4,050.00)
NOTE: Click here for "OCCLUSAL ADJUSTMENT" per federal government's National Guidelines" on bite adjustment.
47. ALBERT T. TOM, DDS, Bermuda Dunes, CA, identified the pain as malocclusion from HAMILTON's crowns. He made one adjustment which didn't resolve the overall pain, then dismissed me stating he was not willing to risk liability by fmaking urther adjustments to another dentist's (HAMILTON's) work. (8-7-03, $714.00)
48. STEVEN RIVERA, DMD, Prostodontist, Palm Desert, CA, dissuaded me from going to nearby Mexico for dental work and offered to correct my bite "or there will be no charge." Except that he kept saying that he was "the only dentist who would treat me," yet offered to "fix my bite or refund me," I began to feel I'd found an angel among theives, so I paid him $4,000 deposit that he requested toward $8,000 estimated for reconstruction, conditioned on my being able to attain a reasonably comfortable bite (needed even if I end up with an upper denture). After almost a year of 'occlusal adjustments" to new Temporaries, every week, sometimes more often, there was still no lasting relief from bite pain. In the meantime, I needed another Root Canal to my molar. When administering Carbocaine, something went wrong...most likely the anesthetic entered my bloodstream, as I went limp and my heart was slowing to a stop! A scared RIVERA kept saying "Stay with me, don't pass out" as we waited for paramedics. The Emergency Room bill was over $3,000 just to lay on a gurney until the anesthetic wore off. RIVERA amicably refunded my $4,000, paid the ER bill, and did not charge me for the Temporary which lasted over 2 years, during which I stayed away from dentists, despite still having bite discomfort....until the plastic Temporary finally broke into 3 pieces. (2003-2004, about $7,000 written off)
NOTE: Click here for "OCCLUSAL ADJUSTMENT" per federal government's National Guidelines" on bite adjustment.
49. CHRISTIAN LUZAR, DMD, Prosthodontist, was again consulted, this time to help me decide whether to risk more crowns and implants or to risk other problems a denture might cause if my bite problem could not be resolved. LUZAR referred me to NEIL SACHS, a TMJ Specialist, despite that I informed LUZAR that TMJ had been repeatedly ruled out by previous specialists, including my oral surgeon, SALOMONE. LUZAR said he would provide his opinion and a treatment plan after I consulted with SACHS. SACHS found "no TMJ problem" but LUZAR refused a second appointment and would not return my calls asking why ($50 paid to LUZAR, plus $200 to SACHS, down the drain). I couldn't help but beIieve that I was being blackballed everywhere I went, even when I did not divulge names of past dentists. I lost my small claim against LUZAR for the $250 I was required to pay on false pretenses that he needed SACHS' opinion to treat me. LUZAR hollered in court that he knew I'd been to many dentists and wasn't about to work on someone else's mistakes.. He referred me on to get rid of me... He had given me a refund check for just his $50 fee, but when the small claims hearing was over, he stopped payment on the check, I suppose for spite. Again, I lost a small claims case and my money. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it got worse....(9-10-05, $250)
50. BRUNO LEMAY, DMD, DESERT DENTAL ALTERNATIVES, Cathedral City, CA, advised a new type of "mini implants" due to my upper bone loss. I agreed to a deposit of $1,000, on condition that he consult my oral surgeon, SALOMONE who had advised against any type of implants and provide me with a clear Dental Plan (not just the cost estimate he had given me ). He said he didn't consult SALOMONE, and when the promised Dental Plan was not forthcoming, I canceled the next appointment. His staff refused to refund my deposit as being "non-refundable." Later, his manager, TONY REED, offered to refund me but was daily stalling and asking me to sign a statement that falsely stated I had been refunded, with no specific date on which he would refund me. I went to their office to leave a written request for a $1,000 VISA credit back. TONY REED, upon seeing me, began hollering at me and he and LEMAY physically grabbed me by each arm.. REED caused bruises on one arm. Naturally, we all ended up in court. I won my small claims case and was refunded $1,000, but it cost me $1,000 to pursue the separate case about the physical abuse and REED/LeMAY's false allegations, after dragging their lawyer to court every month for a year. (This is all on the public record of these cases.) (10-05, $1,000)
51. RICHARD BULLOCK, DDS, after having his partner cut my gums (again) in preparation for crowns, agreed to treat me, on condition I sign a Release of Liability, which meant he could accidentally permanently damage me and I would have no recourse, so I wouldn't sign it and he wouldn't treat me. I asked for a refund but he would only refund half ($800). In a gesture of kindness and honesty, he confided that the dentist who had told him not to treat me "or risk a lawsuit" was the one I would least expect -- the one I most trusted -- MARC SALOMONE, my oral surgeon. As I had never had a problem with SALOMONE, I can only speculate his motive is that he relies on referrals from many of the dentists I had been to and also had provided his services at their offices, so there was opportunity for quite a grapevine of gossip for dentists in my small town. To date I have not confronted SALOMONE and he continued to haunt my horror story.... (10-05, $1600.00)
52. & 53. BRUCE R. BAUMAN, DDS, upon consultation with me, and in the presence of my companion at the time, agreed to help me "find my bite," rather than force some idealized bite via Temporaries, before attempting to place thousands of dollars of permanent restorations including regular implants. But first he sent me to yet another Endodontist, DAVID LI, DMD, SYNERGY DENTAL SPECIALISTS, Palm Desert, who tested my teeth and none were "vital" except a molar that was causing pain and for which he did a Root Canal. Pain gone! But LI said my upper teeth would become "necrotic." So I decided on a denture instead of crowns. BAUMAN, however, disagreed with LI, who he sent me to. He wanted to "save" my teeth with thousand dollars in restorations but I would not let anyone pressure me into thousands of dollars in additional detal work without resolving my bite problem, especially if the upper teeth were dying. So I just allowed BAUMAN to provide the filling and a crown for the Root Canal, as well as a one-piece acrylic "long term Temporary over-denture" which he made huimself, at a charge of $2,000. billed as "Observation." After I paid him, he informed me that if I should insist on a denture, his oral surgeon, MARC SALOMONE (who had reportedly been blackballing me all over town) would do my extractions! Then, contrary to his promise to 'find my bite," he put the bite pressure on my back teeth and the fake teeth that were supposed to be non-functional, but no bite on my front teeth, stating it was how HE wanted it and refused to change it, despite that it was MY mouth, MY teeth, MY money and MY pain!. Within a short time, first one side and then the other side of the overdenture broke off from the bite pressure that BAUMAN forced me to endure. BAUMAN said he would attempt a repair but no adjustments. Ever since, I've been left with only 4 front (plastic Temporary) teeth that have relieved the back teeth from bite pain but a smile revealis missing teeth on both sides--just tiny "fangs" and the remaining plastic piece comes loose when I eat (only soft foods) and I am at risk for swallowing it. And I was again without a primary dentist. (10-12-07, $3700.00)
NOTE: Click here for "OCCLUSAL ADJUSTMENT" per federal government's National Guidelines" on bite adjustment.
54. RANDAL SZUTZ,DDS, COUNTRY CLUB DENTISTRY, Palm Desert, CA and THE ARM & HAMMER HORROR STORY.
For about 5 months from 4/08 to 9/08, I had swollen, cracked lips and eventually when a triangular purplish red area developed below my lower lip, I finally went to an Urgent Care doctor who referred me for blood tests. But ultimately he made no diagnosis except to state in his chart notes "Labrynthitis" -- which I think is doctor-speak for "Dunno." To his credit, yet another dentist, RANDALL SZUTZ kindly took a look without asking me my name, and said "It's an allergy." A short time later when I ran out of toothpaste, I discovered the cause - ARM & HAMMER Toothpaste -- I'd been using the brand for years...but they had changed the formula and it was "New Formula Peroxicare" Toothpaste that I'd been using for 5 months. Soon as I changed toothpaste, my lips returned to normal,and the purple scar was gone! See Amazon.com's Customer Reviews at:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RAJ4LVDQEXH8M
which reveals others' same allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in the
"New Formula in both the "Fresh Mint" and "Peroxicare" -
[1] PEG/PPG-116/66 copolymer (not used in ANY other toothpaste);
[2] sodium carbonate peroxide (used in OxiClean and deck cleaner -
not used in ANY other toothpaste);
[3] tetra sodium pyrophosphate (tartar control);
[4] silica (sand).
For another year, following the puffy lips ordeal, I managed to continue avoiding dentists and deciding what to do about my damaged teeth. But in the last week of August, 2009, until my remaining 4 acrylic plastic front teeth dropped onto a hard tile floor and split in two, and my do-it-yourself-dentistry with Duco household cement didn't work. I had no choice but to again seek a dentist. Because SZUTZ correctly diagnosed that I had an allergy, after determining he used either of two oral surgeons for extractions -- either MARC SALOMONE who had blackballed me to many dentists, or one other oral surgeon. Banking on being able to choose the other surgeon, I ventured forth, and provided my true name and vitals to the secretary. As I waited in the dentist's chair, I wondered how long it would be before someone pressed a computer button that would reveal the whole horror story. SZUTZ took a look, even took photos with his flash camera without my permission.. whether for legal reasons or to submit to a dental journal, or for his own Book of Dental Malpractice Oddities, I don't know... At first he suggested 8 root canals -- (I already had root canals on 2 of the 8 teeth and they didn't resolve my soreness from bite pressure on the root canaled teeth) ... and stated he absolutely was against a denture.... followed by that "scared horse" look, a familiar shrug of the shoulders, the "It's too complicated..I don't know what to do for you" declaration, and referrals to specialists who have similarly shown me the exit door. At least SZUTZ didn't compound the indignity by also charging me for the "consultation" as others did. Still, the experience doesn't cease to be unnerving just because it's happened before. The stomach still churns, the blood pressure still rises to the level of the stress, and the mind works overtime envisioning becoming a frequent flyer to see if there were any dentists in Mexico, Sweden, Canada...any place far, far away where they didn't know my name or panic when I said "Ah" revealing evidence of my Small Town Dental Horrors.
55. WESTERN DENTAL - Indio office. Whether through perseverance, desperation, or nothing left to do, soon as I was shown the door at SZUTZ's office, I made a same-day appointment with WESTERN DENTAL in Indio, CA, before finding many online complaints about other ofices of WESTERN DENTAL, a low-cost, installment payment/no interest, high volume "Dental HMO."
WESTERN DENTAL was recommended by a friend as a place that "doesn't care who you are, or where you've been, just your credit report." The dentist who saw me on the first appointment, TATANYA PUSHKAREVA, was quite frank. She informed me of poor prognosis for reconstruction, versus problems associated with dentures. I opted for an upper denture. But then, instead of one dentist in charge of your case from start to finish, Western Dental "rotates" several dentists so you never get the same dentyist at subsequent visits, causing much confusion and errors. Also, I had been told by the main office of WESTERN DENTAL that Indio's on-site lab could do ALL work, which could mean a better chance for a successful outcome, so I paid the $99 membership fee and the first required installment of $220, Later I was informed by WESTERN DENTAL's main office that NONE of WESTERN DENTAL Offices are equipped to make dentures. Such work is done by an outside Lab (outside the county), which means 2-week delays for each impression and model, each time the denture is sent back to the lab for corrections...so there's a greater chance of a permanently ill-fitting denture. Also, I kept being billed for items already paid and srvices never provided, as well as "appointmjent reminder" calls long after I had cancelled membership and all work, and late evening phone calls from their "Collections" department despite that I owed nothing for work never done. After months of my certified return receipted letters to WESTERN DENTAL with no resuls, I finally received a full refund through VISA.
IT'S NOT OVER. As time goes on, and discomfort increases, I will eventually still need a dentist. Hopefully it will be far, far away from my Small Town Dental Horrors.
