1 /5 diana stegarescu: I visited this dental office for a consultation and routine dental cleaning. Cristina at the front desk was very helpful in checking my insurance and ensuring I was informed about any potential copays. I was assured my insurance would cover 100% of the cleaning, and after confirming it myself, I scheduled my appointment for the following week.
On the day of my appointment, which was today, I was seen by Dr. Humza Arif for the consultation. He was very knowledgeable, thorough, and explained my dental condition and the necessary treatments in detail. However, the full treatment plan totaled over $7,000 after my insurance covered between 60% to 80% of the treatments recommended, which I could not afford at the moment. I informed them that I planned to have the treatments done in my home country instead in the next 2 months , that will be costly as well since it would include veneers . The staff was understanding, and I requested to proceed with just the cleaning covered 100% by my insurance.
Initially, I was offered an āintermediate cleaningā that required a $129 out-of-pocket payment. I reiterated that I could not afford any additional expenses and asked for a regular cleaning as covered by my insurance. Having worked in a dental office in New York for four years and experienced multiple cleanings over the past nine years in the US, I knew this was a reasonable request , and if the doctor was comfortable with that, it can be done. After speaking with the coordinator again, they agreed to perform a regular cleaning.
The dental hygienist, Valentina Falcon, began the cleaning but informed me during the procedure that I would need to pay $45 for irrigation. I had to pause her to explain that, as discussed with the coordinator, I was not able to pay anything additional and hadnāt even brought my wallet since I live just three blocks away. She then asked if I had Apple Pay, to which I explained that my cards were not set up for it.
She continued with the cleaning, but her approach was extremely rough and painful. My teeth are sensitive, and the experience was so unbearable that I started crying during the cleaning. Instead of offering assistance or showing compassion, she mentioned I could pay another $45 for a fluoride rinse to ease the discomfort.
At that point, I was in so much pain and frustration that I stood up and left the practice without completing the cleaning. I requested my X-rays to be sent over.
While Dr. Arif seemed competent, my overall experience was deeply disappointing. It felt like the focus was on upselling additional services rather than providing quality care, especially for someone who was upfront about financial constraints. For patients who are willing to pay out-of-pocket for extensive treatments, this practice may be suitable. However, for me, the service and professionalism fell far below expectations.
ā¢ā¢ā¢Update after seeing the practice response :
It is visible how little responsibility they take for what happens in their practice, and their behavior towards their patients ,just by reading their response and how selective they are in what they address. At no point did I complain about their standards of practice or pricing, as I respect and understand how it works. However, I was very clear and honest about my financial struggles and wanting to proceed strictly with whatās covered by insurance.
What was extremely unprofessional was the dental hygienist discussing pricing and add-ons so I could get a service that wouldnāt be painful. This is the main reason I was visibly distressed and left the practice in that stateāa state I did not have when I entered.
We are all human and go through various challenges in life, and a little mutual respect would go a long way, especially in the healthcare system.
