Coast Dental Services

This is the first time ever for me to write a complaint letter, but I feel compelled to do so due to so many problems encountered at this coast dental facility at 2500 w lake mary blvd suite 106, lake mary, fl 32746. Most of the issues have to do with the crowns that have been made for me and coming off.

After having to return to the office over the past 2 years numerous times (at least 5-6) for an ill-fitting crown and at least 3 different labs to get the right fit on #14, it was frustrating and inconvenient. On one of those visits, dr. Arias had the dental tech make an impression with the sticky, gooey material and unbeknown to either of us, my crown on tooth #18 came off in the material. It wasn't until later that evening that I even noticed it missing and of course the office had already closed. The following morning, I called the office and I was able to speak with the same dental tech and I told her what happened and asked her if she could check the mold, she did and she was able to recover it. She indicated that I was fortunate because she normally sends out the molds before leaving the office at night... End of shift. I was able to get an appointment to have it recemented and thought all is well. Then early this year, #14 comes off again, but this time a dr. Miller, the current dds (dr. Arias is no longer at this location) was able to recement it back, using a different cement and a blue light led device and so far so good. All of these re-re-re visits were not charged and the office manager, ashley was very nice and accommodating.

Now is the issue of the crown #18... The same one that came out during the taking out impression mold stated above. I called the office and spoke with ashley and explained the problem and she made an appointment for dr. Miller to see me. Because I didn't want to take a chance in losing it, I manually placed it back in my mouth and it stayed nice and snug. After an xray, he examined me, attempted to remove the crown with his fingers and it didn't come off. He then tried using a scaling device and still no luck, then stated "come back in if and when it comes off again", and that was it.

Not more than three days later and after I finished eating a thai noodle dish, I sensed that the crown was no longer in place! Both my wife and I looked frantically through the leftovers, the garbage bag, and floor with no crown. Then my worse fear hit that I may have swallowed it! Of course, the only way to verify that it was in my digestive tract was to go through my stools every day... Not pleasant at all. After two days of no luck and researching on line, I went to the local er, lake mary advent health er. I was examined and had an abdominal x ray taken and it showed that the crown was in there, located right at the cecum/ilium. I was advised to continue checking my stools and return if I haven't passed it within 3 days. Three days passed and still no luck so I returned to have more x rays taken and the crown had not moved from the last spot. The er dr. Stated that she would have to call my gi dr. For further treatment and instructions. I had also called ashley at my coast location and she indicated that she would inform dr. Miller and just wait until the crown was retrieved.

A day or so later, I got a call from my gi dr. Stating that he wanted me to get another x ray (this will be the 3rd) if it hadn't passed in 3 days and take it from there. By the time the results came back to his office, lo and behold I had finally passed the crown! I called ashley again at the office and got an appointment for me to see dr. Miller. At that appointment, I was advised that I was going to be charged for another mouth x ray, exam and reattach the crown! Really?

I don't believe that I should have to pay again for this procedure when it's no fault of my own. The numerous times and issues with dr. Arias... The times of repeat visits... Inferior cement/techniques used (imo)…... The almost 2 weeks of daily checking of my stools... The er visits... And I truly believe that dr. Miller could have taken off the crown using forceps or other methods which would have not resulted in my swallowing the crown. All i'm asking for is the reattachment without me being charged again.

I feel that I was pressured into applying for credit for a 'better' bridge. I was approved and the bridge they offered amounted to almost the full amount of the $3000 loan. The month I was to get the work done I was ill. The next month, they were shut down due to the virus, and then my appointment was postponed several times due to no doctor being in the office. I asked to be transferred to another office to get the work done but was denied. I had to get the work done elsewhere and asked for a refund. I was first told that the office I went to would complete the return to the credit agency, then was told it would be done through the corporate office. I have made numerous attempts to get this rectified but still to this day, they have yet to contact me.

My wife was told she needed her front veneer replaced due to a hairline crack and was told while she was under heavy pain killers that our insurance would cover 50% of cost. My wife paid the difference and the work was done but the veneer color does not match. They refused to correct the problem and now 6 years later I find out that they sent the remainder of the bill that the insurance for some reason did not approve to collections. I just found out when I did a credit search. I have never been contacted from them in all these years and I cannot find anyone at their company who can help.