Kool Smiles

I went to Kool Smiles because they told me that they DID accept my Careington 500 dental plan because it was showing in their computer as one of the plans they accepted. On that basis, they performed an oral exam and took a bitewing x-ray because I had broken my two front teeth and was needing crowns. When I went to check out, they told me that they had not heard back from their corporate office (this is a large chain, apparently) as to whether or not they actually accepted the Careington 500 plan or not. I was told that it was fine, because if it turned out that they did not accept it, I would not be charged for the exam and bitewing.

After multiple phone calls to the local office in Abilene, TX at 4754 S 14th St, I was no closer to finding out whether or not they accepted the Careington plan. The business office manager, John, told me that corporate was not answering his emails about this. I find it deplorable that a local office could not even get an answer from their headquarters as to whether or not a dental plan is accepted. Why was it even showing in their computer? I never received an answer to this question..

Business office manager John said that he would comp the charges because he never got an answer from corporate and that I would not have to pay for the initial visit and x-ray. Meanwhile, I had sought out another dentist that accepted my plan and was proceeding with treatment, having paid the new dentist for the same procedures and more. Now, three months after the debacle with Kool Smiles, I have received a bill from their headquarters billing center in Marietta, GA for $100 for these procedures which were supposed to be comped.

I am still fighting this and John says that he will get it sorted out for me, but I have little faith in Kool Smiles in general. They appear to function very haphazardly. It took them four attempts to get a bitewing, which means I got shot four times with x-rays and their billing procedures are dismal if not outright deceptive. There is apparently little or no accurate communication between their headquarters and local offices.

Also, I observed people sitting in dental exam chairs immediately after the previous person had vacated the chair, with NO cleaning or disinfecting of the chair where the head, neck, arms, and hands of multiple patients had contacted it. This place is a staph infection waiting to happen. I couldn't get home fast enough to disinfect myself after being at Kool Smiles.

I cannot recommend that anyone go to Kool Smiles under any circumstances.