Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/17/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In October 11th 2022, I received two bonds on my front teeth because of chipping that had occurred over the years. By December 17th, 2022 my left tooth chipped where the bond was. Within a week even more had chipped. Bonds are supposed to last between 3 and 12 years. I returned on January 2nd, 2023 to get the bond repaired. I paid the balance due for the bonds $370, and did not have to pay fro the repair because they should not have chipped so quickly. Barley a week later on January 10th, 2023 the same tooth chipped again. By January 15th it chipped even more leaving a large noticeable chip on my front tooth. I called on Tuesday January 17th, and very kindly explained the situation and asked for a partial refund. The cost of this repair is about a third of my pay check as a public school teacher. I reminded them my entire family has been a costumer for 17 years and ***** told me they would not refund me at all because "they completed the service." *********** was completed, but very poorly. I now have to walk around for at least a week with a uncomfortable and humiliating chip in my front tooth until I can find a new dentist, save money for the repair AGAIN, and take time off of work to have this fixed.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/02/2023

  This person is also trying to cancel their credit card payment. I am copying and pasting my response here as my response is the same:

  To Whom It May ******************** cardmember had professional services performed in our office 10/11/2022 and 10/13/2022 for a total of $945. After the cardmembers insurance paid their portion, your cardmember failed to pay her balance until 1/3/2023.
  
  Your cardmember apparently became upset for something that failed shortly after 1/3/2023, however she failed to comply with recommendations that have been made to her for over 6 years to avoid a repeated situation. The $504.40 that was paid on 1/3/2023 was for services performed in October of 2022. We carried this balance without charging interest.
  
  It is also important to note that your cardmember lives in ******* and our office is in *************. The treatment was performed while she was visiting family.If something failed prematurely, and was not the result of non-compliance, we would always gladly rectify the problem. Because your cardmember has been non-compliant, we would never issue a refund for services that have been performed at or above the standard of care. 
  
  While I understand your cardmember is upset, she fails to understand that she is responsible for payment of the treatment performed in October 2022. I find it odd and unfair that a credit card company will automatically take back money for services rendered from a health care professional just because the cardmember is not happy.
  
  If the funds are not put back into my office account in the next 5 days, we will be charging interest from October 2022 and will be sending your cardmember to a collection agency.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  J. Peter St. Clair, DMD

   

  I also emailed the patient this:

   

  *******
  
  I can see that you are upset based on the review you gave of my office and the conversation you had with *****. I would like to clarify a few things and hopefully help you get the care you need.
  
  You stated that in October you received two bonds for your front teeth. Actually, it was one tooth (your left front tooth) that I worked on. And, it was a repair of someone elses work you had done in *******. I did another filling that day, but it was on your upper left.
  
  I think the first thing you need to consider is, why is this happening? I have talked to you about this numerous times. It does NOT have to do with *********** was completed, but very poorly, as you stated in your review. *******, I have been a dentist for 27 years, and I know what I am doing. What has been repeatedly occurring has nothing to do with how well the bonding sticks to your teeth. It has to do with what you DO with your teeth.Granted, I can totally appreciate your frustration. I will tell you that if the tooth was made too long, your parafunctional habits (grinding, clenching, etc)will overpower the plastic on the tooth and cause it to break. Thats why I spent so much time adjusting the tooth with you moving your jaw in different directions. When these kind of restorations are done, we try to make the teeth look as good as possible, while trying to pair that with how you function. If the bonding fails, 99% of the time it is due to what people do with their teeth.
  
  In 2016 I made you a custom NG, which was never picked up or paid for. I realize that was the responsibility of your parents at the time, but I made it very clear how concerned I was about the wear on your teeth. That was 2016!
  
  I can promise you that if you do not do something else to either address the root cause of your bruxism (sleep disturbances, stress,medication, etc.), or at least protect your teeth from both nighttime and/or daytime bruxism,  you are going to have continued problems with your front teeth.
  
  The other thing you need to realize, is that you live in *******. If you were here, I would not continue to do things for free, but I would certainly work with you to fix your problem and continue to help you from this issue continuing. As you were told though, Im not going to refund for something that was completed well within the standard of care.
  
  I would be more than willing to help you find a qualified dentist in Az, that I would personally speak to, and update on your specific situation. If you wish my help with this, please respond to this email.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Dr. St Clair
  
  J. Peter St Clair, DMD
  Diplomate, ************** of ****** Sleep Medicine
  Comprehensive Family Dentistry
  Sleep Apnea, Snoring & TMJ
  www.stclairdmd.com