Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine — Attraction in Cleveland

Dear Dr. Dale Baue,

I came into CWRU School of Dental Medicine with high hopes of a consultation and treatment plan. The school seemed much more affordable than my regular dentist and very professional on the website and even over the phone. The receptionist answered all of my question, and if she wasn’t sure of something she would find out a firm answer; always returning my phone calls promptly.

Unfortunately when I arrived I was greatly disappointed. After following what seemed like general protocol, such as going to see the cashier and getting X-rays complete, I was led back to an extremely dirty, foul smelling room with a corroded dentist chair. I was asked to have a seat. I did so, and waited. Waited some more, and then some more. It’s was an 1 1/2 hours before someone came into the area to speak with me.

A gentleman by the name of Nima Ehsan came in with a rather polite female student. They washed their hands before coming all the way in. Immediately upon this man entering the room I could smell something not so pleasant. It was very clear that he had terrible hygiene and hadn’t shaved or had a hair cut for some time. He asked me a few questions like, why I was there, and what I needed to have done. Before I had a chance to reply, his phone had been making multiple noises and he excused himself multiple times to take a personal phone call. During him entering, leaving and re-entering the room multiple times, when he would speak to me, his words were slurred and I noticed him nodding off a majority of the time.

No one looked at my xrays while I was there. I had to ask if he would be returning to the room because nothing had been discussed. When he did return once again he stood almost behind the dental chair and I had to strain to see him while asking questions. The answers he gave we’re not clear and almost inaudible.

He gave something to the student that looked like a badge so that she could enter a treatment plan that was not clearly discussed and she swiped it into the computer for his approval when he wasn’t present.

A treatment plan was made with her, and my time was up. I felt so dirty, that I wanted to wash my hands before leaving. I used the same sink that they did and there was no soap. Yes, no soap. Meaning these people who just had their hands on my face and around my mouth had filthy grimy hands. Yuck.

I relayed to the receptionist what happened. She seemed shocked but stayed very professional and did not make me feel obligated at all to make a follow up appointment.

The following day, I received a phone call from Petra Olivieri. She wanted to follow up with this terrible experience. Thankfully the receptionist relayed this to her. Petra made is clear that this is not how the school wants to represent itself and actually looked at my xrays and called me back with more information about my treatment plan. She answered all of my questions and was quite pleasant.

I can say, from this experience I had no desire to come back. It was so unsanitary and the feeling I had when I left was confusion and just flat out creepy.

I am thankful that I was able to talk to Petra and I am considering follow up treatment at the new facility as long as I don’t see the same gentleman as before.

Oh, and did I mention I drove 4 hours to get to Cleveland; and 4 hours to...

It is absolutely ridiculous how the OR schedule Julianne lavisky has purposely ignored my and won’t return my calls within 48 hrs has made immature nasty remarks to me and continues to figure out ways to avoid actually giving a definite operation date and time she gives me one of those and said she has to find out what time slot she will put me in and never calls me back and then keeps repeating the same thing over and over again’ we’re on round 4. She calls this the tentative appointment. Julie the or scheduler is very incompetent and incapable of doing one simple thing To schedule someone and she keeps putting me off and keeps bumping me off the schedule. They did not resolve this issue. Case western dental oral surgery is a fraud and should not be allowed to practice. Julianne Lavisky set up fake appointments with unapproved time just to shut me up so I wouldn’t keep asking her for a surgery date and time. It’s always well it’s indefinite you can be bumped if someone else is priority. It’s because they have to send you to a different facility/company just to have case western surgeon perform the surgery! Case western does not actually have there own surgery department which makes this fraud because there just a overpaid middle man at this point. Please do all yourselves a favor and do not go to case western and please make sure you report them to the Ohio dental board when there unethical and hurt your mouth even more after all it’s just students from there pathetic excuse of a school and there even worse pathetic oral surgery department. Julianne Lavisky is a trouble maker who only does bare minimum she will only give you a tentative appointment and she will take about two weeks before she will try and get it approved. Don’t dare cry to the management or team or they just resolve matters by sending you else were. For real Julie Lavisky has a smart mouth don’t let her talk to you and put you off or put you down like your not priority. She will take over a month before she gives you an official call for your first fake appointment and then won’t even actually check to to see if it’s approved by your insurance. Everyone just want to make big money and if your not big money your not priority. Over a month ago I had my 2 nd consultation at case western and Dr Baur said he could do the surgery and assured me it was no problem. After Muskie and patient relations and the manager of the surgery department contact me. The team of Dr Baur students called me and said he didn’t feel comfortable he could do the surgery now. That’s how they resolve matters. They treated me in a way that violates medical standards and they did not meet ethical standards. This is disparate treatment and abrupt abandonment and discrimination and unethical bahavior. This is failure to provide standard care. This is failure to treat me the patient with dignity and respect. This is failure to provide a facility staff that can perform the surgery or treat me.  They fall below ethical law...

I was hesitant to write this, because I understand students at the dental school are there to learn and everyone – including professional dentists – make mistakes. I also believe there are competent students and instructors at CWRU’s dental school; however, my experiences as a recent patient were not reflective of this. When mistakes were made by a student, the options for recourse were limited. I am now in pain, out of money, and have to figure out how resolve my new dental issues. I went to the dental school with no pain and left with moderate intermittent pain and intense pain when eating. I am now limited to eating soft foods on one side of my mouth. If you are a student or staff at the school, you should be aware how I was treated.

I’m a CWRU graduate student and the health insurance the school offers me only allows coverage at the dental school. I came to the clinic to get two cavities filled. The student I saw is graduating within the year so I thought I was in good hands for a simple procedure. The student checked with the preceptor a few times when she was drilling, and a few suggestions were made, but the preceptor was not present during any of the fillings for either tooth. The preceptor did come back at the end to check the bite and make adjustments. I found it odd the student did not know what the filling was made out of when asked, but perhaps this is typical. I figured all was well and I went on my way.

I was numb for a few hours and as soon as the numbness wore off I ate a meal. I had severe pain when biting down, but I figured this was normal as I never had a cavity filled before. Later that evening I still could not eat on one side of my mouth and brushing and flossing brought on terrible pain that did not subside quickly. I was still fairly optimistic this was normal but figured I’d call in the morning to get it checked out.

When I came in the next day the demeanor of the student completely changed. I didn’t feel welcomed and the student seemed annoyed. They hastily took some X-rays and the machine was still swinging when leaving the room for the exposure – which was no longer even pointing at my mouth. The preceptor (not the same one as before) took a look at my fillings and told me they had to be replaced because they were cracked and chipped and there could be trapped air or something. :-( I was offered to either see the same student or another student for repair. Edit to add: requesting to switch students is a process.

I have no idea how to find a competent dentist. The few I’ve called with excellent reviews either aren’t taking patients or are booked for...