College of Dentistry — Attraction in Gainesville

This was my UF Dental College experience as a patient of 3 years. The first 2 years were very smooth. Dental students Valledor & Vasconez worked closely together. And with the dental plan they created consecutively, we made great progress. What I really appreciated about Valledor & Vasconez is that they listened actively. As a patient in the dental student program my commute to the C.O.D was no less than 4 hours 1-way depending on my work location. I really appreciate the fact that my travels were taken into consideration and my appointments were for a full day. I felt confident both students were competent, genuine, trustworthy and transparent. When Valledor graduated, Vasconez picked up where they left off and we were still making great progress. Shortly after Vasconez graduated.

My year 3 in the program was nothing shy of an unadulterated disaster. Instead of picking up where the previous dental student left off. I was being forced 3 steps back and a change in my dental plan. I was scheduled for another consultation in the perio-clinic. The consultation was for the same surgical procedure (crown lengthening) that was already recommended just 6 months prior. There was no need for me to drive a minimum of 4 hours to be consulted on a second crown lengthening that what was already decided and confirmed (read the previous dental student notes). At that point it was either I was going to accept or refuse treatment.

The dental specialist assigned to do my first crown lengthening was very patient, professional and proficient. However, my tolerance for pain is about as high as a deck of UNO cards. This surgery is not for the faint. Perio, no pun intended. According to UF's C.O.D website, a patient can accept or refuse treatment, except as otherwise provided by law. Therefore, I elected to forego the 2nd crown lengthening.

I met with Dr. K. and he explained future potential issues if I forgo the procedure. I stood my position. Dr. K. then made demands that I have the procedure or be dismissed from the program. Bully much? At that point, I just wanted my bottom partial and be completely done with the program. That day my appointment was scheduled for a full day. When I declined the 2nd crown lengthening I dismissed from the chair, 2 hours into my appointment after driving 6 hours, one way. The dental student then insinuated that work on my bottom partial would not start until the second crown lengthening was done. I left feeling like a whole hostage.

I expressed my concerns and frustrations to UF's patient advocate. All at my expense by force there was a minimum $650.00 change in my dental plan (w/extended treatment), issues with UF antiquated billing system, lack of transparency, lack of trust, still missing teeth/no bottom partial, nearing financial hardship and then to be threatened by faculty to be dismissed from the program for refusing elective treatment is just asinine. At this point I was willing to forgo all recommended treatment, complete my bottom partial and be done with the program.

UF's patient advocate was absolutely useless & very dismissive. Do not initially expect a callback or any feedback, instead expect adverse reactions. She is there to protect UF programs, not to facilitate patient grievances. After about 2 months, I completed the program. On the last day, I agreed and signed a consent form to come back in about 3 months for a cleaning and to address any issues with my bottom partial. About a week ago, I called to schedule a cleaning, I was informed I was removed from UF’s student patient program in its entirety. If I needed to scheduled an appointment I would need a doctor's referral. Retaliation, much?, but UF will not have to tell me more than once.

So unless you have a minimum of 3 - 5 years to invest a full day appointment once a month into this program ( 2 root canals, 2 crown lengthenings, 5 cleanings, 1 extraction, 3 crowns, composites and bottom partial) this may not be the dental college for you. UF COD's sense of time, ethics & accountability is...

Do not bring your children here. Even though like me you might be forced to because it’s the only pediatric dentist that takes Medicaid for children under a certain age as most dentists either don’t take children under 5 or can’t do the kind of specialty work that can be done here. If you do bring your children here keep in mind, these are STUDENTS and there is one actual Doctor there that you won’t see unless you are upset with the care received there. Because it is students I have experienced inability to take x rays on children and attempting to just try over and over again for a simple x ray on a child that was patient for the first 10 mins but can’t continue to sit while a student roughly shoves things in their mouth over and over, surgery times are longer meaning your child is put under for much longer than actually necessary were it a qualified professional, they don’t guarantee their work and you might get your child back with something completely different done to their teeth that what you agreed upon in the care plan and when it doesn’t hold up they say we can’t be responsible for that but we can do it again for you. And then you will have to fill out paperwork to get on a 4-6 month waiting list for the surgery center yet again. If you can afford to pay at a regular dentist at all I would definitely recommend you do. It’s PATHETIC this is the only place that takes Medicaid in the state of FL EDIT: I have since found panhandle pediatric dentistry in Panama City will take Medicaid and is able to do surgery just like this place but you will be dealing with an actual...

I came from Kentucky & had used UK College of Dentistry. They truly cared for their patients & offered a low cost clinic that benefited the community. They were awesome. They never charged more than they had to. Understand that UF's version is NOT the same. They charge HIGH, they make you come frequently & charge you each time you visit. They even triple charged me one time & it took me a year to get them to take the extra charges off. I have ongoing dental issues that they have been working on for a few years & I have severely sensitive teeth. However, they started trying to force biannual cleanings on me even though it took my teeth months to settle after a cleaning. UK never required that. When Covid hit, I didn't make any new appointments until things settled. When I finally called to schedule, I was told I would have to start all over again, including a visit just to see if they would take me back & then a half-day appointment for an assessment that I already had. I work full time - I can't just take off for absolutely no reason! And I'm a single mom so I can't afford expensive dental care. They are heartless & strictly driven by greed. They are using people as test subjects, using up their patient's valuable time, yet charge like a high-end dental practice. Be forewarned, you need a good bank account to get complete...