Bensonhurst Dental Care — Local services in New York

Update- Temp filling fell out. Awesome.

Breaks my heart to write this, as the docs & staff here have been amazing, but what happened to me absolutely isn’t. I was injured several years ago, including my jaw fractured in several places, one compound, and multiple teeth shattered. I came to Bensonhurst after seeing reviews and videos, knowing at least one root canal from the injury needed to be redone. After an exam I met with the woman in the schedule & payment office, & went over what was needed. I paid a couple thousand up front and financed the remainder with their credit supplier. At the time I asked Numerous times & ways if the cost covered the entire root canal and crown, which made sense that it would, as the cost was Above ADA average & other estimates I had received calling other offices. I wanted to be sure, as she had already made it clear the credit company doesn’t do increases for at least 6 months. It was not only confirmed to be all covered, but the appointments were made, including for the crown (They will not schedule unless you’ve made payment arrangements for that procedure). After the root canal was completed I was told to go meet with her again. At this point I was told she never said the crown was included, and I would need to pay an additional $3k. I explained over and over that I had confirmed the crown was included and the appointment made, but was repeatedly told that didn’t happen. She left the office and returned, stating the dentist would allow her to schedule the crown appointment, but she would just do a temp filling until I could pay. As she goes to schedule the appointment, she finds the appointment Already Scheduled, exactly like I said, confirming my statements. I arrive for that appointment & they begin taking an impression, so I assume they realized their mistake & were going to do the right thing. After the temp build up is done the dentist leaves to get what’s needed for the temp crown, but I soon hear whispers & see them pulling notes up in my chart. After about 25 mins the dentist returns, clearly annoyed (but was still kind about it) says I’m done & to go talk to the office again. I’m then told this temp build up will last until sometime in October, and to find the money before I return. I’m a single parent. Not in the whiny sense, in the my ex husband & daughter’s father is how my face was broken, and he’s over $65,000 behind on child support. I don’t have some new boyfriend or husband that pitches in. I busted my butt to get to a point where I can solely support my kids, & save up to go to a dentist that doesn’t take insurance, knowing I’m a difficult case with my jaw issues. I cannot just come up with another $3k. I mentioned my daughters student loan and they asked if I could use for them! That’s not what it’s for, & I would be putting myself in a hole if I do that. The best part was being told they gave me the receipt that didn’t list the crown. What?! The itemized portion is in dental shorthand, I have Zero clue what the abbreviations & all mean, that’s why I Asked Repeatedly! I, word for word, asked “this definitely covers everything that needs to be done with the tooth?”, and was told Yes! If I hadn’t been Very Clearly told the initial cost covered the entire root canal & crown, & the appointment made, I would have added the additional amount into the credit loan, which now can’t be done. Bottom line, I now have no way to pay for this additional cost, & have a temp build up that will start degrading in another month or so. All because their office confidently provided inaccurate information & Scheduled The Appointment. Every time my tongue hits the flat temp material I feel instant anxiety knowing it’s going to fall apart & there’s nothing I can do about it. I understand that mistakes happen, and maybe she was misreading something, thinking of another patient, who knows, but the reaction makes it feel like a scam, & just...

WARNING Here is my experience with Bensonhurst of Brooklyn New York: I have some dental work that needs to be done that I can’t afford. I have a dentist at home that I trust but still can not afford all of the procedures I need. I reached out to Bensonhurst dental recently via private message on Instagram after seeing on Social media that they are kind and help people that are not able to afford the dental work they need. Before making an appointment I had a nice conversation and made myself vulnerable through back and forth messages with their staff. I made it clear what my financial situation was and what needed to be done. I was convinced to make a consultation appointment that cost a non-refundable $260. They insisted I needed to meet and have a conversation with the dentist in person. Based on how they presented themselves and what they said, I felt that it would be smart to spend the money on a hotel room, gas, and consultation. I was under the impression that they would be helping me. I took a personal day from work, drove from New Hampshire (4.5 hours each way, got a hotel room) with my family to meet the doctor. This is now extending far beyond my wallet and time. They do not understand how they are hurting people just to get them to come into the door. I think they really need to take a long hard look at what it took for me and my family to come here and the numerous others they run this game on. My family chose to join me for support because this appointment was so special and important to me. The process of what ‘consultation’ means was not fully disclosed to me. Once I sat in the dental chair pictures were taken of me, without warning- from every angle- sure to get some unflattering angles, they put all of this up on a big screen tv for me to focus on flaws I didn’t even realize I had. It was made visible to other staff and patients as well. Humiliating. They called in other “specialists” to voice their opinions. It was like an episode of House. Like I have some strange and unusual disease that everyone needs to come and take a look at. They commented on my facial structure and my gums. I wasn’t even there for this. One ‘Specialist’ commented on my ‘old crown’ (it is 2 weeks old). They said things such as-“your smile makes you look much older than you are” “you have never been a smoker?”. I haven’t smoked a day in my life. I have never felt or have been made to feel that I look old-in fact, the opposite has always been expressed. I was told by this doctor that I needed work way beyond what I have been told by other dentists which were even more shocking. I was even given a before and after picture on how much better I could look if I went ahead and did the work. At this point, they called my entire family in to view the before and after. They asked my son “wouldn’t it be great if your mom was confused for your sister?”. I was then walked into another office, told by their financial assistant that the only way they could possibly help me was if I fronted another $1,700 (so they could "see" what I truly needed). What was this consultation I just had? This was all after I was given a laundry list of things I NEEDED to do (WHAT?!?). They did all they could to get me to spend 30k. They even asked me if I had family that had life insurance so that I could borrow money from their life insurance policy. Sadistic. They say they are there to help people, but they are only willing to "help" you if you are willing to put yourself and your family in tremendous debt. I feel like a fool and I hope someone reads this and avoids going through what I did. I pray God has mercy on this business and everyone that works for them and knowingly do this to people because I'm a firm believer in karma and no one should profit off of people in...

I almost have no words for how happy i am with my entire experience with bensenhurst dental, but that wouldn't be me. For 15 years, due to genetics & bad dentistry, i thought i was going to be dealing with my two missing teeth for the rest of my life. My smile was never really a smile. It was a half smile, a hidden smile, a fake one. I was bullied about it. & I have aways been insecure about it. I have cried endlessly about how difficult it was on a daily basis to have this hanging over me. I have been embarassed to smile big.

The hospitality field is my passion. & it is extremely hard to not smile all day at guests or clients for sometimes over 12 hours a day. To feel confident in your people skills while worrying if you've smiled too big was a personal hell I've gotten used to. But i was tired. I am a happy person, a grateful person & i needed my smile back.

Fast forward to november 2021. The pandemic is dying down. Self love/care is at an all time high & so is self awareness. & thanks to my superhero mom i was able to get in this office. By this time I had watched the new smile videos for 3 years. But this time, I was determined to get mine.

I was scared. I was uncomfortable. I was hoping for the best but this wasn't new for me.

And then, i met dr. Marina. After that, the rest was history. The fear was history. I knew I was in hands that would care about me. & she did. Straight to the point, telling me what i needed like a mom would. I went from my skin crawling because of dentistry tools around me, to laughing & joking in the matter of 5 minutes. In 5 minutes she took years of a fear of uncertainty that has kept me from my smile & turned it into trust. Turned it into hope.

My next visit i saw Dr Geoffrey. This was the surgery. The last time i had a needle before this I passed out. But he waited until i felt comfortable & here came more trust.

Two 6 hour gum surgeries on different days. I didn't feel a thing sitting in that chair. What i do know is that i couldn't appreciate the detail more. My gums have never felt this good. Ever. Also, he debunked morning breath, its a lie, get your gums checked.

I have only had my new smile for a day. & it might take me a while to get used to changing all the habits i had when i had to worry. But I wokeup this morning & couldn't believe my reflection. Is this really my mouth?!

It is & I really cannot thank bensenhurst dental enough for their family oriented office & detailed care you give to your clients. I never once felt like i was around anyone who didn't have my best interests or feelings at heart. You didn't just give me my first real smile, you gave me my personality back. The one that was hiding under all those habits.

I'm so thankful that i followed through with this office & I wouldn't tell anyone to go anywhere else. Thank you so much to the entire team. You brought me back to life.

They aren't just out here fixing smiles, they are out here changing people's whole lives. I...