Precision Periodontics & Implant Dentistry
Marilyn Schwartz
I am 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery of my entire upper gums. The surgery went very smoothly, little discomfort. Post surgery, I had swelling managed by icing and, to my surprise, no pain or subsequent bruising. I would recommend Dr. Zalewsky for his clinical work and his staff for smoothly orchestrating the procedure and aftercare visits.
Ann Moline
Hygienist did not introduce herself and called me by the wrong name. The cleaning instrument leaked water, which kept ttrickling down my chin, making the process very uncomfortable.
Eric Mayer
Excellent hygienist and I'm a fan of Dr Lakkis even if she couldn't see me this visit—I will be back. That said the sudden unannounced increase in visit charges--50% more than last time—was a surprise at checkout. And the 3% extra charge for using a credit card—Really?!
Lilia Vannett
Today is 4/9 and I have yet to receive a call back from Monday, 4/7 to confirm appointment date & time. The office changed my appointment; I agreed to the change but “failed” to write new info on card. I am not a new patient; I have been a patient at this practice before it was acquired by Dr Zalewsky (upon Dr Stiglitz’s retirement). Usually the staff has been accommodating, so I don't quite understand not returning my calls. Being retired does not reduce the coordination and scheduling that I have to do with various service providers, in particular medical and dental. I have no argument with Karla or Dr Zalewsky.
Richard Mainzer
It is unnecessary and rude to expect payment up front. You should file with insurance and then collect any balance from the patient. Last year you ended up sending me a check for your mistaken collection.
James Halpern
I’ve been a patient for years. Treatment is A-1, but additional 3% fee on top of their already hefty fees if you pay with a credit card leaves a bad taste.
Judy Kitces
Very disappointed that the principal dentist we had been seeing for years was no longer working there. They did not explain his absence and substituted someone else who recommended some very expensive procedures. I did not find about the change until I called back to get his opinion on the procedures and found he was no longer there.
Tiffany Pache
I recently had gum graphing on two teeth. The graphing was successful. I am pleased. However, I learned some valuable lessons regarding the office. My dentist referred me for one tooth. The doctor at Precision recommended four teeth. After getting the insurance estimate I decided to do just two - the one I went there for and one other. I would return the following year when my insurance renewed for the last two. However, I didn’t ask for a pre authorization (which I have learned they are not “obligated” to provide to the patient.) - I was stuck with a higher price tag than I had expected. My advice is to get a pre authorization not an estimate. They provided an expensive serum for healing not covered by my insurance that is apparently mandatory with all procedures done by this office. The patient cannot refuse it based on cost. Just a word to the wise.
Also, on the day of my procedure I was kept waiting for an hour. Dr. Daru was on her own and an emergency had come in before me, but no one told me this until they invited me to take the dentist chair. I sat in the waiting room wondering why I wasn’t being seen for an hour and unsure if I should stay or leave. When I was finally seen they couldn’t find my records and discussed taking new X-rays which I refused - imagine if I had done it? How much higher my bill might have been? I understood the difficult morning Dr. Daru had, but the same cannot be said of their billing department. Don’t make any assumptions and ask questions before treatment. Again, the graphing worked great and I am pleased. My complaint is that it cost me more than I had anticipated or budgeted for and the office has made it clear that is all on me for not knowing I had to request a pre authorization. I will not be returning to have the additional work done, especially since it has not been recommended by my dentist.
Cheryl Hardy
What a great staff! Very orderly and professional! Erica was great with scheduling and very accommodating! Clean office! So here's the bad part for me. I went from n for a consultation on Monday as I already knew about my receding gums and pockets. I started to fill pain at the base of my gum, where the pocket was a little deeper. By Friday, my tooth was loose. This has never occurred, never any loose teeth. It occurred after the perio probing. I was in such severe pain that I went to this Family Dental spot so they could secure the tooth with a compound resin. This is severe for someone that has always had a favorable visit with the dentist. I thought I would be visiting the office today, however they were closed. I was told to go to the emergency room but chose the Family Dental office instead. Maybe I'll take the holistic approach tree tee oil, peroxide and prayer!! I'm hoping that the pain will subside now that the tooth is secure. I've had the probing done before and no loose teeth in the past. Not very happy at this time! Scheduled an appt for scaling, but I think I'll have to reconsider.
Alyssa Goessler
I underwent gum grafting surgery with Dr. Gupta's periodontal office on January 19. What occurred that day, and the failures in postoperative follow-up, fell far below any reasonable standard of patient care and left a lasting negative impact on me.
My fiancé and I arrived on time. The doctor was running about thirty minutes behind, which did not bother us. What became clear, however, was that the staff were focused on catching a flight to a conference later that day and my care was secondary to their schedule. I was treated less like a patient than an obstacle to move through quickly.
First, Dr. Gupta called me back for a pre-surgery discussion. Rather than explaining risks, the procedure, or recovery, she rushed through inconsistent instructions and dismissed repeated requests for clarification. She also realized during the discussion that she had given me the wrong paperwork. The corrected materials were still insufficient, and we later relied on Google to manage post-op care.
The surgery was a nightmare. After telling me to lie in the chair, I was barely acknowledged. There were 3–4 people constantly entering and leaving the room discussing the conference, rental cars, and flight schedules. I could not tell who was supposed to be operating on me. Dr. Gupta had apparently lost her phone and kept yelling near my ear, “HAVE YOU SEEN IT? I THINK I LEFT IT ON THE COUNTER.”
At one point, while they were prepping for surgery, another doctor or staff member walked in and threw his keys over my body for Dr. Gupta to catch. I flinched because they passed within a foot of my face. No one acknowledged it and they continued discussing travel logistics.
Then, without warning, the numbing began. I only realized because a syringe was suddenly thrust toward my face. I flinched and was scolded for moving. I had to explain that I was terrified of needles and needed to be told what was happening in real time.
At some point, I realized surgery had begun when blood started flying out of my mouth and onto my face. Around that time, they began using my body as a tray, placing instruments on my breasts and abdomen and repeatedly retrieving them throughout the procedure. It was degrading and humiliating. I have never felt so violated in a medical setting. At least 1–2 additional people entered during surgery to discuss travel.
Post-op was somehow worse. We were told prescriptions had been sent to CVS. Within 1–2 hours, pain radiated through my jaw, face, and skull, and I was sobbing. My fiancé rushed to CVS, waited 30 minutes in line, only to learn nothing had been sent. The office had already closed at 2:30 p.m. Their four emergency numbers were useless: two disconnected, one voicemail, and the fourth a retired doctor no longer there.
I began calling myself while in severe pain. When the retired doctor answered, I was crying and begging for help. He kindly said he was already trying to reach someone. He was the only person associated with this experience who showed compassion.
About 4.5 hours later, the medication was finally sent. I was so afraid it still would not go through that I went to CVS myself and ended up slumped on the floor while we waited.
I never returned and completed treatment with another periodontist. No patient should be treated this way.
Alexander Barnett
My wife says that the cost of care has doubled since the merger - ridiculously expensive - and there was no advance notice of the cash only or cc surcharge or price increase. She has hitherto never had a problem with the practice but she will not be returning.
Jake Morris
GET A SECOND OPINION BEFORE GETTING WORK HERE PLZ Dr. Zalewsky, definitely a money grubber. Took a failing implant out for me and grabbed an adjacent adult tooth for an extra $1k. Then did bone grafts to try and set the area up for another implant. Later he removed grafting material but left screws in. I had to go to another 2 periodontists who removed the screws and told me that area would never accept another implant successfully and that the guy i went to was coocoo for trying. Coocoo for my $$$
Steve Edson
Unfortunately our periodontist joined this over priced, upsaling, cost hiding and double talking organization.
IF YOU PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD THEY CHARGE 3% AS IF THE NEW HIGHER PRICES ARE NOT ENOUGH.
In my opinion if I live next door to them I will not return here for dental work.
We moved to a different state (500 miles away) but return once a year to Dr Lakkis she is a fantastic doctor. We made our appointments to see her a year in advance. When we arrived we were told that Dr Lkkis was on vacation. We were never told of her vacation. And we should have reschedule the appointment. We are in the Northern Virginia area every 6 weeks or so.
But the way we were treated it will be the last time we ues this service.
The price for teeth cleaning jumped over $100 from last year.
I was suggestive to do a laser cleaning. The laser cleaning that would generate oxygen under the gum line and increase oxygen and blood cells to the gum area to improve gum health and destroy bacteria. When I asked for the cost I was told $125 per area for the three areas $375.
I said I would hold off on that and check the area in which I live to see if there's a better price. Then I suggested possibly a deep clean which they said fine. I was figuring that would be a less expensive procedure. It turns out that that is $335 per area with 2 areas that's $670 that is $295 more than the laser cleaning. I was never told that price or price difference. They told me that the laser cleaning was a better way to go but never said the deep cleaning would cost more.
IF YOU GO TO THIS PLACE GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!
I call to get clarification of the billing and was told that she had gone over the pricing for the deep clean with me. Which is a false statement. Nobody ever talked about the price of the deep cleaning. She only talked to me about the laser cleaning and knew I thought that price is a little high. If she had talked about the deep cleaning she would have said it was $295 more than the laser cleaning. I guess she was hiding the upsale and is now lying to me that she told me the price.
If Dr Lakkis is to leave this group we will return to see her and use her services. But I will only return for my follow-up that are at no charge for my implants.
In my opinion if I live next door to their office I would not use them.
The final bill for me was over $1000 I had to pay and hopefully I will receive some money back from my insurance.
GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING BEFORE THEY START!!!
Tiffaney
I was referred by my dentist due to having bleeding around 1 tooth when I brushed and flossed. Dr. Daru said I had bacteria around the tooth and she needed to cut my gum in order to clean it and also remove my wisdom tooth on the same side. I won't go through my entire experience but almost 3 months later the area is still bleeding. I called the office 2 weeks ago to get guidance and also talk about the bill. The receptionist said she needed to talk to Dr. Daru and will call me back in a few minutes and it's been 3 weeks. They also made me pay in full before the procedure and low and behold when my insurance was done processing they over charged by more than $200. I regret just following my dentists referral without doing research. Never again.
Henry
I was referred to Precision Peridontics by my regular dentist for a routine, non-emergency issue with one tooth. The doctor proposed a one-hour, in-office LANAP procedure at a cost in excess of $4,300. It was not covered by my GEHA dental plan, which I have through Federal employment. Precision Peridontics also imposes a surcharge of 3% (outrageously called a "convenience fee") for payment by credit card. This is all exorbitant and I declined the procedure. The staff on-site apparently have no leeway on fees and charges; they are just employees. As I left, never to return, they offered me the phone number of their management. I declined this as well and will seek treatment elsewhere.
Cindy Stanley
This business, and Dr. Fields specifically, is super unscrupulous! They knew they were out of network but said nothing to my husband. All they said is that he had to pay upfront and they’d bill his insurance. Now we are stuck paying over $200 for a consultation for nothing. We now have to find another doctor to do the work and have to pay for another consultation. Obviously they only care about money!! Why they think we would pay $5000 out of pocket when he could easily get it paid for by a dentist in network. My husband’s general dentist actually referred him specifically to Dr. Fields, without taking into consideration that he is out of network. Apparently there is another dentist at this practice that is in his network but they failed to inform him. Apparently this is a common occurrence, his dentist always referring patients to Dr. Fields.
I have never in my life seen a business that doesn’t inform the patient ahead of time that they are out of network. Yes, my husband should have double checked and this is a hard lesson we learned. Stay away from this practice as obviously money is their main focus!
Wilma R
I went to Precision 3 months ago after I was referred by my dentist for a localized periodontitis for a tooth that was part of a bridge that had some inflammation and gum loss. The dental assistant started by getting a full xray of my mouth. I told the assistant I just had my oral evaluation two weeks ago where xrays were done so they could have just asked the xrays from my dentist. After my tooth was examined by Dr. Naru, she recommended extraction, bone graft then an implant. I asked if there is anything that can be done to save my tooth. She said I will just be wasting more money to do that and if I want I can have the extraction done that same day so I can minimize my trips to their office. I said I was not ready to have a tooth extraction that day. I thought I need to get a second opinion if the tooth really needs to be extracted. It is part of a bridge so extracting it means I will have 2 missing teeth.
I made an appointment with the second periodontist referred by my dentist. When I made the appointment I asked if they need to take a full xray of my mouth. I was told that was not necessary since I was referred only for one tooth. This second periodontist said he will treat the gums to try to make them healthy. I had one laser treatment and the gums around the tooth have improved. I am glad I got a second opinion. This periodontist even takes my insurance and also participates in a dental discount plan I have which Precision did not.
Rebecca Nagle-Hawkins
I'm not even sure where to begin on this one. I went in for a consultation and I was immediately recommended for surgery. No alternatives were even discussed. I was not given any information on the significant risks of the procedure during my consultation.
The periodontist's office consulted with my insurance as to how much the procedure would cost and they received the response in writing, based on VERY SPECIFIC treatment codes.
The day of my procedure, I went in and was made to sign a waiver form which listed all of the very significant and worrisome potential outcomes of the surgery. I almost left right then and there. The biggest reason I didn't is because if you cancel less than 2 business days in advance you owe $500 PER HOUR for the periodontist's time.
Shortly after the procedure, my gums started bleeding again so I went in for a follow up. At that point, the periodontist who had done my procedure had left the practice and I was seen by Dr. Zalewsky instead. It became immediately clear that Dr. Zalewsky had not reviewed my chart before the appointment and he refused to examine me until I had my next cleaning appointment. He was beyond rude. I have never been treated so unprofessionally before.
About a month later, I was charged double for the treatment because the periodontist's office deviated from the treatment codes they had originally sent my insurance.
Oh, and let's not forget that they went ahead and contacted my insurance again to find out what my coverage would be for additional procedures WE HADN'T EVEN DISCUSSED YET.
After all that, the procedure didn't even work, and my gums are back to bleeding only a few months later. They started bleeding again almost immediately after the procedure.
Bottom line: find a different, professional periodontist. I most certainly have.
Meredith Barnett
John Kinas
