Petaluma Modern Dentistry

Petaluma Modern Dentistry, I wrote you a negative review over 6mo ago and just realized I was wrong.

5/5 stars for flawless cleaning and understanding/flexible office staff

I just found out from one of my parents that my dental insurance added a co-pay last year without my knowledge.

I sincerely apologize for disputing the unexpected co-pay and for writing a bad review about your business without checking with the primary insurance holders first.

I'm sad to read the couple of bad reviews here, which were strictly based on the patients' insurance plan. Dental insurance is not like medical insurance... it pays for necessary annual maintenance and a percentage of the portion of other higher priced procedures, where there are varying grades of product that you can choose from, usually covered at a varying percentages of the contracted procedure. I know this because about 25 years ago, I worked as an insurance biller and receptionist for a dentist in Long Beach, CA.

So, in my case, I had two broken upper front teeth that needed crowns. My insurance would pay for both teeth crowns with my co--pay being only $75 each, but I would have had the lowest aesthetic result because that would have been a metal crown with porcelain baked on top and would have looked very fake (not translucent like a natural tooth,) but would have saved the function of those teeth. I could have chosen between two other, more expensive all-porcelain crowns (with translucency and very natural looking.) One price would have been a co-pay of $750 for each tooth or the top-of-the-line of $1000 copay for a custom-designed porcelain crown that is super strong and translucent and comes with a 5-year warranty not to break at all or 100% free replacements.

Those teeth are so important to be very strong for biting into hard foods and for looking natural, that I opted for the $1000 each co-pay. But that was my choice entirely, and I was not given an up-sell or any pressure at all to choose the most beneficial (also most expensive) option for me.

So if you choose more that your insurance coverage pays out, don't write a bad review saying that the dentist or his staff try to up-sell you... it is entirely your choice.

I loved the treatment that I received, it was top notch and painless, and since he is also qualified as a cosmetic specialty dentist, he does amazing, thorough work. I just moved to Sonoma County a year ago and I can tell you that I have found MY dentist! I highly recommend Dr. Szutz!

Had a cleaning appointment for months. Came back from vacation a few days early for appointment. Received a phone message on Tues. saying my appointment for Friday was canceled due to a lack of hygienist.
Welcome to Corpoate dentistry.
I have a new dentist now. Don't waste your time.

I am very grateful for this dental practice. I do have the best insurance, however even with the best insurance there is a co-pay. All of the staff is pleasant and professional. They are very though. I really like that the office is decorated in nice way, not too fancy dancy. I especially am in awe that they can "make a tooth" on site. it is pretty amazing that can be done. It is calculated by the computer and ends up fitting perfectly!

Such a horrible place. Stay away.
Like other reviews, this place is all about money. They up sell everything. If you go in don't be surprised if you "must" have a root canal. They will find one (whether you need it or not).
Front desk staff totally unhelpful and they don't care if your insurance will pay or not. I was told I was covered and at the end of two root canals (questionable if needed) and a crown, they charged me $1600 out of pocket.
Recently they told my wife she needed over $12000 worth of services (I kid you not). She went to a different dentist who said she needed a root canal and crown on ONE TOOTH, and everything else can be monitored and done as insurance would allow.
This is a crooked, money grubbing place with a fancy veneer. Don't be fooled!

Unfair pricing. I shopped around for the exact same procedures and it was $600 more here. Did the full exam with xrays and all... Dentist would not listen as I told him he was looking to fix the wrong tooth.

Avoid it at all costs!

And for the 5 star review about insurance, I have incredible insurance. It wasn’t about the insurance coverage. It’s the fact the pray on the fact we don’t know their specialty and trust them to help fix or provide care. They slam us with a huge bill.

Went to other offices and they were all within a few dollars of each other. Not $600 more than each other.

They can care less about your health and well being, just about you being a dollar figure to them. Ethos and business practices are all wrong.

"Oh no...im a dental MONITOR. Not a dentist." Dont know what they actually do here but its not healing. Took my money. Took AN x-ray poked me. Then sent me on my way with a referral to somewhere else I voiced major concerns backed up by my own dental experiences and they were basically dismissed and put on the person they referred me to.

I went in WITHOUT insurance so they cant blame them for the lack of care. Unless I was turfed because of not having insurance. Either way. Avoid them there are better options.

I had to leave my dentist of 35 years because my dental insurance changed on my retirement to DeltaCare USA. I researched dentists extensively and after reading some pretty negative reviews about the dentists listed in the program, I chose to go to Vanessa Lam at Petaluma Modern Dentistry. I could not have been happier. The front desk folk and the x-ray and cleaning technicians were very welcoming and friendly and Vanessa Lam was superb. After a thorough examination, she showed me cracks that I had on two molars that were of concern--not immediate--and she never pressured me to have any unnecessary treatment. I am so happy to have found such a competent dentist in a very welcoming friendly office.

Let me preface my criticism of this dental office with a positive comment about the actual procedures. I don't think I have had better, more thorough exams and procedures than I received at this dentist. I left feeling like every tooth was totally clean and thoroughly examined for any possible defects.

That being said, I felt pressured at every turn to get very expensive "up service" that was not covered by my insurance. This after telling four different staff that I have insurance which is very expensive to pay for my necessary work and since I am on fixed income, I have to watch what I spend over and above that income threshold.

Even with insurance I had to pay a significant amount out of pocket and unfortunately I was left with the impression that income generation for their practice was more important than listening to me. MW

Be watchful for their sale pitches for extra pricey procedures. I left because my hygienist, whom I trusted for her great performance in cleaning my teeth, left. Then they put a very inexperienced hygienist in her place and the guy almost drown me with rinsing my mouth. I also had an expensive crown done (I succumbed to one of the sale pitches), it came loose three times, causing me much pain, anxiety and inconvenience, having to go back to get it fixed and adjusted. Their front desk were very young and inexperienced customer services, who needed ongoing proper training in procedures and billing knowledge. Do not take their words for it. I found they had limited knowledge about the bills you received and made up as they went on. I know since I am in health service business as well.
I hope they would work on improving services and less about selling products.