I had a really great experience with Affordable Dentures and Implants. My mom has always been afraid of dentists and didn't take care of her teeth. She also had a stroke a few years back which has created a few more barriers to treatment. It's difficult to explain to anyone who doesn't personally know a stroke survivor, but she gets antsy pretty quickly and can be a bit difficult to work with at times. She's also physically handicapped and can't use her left side, plus is having trouble transferring from her wheelchair to other seats, getting into a helpful position, and following directions, so it's a bit of a unique situation. She underwent major oral surgery in this office- multiple extractions and bone augmentation- in order to get dentures. This is something we've seen a couple different dentists for, but she has always refused treatment because she didn't like something about the office or wanted to be put to sleep in a hospital, which was out of our budget. Given her limitations and dental anxiety, I wasn't sure what to expect this time around, but I couldn't have been happier with how this office behaved. The front office has been great in terms of explaining processes, scheduling, and billing. I've also had to coordinate paratransit to get my mom to the office, and they've worked with me on times to make sure everything lines up right. Something you can probably only appreciate if you've been in a similar situation. They've also worked with us on fixing issues and missed appointments due to unforeseeable circumstances. Not only did they not scold us for missing an appointment, but they worked with me to resolve the problem that caused it- my mom's assisted living facility biffed it and didn't give her pain medicine after her surgery. :/ But, like I said, this office came through and helped- always making her care the top priority. As far as back office goes, Carlos the assistant has the patience of a saint. Seriously. We had to do a full series of x-rays because my mom couldn't stand up for the pano. My mom had trouble holding still and repeatedly failed to follow instructions. Carlos never stopped smiling and encouraging her. He had a lot of positive energy and kept joking with her throughout, which I know went a long way to making her feel good about the office. He did the same during the other visits, but the x-rays I'm sure were the biggest challenge. Jennifer assisted with the surgery. She was incredibly kind, gentle, and thoughtful. She was always doing what she could to keep my mom comfortable and looking out for her. She even went and grabbed my mom a pillow to make sure she was comfortable. Dr. Athari has an amazing sense of calm about him. He walked us through everything and talked to us throughout the procedure. My mom needed frequent breaks during the surgery and he always gave her the time she needed to regroup. He was very gentle and mindful with her throughout the procedure, and I'm certain that's what got my mom through it without issue. I cannot stress how difficult this process could have been considering the amount of care needed and the limitations of the patient. However, these folks rolled with everything we threw at them and never missed a beat. Always helpful, knowledgeable, kind, and gentle. If I had to find one negative about the office, it would be the wait times. On our first visit, one woman in the waiting room said she'd been waiting 30+ minutes. It took a day to get a call back to schedule. We waited a little while in the office too. However, when you consider that they're working with people like the person I brought in, and that it's totally impossible to predict the needs and behaviors of some of the patients who go in there, it's totally understandable. I have no doubt they took a little longer because they were treating someone else exactly as they treated us- with patience and understanding. That's worth waiting for. So, if you do go, be prepared for some short delays, but also know why those delays happen. Overall, they work like a well-oiled machine. We got to meet the whole team, including their on-site lab techs. Every single person met us with a smile and kind words. I cannot thank Dr. Athari enough for creating an environment like this. Before I close, I'd like to add a word on fees as well. I almost hesitate to call this an affordable dental office, simply because they obviously put care first. All dental offices should do what this office does and provide options, but few do. It's that commitment to patient care and letting you choose what's right for you that makes them more affordable, versus the offices that cut corners to save you a buck. That's a major difference worth noting. They also have an on-site lab, which saves costs as well. Anyway, again, sending a huge thank-you to Dr. Athari and his staff. You guys are beyond awesome.
They do not use insurance, so don't ask. It's cash or credit card up front. I paid $1,330.00 for 7 extractions, a temporary denture till I heal and a permanent denture within a year. I know first hand that going the other way with a super good dentist, would have resulted in an Oral Surgeon, a Dentist and an expensive Denture Lab. It would have cost me over $5,000 if I had gone the best way... I made an appointment for a week later, to have the teeth removed and before that I went one morning to have my form made, so the temporary denture could be ready for the extraction day... The following lines are my thoughts about the people there...
The front office staff does not greet you or ask how they can help you when you come it they look at you and watch you stand at an empty desk until a patient sitting in the lobby advises the customer where to go. The staff in the back are excellent they keep you informed and will try to assist any way they can. The Dr was great helping me as a patient however the patient does not need to hear or see him reprimand the assistant when they mess up or do something wrong. I don't need to know something is incorrectly done. Now as for as my service I had a horrible experience I arrived on time but because they didnt have my paper work told me I would have to wait an hour and half til the office who had the info open I told them I can go home and get my copy before the office opens. My upper denture was fitted a nice fit but when I returned my upper were crooked and the left side looked like baby teeth ere used then adult teeth on the right side ...and angle is very obvious. The whole process time it took to make it was something that could not be correct the same day because a whole new denture need to be made. In the meantime I can wear the crooked one until my next appointment woke up this morning my more is so sore from eating and the rubbing of the new denture on my gum line A very unpleasant experience
The investigation underlined the importance of giving the patient information regarding the limitations of full dentures and information to facilitate the patient's adaptation to the new denture, advice on diet, including difficulties liable to be encountered in the use of an adequate allround diet. The investigation also showed the necessity of re-examination at regular intervals, as the patients were often unaware of changes impairing the function of their dentures. About 25% reported symptoms of functional disorders of the masticatory system. This together with other recent results underline the importance of including a functional analysis of the masticatory system in the examination and diagnosis of patients with complete dentures.
The first visit was nice enough. The receptionists were polite even if they didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing. The only bad experience I had was a very rude lady who dealt with the mountains of paperwork I was filling out. You could clearly tell that she hated her job. With that being said you run into unpleasant people every day and unless you are incredibly thin skinned it shouldn't bother you. It was the least of my problems.
The Premium Denture is very high in natural appearance. It features enhanced natural appeal, wear and stain resistance, with detailed customization. As with the UltimateFit and EconomyPlus Dentures, the Premium’s extra-high density teeth are first set in wax for you to try in. Changes may be made at that time. After you have approved the look of your Premium Denture, the lab will custom finish your denture in the permanent acrylic base material. This additional customization results in a more natural look.
