20 replies to this topic

[jhutch]

I have terrible dental insurance but need to go to the dentist for a cleaning. Our options are Smilecare, Gateway Dental, or Summit Dental in Folsom. Has anybody gone to one of these offices? Thank you for your recommendations!

[lisasellshouses]

I have terrible dental insurance but need to go to the dentist for a cleaning. Our options are Smilecare, Gateway Dental, or Summit Dental in Folsom. Has anybody gone to one of these offices? Thank you for your recommendations!

do not, i repeat do not go to Smilecare. they employee registerted sex offenders. yes, here in folsom.

they knew it but there is no obligation to inform the public. their obligation is to monitor the employee when he was around kids according to the police officer on the case.

it all came out in a news cast a few years ago, they employed a guy, who was a registered sex offender. he was the guy that would "prep" the patience before the dentist would come in.

unfortuantly, he was around my kids. when i heard the news cast, i was in a different room but the hair on the back of my neck stood right up. My gut feeling was it was the guy at our dentist office. He just seemed wierd and too friendly to my girls.

he wasnt caught doing anything at work, but accussed by a neighbor kid. I never went back and changed my dental office.

why is a registered sex offender allowed to work with kids at all? depends on his probation.

lesson: follow your gut feelings.

[Terry]

Check out Smilecare, Gateway Dental, and Summit Dental on the Better Business Bureau's website.

Looks like Smilecare has a "satisfactory record" with BBB in spite of having 37 complaints in the last 36 months and 18 complaints in the last 12 months - but they satisfactorily resolved all of those complaints which gives them a satisfactory rating I guess.

Summit Dental has no record with BBB because they've had no reports/complaints.

Gateway Dental I couldn't get to on BBB - it's listed, but it wigs out when I try to access the report.

At any rate, you can check out any business on BBB at www.northeastcaliforniabbb.org

[kristymgoodell]

BOOOO smilecare!! I sat there once in a chair...not in the waiting room but the actual dentist chair for an hour and a half. I finally walked out. No one noticed. Needless to say I forked out the extra bucks to go to my old dentist Dr Borrowsdale. Well worth the $$$

[bobb]

Sean Roth, new young and up to date. He is the best.

[s0479]

I have terrible dental insurance but need to go to the dentist for a cleaning. Our options are Smilecare, Gateway Dental, or Summit Dental in Folsom. Has anybody gone to one of these offices? Thank you for your recommendations!

I have SmileCare (your insurance sounds like mine!). I am getting a few things done and then will most likely change. I have also waited for 1 1/2 hours........now when I go in I say "if I have to wait tell me now cause I'll reschedule". Last time I was there I did not have to wait long. They are "ok" but I would not necessarily "recommend" them. I would not (and do not) take my daughter there, I'm extremely picky about who she sees!

[r&rbyrne]

I have SmileCare (your insurance sounds like mine!). I am getting a few things done and then will most likely change. I have also waited for 1 1/2 hours........now when I go in I say "if I have to wait tell me now cause I'll reschedule". Last time I was there I did not have to wait long. They are "ok" but I would not necessarily "recommend" them. I would not (and do not) take my daughter there, I'm extremely picky about who she sees!

I also have an HMO for dental insurance - which really limits you. I've heard bad things about SmileCare, and as far as I can tell it's like an assembly line.

We've been going to Gateway Dental over by Best Buy, and they're very nice. I had a very thorough cleaning and my daughter has as well. My also daughter has a cavity (the braces came off - only one cavity!) that's taken more than one appt. and they've not kept us waiting more than 10 minutes.

[jhutch]

Thank you everyone for your comments!

[s0479]

I currently have the same insurance (Smilecare/Gateway/Summit) and am trying to decide if I want to change. Anyone have any new comments about the above places and has anyone used Dr. Charles Rodgers or Dr. Jack Shapiro?

Thanks!

[lexmom]

I went to Gateway. It was terrible. They kept me waiting for over an hour too. I had told them from the very beginning that this was my only hour and a half block of time without my kids and I needed to leave by a certain time to pick up my daughter from school. By the time the Dr. came in, I had ten minutes before I had to leave. He didn't even look at my xrays. Then he cleaned my teeth super fast in those 10 minutes. I will never go back. There were too many people standing around to make me wait that long. I'm still looking for a new one.

BTW, Charles Rodgers in only the owner of the business, I think. He was never there. There were other dentists there. I never saw him.

[s0479]

I went to Gateway. It was terrible. They kept me waiting for over an hour too. I had told them from the very beginning that this was my only hour and a half block of time without my kids and I needed to leave by a certain time to pick up my daughter from school. By the time the Dr. came in, I had ten minutes before I had to leave. He didn't even look at my xrays. Then he cleaned my teeth super fast in those 10 minutes. I will never go back. There were too many people standing around to make me wait that long. I'm still looking for a new one.

BTW, Charles Rodgers in only the owner of the business, I think. He was never there. There were other dentists there. I never saw him.

Thanks for the info...I didn't even connect Rodgers with Gateway!! Listed differently on the different plans. From reading others advice I either need to pay the bucks and go with Delta Premier and have my pick of dentists or maybe Safeguard....found some people that recommended Shapiro.

[Steve Heard]

I used Gateway, and they've been great for me. I ask a lot of questions, and they've been very patient and thorough.

The place is clean and modern, the staff friendly and knowledgeable.

Almost as good as my old dentist in the Bay Area.

[BuffaloRon]

For your satisfaction and piece of mind, spend the money and enroll in Delta Dental.

[jhutch]

For your satisfaction and piece of mind, spend the money and enroll in Delta Dental.

I do have Delta Dental but it's and individual plan, not through work so it's their PMI program. Is there any way to get a better program through Delta without going through and employer?

Thank you!

[stacycam]

For your satisfaction and piece of mind, spend the money and enroll in Delta Dental.

I have Delta Dental, too, and it's worse than what I had previously. Before, when I had Delta Health Systems, I didn't pay my dentist anything, but now, since my employer switch to Delta Dental, I have to pay the same dentist.

Since I now have to pay for my dentist, I'm going to switch. The receptionist is so snotty. I'll be glad to be rid of her.