Park Slope Dentistry Seventh Avenue

"I went in nervous and anxious and left feeling relaxed and informed. Carmen has magic hands. I’ve had cleanings in the past that have brought me to tears but Carmen was so kind, thorough and gentle. I have quite the treatment plan ahead of me after putting it off for years. I’m so glad I found a dental team that I trust and makes me feel at ease. Dr. Freking was phenomenal and I’m looking forward to working with this team over the coming months to address my dental needs."

"I agree with most of review I had to skim now because I decided to write myself one, which I actually do quite rarely, if ever. I have no qualms about or complaints with the quality of the dentist work done for me, that was quite professional, fast, satisfying, and even when a front tooth that the office fixed for me got a chip a few weeks later - which is of course not pleasant - they agreed to take me in soon and fix it up again. My issue, however, and the main reason for the very low score is the way they treat the customers / patients who start asking questions about something they apparently perceive as unpleasant. I did read 3-4 reviews here as well that exactly confirm this kind of an extremely unpleasant experience, which does make me think that my feel about what is going on - because I was just so surprised with how rudely I was treated on the phone - is not a one-time occurrence but a clear pattern. I received a bill after the fact of the treatment, months later, with a few hundred dollars that presumably I have to pay now because "my insurance refused to pay the dentist office what they promised they would." (There's also a longer post from the office on this matter already from earlier with a similar case). And here's my main problem: First, you have to make clear to the patient *at the moment of signing treatment agreement* (it was a pricey onlay) that the amount they're agreeing to out of pocket may change if the insurance happens to "deny" them payment for whatever reason. It's not my first time in the dentist office, and the amount of annual allowance is clearly visible and/or calculable based on your insurance plan's modalities. Or, if it's not, you - the dentist office - have to go the trouble of calling the company beforehand and making sure there are no unpleasant surprises. The office clearly didn't do that and instead led me to believe that the high amount of out-of-pocket would be all I need to pay. This is extremely unusual to me, precisely because - as they themselves acknowledge - the insurance companies, apparently, may change the amount after the fact. If that's the case, why not give me heads up at the moment of signing the agreement? Maybe because you are afraid the patient will hesitate, because they're already paying a significant amount and don't want to be open to an unforeseeable future liability in addition to that? So that's number one: misleading the patient against your better knowledge the price they're paying is final. But second, and much more importantly: I've never, ever had someone treat me with such disrespect, arrogance, lack of attention or any shred of professionalism at any doctor's office trying to attempt to resolve the issue at hand. The person on the phone - a female, I presume, who refused to give me their name though they themselves suggested that I talked to someone else before just hanging up - was inexplicably and utterly disgustingly attacking me by yelling at me, slowly and steady raising the voice and, in the end, dropping the call at the very moment we agreed that I would talk to someone else. I'm still affected by this "conversation" as I write, I have to say. Because this receptionist just added insult to injury, failing not only to help me address the issue at hand - me having to overpay for a service after the fact, which frankly, I don't think anyone can appreciate (in their own reply post, the dentist office comfortably blames this on "multibillion insurance companies." If you know that, then you should do all that you can to help your patients, perhaps?) But also, treating me as if I'm some kind of a piece of garbage. And for what? Just asking the questions about the bill? Really? Thankfully we live in a neighborhood where there are many good alternative options. Sometimes you lose your patient/client just over being a jerk."

"Dr. Freking is fantastic! Smart, great bedside manner, very skilled , thoughtful communicator and super cool! Carmen is a phenomenal hygienist and all of the dental assistants are lovely/skilled! The front desk is knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful."

"I had a mixed experience at this dental office. While I was really satisfied with the dental work on my broken filling, the administrative side left a lot to be desired. On the day of my appointment, I was given a bill for the services and paid it on the spot. A month later, I was surprised to receive an additional invoice. When I called to clarify, the office administrator was not only unhelpful but also quite rude. She interrupted me, raised her voice, and ultimately hung up on me, all without providing a clear explanation for the additional charge. This lack of transparency and poor customer service is disappointing, especially since I was considering becoming a long-term patient. Unfortunately, I won't be returning due to these issues"

"Such a great experience. Everyone here was so kind and professional. It had been awhile since I’ve been to the dentist, and the hygienist and dentist didn’t shame me (like I’ve been at other places). The cleaning was one of the most gentle and thorough cleanings I’ve EVER had! I highly recommend this team of talented professionals to anyone looking for a gentle and extremely competent dentist’s office."