Columbia University Dental Consultation and Implant Center

Please note these are grad students working along side actual dentists. I will try to keep it brief.
In October 2014 I was given a quote for braces in the amount of $ 3600 w/​a 2r payment plan (after $ 500 down payment) $ 130 per month which of course was the length of the treatment. I thought I made a great decision for me and my teeth. I was previously given $ 5k & $ 6k quotes which I felt were pricey. The consulting dentist was not the dentist that performed my treatment.
After X-​rays & seeing the periodontist I was set up for my braces installation. She was unaware of anything that was initially discussed which I didn’t know until she was in the middle of the braces installation. She didn’t even know I had root canals or crowns; By she I mean Dr. Kunin.
At first she seemed okay; later, I discovered she’s a little shallow and narrow minded; she believes that only she could possibly have things going on in her life and doesn’t know how to treat patients that are trying to do the right thing by their teeth but don’t really care for going to the dentist. I have given good reviews. (Metropolitan Smiles is a great general dentist in Kew Gardens!)
In the beginning, I would be late when trying to rush there from work, I work in Brooklyn. I could be 5min late & she would tell me I couldn’t be seen. I had to start taking the day off & work doubles all week to keep my hrs so I wasn’t 5 minutes late (after all the price didn’t change). Plus, I only had to go once per month so it didn’t bother me, at first.
I got engaged and moved to NJ. I continued trying to see this person & she had attitudes every time like she hated her job. One day I went in there w coffee bc I had to leave my house @ 6am to be there by 9 (I took the 116 bus) she was late & told me I had to throw away my coffee. I complained about her attitude to the manager who said I can stop treatment and I didn’t have to be there.
One day I had a hard time finding a parking lot, long line to stop at security, they don’t always stop everyone but that day they did & they just looked over my ID, that process (the line and security) took about 10−12min max ok then I wait for the elevator– 5min, go to the 9^th fl– 3min, the line for registration-​10 min I go to talk to her to tell her I’m there & she says you’re 30min late I can’t see you today” I said seriously? I said getting up here requires a lot of work, it takes an unpredictable amount of time. She continued to tell me that’s not her problem. I told her I paid a $ 14 toll, $ 26 for parking fought to get in the building on time & got stuck @ security & that’s not your problem. FINE. I rescheduled & left. Next visit no problem. I started to get second opinions considering changing orthodontists. I was told She left buttons that were serving no purpose in my mouth, she doesn’t cut the wire short enough, I got an infection in my mouth twice from whatever she was using & had to go on antibiotics. The next visit was an emergency my TPA broke, I was so happy I hated that thing. I called for the appointment the day before, they gave me 9am. I had an important appointment prior that ended about 8:00am. I rushed there, I was so tired. Again, had to pay a toll, find a parking place, stop at security, the long ride up, the line in the front & it’s 9:30am anyway of course she couldn’t see me & I had another appt. all scheduled before the only time they could give me. Also, She was going on vacation afterward. Well forget it I told her I can’t keep paying for this. Your wasting my time. It would be different if all you had to do was walk in and you were late it’s an obstacle course. Anyway $ 82 dollars bet. the last two visits just to get there not counting gas & I was turned away. After 9 months I made my decision to leave. I had to ask myself, pay a little more and get the attention I deserve or be mistreated by a little girl with a lab coat. They don’t even give you privacy. You and other patients are lined up like sausage links only side by side .
Anyway my new dentist is in Lodi, NJ he’s awesome. The first thing he did was cut the TPA out and said it should have come out two visits ago. He gave me Invisalign for the same price and knocked 8 months off of my treatment. He also gave me a discount because I had such a crappy experience. Anyway, I heard NYU has fast braces if you want to try a school to save money. Yes this is ONLY one person out of a mass of students. Her name is Dr. KUNIN! Avoid her. At every second opinion I was told her work was poor and explained her attitude. I went on about 6 consultations; it took awhile to find the right office with a good price.

In my experience, the staff members are not very sensitive to low-​income populations. While I was in the waiting area, I overheard the people checking-​in patients make disparaging remarks about a patient who was on Medicaid. During my x-​ray, my dentist told me she was relieved that I was a student, because a lot of people come in during the day that she would rather not work with. Finally, I came back after my x-​ray for a follow-​up cleaning and another dentist, Nana, did not even show up.