Universal Smiles DC

I would give this place a negative star if it was possible. Dr. Ahmed is the worst doctor ever and his practice is pretty much a scam. They have changed their name to Restorative Dentistry to hide from their past. I bought a groupon for Invisalign and that’s the only reason I got tied up to this place or else I would have avoided it at all cost. $ 3500 down the drain my teeth are in worst condition than previous to treatment starting. This review is solely for Dr. Ahmed and how the practice is run.

I visisted the office today because of an issue with my wisdom tooth (it had previously been filled by another dentist and a portion of the tooth fell out). So I scheduled a same day emergency appt without a hassle.
The Periodontist and Implant Surgeon, Omer Akmal, stated that my options included a root canal or extraction of the tooth. I was adament on keeping the tooth so I asked for more information about the tooth’s current state and about the suggested procedures. At this point, Omer stated that the other dentist would be in, in a second, to give me a 2^nd opinion and to provide further information… ok. He also stated that a root canal would be performed at a specialist’s office and that they could refer me to someone. I asked if the person would be in network, for insurance reasons, and he stated something to the effect of «the procedures are very expensive… are you going to be able to afford it»? I replied that the expense was not an issue nor a deterrant but I’d like to find an in network doctor. (as any other person with insurance and common sense would do.)
So Bilal Ahmed comes in. He spends the next 20 or so minutes trying his might and pushing his luck. He spends the entire time trying to persuade me to remove the tooth on the spot. He said that it was a «10 second job» and involved «no down time». I asked him about oral care after the procedure and he made it seem like a cake walk.
Bilal expected a decision immediately but I decided to go to the restroom to think this over. I consulted with a trusted relative, who had the procedure before I agreed to the extraction. After the conversation, I decided to get a 2^nd opinion and schedule the appt at a later time if I indeed needed an extraction. I returned to the suite and told Bilal that I would make an appt at a later time. He replied «ok, well just get your stuff».
I am in the process of finding another dentist. I refuse to support an establishment with a lack of professionalism or respect for it patients.

I have been waiting for 2 years to write this review. I wanted to make sure I was not in a position of needing to go back for ANYTHING. Well, my time has come, so here goes…
I, like an idiot, purchased a Groupon for Invisalign without first researching the business selling it. MY mistake. A mistake that I will never make again! When I first went to the office, I was pleasantlly surprised. It was very aestetically pleasing… calming, even. The receptionist was (and has always been) very pleasant. I was actually excited! «Dr.» Ahmed was pleasant, as was Mahsa (their «Marketing Operations who apparently doubles as a hygienist?). I was certain this was going to be a lovely experience.
*record scratch*
«Dr.» Ahmed was hell bent on lowering my expectations of the outcome of my Invisalign treatment. Interesting. Fine. He never once looked in my mouth and told me I grind my teeth. Say whaaaattt??? As a matter of a fact, for that entire first appointment, he never looked in my mouth. *here’s your sign* He kept insisting that I get my dental care at his office as well. I declined because there’s no way I could make the trek from Alexandria to DC for both Invisaligns and routine dental care. Molds were taken and I was sent on my way. Weeks pass and I was asked to come back in for new molds. Apparently they weren’t done right the first time. Fine. Went back in. A few months pass, no Invisaligns. I called and they explained that the Invisalign company was behind because of a high volume of orders– thank you for your patience. I finally called, fed up and pushed the issue. Hey! Guess what? My Invisaligns were sitting on a shelf somewhere. Thanks, for the call to let me know guys! Really appreciate your attentiveness!
During the long waiting process, I went to my regular dentist for a routine cleaning, where a small cavity was discovered. It was my first cavity. I called «Dr.» Ahmed to ask how to proceed because of my Invisaligns having already been ordered. I was afraid that a filling would make my tray not fit properly. He insisted that he had to do the filling because he has to follow a «template» to make sure my trays will still fit. At this point, I was already weary, but didn’t know what else to do, so I agreed to let him do it. First, he ensured me that it would not cost more than my regular denitst charges and asked what that amount was… What a load of crock. He charged me more. Jerk! Being my first filling, I had no idea what to expect, and I was extremely anxious about the process. Let me tell you something… I was in tears from the pain! When he gave me the numbing injections, it felt like he shoved a chissel into my jaw. Holy cow, it hurt!!! After the filling was applied, I could tell that my bite was off. He told me that it would wear back down with time. Oh, and he certainly didn’t use a «template.» I knew immediately that I had made a grave mistake by allowing him to touch my mouth. Over the next month, I experience severe tooth pain, where I’d had none prior to the filling. I couldn’t eat on that side or tolerate hot/​cold. They told me over the phone that it can take a while for the nerves to calm down. A month later, I was in worse pain, so I went back in. He did something, it made the pain a little better. I could at least eat on that side again. However, over the last 2 years, I have had to be very careful when I chew hard food. I went to another dentist for a 2^nd opinion and was told that everything looked okay, that it must be nerve sensitivity. Well, this week, after LOTS of review reading, I went to a new dentist who re-​filled my tooth. As soon as she started working, I knew that «Dr.» Ahmed had butchered my mouth. I barely even felt the needles. And, the tooth pain and sensitivity is completely gone. My bite is perfectly aligned. Wow! Wish I would have gone to have it fixed 2 years ago (another review on Ma’s Cosmetic Dentistry coming up next).
Bottom line of this review… CONSUMER BEWARE!!! I have renamed Universal Smiles DC «The Slaughter House»… I will never step foot in there again. I didn’t even finish my invisalign treatment, and I don’t care. They are not geting another penny from me. Ever!

Okay, so my experience was not the best.
When it comes to Dr. Ahmed’s dentistry, I cannot say anything negative. I had 3 wisdom teeth pulled by him and both the procedure and recovery went flawlessly. I cannot praise him more. I was deathly afraid of having the procedure done, and he assured me that he would be gentle, and soothed my worries enough to convince me to save money and go without general anesthesia as I had planned. I went through with the procedure without any problems, and would do it again if I had to.
Now, the office staff is dreadful. Sharrone, the receptionist is very sweet. However, when I called and scheduled an appointment for a wisdom tooth extraction, she assured me that I could have a consultation one day, and the procedure the day after. She scheduled my consultation for a Thursday. The office is not open on Fridays. So, yes, I wasted a half day off from work, and came into the office for no reason.
The worst, the office manager. During my first visit, she was very pleasant. After going over all of the costs, she came up with some absurd amount of money that I should bring in in the day of my extraction. My insurance covered everything 100%, I knew this before I went in. Still, the office manager tried to convince me that it was only 80%. After many conversations, and requests for an itemized list of costs (which was never forwarded to me), I finally had to call my insurance company on THREE WAY to confirm that I was indeed covered 100% and did not require any copayment. Of course, she played dumb and confused and «didn’t know who told her that,» the issue was finally resolved.
On the day of my procedure, the office manager looked at me and did not say a single word to me.
Needless to say, I will not continue routine care at this office. I wish I could still go back to see Dr. Ahmed, but not with that terrible office staff.

I came to Universal Smiles in January 2012 after not seeing a dentist for a long time. I left in 2013 and I am not coming back.
Dr Ahmed was very kind to me in easing my anxiety (I had not been to a dentist in 10 years) and helping me get started back on the right track. Etta (hygienist) was excellent in my cleanings and in keeping my anxiety at a minimum. Once I got back on the right track is when I became wary of Dr Ahmed’s approach to my oral care.
Dr Ahmed frequently told me that my lower gums were too puffy. He first tried to sell me Invisalign to correct my bottom teeth (I declined). The next visit he continued to press Invisalign with him telling me that if I didn’t do it, my teeth would decay (I declined). The last visit, Dr. Ahmed made a big production of taking X-​rays and stating that I would need to have my lower gums treated with a laser to remove the top layer of gum tissue.
I decided to get a second opinion, where I was told that the prescribed treatment was unnecessary. I also learned that the initial plan of care was not thorough enough for someone with my dental history. I decided after this second opinion I needed to switch practices.
I do not recommend coming here for oral care, especially if you have a complex oral care history. You are better to take your business elsewhere.

I’m someone who actually LOVES to go to the dentist — I still find stellar oral hygiene reports and toothbrush kit freebies gratifying (don’t judge). BUT, I have to say that my 2 year experience at Universal Smiles was torturous. There were days when I left the establishment in tears. I hesitated to write this review, because one star cannot possibly represent the level of dissatisfaction I have for this place — even words cannot express. Even the old adage, «you get what you pay for» doesn’t suffice, because no level of discount would convince me to ever go back there — I wouldn’t even go if their services were free. All I will say is that I had a groupon for invisalign that was easily refunded (even after 2 years) after I recounted my experience here.
I have since found new providers that have restored my enjoyment in going to the dentist/​orthodontist.
I don’t like writing negative reviews, but if this review can prevent someone from enduring the headache I faced then it’s worth it. Just listen to the other reviewers. I’m also entirely convinced that any positive reviews (past, present, or future) on here or any other review website are entirely fabricated and produced by the staff themselves or friends/​families of the staff/​owners.

Staff is disorganized and they way they run business is shady!
–Appointment times are always behind
–Drs are new graduates or foreign interns with NO degree or experience and messes up as other reviewers have stated
–receptionist are not professional. (browsing the internet or talking on the phone about their personal life).
–Dirty!!! The dim lighting can’t hide the weird odor.
PLEASE SOMEONE SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN for ILLEGAL Operations!!!

FIND ANOTHER DENTIST!!!
It seems I am not the only one that had problems here — but here is my story.
I started with a dental check up since this office is so close to my work. First thing he said to me as he entered the room was — «you will lose those front teeth in a year if you don’t get alignment treatment» — trying to sell me off on the $ 7000 package he had. It’s been a year and I had no problems with the teeth — and seen another dentist that said that everything is OK.
I had to get a crown on a tooth. I waited for more time for someone to look at me than I was actually being treated. It was overpriced, the service at the office was rude and unhelpful (the billing person never answered or returned my calls) and most important — the work was crappy. The crown came off after less than 3 months. After speaking to my new dentist — I went back to it recemented thinking that they will own up to their mistake. They submitted the claim to the insurance the same day, and now I have to pay for it.
Overall — terrible experience. Bad service, a lot of money spent, unprofessional in every way imaginable. If I can stop anyone from going to their practice I will.
FIND ANOTHER DENTIST!!!

I will add to this review following my treatment’s completion, as i suspect there will be further disappointments. But in case anyone is remotely considering this office, my advice is DON’T! I have never written a bad review before, but am compelled to warn others to stay away. This is the absolutely worst purchasing experience i have ever had. Unprofessional is an understatement. Details to come, but please dont waste your money or time and jeopardize your dental health with these people.

This was also the worst dental experience I have ever had.
I went in for a cleaning. The hygienist told me that I had two cavities. Dr. Ahmed came in and took a quick look inside my mouth and said that I had three cavities. He didn’t even inspect or touch the spot he called a cavity. He really did just look inside my mouth for a matter of seconds.
When I showed up to get the fillings, he looked inside my mouth again and said that I had four cavities.
This made me a little uncomfortable. So, I told him as much. I said, this is making me uncomfortable. I was just here and I was told I had three cavities, so I’m surprised there is another.
He offered to take pictures of it, but I decided to just move forward. I had been waiting for 30 minutes and I had other appointments to get to later that afternoon.
He then told me that I needed to have x-​rays taken of the cavities to prove that they existed. This took another 30 minutes. At that point, I had been at the dentist for an hour and he hadn’t even started the work.
When he came back in to set up the nitrous oxide (I do not get novicaine), he told me that I would need to take about 25 deep breaths and then I should be set. He then left the room and so did his assistant. The nitrous oxide was up way too high, so I kept waiting for someone to come back so I could tell them. I finally took the mask off and sat up. Somebody walking by noticed me and got the Dr. Ahmed.
He was very irritated and snapped at me, you have to leave that on. And I replied, why am I being left in here with this on? He said, you need to leave it on for at least 20 minutes.
Since this information conflicted with the «25 breaths» he had previously told me, and things had gotten extremely tense, I decided to leave. I told him that I wasn’t having the procedure done. The situation devolved into an altercation that ended with him kicking me out of his office and getting in my face. Needless to say, I will never be going back.

Worst $ 1,500 I have ever spent. I had 2 3-​surface inlays done. With my insurance I paid about $ 790 per tooth.
For this «service» I went in twice. The first time, I waited 15 minutes in the lobby and another 10 minutes in the chair. Doctor was running late. Ok, this happens. They numb me up I wait for Novocaine to set in. I already know something is wrong — this hurt more than usual. He drills out old fillings and makes molds for new ones.
The follow-​up visit is when things really go wrong.
1) I wait 45 minutes at the office before an assistant thinks to tell me the dentist is running late. Wow. I had figured it out by that point and I had to go out to the lobby and ask what the deal was. Apparently there was an administrative snafu that no one bothered to call me and let me know to come in later due to an emergency. It was a full hour after the start time that I actually saw the dentist.
2) We get started. The Novocaine was not administered correctly on my lower jaw. I squealed bloody murder when the drilling started. They gave me more. At this point, if they hadn’t already taken out one temporary filling — I would have loved to leave. But, I kind of had to stay to finish the torture.
3) One the 2^nd round of Novocaine set in, he began work on removing the 2^nd temporary filling. At this point, they brought in a nurse who was very good at keeping me calm but did nothing to build my confidence in the practice — apparently she didn’t the difference in the type of cement used on a porcelain versus gold filling. I know this because the dentist had to redirect her verbally.
4) When the procedures were complete, I go out to the lobby to make sure I didn’t have paperwork to do. This is when the receptionist/​accountant tells me that insurance has not paid up on my inlays. When I asked if there was a possibility that it would be more than the $ 1,500 that I had already paid, she said, «It won’t be more than $ 100 left or right (from a base on $ 790 out of pocket per tooth).» This was both flip and insensitive. A couple hundred dollars matters to me and for her to act like it was not a big deal was insulting. Especially for services rendered in a completely unsatisfactory manner.

I’ve been going to this practice since I moved to DC in 2000. At that time, the practice was run by Dr. Jean Judy, whom I loved, and when she left, I started seeing her colleague, Dr. Zimmet. Dr. Zimmet provided great care and worked well with my maxillo-​facial surgeon who had performed jaw surgery on me due to a misaligned jaw. I was very happy with Dr. Zimmet, but then Dr. Ahmed bought the practice and Dr. Zimmet started working less and less, and eventually retired. There were a few times when I thought I had an appointment with Dr. Zimmet, but instead Dr. Ahmed was the one to handle my appointment. During the two or three times that he treated me, I found him to be very arrogant, he would have a completely different assessment of my dental health than Dr. Zimmet, and would each time recommend that I need some expensive procedure. He was also completely dismissive of the fact that I was under the care of a internationally respected maxillo-​facial surgeon for my jaw issues, and told me that I just needed to put caps on my teeth to even out my bite. Don’t you think if that was a viable solution, that the jaw surgeon would have come up with that bright idea?
When I got word that Dr. Zimmet was officially retiring, I decided to find a new dentist. I told the dental hygienist my plans, since I was going to be sad to say goodbye to her, and she was very supportive of my choice to leave and gave me the impression that I was not the only person to think Dr. Ahmed was an ass (including herself).
The icing on the cake was when I called the office to have my records transferred to my new dentist. I had had xrays taken at my last appointment that I thought would be useful for my new dentist and I also thought that the doctors notes from 13 years of care would be useful to bring with me. The receptionist told me that she needed the request in writing and that there was a $ 50 charge. I asked what the charge was for and she told me it was for copying xrays and records and that they had to pay someone else to do it. This is complete bullshit because they use completely electronic records there, including electronic xrays, and there’s no reason they could not just email the information to my new dentist.
Good luck running this practice into the ground, Universal Smiles!

After the Universal Smiles DC, horror story, this patient, who, once, did not like going to the dentist, cannot wait for my ³⁄₅ dentist appointment with my new, competent provider.
Dr. Ahmed’s day will come. When he learns to provide a competent, customer service-​oriented service, where questionable billing is just not right.

If I could give this location a zero, I would. Absolutely worst business experience I’ve ever had, hands down. Just take a look at all the «hidden» reviews further down this page too, if this has happened to you too, tell your insurance!
I came in with a dull small pain 2 weeks after a routine cleaning. Dr. Ahmed claimed I suddenly had a «very deep» cavity and it required lots of work. He gave me 2 options, urging me towards one that the front desk claimed was covered by my insurance. He took nearly $ 696 that day from me. Long story short, it ended up not being covered.
Nine months later, when I called to ask to have my records transferred because I moved (by the way, they charge $ 50 per page to fax records!) they matter-​of-​factly told me that my cavity actually wasn’t covered and I now owe an additional $ 1,100. To make a long story short, this dragged on for months. The office charged me and my insurance for the wrong procedure, told me I now owed an additional $ 900 instead. When I said that the front office told me they checked my insurance and said it’d be covered, the office manager actually emailed me back saying that since my insurance plan has the phrase «Plus Premier» the front desk must have figured it was covered. WHAT?! After threatening with a lawsuit, they folded and zeroed out my balance. Oh, and since then, I had to have the work re-​done.
Not to mention the bogus $ 50 «new patient fee» they tried to stick on me my first day there! Rude. Unprofessional. And corrupt. AVOID!

This place is horrible.
I went here b/​c I bought a groupon for teeth whitening. You had to have a cleaning done first so I had my records transferred and went in for a cleaning. I waited over an hour and never had my teeth cleaned and had to go back to work. I came back the following week to have my teeth cleaned and they found 4 cavities (supposedly) in 5 minutes. I had my teeth cleaned 6 months prior to Universal Smiles and had NO cavities. They started pressuring me to get them filled immediately. I called my previous dentist who told me to get a second opinion b/​c he had only seen one spot that was questionable. When I asked to have my records emailed to my previous dentist, I was told there would be a $ 50 fee. A $ 50 fee, when my other dentist charged $ 5 to MAIL them. It ended up that I did indeed have ONE cavity not FOUR.
Since I went there I have heard HORROR stories of double billing, charging for services not performed and leaving a nerve exposed.
BEWARE.

This is the worst dental experience I’ve experienced in D.C., if not the entire Atlantic Seaboard. I accompanied my girlfriend for a routine procedure, which was not only a nightmare, but couldn’t be completed because somehow all of their xray equipment wasn’t functioning. When my girlfriend complained about being moved from room to room (on top of being a little anxious about having dental work done), Doctor Bilal Ahmed tried to talk to me and instead of owning up to mistakes they were making and proposing a path forward. In my opinion he was pretty sexist and had horrible manner explaining things to and reassuring his patient. We also have unresolved billing issues.
The worst thing is that multiple members of his staff repeatedly confirmed quietly to us that they have a lot of upset patients. How does that inspire confidence if you’re nervous about having your teeth drilled?! Just stay away and look at the dozen or so inexplicably filtered (removed) reviews saying similar things.

Do not go to this place if you need Invisalign treatment, unless you think you need a very small amount of straightening.
I bought a deal of the day coupon to receive Invisalign treatment from Universal Smiles DC. Months earlier, I had three Invisalign consultations with three different orthodontists who recommended three different treatment options. All of the options involved braces and Invisalign. I knew Universal Smiles DC was led by cosmetic dentists, but I figured they would work with me if I needed braces and Invisalign.
When I went for appointment, the first thing they got wrong is they sat me down in a chair for a teeth whitening. When I told them I was there for my Invisalign consultation, they took molds of my teeth — this is one of the last steps that is supposed to occur. I expected they would look at my teeth first to decide if Invisalign was right for me. Dr. Ahmad met me towards the end of my appointment and told me the Invisalign would work in 9 months. I asked if I needed braces — he said no. I knew he didn’t know what he was talking about — all the other orthodontists I saw previously recommended about two years of treatment — a combination of braces and Invisalign. He barely looked at me teeth. From talking to Dr. Ahmad, all Universal Smiles does is take molds of your teeth, sends it to Invisalign, and follows the treatment plan prescribed by Invisalign. If you expect Dr. Ahmad to expend any energy thinking about your teeth, you’re mistaken.
Obviously, I decided not to go here and got my coupon refunded. If you’ve consulted with other orthodontists and know you only need the minimum amount of Invisalign, this might be the place for you the next time they do a deal of the day coupon. Otherwise, stay away!

If I could give 0 stars, I would. This place is run about as well as the DMV. Also– I suspect Edward J., the author of the review below me, is either confused or Dr. Ahmed himself.
Darnice at the front desk is rude, my dental tech was 45 minutes late for my first cleaning, and Dr. Ahmed was rude to the same tech during my exam. Since I came to this office on my lunch break and the tech was so late, I had to cut my appointment short to return to work and make a second appointment to finish my exam.
When Universal Smiles called me to remind me it was time for my 6 month cleaning I decided against my better judgment to make another appointment. Darnice and Dr. Ahmed were still rude, but I had the same tech as last time who was very pleasant and conversational. Just when I began to think that I had the wrong first impression of this business, I got to the front desk to pay for my visit. I know my benefits and my copay should have been no more than $ 50. Instead, I was hit with an $ 85 dollar charge for the routine services performed (a cleaning and oral evaluation). After this news, Darnice informed me that I also had a $ 400 balance on my account for services performed at my first appointment 6 months ago that I was assured were covered under my insurance. For about a month, much back and forth ensued with me, my insurance company, and Universal Smiles about this issue and it was finally discovered that whoever submitted my claim from Universal Smiles transposed the last 2 digits of my Social Security #. During this ordeal, not once did Universal Smiles staff offer to dig deeper into the issue but, had they done this, they might have kept me as a client. Instead they laid blame on my insurance and left me holding the bill for their hundreds of dollars mistakes.
I will not be returning to Universal Smiles and advise anyone considering a visit to look elsewhere.

I am looking to file a complaint with the board of dentistry, the care under Bilal Ahmed was so bad.
He insisted I needed lots of fillings, which he undertook about as delicately as a construction worker. Then, after he did them, I had pain that persisted for weeks — which is not normal. So I went back two more times to try to just remediate the pain, which he could not do. His response was «it’s not my fault.» Now I cannot use the teeth on the side of the mouth he has treated because it hurts too much.
Also be aware that this company, Universal Smiles, will spam you and send you text messages all the time — even after you ask them to stop. I agree with the previous poster that this place is definitely profit over care.

This was a very well-​run dentist office under Dr. Zimmet, but it’s a bit of a mess now that it has been purchased by Dr. Ahmed, who has rebranded it to be about smiles. I had gone to Zimmet for about 12 years and had received very good – and not a small amount of – dental care without incident. When a veneer broke, I spent about 3 hours in the office just getting the impressions and temporary veneer. That’s not ideal, sure, but I’ll give it to them that I was not on the schedule.
The new veneer was awful; too big, wrong color… it looked like a giant chicklet. They kept asking me what I thought of it. I told them I thought it looked bad, and they (the technician and Dr. Ahmed) then readily agreed. I got the impression they would have let me leave with it. So we ordered another. They said they’d go to another lab. So, several weeks later, I go in and they fit me with a beautiful new veneer, that is the wrong color. Again, I felt I had to point this out. They said I was right and it was the lab’s fault, they wanted me to be completely satisfied and they would reorder it.
Then: crickets.
It’s been 3 months. I’ve called and had a harried-​sounding receptionist tell me she’ll call me back, but nothing. I leave messages, but don’t get return calls. Today I called and was on hold for 20 minutes. They call the lab but can’t figure out what’s going on. The lab may never have filled the order, which is a problem, but it’s the responsiblity of the office to have a system of following up with them and the patient.
I want to be clear I’m not reviewing the quality of dental care. My overall impression is that it’s about profit. There’s a lot of waiting in the chair for Dr. Ahmed to come and approve the work of the technician or to do the more technical parts. I’ve also had problems with scheduling. It’s a new person each time. (Under Dr. Zimmet there was the same woman for more than the 12 years. She claimed to maked world famous deviled eggs. They were good, I’ll admit.)