Uriarte DDS

My son waited for 1^st time appointment for few weeks and that’s fine because you wait as like this long as a new patient. His first impression was small children rolling on the ground, yelling, disturbing everyone quiet waiting room time. Staff does not pay any attention to this actions! Remember this is a doctor of dentistry office of practice in U.S. greatest state CA. But the worst was ahead of him. Doctor Uriarte Marcela as poor communicator told him things he could not explained at home. Something about 2 teeth, I assumed cavities. I assumed because I work in health care in CA for over 21 years. The end of first visit she stated «next time you come and we will see».OK just like that, no plan of treatment explained to patient ! So he went after few weeks later. And during working on his tooth, she had conversation with her staff in Spanish! We all know you don’t talk in the front of your patient in foreign language! Ever! Patient could have any reason to believe that conversation is about him and patient is not suppose to understand subject of this conversation! Bad, very bad presentation! After this what we called «near Tijuana experience» his tooth was sensitive mor and more and more! Of course the worst started during weekend when he has to take pain medication every 4 hours. There is nothing like dental emergency unless you pay out of packet. Mondday I called my dentis and he got him in the same day for 2^nd opinion. He called his work sick for 2 days and ended up taking antibiotic for 5 days due to infection!!! OK I know things like this are taking place some other places but should not in CA! Dentistry is very advanced here and expensive as well. We have the best equipment as well as expectation from health care providers who have license in this state. I asked my son to call her office and let them know what took place after appointment and of course doctor did not call and talk to him! Why? Who cares? May be CA Board of Dentistry?

My experiences at this dental office operated by Uriarte DDS represented a level of unprofessionalism and inept service. My experience started with having four fillings. I haven’t had fillings since I was a child. One of the fillings turned into a root canal. I know this happens.
However, I was in pain when the filling ‘went bad’ and my tooth needed a root canal. I returned to the dental office only to be rescheduled for a root canal with a specialist. I have never experienced such pain from a tooth before in my life. I was in tears when I went to the dental office. I was told that a prescription for antibiotics and pain reliever would be called in at CVS. I went to CVS and waited about an hour. An hour passed, no prescription called in. I had to literally call the dental office four times to remind them that I was at CVS waiting (in pain). The dentist finally called in the order herself. I went to pick it up and it was just for the antibiotics. I then had to call her back to remind her that I was in extreme pain and needed pain medication.
I had the root canal procedure at the specialist. This dentist was GREAT and professional. Quite the polar opposite experience from the above. I still had to return to Uriarte Dental for my crown. I called and booked the appointment. I arrived at a different location (which is where I was booked) on the day of my appointment, temporary filling in my newly root-​canaled tooth. I was told that this location didn’t accept my insurance, only the other location from which I was originally seen. At this point, I actually went to a different dentist my mother referred and paid the full amount to have my crown put on. I could have gotten the crown put on for under 200.00 but paid 680.00 because I wasn’t about to have the root canal be compromised, and I didn’t have time to change my dentist through my insurance.
I recently booked a check-​up with Uriarte. I figured it’s just a teeth cleaning and a check-​up, what could go wrong with that, right?
Well, I take the time off work, arrive at my appointment only to be smugly told that my insurance was no longer accepted. The girl at the desk said that she thought when I called and booked the appointment that I was a new patient. I informed her that at the company I work for, we have access to previous customers on the computer. You know that electronic device that we all use for business. She could give a care less about the time that I took out of my day from work to go to the dentist. She was condescending and rude. No sorry until the dentist came out.
The staff is inept and the dentist seems to care not at all about the patient. A simple look-​up on the computer, or following up before my appointment would have cleared up anything before I showed up to the second useless appointment in three months.
I would not return here and leave my teeth in the hands of this staff if you gave me free dental insurance for life. I think I’d rather just have my teeth pulled.
Further, the equipment seems antiquated, the office is dreary and the furniture looks like it was donated for free.