Garces Dental Group

It’s with a heavy heart I have to give this review because although I thoroughly enjoyed the service I received from the Garces team, what I went through with billing was downright wrong. I went in for a routine visit and they discovered I had a few cavities I had to fill so I made another appointment. I talked to the woman at the front desk about how much I would be, and she gave me a rough estimate from my insurance providers of about 50 $ per filling and I needed 3. So I was ready to pay that the next week.
So I changed my appointment the day of due to a change in my schedule, and the woman on the phone told me she would WAIVE the $ 100 fee for canceling early (which is ridiculous btw!!) and I rescheduled for the next week. When the appointment came around I came a bit early yet still had to wait a bit, which was okay considering I was getting fillings. The procedure took much longer than expected I was in the chair for almost 2 hours and during that time I kept having to leave with a numb mouth to pay for parking.
The location is in olde city and there is no parking for the business so I only had 2 hour city parking which I had to pay.
Everything went well and I was ready to pay and this is where it got weird. The billing lady did some strange math and came up with a number close to $ 300! Reluctantly I agreed and paid it.
A few weeks later I got a letter from my insurance that I should have only paid 100 for the service. I knew that something was funny! So I called them back that instant and the lady that picked up was short with me but told me I had a credit of 100 on my account that she could put into my account. FIRST of all why would they not contact me or tell me I had a credit in my account?!! I waited for weeks! So I said um yes please put that back. So as I said she was short with me and just thanked me and hung up. I was still wondering why I was only credited 100 and not the full 200 I should have gotten back so I called back. This time the same woman picked up but transferred me to another person a much nicer lady. She said that she saw a credit on my account and another 100 cancellation fee (that I was not supposed to pay!!) soo I said again I didn’t have to pay that!
In the end they gave me a refund! But they wouldn’t have if I didn’t call! I understand the cancellation fee but I was given NO explanation about the 100 extra.

There aren’t even words. The doctor was very understanding and helpful she Took the time to explain everything. The staff is amazing!

Garces Dental is an unscrupulous dental practice. Do not go here. There are much more affordable, and more professional, dentists in the Rittenhouse area or elsewhere in Philadelphia.
–I’d been having sleepless nights because of an infection in one of my molars. All weekend long, I’d been sucking up the severe pain and gargling hydrogen peroxide.
I decided to go into Garces out of desperation, since it was nearby and I’d read on their Web site that the «Garces Dental Group extends a courtesy for patients that do not have dental insurance and devotes 2 – 4 Fridays a month to provide treatment to the Hispanic community at reduced rates.» I didn’t have insurance and was therefore curious to see if I could get some relief for an affordable price.
When I walked in, I told the receptionist outright that I had a tooth infection, needed a root canal and, most important, that I was in a tight financial spot and couldn’t afford much. She told me to «take a seat,» and assured me that the dentist would «help me.»
As I was sitting down in the waiting room, she reminded me again that the dentist would «work with me» and would take my financial situation into consideration. In fact, she reassured me several times and told me «not to worry.» It all seemed too good to be true and, of course, it was.
As I was filling out the papers, I noticed another red flag: One of the documents said that all payments needed to be paid in full on-​site; the practice also wanted me to write down my credit card number, social security number and some other personal information that no other dentist had ever asked of me before. The papers also stated that if I didn’t pay on-​site, I’d incur a 45% interest-​rate penalty for the period of 30 days and that, on the 30^th day, my credit card would be automatically charged, without my consent. Not in all my days as a patient had I seen something like that.
After reading through the documents, I thought about walking out, but I was desperate: I emphasized to the receptionist again that I was «not a rich man» and was just searching for some relief. She again reassured me that they’d help and told me how Garces «helps the uninsured and the down-​trodden in the Hispanic community,» but all of it started to seem like a front for marketing purposes. They’re pretending to be a socially-​conscious practice, but that’s just a bunch of nonsense.
When the hygienist eventually called me in, I told her and the dentist about my financial situation and the severe pain of the infection. The dentist said that «she doesn’t like to see people suffering,» and then had the hygienist take an x-​ray. This was all done without my informed consent and without her ever telling me about the price of the procedure (every good practice informs uninsured patients of procedural prices). She then told me that I «needed a root canal,» (which I knew) and made me watch a YouTube video on root canals, even though I’d had several before and know the whole procedure just as well as she does. I just needed her to drain the tooth to relieve the pain, as other dentists had done for me before. When I requested that of her, she flatly refused.
As I was STILL SITTING in the dentist’s chair, feeling like Alex in a Clockwork Orange, the receptionist came into the room and handed me my bill for watching the YouTube video: $ 125.000. She then gave me an estimate for the root canal: It was almost $ 3,000. And to add insult to injury, she handed me a brochure for a credit card, so that Garces Dental could receive the $ 3,000 up front and I’d be left with the bill and interest. How is this «helping the uninsured?»
Suffice it to say, I got up and let them know that it was a mistake having walked in there. The dentist eventually told me to go see the graduate students at Temple and have them do it for me. (The truth was, she didn’t want to ‘work with someone’ who was uninsured.)
I naturally complained, since I had gone in there just looking for some options to relieve the severe pain of the infection, but was instead shown a YouTube video about tooth infections and, of course, slapped with a $ 125 bill. As a «courtesy» the dentist removed $ 25, but only after I’d complained about the unprofessionalism and lack of informed consent at their practice. The receptionist was smug and mocking. She then insisted that I pay the $ 100 immediately. (I might have paid for pain relief and services, but the dentist rendered no services, refused to relive the pain and just made me watch a YouTube video).
Later that day, I went to another dentist, who relieved me of my pain, quoted me at $ 1,200 for the root canal (on a payment plan) and was effective in his dentistry, without all of the lies and the YouTube videos. I called Garces to have the fees reversed; the receptionist admitted that there must have been «some miscommunication,» and that she «understands» and would «pass off my request to the dentist.» Naturally, I received no call back and was never refunded.

Dr. Garces and her staff are incredibly talented and caring, and made me feel very comfortable throughout my course of treatment. At one point, I nearly fell asleep during my cleaning. I have had two wisdom teeth extracted, and a few cavities filled. I had virtually no pain during or after the extractions (just some anxiety beforehand, of course), and my mouth is as clean and healthy as ever. I highly recommend the Garces Dental Group.

I visited Garces Dental Group yesterday and today for a cleaning, check-​up, oral surgery consultation as well as a night guard mold made.
I cannot describe how absolutely wonderful the staff at Garces was! They are extremely organized, are located in a beautiful, colorful and modern office, have someone that specifically is just there to work with you and getting the most out of your insurance, have staff from Guatemala, Cuba, Albania, Russia, Ecuador and the U.S.
I had Lori, the hygienist work with me for my cleaning. My god, the girl knows every single possible thing about caring for teeth from the amount of seconds bacteria starts reforming in your mouth after you brush to a new type of woven floss that isn’t harsh like dental tape but also doesn’t skip over food stuffs like wax floss & even showed me that there are pockets between your teeth and gums that you should be flossing into. She went way past the regular amount of time (two hours!!) cleaning my teeth because I hadn’t had one in two years.
Dr. Garces, the dentist was kind and friendly. She shook my hand and introduced herself (which is lost on a lot of medical professionals) She was wonderful and answered all of my questions. She was proactive and asked me questions that she thought I SHOULD be asking.
My insurance says that it didn’t cover a mouth guard but Letty said she would submit it anyway and write a note that it was either a mouth guard for 500 dollars or broken teeth for thousands more. Uhhhh… FANTASTIC!!!
Plus the practice does pro bono work for people in the Hispanic & immigrant community without insurance. That’s pretty cool!

Great practice! I needed a new dentist and had walked by their office on a number of occasions and decided to check it out. It was incredibly easy to schedule the appointment, the staff was on time, organized and very friendly. I’ve now been twice and have been very pleased.

Dr. Garces is a terrific professional, and I have sent many of my own friends to her office. Kids who are skittish about the dentist are put at ease by the open welcoming office environment, and the Dr’s great way with kids! I wouldn’t think of going elsewhere.

Dr. Garces is an excellent dentist. She is a not only a thorough professional, she is obsessed with high-​quality dentistry and the patient experience. While attention to details and efficiency matter to her, she is also very caring and personable.
Her office is clean and modern. I am impressed with the technology that is used and the efficiency of her staff. I am always seated in the chair promptly after my arrival. As a bonus, her dental hygienists are clearly the best in the business. I am looking forward to my next six-​month checkup and cleaning!

I started coming here about 2 years ago. I go back every 6 months for cleaning and checkups. Everything about the office is great. It is clean and sanitary with a modern feel. The technology is state of the art and improves the speed of the visit and the experience. The dental assistants have been kind and are focused in their work. Dr. Garces is very attentive. She seems to remember each patient and even their patient history. I have no apprehension about going to the dentist. No pain whatsoever. She filled small cavity one visit and did a small bonding repair another and I never felt any pain whatsoever. Highly recommended.

Dr. Garces and her staff have an incredible way of making you forget you are at dentist. I have been to a few different dentists in the city and always leave feeling semi-​ashamed about the state of my teeth. Not the case at Garces Dental Group. They are helping me get back on track, without the reprimand, just genuine tender loving care! The hygienist, is thorough and friendly and Dr. Garces has the most gentle touch! Love it! Can’t wait to go back for my 6 month visit!

Found Garces Dental a year ago, and I am very happy. They have an amazing staff and the work has been flawless. I have sponges for teeth so I have seen a lot of dentist chairs, and this place by far has proven to do the best work, with a pleasant and attentive attitude. I especially like the fact that when I have been in any pain they make room for me immediately. D. r Garces truly has the softest and most Gentle touch.