Complaint Review: DENTISTRY GRANTS / SMILE SELECT LOS ALAMITOS CA - CA

I saw an ad for "Cosmetic Dentistry Grants" and applied and was called back to set up a consultation. i had had all my teeth capped 10 years prior but some of the caps came off and was not in a place i could return t "my " dentist to have him do the work. i also had alot of pain that was getting worse and had to do something. When they asked me where i lived and was trying to find a "participating  dentist", i asked if my dentist was on the list and they said no. So they set me up with a nearby dental office. I went in and was very impressed with the office. It was all state of the art equipment, overly friendly staff. The wierd thing is that there were no other patients there. I was there a good 2 hrs and no one came in after me

They took x-rays and then evaluated them and took me to a conference room to discuss the procedure and cost. They told me i needed 12 teeth pulled and they would make a device that would attach to my jaw with posts. It would not be permanent. They then informed me it would cost $14,000.00+ and the GRANT would be for $7000.00 and i had to come up with the rest. I asked if i could think about it and get back to them. They said" If you don't accept the GRANT now the offer will be withdrawn and not made again! " So they got me financed for some of it and i would have to come up with an additional $2000.00+ out of pocket. I was in alot of pain and decided to do it. They were all very nice. When i was leaving i wantrd to make sure the procedure they described to me was what i was paying for the said " No, you will have to apply for another GRANT. This ($14000.00+) ONLY COVERS THE TOOTH EXTRACTIONS AND THE TEMPORARY MOUTH PIECE.

I was perplexed but they had given me a perscription for pain and the infection from my cavities. After the infection left i went in for the first session having \6 teeth pulled. Again i was the only person there. It was a big office but no other patients. The girl on the phone who i first spoke with was there at the front desk. I felt like she was flirting with me. They all were a little too interested in what i was saying. The girl was there on the next visit and was flirty but after that there was no one at the front desk. Looking back i think it was an act'

The dentist that worked on me first was very nice and he seemed to know what he was doing. I didn't get all six extracted only 4 because i could tell it was going to hurt later. i made another appointment.

When i came back the next time there was no one but me again. the same dentist oulled the next 2 teeth and i wanted to wait on the next 6 and break it up. 

The next time, again i was the only one there . The dentist that worked on me approached me to say he wouldn't be doing the remaining teeth it would be the owner or the owners daughter? I got the impression there was some conflict between them but he would not say any thing more. The daughter(?) was very petite and in a hurry .She was determined to pull the rest of my teeth that day despite my objections. She started but right away i could tell she didn't have the strength to pull my teeth. She tried and tried .kept giving me novacaine shots and finally had my original dentist complete it. I think she wanted the money instead of giving it to the other guy.

When i came back for the fitting for the temps, the first dentist helped me . The temporaries were not fitting at all and after several attempts he admitted they needed to be completely made over. i told him i would be back next week. He said he was going back to Texas that he didn't like the kind of business that this office was doing. He kind of gave me that "look" like he felt bad for what he was doing but couldn't say anything to me.

 In conclusion, after reading on the internet what other people had suspicions like myself i concluded the following. IT IS A SCAM!