Sumter Landing Dental

[mikeandnancy1112]

This is my story regarding my first visit to the Dentist with Preferred Care Partners:

I was told Sumter Landing Dental, Dr. Fisher, was a dentist on Preferred Care Partners so I called them about two weeks ago, gave them my ID, made the appointment for today and received a reminder yesterday from the office. I had my appointment today, my insurance card was copied, Xrays were made and exam was performed. I was told I couldn't get my teeth cleaned until I had a deep cleaning of my gums which would take about two months to get it approved from PCP. Also, I needed a crown which would cost over $600 which was optional. The office suggested I call Argus, the dental group for PCP, to see if they could rush the authorization of the Proposed Treatment Plan so I could get my teeth cleaned before we leave for Texas in January so I did. Well, I had a surprise! The representative told me Sumter Landing Dental was no longer on the plan as of a couple of weeks ago and gave me the numbers of the two dentists who are still on the plan. My agent said in no way am I responsible for the bill, they would have to eat it.

[NotGolfer]

WHAT????? That is horrible...if Fisher isn't in the program! I went with him due to posts on this site about the other 2 dentists. Hoping next year things will be different and there will be alot MORE selections!! I'd go to Leesburg or Ocala if they'd offer that possibility!

I wonder "IF" we all, on PCP, could contact their corporate offices and rattle some cages. Not sure if dentists first have to approad PCP or vice-versa or a combination. It seems incongruous that there'd only (initially) be 3 for the whole of The Villages since they're trying so hard to recruit members here. I had an appointment for a check-up and cleaning in January! This new wrinkle makes me a bit frustrated, if not angry!

[Phanatic Luvr]

Don't get me started about Dr. Fisher and his Lake Sumter Landing office.
I have great insurance and when I had my initial appt. with Dr. Fisher in 2/2012, was told I needed four crowns replaced which would cost ME (out of pocket) $3,120.00. I was told one crown was chipped, two were old and needed replacing, and one had a cavity underneath. I called my former dentist in Tampa to check my history. One was over 7 years old, two were put on in 6/2008 and one put on in 1/2011. I returned to my dentist in Tampa and all that was wrong was a small cavity which was taken care of for $23.00 my cost.
Let me also say, I have always visited my dentist religiously every 6 months and my periodontist also every six months on a rotation. If my dentist wasn't doing a good job, I'm sure my periodontists would have picked up on it.

[Mimivillager]

Don't get me started about Dr. Fisher and his Lake Sumter Landing office.
I have great insurance and when I had my initial appt. with Dr. Fisher in 2/2012, was told I needed four crowns replaced which would cost ME (out of pocket) $3,120.00. I was told one crown was chipped, two were old and needed replacing, and one had a cavity underneath. I called my former dentist in Tampa to check my history. One was over 7 years old, two were put on in 6/2008 and one put on in 1/2011. I returned to my dentist in Tampa and all that was wrong was a small cavity which was taken care of for $23.00 my cost.
Let me also say, I have always visited my dentist religiously every 6 months and my periodontist also every six months on a rotation. If my dentist wasn't doing a good job, I'm sure my periodontists would have picked up on it.

As I mentioned in a former post, my hubby had a similar experience with Dr Fisher's office. We have decided to bite the bullet and just go self pay to a reputable dentist here in TV. Actually I still go to Pa. Hubby found a great dentist here. We are sticking with PCP for 2013 for other health issues.

[jojo]

Similar experience with Dr. Fisher. Major oversell. I returned to my regular dentist and paid myself.

[NotGolfer]

All fine and good for snowbirds or folks who get back north regularily. We live here permenently so that puts us now in the perdicument of needing to locate a "good" dentist!

Sounds like Dr. Fisher has some issues...so maybe there's a reason he's no longer in PCP's system. If someone tries to bilk the system...BUT that being said wouldn't they lose their license? Just asking!!!

[billybye]

I just called their office. They were taken off PCP provider list because they are so backed up with current PCP patients.
If you have been there before and are in their system, you can continue to go there and use PCP. New patients need to go elsewhere to another PCP provider.
Good news for me because their hygientist is excellent. Dr. German's is brutal.

[graciegirl]

Dental care here is unlike any I have ever encountered in my life.

The charges for procedures exceed what our insurance covers, and that wasn't so in Cincy.

But that is the least of it. There are some REAL dicey, scammy, stuff going on in dentistry here.

You know I am not quick to criticize, but new folks...take utmost care before you commit to a dentist. I wish Trish Crocker's husband was practicing dentistry here.

There is one good one we have found and I wish I could keep it to myself because getting appointments with them now is a big wait. and......Prices are higher than back in Ohio.

Palm Ridge Dental is very good.

[NotGolfer]

Well then, I'm in his system! So far no complaints on my behalf with him. Up north I went to who was considered an excellant dentist (I'd agree) but always would hear things about him. Think that happens everywhere.

I'd agree with Gracie though...there are some shenanagins happening with "some" dentists here. Is it a Florida thing...can't say absolutely for sure...but it's wise to get alot of word-of-mouth advice about any healthcare provider. Be your own advocate and investigate online what's said.

[mikeandnancy1112]

Gracie, I had Dr. Williams and loved her and I am going back.

[Mikitv]

It took me over 6 months to get my first appointment with Dr. Fisher and PCP plan back in March. When I went there it was the worst cleaning I've ever had. I've worked in dental for over 40 years and I always graded an office on how good they hygiene department was. I never saw the doctor because they wanted more full mouth xrays and I said we could get them from my other dentist. So no time with Dr. Fisher that day and that was okay because I was not going to return. I went back to Souther Trace Dental where I've been going for the last two years. Two days after my cleaning one of my front crowns had a piece of the porcelain chip off. It was probably from the hygiene scaling but no way to prove it other than I had just been there. Dr. Lesh replaced my crown and I am happy with how great it looks.

[bimmerguy406]

hi, i just want to clear up some things about Dr. Fisher and Sumter Landing Dental. for one, i had my cleaning done by Lucie, and it was just as good if not better than any i've had. Sumter Landing is very busy and you should have patience in dealing with them. and also something should be said about the fact that they ARE this busy, they must doing something right... billybye was correct in saying that the reason they were taken off the list is NOT because of malpractice, cheating, or milking, its because they have so many new patients and are quite backed up. I was assured by the staff that they will resume taking new patients from PCP at some point, but they are trying to get caught up to their current patient load and will not be taking new PCP patients until further notice.

"Don't get me started about Dr. Fisher and his Lake Sumter Landing office.
I have great insurance and when I had my initial appt. with Dr. Fisher in 2/2012, was told I needed four crowns replaced which would cost ME (out of pocket) $3,120.00. I was told one crown was chipped, two were old and needed replacing, and one had a cavity underneath. I called my former dentist in Tampa to check my history. One was over 7 years old, two were put on in 6/2008 and one put on in 1/2011. I returned to my dentist in Tampa and all that was wrong was a small cavity which was taken care of for $23.00 my cost.
Let me also say, I have always visited my dentist religiously every 6 months and my periodontist also every six months on a rotation. If my dentist wasn't doing a good job, I'm sure my periodontists would have picked up on it."




i'm confused by this, if you see the periodontist and dentist so often why did have you had to get 4 crowns in just as many years? doesnt make a lot of sense. but it seems to me just by reading this that there is a possibility that 1) Sumter Landing doesnt accept your insurance or your insurance wasnt included in your estimate for whatever reason. 2) could your dentist in Tampa be covering his own butt for not doing a quality job on your crowns in the first place?
... just a thought...

[Villages PL]

This is a great thread with lots of great information from everyone. It just so happens that I have my problems with dentists too. I had been going to Sunshine Dental for several years because of their reasonable prices and I liked the hygienist because she was able to work with me not being able to tolerate being in a flat position for cleaning. I have a problem with positional dizzyness.

I had to pay out-of-pocket, but didn't mind, because, over the years, I didn't like any of the dentists that were connected with my HMOs. But now the problem is: My hygienist went to another office in Clermont. When I showed up for my appointment I was surprised to find a new hygienist and she demanded that I get xrays and an exam before I could get my teeth cleaned.

Well, that suits them just fine but not me. I was planing to switch to Dr Fisher (Ha!) because I just switched to Preferred Care Parteners. I didn't want xrays and exam if I would be going to another dentist in January. So they said I couldn't get my teeth cleaned and I ended up walking out. Thankfully, there was no charge for that visit.

Now, thanks to this thread, I have learned that Dr. Fisher may not be a good choice. So where do I go from here? This is getting complicated.

To be continued later:

[Villages PL]

I was told ten years ago that I might soon need scaling (deep cleaning), or else I might get gum disease. But I went for maintenance cleaning 3 to 4 times per year and never developed gum disease. So they stopped warning me about gum disease and changed the story to bone loss. But I believe if I was steadily loosing bone over several years, my teeth would be rotting out by now. But they are not. I have healthy gums and haven't had any cavities for decades.

They claim to see some pockets around the gums but it's never where I can see them. How is it possible to have pockets for several years with healthy gums and no tooth decay?

I've had friends tell me that since people don't get as many cavities as in years past, "deep cleaning" is the new money maker for dentists. Suddenly, everyone needs deep cleaning!

To be continued:

[Mimivillager]

Awe, c'mon Gracie Girl- spill the beans!!
Help us out! LOL:D

[graciegirl]

Awe, c'mon Gracie Girl- spill the beans!!
Help us out! LOL:D

I mentioned who I think is good, you just missed it. Palm Ridge Dental.

[Mimivillager]

Mikitv, I like Dr Lesh also and the hygienist is super. I love her. She even checked my neck for lumps(none found)

[Villages PL]

Here's my problem: How can I find a dentist/hygienist who will continue the service I had been getting?

Here's what I think may happen: I go to a dentist and get xrays/exam. The dentist tells me I need deep claaning. I say I don't want deep cleaning and the dentist says they can't give me a regular cleaning unless I get deep cleaning first. But even if the dentist agrees to regular cleaning the hygienist may not be willing or able if I have to be sitting at a slight incline.

Any suggestions on how I should go about this? Should I tell them up front what my concerns are? How can I do that if the doctor won't talk to me until I've had xrays?

[Mimivillager]

I mentioned who I think is good, you just missed it. Palm Ridge Dental.

Oh, I read that and I agree but I just thought you had another secret.

[mikeandnancy1112]

Gracie, that is exactly where I was going before PCP and now I am going back to them.

[Phanatic Luvr]

Dear Bimmerguy406, Let me clarify. I have great insurance, Aetna PPO, that is why I went to Dr. Fisher in the first place, he was an approved Aetna provider. Whenever I have had crowns in the past, at most, one would cost me $250.00. My insurance pays 80%. When I got the $3,120.00 estimate for four replacement crowns from Dr. Fisher, I questioned if that cost was before insurance or after what my insurance was paying. I was told specifically, that was my portion after Aetna's allowance. That threw up the 1st red flag. I had to have periodontal work done about 5 years ago and since that time, Aetna approved cleanings every 3 months. I would go to my dentist for a cleaning, then 3 months later my periodontist, then dentistist, etc.. If my dentists was not catching something, I'm sure my periodontist would have, as they alternated full mouth exams and x-rays and then shared reports.
To me, it's worth the hour drive back to Tampa to a dentist I trust.
Just didn't want you to be confused any longer.

[Barefoot]

I mentioned who I think is good, you just missed it. Palm Ridge Dental.

Is there any special Hygenist at Palm Ridge that you recommend?