Dentist problem -- help!!!
 

I am a new resident; have Preferred Care dental plan and two dentists to choose from in the Villages. Has anyone ever gone to German Gaitan, DDS? Other dentist is Carlos Johary (he's in Oxford). I am looking for an excellent dentist that is affordable. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Not at all happy there. Has four patients laying in a state of half done, rushes through work. Hard to understand. I am now paying someone whom I trust, and that means alot.

Thanks for your reply. Both dentists have very low ratings -- scary. What dentist are you currently going to? It seems every one I check on has negatives. Thanks

Good luck
 

Jim I feel your pain! finding a good Dentist in the Villages is a lot of work. I've spent HOURS researching and talking to my ins co. I can tell you to absolutely stay away from Aspen and the Villages Dental. I went to Aspen and was there three hours and never got my teeth cleaned!!! After meeting with their sales and finance people was told that I needed $2,400 of antibiotics, and that was over the $3,400 they were going to soak the ins co!!! They tried to scare me by telling me I could spread disease by kissing my grand kids!!!! I have an appointment with Hallmark Dental in Fruitland Park today I'll let you know how I make out.

We have Preferred Care Partners, but do not use their dentists. We also have AARP Delta Dental. My husband uses Dr Christianson in Leesburg and I use Dr Lesh in Southern Chase....both in the Delta Network.

Alternatively, visit the PCP folks in Sumter Landing and get some info on the PCP dentists in Leesburg or Ocala.

I highly recommend Dr Lisa Wadsworth and her husband in Summerfield, just north of Walmart on 441. I have been going there for 8 years and am very happy with their work.

The is a new dentist in TV...think his name is Fischer (can't remember) who is with Preferred Care Partners. His office is on Old Camp Rd. in the new medical park across from Barnes and Noble. He has had ads in The Sun!! Good Luck in your quest!!

That would be Willard Fisher
Sumter Landing Dental Care
1050 Old Camp Rd
Ste 286
Phone 352-674-9009
I have friends who go to him.

Dr. Gaitin
 

Here is a post that I wrote some time ago regarding another inquiry about a visit to Royal Dental almost a year ago:


"My husband and I went to Royal Dental recently and left very unsatisfied. We chose this office due to it being on the list of providers on our new insurance. Dr. Gaitan was out of the office so we saw his associate, Dr. Fisher (Fischer??). He was very nice and he did a quick exam. The hygienist was another story. I can't recall her name but she is an older woman, rough around the edges, and very rough in our mouths. My gums were extremely sore for a week following the cleaning. This is the first time in my life where a cleaning did not include some scaling. I am not sure if our insurance only pays for an "economy" cleaning or if she just didn't want to bother to do it. Most of the pain we experienced came from her brutal use of the saliva "vacuum" (I don't know the proper word for this tool). It was a large, plastic tube that she kept pressed tightly against our gums....OUCH! We both spoke to her several times about the fact that she was hurting us but she didn't seem to care and justified all of our complaints with defensive remarks. We will be looking for another dentist and an office where compassion and gentleness is practiced."

As for Dr. Johary, this guy shouldn't be practicing dentistry. He was the first dentist I went to when we moved here 13 years ago. The dental assistant who worked on me was clearly someone off the streets with no dental training whatsoever. Upset that day with the way his assistants were performing, Dr. Johary called a meeting somewhere in a back room. I was left in the chair with an impression tray full of hardening material in my mouth. A long time passed and the girl didn't return to remove the tray. I finally yanked it out, blood and all. I can't speak for this practice since my experience, but I will never darken that doorstep, ever again.

We also have Preferred Care Partners insurance and will likely try a provider from Ocala next. If that move doesn't produce a decent dentist we plan to self pay, just as we did before the PCP insurance. This area on the provider list is where PCP could stand some improvement.

Wow, sure wish my husband could practice in Florida...he is the best dentist in the whole world. I'm sorry that these experiences occurred and hate it when the profession is cheapened by incompetence. I assist at his office and can assure you, there is no justification in treating patients this way. (by the way, that white plastic thingy is called a saliva ejector :) )

I am happy with Dr.Lisa Wadsworth also.

BUT...is she a Preferred Care Partners provider?? Hopefully PCP will be picking up more dentists in The Villages!!!

Thank you for identifying the "saliva vacuum"!! I could have looked it up but I was in a hurry! I wish your hubby was a dentist here, too. There ARE some good ones, from all that I have read, but as Michael Buble sings, "I just haven't met them yet"! I was trying to use our insurance coverage, but not at the expense of a painful mouth for a week.

I think the PCP representative told me that starting in January there will be more dentists on the plan, altho many are in Ocala. Sounds like Dr. Fisher could be ok.

If you don't care whether or not you use PCP or not...then I highly recommend Adam Still in Laural Manor (his practice is called Laural Manor Dentistry, I believe).
VERY good, thorough and great office staff as well. I wish I could stay there but really need to switch the dentistry part as well since it will save us $$$$ to do so.