Ocean Waves · 1 out of 5 stars · 6 months ago
I believe it is extremely important not to judge a book by its cover. My experience at this dental office left me feeling deeply misunderstood, humiliated, and disrespected, more than I have ever felt in any medical or dental setting. If you are seeking an empathetic, patient, and understanding dentist, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere. The environment did not feel inclusive, and although there is one front-desk staff member (a woman with long straight hair) who is exceptional, kind, helpful, and willing to go above and beyond, the rest of the experience was disappointing. The dental hygienist whose name begins with an “A” was thorough in her cleaning, and for that I give credit. However, her tone, body language, and responses made it clear she was irritated by my questions about my dental health. Her communication felt condescending and dismissive, as though she had already formed an opinion of me without any understanding of what I am going through physically. Twenty minutes into the cleaning, I politely asked to use the restroom. Instead of responding with basic courtesy, she spoke to me like a child and said, “Next time go before the cleaning.” After 20 minutes, that comment felt unnecessary and unprofessional. The dentist, Jeffrey Bartoshesky, was equally disappointing in his conduct. On multiple occasions, he spoke to me in a manner that made me feel diminished, even making comments in front of the staff that were unnecessarily embarrassing. From my very first visit, his communication style struck me as abrupt, overly corrective, and noticeably lacking in empathy. In a profession where compassion and strong interpersonal skills are fundamental, his approach fell far short of what any patient should reasonably expect. What made this even more disheartening is that I openly shared that I have been dealing with multiple serious health issues and nearly lost my life last year. Despite being vulnerable and honest, I received no compassion or understanding. Instead, I felt judged solely based on how I appeared, disheveled, tired, and affected by medications, not on who I actually am. For context, I hold multiple degrees (including masters degrees) across finance, accounting, business, clinical psychology, and sociology. My appearance on a difficult day does not reflect my intelligence, character, or worth. Before judging a patient, try showing empathy, you never know what someone is battling beneath the surface. Overall, my experience at this office was disappointing and disheartening, and I hope that sharing this encourages greater compassion and better communication from the staff moving forward.
