Vanessa Mellilo · 1 out of 5 stars · 2 months ago
I am a Black woman on HUSKY insurance. My review is in stark contrast with general patients of Nutmeg Family Dentistry. I am admittedly low income, on state insurance and this office was referred to me by my provider as Nutmeg only accepts my insurance for root canal/crowns. Perhaps, it is a low income vibe I gave off that has pegged me a non-priority for this office? Maybe I am not their ‘average clientele’. I’m hurt and stranded by the administrative staff at Nutmeg Family Dentistry. I am someone who took a day off work and traveled by bus from Newtown, CT to this office for the first morning appt - specifically due to the ‘overwhelming positive written reviews’. I’ve read Dr. Chace is known to do exceptional work on crowns. I did not meet Dr. Chace, but I met a Male dentist named Dr. Aly who only does root canals. Felt like I was taking up his time or something during my emergency appt for X-rays of my cracked tooth. I cried to Dr. Aly and let him and staff know I was in excruciating pain and swelling in my tooth/face was visible. During my visit, I observed Dr. Aly hurry through my appointment before he instructed me to take OTC meds for pain and swelling. He also instructed me to call my insurance by the following week to fast-track the crown and emergency root canal approval. I did my part. That was over one month ago. My appointment was in April. It is now June and the office has not sent my claim or any dental records to my insurance for approval of emergency root canal. 34 days! This has neglected me to receive care or treatment for an excruciating tooth that has high potential for very serious infections. So, my front canine is actively splitting and has cracked twice more in the *34 days* Nutmeg Family Dentistry has refused to send my claim/info for an ER root canal approval to my insurance. Had to say that again. My insurance confirmed they have received zilch. To no avail- I’ve left several voicemails to update the dentist on condition of tooth I’m desperate to save, as well as inquire the hold up with my claim not being sent to my insurance. Will sooner see Christ walk on water before their staff/dentist can return my phone calls or send the claim to begin proceedings to save my tooth. I am still leaving voicemails as recent as middle of last week days before they closed. All of my voicemails/phone calls made in May and June are all unanswered. How can anyone feel safe or in good hands at this practice?! Dr. Aly is forgetful, avoidant and literally showed no compassion for the well being of me OR trusting him with my care. The administrative staff is just as dismissive. I can’t tell you how disheartening and shady this experience has been for me, as I have to chase down an office, dentists and my own dental records just to save my tooth. Mainly because I thought I would receive the best care in Connecticut that my insurance could offer me at Nutmeg Family Dentistry in Hartford. Hence why I took a bus from Newtown, CT. Instead, my tooth is progressively worsening because my insurance has no claim to approve me to receive care and treatment for a painful tooth in emergency of a root canal I needed, 34 days ago. That is unacceptable. So, myself with the low income state insurance should not expect the compassion, professionalism or “great work” that apply to those who have allotted to the 4.9 star Google ratings for this business.
