EDIT: How does your response fix this? I was treated very dismissively over email, yet in public you regret?
I originally left a 5-star review for Dr. Gary, but I have regrettably had to take it down after my experience with his practice over time.
I went to Dr. Gary for a Maryland bridge, expecting a durable, stable solution. I made it clear that I was not ready for an implant and I was looking for a bridge that would last around 10 years, based on the bridge I was replacing (which lasted around 12 years). I was not clearly informed upfront that his bridge would be an ill-advised material (PMMA) and that there were stronger, more durable choices like a zirconia Maryland bridge that would have suited my needs far better. I later learned that he simply doesn’t offer zirconia Maryland bridges – but instead of being upfront about that, he sold me what he had without giving me the full picture.
The PMMA bridge failed repeatedly, debonding 4–5 times, requiring me to take time off work repeatedly just to have it glued back on. Instead of suggesting a proper fix, I was told my options were to leave it as a broken one-wing bridge, go back to my old bridge, wear a removable denture, or – shockingly – just unfix it completely and push it into place as needed, like another one of his patients has resorted to. He ended up refitting a different PMMA bridge which no longer fit my retainer. Instead of fabricating a new retainer, he filed the old one, putting a hole in it, and sent me home with a damaged retainer - which I had to ask for a refund for.
Despite being the expert, I felt Dr Gary relied far too much on me for solutions and feedback every time we were fitting and refitting the bridge. Being in his chair was like being under interrogation with questions every minute – instead of him automatically checking his work for rough spots, gaps in the cement, areas of contact with the bridge, (basics that I’ve received from other more experienced dentists) he expected me to tell him everything, a difficult thing when you’re not a dental expert. When I took my time to catch the issues, he would tell me I was “looking for something to say” because he had run out of time – usually because he attended the appointment late.
During my final appointment, I was burned by the curing light used to set the bonding material (shown in the photo). When I asked how to treat it, the issue was brushed off as “unfortunate” rather than properly addressed. Then, instead of taking responsibility, he immediately became defensive, falsely accused me of having an “outburst” toward his staff, and abruptly discontinued my treatment. Not only did he drop me as a patient midway through my care, but he tried to frame it as my fault. He then offered only a one-month emergency period, despite previously admitting to me that he planned for the bridge to last a year and knowing my experiences under his care. Not that I would have returned.
I won’t say that Dr Gary didn’t try at the final appointment, but he was clearly annoyed and had forgotten that this was very costly to his client, time-wise, health-wise, mentally and financially. From his responses on WhatsApp, I understand now that he only cared that I appreciated his best efforts, even if those efforts weren’t to par and costed me my peace of mind.
Photos show my burn, damaged retainer, his WhatsApp reply and one of many lies in my dental records - which is seriously bad practice. My last dental record was also written with subjective and non-clinically relevant information which I am adressing. The “free emergency sessions” I received were a basic minimum when there is poor workmanship. I gave Dr Gary multiple chances to fix this in private, which he refused to do.
A competent and professional dentist should be honest about treatment options, respect their patients’ time, and take accountability when things go wrong. That was not my experience here. I can no longer recommend this practice and would strongly encourage anyone considering major dental work to seek a second opinion before committing.