The Smilist Dental

Veronica Brewer

Went to get a routine cleaning and once again this facility tried to extract Co pays and or deductibles from me. When my insurance does not require that.

Every doctors offices that require Co pays /deductibles collects that money UPFRONT!! They absolutely "do not" allow patients to see the doctors first. They collect that money "first" before seeing the doctors not ever afterwards!! The receptionist smiled in my face checked me in with no mention of a Co pay or anything instead when I was done they tried to bushwack me at the front desk as if I were a common criminal stealing from them of some sort.

Like I said Co pays/deductibles are paid upfront not afterwards not ever !! Nowhere !! Being a person of color I felt targeted and disrespected this is the behavior of extreme "conscious bias"on steroids!! The floor manager Mr black whatever was not apologizing fast enough for this "targeted abhorrent behavior ". The whole experience at that front desk was disgusting!! I will never be back again !! Racist conscious bias !!

May 15, 2025

Riva Brown

Had a cleaning yesterday. I've always had a baseline fear of Dentistry, but I go anyway. Jody did an excellent job. I didn't spaz once! I would happily recommend her to any of my friends. Swift, friendly, painless. Dare I say "pleasant"?

February 19, 2025

Kay

My experience at The Smilist / oral health Center of Delaware was emotionally exhausting and I’m sharing it to speak up for others who may not feel safe doing so. I was referred to a periodontist and chose Dr. Andriy. I scheduled online, was called by the office, and they scheduled me. Dr. Andriy was great. He kindly removed leftover bonding and told me to return in two weeks if symptoms persisted. But when I tried to schedule a follow-up, I was denied and told I shouldn’t have seen him without updated x-rays and a cleaning, even though I had followed protocol, transferred my records, and was scheduled by their office. I was instead routed to a general dentist, Dr. Blackhurst, who needed to feel I needed a periodontist, even though I had just left a dentist who said I did. Dr. Blackhurst dismissed my concerns and even slapped my hand away as I tried to show where the issue was while my eyes were closed. A male hygienist witnessed it. When I reported it to the office manager, Victor, nothing was done. Dr. Blackhurst told me it was all in my head and discouraged me from seeing the periodontist again. I went to a different periodontist who recommended flap surgery. When I called my insurance, they referred me again to Dr. Andriy. I went back and spoke to Victor, who had once been caring but now called me a bit of an annoyance. When I asked why, he said it was because I kept coming back after saying I had issues.

He said if it were him, he wouldn’t return. I was still in discomfort daily and only needed to follow up per Dr. Andriy’s own instructions. Victor vented more about his coworkers than listening to me, complaining that Olivia just sits there all day. I am not the first to complain about her. Thankfully, he finally booked my follow-up. Dr. Andriy performed flap surgery at the same office that told me nothing was wrong. So I was right. But I shouldn’t have had to fight so hard to be heard. Despite everything, I stayed kind. I went in person when calls weren’t returned, always apologizing and thanking them. I even thought about bringing donuts. Still, I was labeled an annoyance. Olivia once dragged her middle finger down her cheek while smirking at me. I reported it. Nothing changed. Victor initially seemed supportive. It took me a month to write this because he kept asking for a good review. I told him I thought he would ask me not to leave a bad one. He was shocked.

We talked about his workplace frustrations and even exchanged numbers. But later, he mocked how often I came in and blamed me for the issues, saying I had a bad attitude. When I asked for examples, he had none. He said he stopped referring patients to a female dentist due to her attitude, confirming a toxic environment. I just wanted my surgery done by Dr. Andriy and to be free of that place. Victor gave me a Waterpik and later waived a fee as an apology. I appreciated it, but it didn’t undo the emotional toll or months of stress. When I said taking a few bucks off surgery felt like a weak gesture after everything, he was upset, saying he didn’t even have to do that. That says it all. While we spoke, Olivia was texting him about me. He told me. What should have been a two-week follow-up became a drawn-out high school level ordeal. This review is not to slander anyone. I wish them well and hope their office becomes more professional. I just had to share the truth to move on. I hope no one else goes through what I did just to receive basic care. When given the opportunity, choose kindness. God bless.

May 24, 2025

Travis Bickle

May have been a good place previously; Seems with the merger to "The Smilist" they're likely part of the move towards being controlled by a VC firm, so they're only going to care about the profit, not the patient. Consider this the equivalent of taking your car to the dealer for service; they're going to recommend you a bunch of work you don't really need.

Unless it's an emergency, I'd steer clear - recommended over $1800 worth of dental work be completed that multiple people at another dentist office said would have been a horrible idea.

May 6, 2025