Playbooks / Dentist
How to complain about a dental practice
Dental complaints split cleanly in two: clinical care goes to the dental board, billing goes to the review sites and the insurer.
What goes wrong most often
- Work quoted as covered that came back as a large bill
- Treatment performed that you did not consent to
- Refusal to release your records or x-rays
- Crowns or fillings that failed within months
The evidence that decides it
- The treatment plan you signed and the itemized statement
- Your insurer's explanation of benefits
- Your written records request and the date
Describe what you were quoted and what you were billed. Avoid clinical conclusions.
The regulator most people never use
State board of dental examiners
The board investigates standard-of-care issues. Keep your public review focused on facts and your own experience — describe what happened, not a diagnosis of malpractice.
Your state's channel is listed in the state complaint guides.
Where to post it
- GoogleEveryone who searches the business by name, plus everyone browsing the map for a nearby alternative.
- YelpLocal shoppers comparing several nearby businesses at once.
- FacebookLocals, and the business's own followers.
- Better Business BureauCautious buyers who check a company before spending money, and BBB pages rank strongly in search.
Wording that survives moderation
Start from a review template, keep every claim tied to a document, and read the wording rules before you post. If it comes down anyway, there is an appeal path.