Stephenson Lawrence P, DDS

Oh, boy. Where do I start? Right.
My family has been coming here for almost 30 years. My dad (for some crazy reason), keeps wanting to come back, EVEN though he complains that either a hygienist hurt his mouth or the dentist just plain didn’t listen to him and my mom.
About a year ago, we were waiting. We had specifically asked for a hygienist, simply because of bad experiences with other ones. When the hygienist who had previously hurt my dad and I came out and was about to take care of me, my mom (who had an appointment the same day so she was with me), intervened and explained she needed someone else. The receptionist LAUGHED IN HER FACE. It was awful, disrespectful, and plain rude. So of course, my mom asked for the dentist. The receptionist is still going on, saying the dentist can’t come out, yada yada… I got upset at how she was treating my mother, and told her diplomatically that she just sucked.
We finally get in, and had a good visit with the hygienist, as well as the dentist. After the dentist was done, I asked to speak with him, and I explained that the receptionist was rude to my mother, and hands down, that was not acceptable. I stil remember Dr. Stephenson’s look — a combination between a coward and a little boy. I felt sorry for him, because really, it must be awful to not have balls, right? He said he apologized for the misunderstanding, and so we went on with our lives.
Fast forward, we noticed the dentist never called to confirm our appointments for the new year. My mom and I didn’t care, because we both were busy, and I really just wanted to find another dentist (I did! Thank God!). A few days ago, my dad broke two teeth (he’s a diabetic, and unfortunately this is normal). My mom called to make an appointment for him, since he needs to be seen as soon as possible with his condition.
One of the hygienists (which goes to show you Dr. Lawrence looooves having thugs for staff and not having to face conflict) said they were not taking our family anymore because WE were rude to the staff. Um, what? ONE staff member decided to be a complete a-​hole to my MOTHER (sorrynotsorry, you just don’t mess with my mom and think you can get away with it), and we told her that’s not how you treat patients. End of story.
So because of that, my father, who has to be seen SOON, and now will have problems with getting new patient appointment elsewhere, can’t be seen. And it’s not as if my father was involved in any of this. Shows you how much Dr. Stephenson cares about his patients.
Now, to recap my life experience at this dentist:
1) Dr. Stephenson always ALWAYS always has rude receptionists. My mom was happy when one of them retired or something, and when she told him, he laughed because I guess she wasn’t the only one who said that to him.
2) Making appointments may be easy but that doesn’t mean they did it right (they’d put it in the wrong book, whatever)
3) When I had a prosthetic tooth put in, I had experienced «wiggling» of the tooth for a few days. I went to him, he inspected it, said it was alllllllll in my head (his words, not mine), and sent me home. 2 days later, tooth falls out. «Ohhhhh I didn’t realize it, we’ll get it right this time». ugh.
4) I have had plenty of times where I’ll say «hey, so it feels like I have a cavity here and here» and he’ll just go «nope! You’re fine» … I am left with sensitivity and no candy. (we’re on Unilocal,this is crucial information).
5) My dad has had horrible hygienist experience here. Granted, I have too, but he’s a diabetic so his healing rate is much slower than normal. So stabbing the gums and then saying he needs to floss more doesn’t fly, sunshine.
6) I don’t feel as if Dr. Stephenson is genuinely listening to your concerns. Whether they may be about cavities, or a rude receptionist, or even just wondering which filling to use that will be covered by insurance (he loves doing this, he will use something and it isn’t even covered), he just isn’t totally there with the patient. He may be an okay person, but he’s not a person of character, with morals and strength. I don’t expect Braveheart as my dentist, but I expect someone who really cares about his patients and their experiences in the office.
Well, I’m done tearing apart this place. But just take my word for it, it’s just mediocre care with horrible customer service. Considering how awful they have treated my mother, with such disregard and with no integrity for the patient whatsoever, I honestly hope our dear rude receptionist went home and slit her wrists. Just kidding!
(maybe).