Russo Dental Care

Asked for them to reply to me email that I sent about my bone graft last year. Still no reply.

Looks like you won’t be getting my business. Hire a new receptionist. Rude ass lady. Learn how general customer service works. Who the hell hires people like that to represent their business? I don’t recommend this place due to the horrible customer service of the people that work here. Don’t go to these trash people. Burlingame isn’t far away.

Still no root canal to date, no pain, no cavities. .. that is all. .. Hi!

This review is not reflective of Dr. Russo. He’s a great dentist. He gets 4 stars, the office no stars.
I am tired of being overbilled. I am looking for my 4^th dentist in less than a year, for reasons that have nothing to do with the dentist, but everything to do with their front offices. Just like the dental office in Rockaway Beach, Pacifica.
Cigna lists this office as in-​network. So make sure you pay attention to those statements they send after the service. Make sure you call ahead and find out what your patient responsibility is, rather than what they tell you. I caught it a couple of months later, but I got back the $ 160.

This was my experience in 2013
This place is atrocious re: insurance/​billing/​charging. I had several fillings, and I use Delta Dental insurance. I asked the front desk woman before I came in for my visit if my fillings were to be covered. She stated: «you’re all set» and «not to worry about it». This would imply that I’m all set coverage wise, correct?
A few weeks later, I receive a bill for well over 2000. This is a lot of money for someone who makes ~50k a year. That’s months of savings.
As an aside, I work in healthcare. When I’d had these fillings, I’d only been at my job for a few months. Didn’t know a lot yet, but would never give false or unsure information.
Patients ask me to verify their coverage for a procedure/​visit, etc, and I almost always tell them that I cannot personally guarantee coverage, and am happy to give them any codes they need, etc. However, they need to speak directly to their insurance to verify coverage. There are some procedures that we do often, biopsies, ACONS, etc… that are always covered. in that case, I’m happy to tell patients, you are covered. I’ll even email them that I told them this and note in on their chart as a guarantee. I also give cosmetic surgery quotes, never have had an issue. I’ve never erroneously told someone they’d be covered or even implied it.
Russo does these all day, every day. I should have been told that I need to check myself. I would have easily, and happily, faxed a copy of what they were to do to my insurance myself and verify coverage. Why didn’t they do this? why didn’t she offer to do this or tell me to this when I asked?
Alas, huge fail. Found a great dentist in SF. Jang and Associates on Irving. Totally worth the drive from Palo Alto up there a few times a year. I had coverage questions, and they answered with certainty. No surprise bills. There was an x ray they weren’t sure would be covered, and we held off on it until they were sure it was. Too bad I’m jaded now, but I won’t trust a medical office about coverage or costs without verifying msyelf.

I like the competent and helpful staff here and the dental care is great.

On Sunday I knocked huge portions of my front upper teeth out in a biking accident. I felt pretty ridiculous and called Dr. Russo’s office on Monday and they scheduled an examination appointment for me the following day. On Tuesday Dr. Russo looked at my teeth and he and his staff explained my options insofar as treatment and payment. It so happened that he had the time that day to turn the gaping hole in my mouth into a composite that looks better than it did before, with more work to be done.
It is a costly operation, but I believe the doctor is fair and does outstanding work. I am blown away by the results. Hyperbolically, it is was as if a mad scientist (although Dr. Russo is nice and even-​headed) went to work on my teeth in a reverse-​Frankenstein operation and turned a monster back into a man. For now, I’ll keep going back here as long as I live in the area,
and am that glad I walked into his office.

I’ve been coming to Russo Dental for years and I love it. It’s the first dentist office I have been to that I feel comfortable at. Dr. Russo is great at what he does and all his staff are sweethearts. My whole family comes here as well and they love it. Getting appointments are quick and easy. What I like most is Dr. Russo takes the time to explain what’s wrong with your teeth and what options you have to correct it. I will continue to stay a loyal customer to Russo Dental. Give him a try and see what I’m talking about.

I spoke to Dr. Russo and he explained what happened with that receptionist. I didn’t know that she was a tempt for Cecelia that month. No wonder she can careless about his business. I changed my reviews base on how he actually care about his business. Thank god Dr. Russo is not like Dr. Palmer that killed Cecil the lion. I might ended up getting shot with an arrow and left to suffered for 40 hours before he put me out of my misery. Note to Unilocal,this is the kind of dentist you want to keep on here. Ok all jokes aside. Not saying that other business that don’t contact their customers don’t care. Because I know that some people that write for Unilocal are not exactly being fair to everyone and only want freebies from business. I am glad my mama raised me right to be honest and fair. That was a relieved to know that I can feel ok going back in to see them again. Thanks Dr. Russo for letting me know.

Friendly and clean. Tooth whitening special are strips, not bleaching. Came on a busy day so took over 1.5 hours from end to end but will come back in 6 months to see if it is more efficient!
Overall attentive and got a good cleaning.

The customer service from the receptionist to the hygienist was beyond ridiculous. I went here as a new patient with the promise of an exam, cleaning, x-​rays and teeth whitening for $ 99.00. Great deal, right! NOT, just a scam to get in your pockets cleaning was minimal at best they were already trying to upsell me to a deep cleaning at additional cost before I even got in the chair, I was asked several times by the hygienist when the last time I had my teeth cleaned prior to me sitting in the chair. I answered every time and she still said oh you are probably going to need a more thorough cleaning. I said look I will worry about that later can you just do what I paid for. I told her I was more interested in getting a quote for my broken crown. She was shocked that I was more worried about a broken crown than a deep cleaning telling me that I had beautiful teeth but they would all fall out if I didn’t have the deep cleaning, she is full of it cause I since got a second opinion from a real dentist not a hygienist trying to up sell. Then when the dentist finally came in friendliness was not his thing. He tried to tell me I could need a root canal cause my tooth was broken, then later corrected himself saying that it was a crown but he would replace it with one that wouldn’t break. I told him I had this crown for 5 years and he said that’s about normal to get replaced. Then got a ridiculous price for the crown and I told the receptionist that seemed high and she rushed me out of there before I could ask about my teeth whitening, when I turned around to go back in she had locked to door and put a be back at 3pm sign on the door. All around horrible experience. I would only suggest going here if you like poor customer service, pain and just plain rude experience

I am giving Dr. Russo and his team a well deserved 5 stars! He made me feel so comfortable and was very gentle. I had to have some major work done and he did great work. His assistant Michelle is a sweetheart. His whole staff is very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend his practice to anyone! A genuine great person!

great experience with Dr. Russo and staff. finally a Dentist that takes time to explain procedures to patients. and the front staff is great in explaining if your insurance will cover a procedure or not. Ask them all the questions you’d like about your dental coverage.

I have been coming here for a few years now and the reason why I started coming was because of their add on the outside of their building and how nice it looked. Well wrong idea. My experience here has been one thing after another and I just couldn’t take it anymore.
1. I had a horrible experience with my wisdom teeth being removed. The dentist had my mouth so wide open my skin broke from the corner of my mouth and didn’t heal until a few weeks later. I also cried because of the pain I felt when he was in my mouth and from him opening it so much.
2. The filling they did was sloppy. I can now feel part of it with my tongue and the dentist even said himself it was «rough». He used a professional term, because what you call this is sloppy work. Because of this sloppy work I now experience pain where its at and he stated I need a root canal and in reality that’s not true.
3. I had to get another filling and whoever put the clamp over my tooth did a horrible job i felt pain the entire time because it was digging into my skin. I had to tell them to remove it.
Next time I choose a dentist, I will dependently look at the Unilocal reviews and take into account who is actually working on my teeth. Oh and when I had a billing issue with them. The customer service I received was horrible, DISTRESSFUL lady in the front office. She told me its my fault that I didn’t know what my insurance covers and that I didn’t ask how they bill my insurance and because I am now somewhere else that its my new dentist fault for getting billed the way I did.
Hope this serves someone well.

I sat and read ALL of the previous reviews and I TRULY believe «some of you» need to check your OWN attitudes because this dentist facility is the best I have ever dealt with!
Dr. Russo is a great, smart, professional and caring dentist. His right hand RDA Michelle is AWESOME! His front staff, Cecilia, is on the ball, is always polite, courteous and willing to answer any questions regarding the insurance brand you carry. Lastly, Anne is a beautiful smiling hygienist that always does a fabulous job and has NEVER pushed any «unnecessary procedures» to me or has any staff performed procedures without My permission!
I have been a Bay Area resident all my life and have dealt with MANY dentists over the years AND yes some are «schemers» SORRY but Dr. Russo and staff ARE NOT! I have referred family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances to this office and ALL still come here and are very happy with the service they receive. A good dentist is hard to find in these «Greedy OBAMACARE Insurance Scared Dentists» times but I can assure you DR. RUSSO is NOT one of those… He is a GREAT dentist and is only concerned about giving the BEST CARE possible and not thinking «Oh how much can I over charge?!»
Also, please put some thought into your personal INSURANCE field… with this current administration screwing around with Insurance programs and CHARGES WHO knows where the problems are originating from… but I know it’s NOT DR. RUSSO’S OFFICE!!!
Knowing and being a long term patient of Dr. Russo, I find that some of the other opinions (R.P. Especially) to be disgusting and 100% WRONG! My humble option, of course :)
Want a great, caring and professional dentist with a great staff? DR. RUSSO’S DENTAL CARE is the place!

Euphoria.
I’ve had a pathological fear of dentists for the past 5 years and that kept me from visiting the dentist. My wisdom teeth/​third molars came in and started irritating my jaw and gums, so I knew I had to find a trustworthy dentist quick. I was fearful of the operation and tried to avoid it, but the surgery was imminent. I visited numerous dental offices and they all felt uncomfortable and unhygienic. But, when I stumbled across Russo’s office it felt like a safe haven. The so called painful surgery went absolutely as smooth as possible.
I’m thankful for the great service. 5 stars for sure!

I just moved into the apartments next tot this office and took advantage of the $ 99 special. I was greeted by a friendly women at the front desk, filled out the reg. forms every office makes you fill out and sat down to wait. It was only a few minutes and I was called into the back office to get x-​rays, then a cleaning by a Hygienist, so fare so good! Then I was place in another room and Dr. Russo came in, he looked at my x-​rays and pointed out some problem areas I need to watch and a missing filling. I had him replace the filling paid on the way out, this office words for me I will recommend it to my friends at work.
D

I decided it was about time I updated my review with the number of times I have visited this office for both myself and my husband I figured it was about time and as I’ve been so often I think I have a pretty good idea of level of service Dr Russo and his team provide.
Dr Russo has so far done a great job of let’s say ”fixing” some of the poor work my previous Dentists have done as well any additional needed. My husband also recently had 2 Wisdom teeth extracted here and I can honestly say it was the easiest and quickest extractions I have ever seen! Both removed within 15 minutes with no pain whatsoever.
Some of the low rating reviews here really are laughable so I’m going to address some of the things been said in them.
— Dr Russo and his whole team have been nothing but super polite and friendly on every single one of my visits and not just to me — when waiting for my appointment I see and hear them with other patients too and not once have I witnessed them being either rude or argumentative.
— If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover any work done then of course you have to pay for it, it’s a no brainer really. There is actually a big a4 sized notice right at the reception desk that states if insurance does not cover work done or the insurance company does not pay within 1 month you (the patient) are required to pay the balance in full and you agree to this before any work is done.
If insurance doesn’t pay then maybe it’s time to look at getting a better plan.
— X-​Rays and Dr Russo’s time doesn’t come for free, just having an appointment costs money. Refund, really?
It’s a real shame that Unilocal filters a lot of the reviews as there are many good ones filtered here, so I suggest checking those out too.
I’m just sad that I didn’t have a Dentist like Dr Russo sooner.

BAIT & SWITCH! Went in for $ 99 new patient x-​ray, cleaning, exam and whitening kit; as advertised on exterior of offices. Hygienist, without advising, performed a deep cleaning. Was charged for an «unauthorized» deep cleaning ($ 1200+). ALL staff, which includes the receptionist, the hygienist, office manager, and the billing clerk were rude and argumentative; they are the most unprofessional group of people I have ever encountered in one place at one time. They acknowledged error, but still charged, saying «you received the services». Reported the hygienist to dental board for misrepresentation of services. Dentist aware of issue, was very apologetic and said I can come in for a free cleaning in 6 months, is he kidding? Will never step foot in the office again. Obviously doesn’t care for patients, only their $$$. STAY AWAY
**UPDATE**
Bait & switch… lies… now slander.
First the harassing phone calls, now this.
I have ALL documentation to disprove your statements. «Con» really?!
I shall be contacting Unilocal*regarding your breach of their Terms of Service Contract. They encourage users to let them know if another user is violating the Terms. I will fully assist them should they decide to investigate and take action upon you.
Your many negative Unilocal*reviews speak for themselves.
LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

If I could give it 0 starts I would.
After reading the great Unilocal reviews, I decided to give it a try. So I made an appt for a regular dental exam. I went in and everything was great. However, about 2 weeks later I got a bill in the mail saying that my insurance was not going to pay for it and that I now owed them $ 99 for their dental exam special. I decided it was worth it and paid it.
They had suggested I get a deep cleaning so I had them look into it. They said that my insurance would cover most of it but that I would have to pay $ 140. I had it done and about a month later got a notice in the mail saying that my insurance was not going to cover it because there was no reason I needed a deep cleaning. I now owed the dentist an extra $ 390.
I called the dentist to see what was up. They said that it should have been covered and that they would resubmit my information to the insurance. The insurance then denied it again because it was an unnecessary procedure.
I called them up today and they basically said that I owe them $ 390. It doesn’t matter that I wouldn’t have done it if my insurance did not cover it. It’s all my fault. They are not even apologetic. All they want it to rip me off again and take my money. DO NOT GO HERE! They are dishonest and just care about ripping customers off.