Sheldon L Contract, DDS

I went to see Dr. Contract to get Invisalign. I thought he was terrific. My teeth are straight now. Whenever I pointed out that the trays the company made did not align my teeth enough he agreed and ordered another set. His staff is really nice. Only one time in 20 plus visits did I have a staff who was not as professional. I mentioned it to Dr. Contract and he said he would speak to the person. The next time, the staff member was very professional. They’re very good at seeing you very soon after you arrive, which is helpful because you have to see the orthodontist on a regular basis when you’re getting your teeth straightened.

I’m Confused as to why he has sent an email out or contacted his customers about his practice relocating! Dr. contract is amazing but his Office staff needs to do a better job in communicating with all of his customers and or patients about his relocating and being able to answer questions that any of us may have like this shit is ridiculous. I’ve called numerous times but again the telephone number is not working so they’re never the office at 9 o’clock or 8 o’clock you’re always in around 10 or 11 so help me understand why we could team keep giving you our money when you can’t even provide us with great customer service! The office manager should have provided all of his customers with either an email or a telephone call letting them know that the number has changed the location address and when they will be open for business.

Came here at random after picking someone near my office to fix my permanent wire retainer that was coming unglued after 15 years (did not visit Dr. Contract for this orthodontic work). He fixed it and sent me on my way and I was very pleased with the experience. Almost exactly a year later I started having the same problem, so I went back and got it reglued again. Another good experience, except the price had gone up a bit. His office is a bit crowded and chaotic, but he seems like a smart guy and I enjoyed chatting with him.

I called during business hours but no one answered so I went to the website. I was greeted by a chat room character that took all of my information only to send me an email asking to call them during «business hours». I have called three times to only get an answering machine. When I leave a message, no one calls me back. How do you even stay in business like that???

I made an appointment on ZocDoc on January 2 for this morning’s 9 am appointment. I received a confirmation on ZocDoc that same day (and another 90 minutes before the appointment this morning) but no one from the office called so I called two days ago to confirm my appointment but no one answered and the voicemail was full.
Someone did call yesterday but did not leave a voicemail.
Nevertheless, I arrived this morning at 8:37 am to find a patient standing and waiting outside their door in a narrow hallway. I could hear people inside but the door was locked, and when one of the employees unlocked the door, she said she would let us in at 9 am. Another worker came by and let us in around 8:50 am.
By 8:55 am, another patient arrived, and a fourth came by 9 am. The first guy was seen at 9 am promptly, and it wasn’t until 9:11 am, that I had been given paperwork to fill out and returned them to one of the employees. It was finally 9:27 when someone calls me to take x rays. By then, the waiting room had seen a few more additions.
It took over 10 minutes to get x rays because the technician didn’t know how to use the equipment and kept calling another person to help. That person was across the hall with a patient. Dr. Contract popped in and out but I don’t think he actually checked on the patient himself.
It turns out my x rays then didn’t print out so the technician led me to an exam chair in a room that was half exam, half office. This was after I had undergone two rounds of x rays, and this was a machine where all I had to do was bite on a piece of plastic, and the machine would rotate around my head.
Dr. Contract checked my teeth and smile and made me feel confident he knew what he was doing until he gave me a horrible headache afterwards by palpating my jawline. He identified my crooked teeth, overbite, and the fact that I grind my teeth and clenched my teeth too hard. He noted that was probably causing my headaches and explained the jaw is like a ball and socket. The overbite was pushing my lower jaw (causing crowding and smaller angle) and giving me a headache.
He wasn’t personable enough for me. He was vaguely interested of my first round of orthodontic treatment some 20+ years ago and kept trying to figure out whether he knew my orthodontist. He asked what he could tell me after he briefly explained the braces (regular and ceramic) and invisalign. He explained the latter uses newer technology and would be faster and would not involve a plaster model of my teeth. It could be done with digital photographs.
However, where it went especially downhill for me was when he saw where I worked and assumed I had a PhD. «You think with a PhD you know everything. Well, dental work is very complex and complicated.» Ok, that is incredibly off-​putting and condescending. I was trying to listen and nod along and smile. I’m sorry that signals I know everything. Even if you’ve been in practice for 46 years and treated 25,000 — 30,000 people, I’d think you knew something about patience and patients and could be more friendly especially on a new patient consult!
Furthermore, he and his staff were kind of pushy about me making another appointment which would cost $ 275 and I think not covered by insurance. Dr. Contract estimated treatment for me: traditional braces 18 months ($ 5,000), invisalign a year (+10% of traditional braces), ceramic braces 18 months (+10% of traditional braces), but saying it could take much longer, I got scared. On top of that, it didn’t seem his office had the latest and greatest technology (which is ok, but if that’s going to be the case, the staff better damn know sure what they’re doing). From machines not printing to people seemingly using their own personal laptops, I am concerned about personal security.
Furthermore, the initial consult can be made on ZocDoc. The rest have to be done in person or on the phone. I couldn’t commit today for multiple reasons, but another was not knowing my work calendar. The other was out of concern if I worked with this office, I would never get through in case of an emergency, and people do not leave voicemails or even know about insurance coverage (that’s right, for the hour that I was there, no one bothered to call and confirm so they can walk me through reimbursement and coverage. The other two places I went to afterwards took care of it almost immediately.)
I’m sad because I think Dr. Contract is super knowledgeable and I saw quite a few people come through but some of the staff, his demeanor, the timeliness, and other things have me considering other places.

My retainer broke and I could not go back to my former orthodontist who had retired. Dr. Contract was able to mold and produce a new retainer for a good price and without complications. Very easy to work with.

I had a wonderful experience at this office — as a first time patient, they refused to charge me for a service rendered. My permanent wire retainer on my bottom row broke off, and I went in on a Monday morning to get it repaired. Turns out that it made better sense to just remove the retainer altogether, so they proceeded to do so and then drill away the cement that had been holding it together. All in all, the doctor saw me for 10 minutes and the technician took about 5 minutes to drill away the cement. At the end, the office receptionist informed me that there was no cost!
My only complaint is that his office staff is not necessarily the keenest. But they’re good enough.

I’ve been going to Sheldon Contracts office for six months now and I have to admit their service has been excellent. They are extremely friendly and helpful. Everyone in the office remembers my name and even remembers when my planned vacation and asks me about my trip. I 100% advise becoming a patient at this practice.

This was a very positive visit. Everyone from the receptionist to the doctor was accommodating and willing to offer full explanations. They were fully up front about costs and I found costs significantly lower than others I had called in the DC area.

Worst service in town and rude check-​in lady. I waited for a long time before they even told me that they had triple booked the time slot and this is their customary practice. If I can honor my the dentist time by arriving early, I certainly would like the dentist to honor my appointment time and not triple book it. I left and will not return.