Directory > Providers > Dental Care > Dentist > IL > Godfrey > Dentistry With TLC > Reviews

Dentistry With TLC

Nearby

Dentists

Alexander Wojtyna

Alton, IL

College Avenue Family Dentistry

Alton, IL

Motto Clear Aligners

Alton, IL

College Avenue Family Dentistry

Alton, IL
Get Featured on Wellness.com > Learn More
Dentistry With TLC
Dentistry With TLC
(9 Reviews)
> Get Phone Number & Directions
1317 Dadrian Professional Godfrey, IL 62035
Add a Review

Consumer Feedback

(9 Reviews)
Service
4 star average for Service
Environment
4.5 star average for Environment
Staff
5 star average for Staff
Recommended
5 star average for Recommended
Expertise
5 star average for Expertise
Value
4 star average for Value
1. The time period between May 2004 and February 2013, I used two Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines. The second one was designed with up-to-date technology. Regardless of improved technology, both were only partly successful as follows. The air masks used with the CPAP machines often became dislodged during sleep. Each CPAP machine caused condensation in the hose leading to the nose-piece. I nearly suffocated several times from excessive water entering my nose-piece during sleep. Summary: The CPAP machine is not a fully successful cure for my sleep apnea. Additionally, replacement consumable durable goods to support the CPAP machine are overpriced by the medical durable goods industry, putting an extreme financial burden on all providers.

2. Approximately mid-April 2013, I came across an article on the Internet by the American Sleep Association that recommended an oral appliance as a successful replacement for the cumbersome CPAP equipment. I investigated the report, applied for, and then received an oral appliance (Attachment 1) from the American Sleep Association on April 22, 2013. Medicare (primary payer) and TriCare For Life (secondary payer) funded this product. As recommended by the American Sleep Association, I brought the oral appliance to my dentist, Katharine McGinnis, DDS, Edwardsville, IL, [(618) 656-0451] to check for proper fit. This oral appliance contains velcro-like strips on each half to hold the upper and lower halves together to prevent shifting of the jaw and to keep my mouth closed during sleep.

3. Sometime around April 2014, the velcro-like strips on the American Sleep Association product (Attachment 1) started to fail. The Velcro-like strips of each part failed to engage the companion piece, which prevented them from performing their intended purpose. I mistakenly used this oral appliance intermittently until around May 2014, even while the velcro-like strips were continuing to further deteriorate, including the separation of these Velcro-like strips from the main body of each half. I was in desperate need of a replacement for this oral appliance, but I felt that a more superior product needed to be found. Early on before their product failed, I sent several emails to the American Sleep Association asking them how long their product was expected to last and the process to apply for a replacement when the product was unserviceable. The American Sleep Association failed to respond to any of my email inquiries.

4. Sometime during July 2014 while waiting in a doctor's office for an appointment, unrelated to my oral appliance, I read a June 2014 edition of a magazine called HEALTHY CELLS. The front cover (Attachment 2) contained a caption entry for an organization called 'Dentistry With TLC'. Page 18 of this magazine contained their article called "Putting Bad Sleep to Rest" (Attachment 3). I was convinced that this organization had the answer to my defective American Sleep Association oral appliance. I contacted Dentistry With TLC and made an appointment for August 6, 2014. I assembled my medical records from my regular dentist and my sleep apnea doctor to enable Dentistry With TLC to properly assess my situation in order to be properly fitted with a new oral appliance.

5. On August 6, 2014, Dentistry With TLC performed a 360-degree X-ray of my teeth, formed molds of my upper and lower teeth, and took precise mouth calculations to enable a Dentistry With TLC contractor to manufacture a precision oral appliance, hereafter referred to as SomnoDent Flex oral appliance, to combat my obstructive sleep apnea without the cumbersome and negative characteristics of a CPAP machine and as a superior replacement for my inferior and now defective product from the American Sleep Association.

6. During this visit to Dentistry With TLC, the staff, including Doctor Anna Smith, alluded to the fact that they themselves do not file claims with Medicare for their patients, but they were willing to help each patient with the proper paperwork to file a claim with Medicare. None of the staff at Dentistry With TLC staff stated 'they are not an authorized Medicare provider', only that they will help you with your Medicare paperwork. They even provided the apparently correct Medicare Form CMS-1490S and wrote the correct medical condition operative number - 327.23 - that describes Obstructive Sleep Apnea. At that time, I felt comfortable and confident that the Dentistry With TLC office and their staff were experts in assisting their patients with a successful Medicare payment request/reimbursement.

7. CAVEAT EMPTOR! This Latin statement applies not only to a consumer's purchase of an item from a company, but it also involves a consumer's obligation to attempt to fully comprehend complex methods and rules issued by the Federal Government agencies, including Medicare.

8. My ignorance of Medicare's rules lead me to believe that all I had to do was to file the CMS-1490S form and then endure my typical four-to-six-weeks government wait for reimbursement payment from Medicare. This was not to be however. After much ado from talking with a minimum of three Medicare representatives on the telephone, each with a different reason for payment rejection, I found out that technically - Dentistry With TLC is "NOT AN AUTHORIZED MEDICARE PROVIDER" and that is the main reason that my reimbursement was rejected from Medicare. The rejection of payment by Medicare does not excuse this governmental agency from misleading me with three different reasons for rejection despite their individual meaningless canned apologies.


9. The above rejection from Medicare does not carry the same words and meaning as what the staff, including Doctor Anna Smith, of Dentistry With TLC stated and alluded to. If I would have heard the following words from anyone representing Dentistry With TLC before August 6, 2014: "Dentistry With TLC is not an authorized Medicare provider and you cannot expect to be reimbursed from Medicare unless fully justified, including many delays through a maze of paperwork", I NEVER would have made the appointment on August 6, 2014, to order their SomnoDent Flex oral appliance product. I would have sought another manufacturer's product with positive reinforcement by a steady record of reimbursement from and by Medicare.

NOTE:
I have financially contributed to Medicare since
its inception in 1965 until I retired in 2010.

10. Other than the fact that I was mislead by Dentistry With TLC concerning their association with Medicare and their assistance with filing patients' Medicare reimbursement, I contend that their SomnoDent Flex oral appliance product is head-and-shoulders superior to the American Sleep Association product. Medicare is sponsoring the wrong product. Instead of sponsoring the American Sleep Association product, Medicare should be sponsoring the SomnoDent oral appliance family of products. If rated on a scale of 1 through 10, with 10 being superior, I would rate the American Sleep Association at a 4.5, while the SomnoDent Flex oral appliance product would receive a nine (9). I did not give it a 10, because there was some residual product taste even after 45 days of use and the canine-type structures on the lower piece appears to be larger than required. They protrude and poke at my mouth's inner structure. Otherwise, the SomnoDent Flex oral appliance product gets nine thumbs up.

11. My anticipation of being reimbursed by Medicare for the SomnoDent Flex oral appliance product was fueled by the logic that (1) if Medicare paid for an inferior product from the American Sleep Association, why wouldn't they reimburse me for a product that would perform better and longer by a much greater factor and that (2) if Medicare was truly concerned about my health, they would fund a better oral appliance to replace my defective one from the American Sleep Association.
by Radar Scope xxx.xxx.11.106
January 14, 2017
I was really nervous when I went to TLC, but Dr. Smith was very nice to me and everyone was helpful. My husband and son are switching since they heard how much I liked it. They even let me make payments.
by Debra xxx.xxx.71.50
August 21, 2014
Will this Dental Care provider try to get you an appointment ASAP if you have an emergency?
No
Was the Dental Care provider able to take and develop x-rays in their office?
Yes
Do you feel confident that this provider will work with you until a solution is reached?
No
Was it easy to make an appointment with this provider?
No
Was the music playing while you waited or during your visit pleasant to you?
No
by Anonymous xxx.xxx.72.2
July 16, 2014
I used to love going to TLC and had been going there for about 6 years when they got other staff in to handle bills and they just were rude and very unprofessional. They sent my bill to collections after 2 months when I had appointments scheduled for my kids and when I called and tried to why this happened I was hung up on because the staff didn't like the fact I was not agreeing with her and my tone. Yes I was upset due to the fact she was acting as if I was wasting her time and getting on her nerves. I called back several times and they would not return my calls and when I said I would come in they said I would be waiting hours to see someone if I did. I have never been treated this way by anyone at this office. I have always been treated fairly well and I am quite shocked
by anonymous xxx.xxx.163.110
May 27, 2014
I absolutely love this place. First off it smells fabulous when you first walk in and the ladies at the front desk are always so bright and cheerful. They seem genuinely happy to see you. They worked so hard with me to get my old dentist to release me for a month before I came there. All of the ladies that have worked on my teeth have been the sweetest, most gentle girls you could want to meet. Then there is Dr. Smith herself who is even more gorgeous on the inside as she is on the outside. I have had fast braces and a wisdom tooth extraction with Dr. Smith and I couldn't be happier with the work she and her girls have done for me. I've never enjoyed going to the dentist more than I have there. Why else would I make the trip all the way from Arnold, Mo! Dr.Smith and her assistants have given me not only a beautiful smile but a new happier life and I couldn't thank them enough.
by angelia xxx.xxx.22.189
January 16, 2014
I've been going to TLC for about 7 years. I've had Dr. Smith completely redo my entire smile with Lumineers and they look great. I used to just grin in all my pictures because I hated my dark teeth. Now I feel confident showing my smile and I always get compliments about my teeth. I couldn't be happier with Dr. Smith. I have recommended her to all my friends and everyone who meets her is impressed. She's easy to talk with and actually listens.
by Anonymous xxx.xxx.29.162
June 30, 2013
I started going to Dentistry WithTLC when my daughter got Fast Braces. She loved Dr. Smith so much I started getting my teeth cleaned there too. They were so nice and gave me a huge selection of toothpastes to choose from after my appointment. They really make an extra effort to make their patients feel special. They always make sure to return my phone call as soon as possible. They've never left me waiting. They have some of the best customer service I have ever seen. Putting their customers first is definitely a priority here and it shows. I would definitely recommend them to my loved ones. I am happy with their services and my daughters smile is looking great. I appreciate their payment plans and kindness.
by Anonymous xxx.xxx.29.162
May 06, 2013
They paid close attention to me and all of my questions were answered. Their staff is the most friendly, welcoming staff I've ever dealt with. They are so warm and professional, and make the whole experience that much better. I was so impressed with the progress I was able to make after visiting them. All my questions were answered, and I feel a lot more confident and hopeful about the future. The office was very easy to locate. I didn't have any trouble finding it at all. Great experience!! I can't say enough about Dr. Smith and her wonderful staff. All are professional and friendly. Fastbraces were amazing since I just needed my lower teeth straightened. It took only 3 months!! Now I will go to them for all dentistry issues. Love them!!!
by Carolyn xxx.xxx.202.81
July 07, 2012
Did this provider answer all of your questions?
Every question I had was answered thoroughly
Was this provider's staff friendly?
Yes, they went above and beyond
Did you leave the office feeling satisfied with your visit?
Completely!
Was this provider's office easy to locate?
Fairly Easy
Are you going to visit this provider again?
Without a doubt!
by Marcus xxx.xxx.29.162
July 06, 2012
Add a Review
Map and Directions
1317 Dadrian Professional, Godfrey, IL 62035