Rick
Dental Care Alliance: Corporate Greed and Stony Silence
After nearly being hauled off by police for daring to question a dental upcharge, I reached out to Dental Care Alliance (DCA), the parent company of Advanced Dental Care of Citrus Park. Their response? Indifference then silence. Here’s what happened: I arrived for my appointment at Advanced Dental Care expecting the regular cleaning ordered by Dr. Guerrero at my previous visit. Instead, a young, inexperienced dental assistant told me I must get a 'maintenance cleaning'—a more costly and invasive procedure not covered by my insurance. When I objected, she raised her voice for the whole office to hear, as if disagreeing with a dental upsell was a criminal offense. When I showed my signed treatment plan proving I was entitled to a regular cleaning covered by insurance, the office manager ordered me out and threatened to call the police. As I walked toward the door, she actually told the assistant to call the cops. All this over a teeth cleaning dispute! I thought for sure that the DCA corporate office in Sarasota would step in to right this wrong. I emailed them, expecting professionalism. Instead, I got a canned response from a rep named Jen S., promising a follow-up within three days. That was months ago. Despite my many contact attempts, Dental Care Alliance never responded again. They just don't care. Please take note: Dental Care Alliance isn’t just failing to protect patients—they’re actively profiting from unethical practices. These chains use high-pressure tactics to push unnecessary treatments, knowing full well that many patients will cave under the pressure. Your rights matter. If a dental office tries to force you into expensive treatments not covered by insurance, push back. There are state and federal laws to protect you--use them. Do your research. Post reviews. File complaints. Report offending companies. Finally, take legal action if necessary. If you need guidance, Elliott Advocacy (elliott.org) can help. Companies like Dental Care Alliance must learn: If they ignore the abuse of patients by their subsidiaries, they may soon find themselves out of business.