Dental Care of New Jersey

If you want a dentist who cares about their patients, please avoid Dr. Petrosky. Waiting times are usually and hour or longer. You have to endure loud music and the television on the same volume at all times while waiting for hours in the waiting room. My real problem began when I got an infection under my crown on a molar. I came in months earlier with a painful infection and he said, he couldn’t help me, that I would need an oral surgeon. COVID hit and infection went away. Months later I was told after a cleaning that my tooth needs to come out because its infected underneath, it’s making me sick, and it can also cause long term health issues. All of a sudden he is qualified to remove my tooth. Even though he walked away from me months before (while I was in excruciating pain) telling me, he couldn’t help me at all. Meanwhile I was told I needed an extraction that he suddenly can do, and an implant which would cost $3000 . I agreed and then shortly after, the office calls me and tells me the doctor wants to do two implants for one tooth that would cost $4600. Couldn’t tell me why. I said I couldn’t afford to commit to the two implants. (Because I don’t have $5000 laying around) And two implants for one tooth didn’t seem reasonable. But the office did say they would extract the tooth for me. It would cost $176 out of pocket. I agreed, and showed up today and then I was informed I needed to pay approximately $300 because my insurance wont cover a graph. I said “a graph, I didn’t know anything about a graph”. I was told, it’s something to get the tooth ready for an implant. Then I stated, I don’t know when or where I would get the implant done. “Maybe I could get it at a dental school” (it was off the cuff and something I probably wouldn’t do). She said it was necessary and then I asked if I could pay half now. She went back to Dr. P and he said if I don’t commit to having all of the work done there, then he’s not touching my tooth. So basically he knows that this tooth is making me sick. But if I don’t commit to a $5000 bill for work on “one” tooth, he would make me live in pain until I find another dentist in my rural area. It literally felt like I was being extorted.
It seems this dentist says and does things depending on his mood. Last year I was told I need two fillings and I didn’t get them done because of COVID. When I asked about the fillings last month, after my cleaning, I had no cavities to speak of. Something is very wrong with this dentist and the way he treats his patients. So go at your own risk. But I would recommend getting a second opinion if something doesn’t seem normal. When I get one, I will follow up.