A Perfect Smile

I am so grateful to Kathy for being my partner in making decisions in my dental healthcare!
Totally down to earth; just a pleasure to spend time with today. Do NOT tell anyone, but I dislike dental/​doctor appointments immensely. Kathy was so low key, positive and empathetic today. I am so relieved to have found someone who is sensitive of my anxiety!!! I have officially discovered my support system! What a great day!

I just moved to Falmouth and after driving by A Perfect Smile several times, I thought it looked like a lovely dentist office to try. I called them on a Tuesday and they fit me in the next morning (Wednesday) for an appointment. Kind of odd but they said they had a cancellation.
I had to pick the earliest appointment (8am) because I need to get to work by 9:30 (I work 9:30a — 6:30p roughly M — F). I got there about 10 min. before 8 and their waiting area was very lovely. They offer coffee, water, cookies oddly enough, and other items. Their new customer liaison greeted me warmly.
The dental hygienist that I saw was very friendly and nice. However, the entire appointment (which was a routine exam and check up including x-​rays) took about two hours and 20 min. I had not been to the dentist in over a year but that struck me as a little long. They claimed it had to do with all the tests they were running, which were very important. They had an overhead TV that you can watch while you get your teeth worked on, and also an array of «complimentary» spa offerings (warm neck wrap and so on). There were a few times when I was being up sold a whitening package for my upcoming wedding, which I’m not very interested in, mostly because I don’t have a giant disposable income and (by normal standards) my teeth are moderately white.
When I finally met Dr. Nelson I did not get a very good vibe, and unfortunately he’s not the dentist for me. Yes I have ground my teeth in the past due to some stress but I was told I have the teeth of a 60 year old woman and right now I’m 27. My teeth have character and I appreciate his brash honestly but just solidified that he’s not the dentist for me.
Finally after meeting Dr. Nelson I was given estimates on all the work they needed to do and how much it was going to cost me (keep in mind I have a good Delta Dental plan). Some fillings and several other work they said I needed done was going to cost $ 1400 before insurance and $ 890 after insurance, plus $ 150 for a gingivitis testing they wanted to do later that month. Additionally, all the testing they did during my exam, after insurance, ended up costing me $ 100.
I was worried my mouth was actually a mess and consulted some friends after the exam. Funny enough, a couple of them went to the dentist that same day and said they normally pay about a fraction of what it was I was being estimated. This made me realize that I cannot afford the Mercedes of the dental arts.
I paid them the $ 100 and had to have my x-​rays sent to my old dentist. I’ll drive the extra 15 minutes in the morning to keep seeing my old dentist, knowing that I won’t be scraping money together to get maintenance done on my fillings or whatever else they may deem I need fixed in my mouth. I’m sure Dr. Nelson is capable of giving me «A Perfect Smile», but I suppose I don’t have the trust fund to support a perfect smile, anyway.

I moved to Maine 2 years ago and procrastinated about finding a dentist until I had a problem that finally prompted me to make an appointment at A Perfect Smile. Since a friend had recommended Dr. Nelson, I expected excellent care; what I did not expect was the Nespresso machine and chocolate chip cookies in the waiting room and the lavender-​scented, heated neck wrap to relax me as I waited in the chair! My «problem» turned out to be less dire than I thought it was, yet Dr. Nelson and his staff treated me with professionalism and good humor. I’m actually looking forward to my next appointment!

My children’s first visit to the dentist, a big milestone!
I have been having my pearly whites cleaned at A Perfect Smile for many years, and tho I considered taking my children to a pediatric dentist, I know and feel comfortable with the location, staff and routine at A Perfect Smile.
The kids hit the play area in the waiting area as soon as we arrived and hygienist Chelsea approached them there, at their level, to introduce herself and talk a little about what we would be doing. She brought them on a tour of the building, meeting smiling staff members along the way.
The cleaning was child-​led… if they were uncomfortable about something, she stopped, explained and only continued if they were on the same page. They liked watching the television on the ceiling and giggled at the tickle of the teeth polisher. Picking out a new toothbrush, floss and toothpaste at the end of the visit was like a Halloween surprise.
Thanks, all, for the great experience!