Barber Charles L, DMD

After moving to the area and searching for a general dentist I chose Doctor Barber based on recommendations from friends and coworkers. I also had a specific problem with a crown that I had installed in an emergency when I was out of town by a chain dental business whose name is the same as a ski resort town in Colorado. The crown was placed on a tooth that had a cavity and the cavity killed the nerve root and caused infection and pain in my jaw and ear. Dr Barber and his staff put the utmost effort and time in to attempting to save the tooth but were realistic about the odds of saving it. Unfortunately, the tooth could not be saved and we needed to talk about immediate tooth extraction and an implant or bridge. Donna and Karen, whom both work at the front desk, were pleasant and coordinated the same morning tooth extraction with a local DDS, Dr Mark Grenadier. Dr. Mark did an excellent job with the extraction and and was in constant contact with Dr. Barber over the next several months as we had the implant installed and then finally the new crown by Dr. Barber. The staff and technicians here are friendly, educated, and pleasant.
I will not compromise on the care of my teeth, and that’s why I continue to choose Dr. Barber and staff.

I cannot speak to the quality of the actual dental services that Dr. Barber provides, but I will say that his staff are extremely helpful and kind. I recently moved to Pittsburgh, and so I had not yet established health care providers in the area. However, I felt a cold sore coming on one morning, and my usual routine out in Denver was to immediately call up my dentist and schedule an immediate appt for a laser treatment. (If you get cold sores and have never tried this, it works like nothing else ever will! And it’s only ~$ 80 – about $ 6 for every day you won’t have that cold sore now). However, very few dentists offer this treatment in the Pittsburgh area and, being a new patient, I knew it would be hard to get in for a last minute appt. I called Dr. Barber’s office after finding him through a google search and the woman on the phone, Dawn, tried so hard to get me an appt that day. However, they were totally and completely booked on this particular day. She had even talked with Dr. Barber and other staff to see if there was some way they could get me in, but it just wasn’t possible that day. I was upset (if you get cold sores, you know how it feels), but Dawn was sympathetic and offered to get me in the following day. I knew that would be too late, and so I asked for other recommendations. A staff member recommended a practice that she had previously worked for, Dr. Crandall, stating that he was also innovative and might have the technology. Dawn then asked me to call back and let them know if I got in with him before scheduling for the following day with them. Well, I did, and upon calling back to tell them, Dawn and the woman who made the recommendation (can’t remember her name) sounded just as relieved as I was, which was really very sweet! So, although I have not actually visited Dr. Barber’s office, the treatment I received as a new and demanding client (in the sense that I wanted a same day appt) was so kind and helpful. I imagine that I would have had a similar experience if I had visited.

I recently started going to Dr. Barber after my partner’s coworker said he knows him well and he would «take care of us.» I had been going to the same dentist for 28 years, but upon my dentist retiring this summer, I needed to find a new place.
Dr. Barber told me I had SEVEN cavities during our FIRST meeting. I’ve had a cavity or two in the past, but believe me, seven didn’t seem normal. And I have relatively nice teeth, but I won’t even get into that. So I trusted what Dr. Barber said and had him fill the first three together in one visit. After insurance, my cost (for three fillings ran about $ 400 out of pocket.) None of the three were noted as «deep» or «serious» cavities. After the filling, my mouth was incredibly sore for several days and I couldn’t chew at all on the right side of my mouth. I called Dr. Barber’s office and they told me to eat soft food and that they didn’t know why I was in pain. A week later I called back. Dr. Barber referred me to an endodontic specialist who did a temperature test on two of the three teeth Dr. Barber filled. I nearly jumped out of the chair when the frozen cotton ball touched two of the three teeth that were filled by Dr. Barber.
Long story short, I got a root canal on one of the two painful teeth. (Another $ 400 out of pocket.) Still can’t chew on that side of my mouth (it has been three weeks). Whenever I floss, pain shoots into my gum above the 2^nd tooth worked on by Dr. Barber. Because the pain hasn’t subsided one bit, I just scheduled my SECOND root canal for next week (cha-​ching — another $ 400). Because Dr. Barber did sloppy cavity work and botched my fillings, I’ve been in pain for months and will have paid a minimum of $ 1,200 out of pocket (and that doesn’t include permanent fillings over the root canals).
Dr. Barber lacks bedside manner in his office and is more concerned with selling the 6-​month smile system and making excessive fillings on nonexistent cavities to make money rather than truly understanding his patients’ needs. I will NEVER return to Dr. Barber, as it was truly a terrible experience.
I do want to note that Donna, the woman at the front desk, is incredibly friendly and great at her job. When I spoke to her about this situation and told her I would not return, she was very compassionate about the entire thing, but I never received a call from Dr. Barber.