Meena Shah, DDS

By far the worse place I’ve encountered. I tried my best to not judged based off all the reviews I’ve read but my experience is only getting worse.
I had an appointment with them in March and it went horrible. I walked in 10 minutes early as they asked, got some forms to fill out and was asked to wait for my name to be called. The room was pretty much empty. I got called for x-​rays and after getting my x-​rays taken (without any exaggeration) I waited 4 to almost 5 hours to be called for a cleaning. The staff was too busy talking to each other discussing their lunch options and gossiping. Dr. Shah was out on vacation so it seemed like it was their time to slack the hell off. I finally get called and I had to wait another 30 minutes on the chair with everything ready bc the dentist replacing dr shah was busy when I am sure I saw him pacing around after being done with another patient.
I was so angry I simply asked to be emailed my xrays because I knew my insurance wouldn’t cover another set if not in the time frame of six months. I gave her my information and nothing was sent. I went on vacation and I came back to still no email with xrays.
Today I have called twice, spoke to ms chatter box receptionist and to dr shah. Constantly getting a «we will call right after we send the x rays to your email» nothing yet and it’s been hours.
My insurance sent me a letter asking me why certain things were charged if I claimed to never get a cleaning. Which is under investigation.
Seriously! Pay attention to these reviews and avoid this horrible place!!! No professionalism at all!!! I wish I can give negative stars.

worst damn doctor I’ve ever been to. Be careful of Fraudulent billing practices!!!

This is not an isolated review. Read the other reviews on Unilocal,such as by Tee D. on 2÷16÷2015. Any dentist who tolerates such insensitive customer treatment as below, when it has been reported by several others on this site, makes me question her customer care.
I made an appointment for my daughter who suffers PTSD and trauma due to abuse by her now deceased father. I purposely called ahead, asked for a female hygienist, and tried to give them insurance info phone, to avoid paperwork and any delays in front of my daughter as she is triggered by doctors and medical forms. The receptionist would not take it by phone and said bring it in. (I’ve been to other dentists who smartly take the insurance by email or phone ahead of time to save time at check-​in.)
The day of appointment the receptionist called twice, with no message. No polite «I’m calling to confirm» so I had to waste time calling her back, and when I did she had no clue as to who I was.
It is very difficult to get my daughter to a dentist as she is triggered by anyone touching her (she has bolted out door at other dentists) due to past abuse. So it was very important my daughter be seen quickly and gently, and not have her mother scolded by the staff, as this receptionist did.
Here is what happened. We rang door buzzer. We heard no noise of buzzer so my daughter, now knowing, held buzzer thinking that it would open door and let her in. The receptionist comes out of another room, yelling at my daughter to stop buzzing (not exactly a warm welcome, which my daughter needed.)
I tried to check her in but had forgotten the insurance cards at home due to my focus on just getting my daughter to the dentist. I did have it on my iPhone. The reservationist starts being nasty to me in front of my daughter stating: «If you’re going to come to a dentist you need to be prepared.»
I asked her nicely twice if I could bring in cards tomorrow but she refused. I could understand if I was a new patient but I had prior seen Dr. Shaw and could be trusted. She had all my info on file.
This receptionist was then rude, nasty and due to rudeness, when I asked to see dentist but she yelled at me in front of my daughter, stating «you need to calm down!!» When someone is unreasonable, rude and scolding me with an attitude I have a right to ask to see the dentist. She goes in back for two seconds and tells me the dentist stated «You need to be prepared if you go to a dentist,» repeating the rude receptionist’s words.
I called insurance and got the number while the receptionist muttered in back, still scolding me, «You should have been prepared.»
Since I am a domestic violence victim, my daughter is also triggered by anyone being nasty to me which this receptionist seemed to relish doing. She had no skills in customer service or sensitivity whatsoever. Then because she held up the paperwork the hygienist took in everyone else in back before my daughter. I had told them my daughter’s anxiety she needed to be see right away, but we waited 45 minutes, then gave up and left.
The receptionist’s attitude and rudeness not only cost them my daughter as a customer but also me.
I will never go back to this dentist again. She needs to better train and sensitize her staff. Read the other reviews on this site. They are awful.

Update 8÷19÷15− My husband finally got the tooth that he was promised. Based on the terrible service, my husband will not be returning.
If Unilocal allowed zero stars I would choose that. These people are dishonest. My husband went there for the first time on Monday. He was given an exam and x-​rays were taken. He was missing one tooth. They told him that he could get a replacement tooth for $ 300. He informed them that he did not have the full $ 300. They told him to give them half the money and the rest of the money can be paid over time. He comes today to get the new tooth placed in his mouth. First the Receptionist quotes him a different price of $ 400. When my husband tells her that he was quoted $ 300 she goes in the back office to confirm the price. She comes back and states that yes my husband was correct. Than she tells my husband that they want the balance due today. Again my husband tells them that he was told that he would be given time to pay off the balance. Again the Receptionist goes in the back to get confirmation. Finally my husband is taken in the back where the tooth is placed in his mouth. Low and behold it does not fit.
After speaking to one of the attorneys in my office. We smell a scam. I tell my husband to ask for his $ 150.00 back. If he does not get his money back. We shall sue this place in small claims court. I usually read Unilocal reviews before I do business with anyone. I made a mistake in not reading the reviews on this place prior to my husband going there. This place is disorganized and dishonest. Absolutely avoid them like the plague.

I had a 1:30pm appointment, got served after 2pm so there was a long wait. Dr. Shah was nice enough. The hygienist who cleaned my teeth was good, actually mentioned a few things about teeth care that was new to me. Waiting room is tiny. Lots of kids. I think most dentists are just fine (exams, cleaning, etc… pretty much all the same to me), so I tend to look for convenience. So waiting 35 – 40 minutes once I get there is a big turn off.

Open on a Saturday! Came in as an emergency, without an appointment. Was seen immediately, fixed up, and am back out to enjoy this beautiful day. Thankful.

Dr. Shah took great care of me today! I have had a phobia of the dentist since a terrible childhood experience. She and her staff were very gentle and supportive through the whole process. She was patient, gentle and professional. Thanks Dr. Shah!!!

This practice handles medicaid patients so expect long waits, as well as rushed service, even though the staff is quite friendly. I don’t mind Dr. Shah’s personal style, I find that she is quite a character (I will say my child on the other hand burst into tears upon encountering her!). The real reason I give her one star is that she uses Xray checkups to recommend costly, often unnecessary procedures for teeth. On several separate occasions I have come in for a cleaning and she has suggested root canals or replacement crowns or antibacterial treatments on teeth I had no complaints about. She got me so worried once that I paid for a second opinion which turned up nothing unusual (and three years have passed since then), thereby saving me over $ 4000 of work. Her office also no longer offers the stronger amalgam fillings when guess what, medicaid doesn’t cover the white composite ones. I know there’s a debate over these two filling types but shouldn’t it be the patient’s choice?

Don’t do it.
This was the dentist I visited as a child… as a result, almost of my back teeth have fillings. I was 8 years old the first time my mom took me, young enough to have my teeth sealed to prevent fillings in the future, but Dr. Shah did not even discuss this as an option. Every single time I went in, she said I needed additional work (either my old fillings needed to be re-​done or I needed new ones). I went to her for 10 years, until I was in college. When I was in college i visited her once, and then, on a whim, to get a try another dentist in the down where I went to college. This dentist was appalled that I had fillings replaced so many times at such a young age and explained why that was so incredibly inappropriate as a course of treatment (every time you get a filling replaced, it weakens your teeth). Ironically, it’s been about 10 years since I’ve been to Dr. Shah – my teeth have been in excellent health since – my eating and cleaning habits haven’t changed, the only thing that has changed is my dentist, so I do feel that she took advantage of me and my family, who did not know enough to realize that she was essentially butchering our mouths. AVOID.

Dr. Shah is a SCAM. I read reviews about her and didn’t think she (or her office) could be that bad. In summary, my visit was for a mouth sore and her team wanted to give me a full mouth xray before even seeing the doctor. When I get to the doctor, she is also performing a full mouth exam when I was there for, again, a mouth sore. The kicker… SHE TOLD ME THAT I HAD 4 CAVITIES!!! Today, I finally was able to go to doctor that had top notch Unilocal ratings (I waited 3 months for the appointment.) and he looked at me puzzled because I ONLY HAVE 1 CAVITIY!!! Her fraud combined with the décor in her office equates to RUN!!! It is worth waiting a few months and for your insurance to kick in. *The only thing I can dispute from the other reviews relates to the receptionist who was nice and friendly to me.

Date of my visit was — 10/​15/​2013
I had a partial plate consultant and cleaning for myself and a preventive care visit for my six year old. I found the staff, Dr. Shah and the hygienist professional and compassionate. The office was clean and well maintained. I will recommend Dr. Shah’s service’s to other’s and will be returning with my son. Dr. Shah is our new family Dentist. We are pleased with the services.

I got 2 fillings done yestrday and did not feel a thing, Im a bit of a drama queen when it comes to needles and the doctor was very patient wih me so I commend him on that because Im not sure if I would be able to deal with me lol

I never, ever write reviews but bc Dr. Shah and Family Dentistry are LIFESAVERS, I’ve decided to change that. Long story short, I had scheduled a filling with another dentist, a month in advance bc of my crazy work schedule, only to get there this morning and find out that they couldn’t see me bc of a mix up with my insurance. I was desperate to find another dentist who could do my filling today, otherwise I would have to take time off from work. I called Dr. Shah’s office and explained the problem, and a very nice receptionist was able to offer me several times at which I could be seen today.
First, I saw Dr. Shah who reviewed my x-​rays and explained what work needed to be done. She was very clear about price, and what was more crucial vs. what she could hold off on for now. She was not pushy at all, and encouraged me to do whatever worked best, given my finances.
Dr. Shoukry did my fillings and the cleaning. He was very quick and efficient (which was good for me, since I do NOT like the dentist!), and made a point to ask if I felt okay after the initial novocaine shots. My chair even had a back massager built in, which was a nice distraction!
Granted, this is not a luxury doctors office, so if you’re looking for any kind of frills or an elaborate waiting room, you should go somewhere else.
Conversely, if you’re looking for a dentist that is professional, caring, and does great work, Dr. Shah, Dr. Shoukry, and staff are IT and you should look no further!

My family and I have gone to Dr. Shah for over 30 years. I have little to no complaints about the service she provides. She stays open fairly late, I always get an appointment, last minute or not, the ladies that work their are friendly, and there rarely is a long wait time when I arrive but like most doctor offices, I expect that there may be a 30 – 45 minute wait.
One of the reviewers mentioned she appears to be cold, I personally never experienced it. But in all honesty… how much conversation do you REALLY expect to have when you’re sitting in the dentist chair?
DENTIST: So, how’s the family?
(drilling noise)
PATIENT: Gargle, gargle, gargle, choke!!!
(dentist inserts Saliva Ejector)
DENTIST: That great huh!
It’s very difficult for someone to go into the dental office knowing what exact procedure they will need. There are a lot of underline medical issues that could be present which the naked eye cannot see or you may not feel. As a good medical professional, they can only recommend for you to receive treatment.
Also, one of the things people forget to take into account is that Dental Insurance has the most out of pocket cost and is not covered as high as other medical coverage. Prior to starting any procedure Dr. Shah has always discussed the cost, what my insurance carrier covers (my job changes our coverage almost annually) and explains the reason for the procedure. I believe it is up to the patient to advocate for themselves and inquire about any procedure or expense they will be subjected to during their visit.
I recall going to another dentist a few years because it was closer to my place of employment. It was one of those new state of an art facilities with all of the bells and whistle, that provided you with a luxurious experience. Well as an avid purchaser of high end goods, I know that luxury has it’s costs. During my «consultation» I was informed that I needed a root canal, and to replace a tooth with an implant, all to the tune of $ 2500! The dentist was very pushy and try to sell me on getting Care Credit. As a smart consumer/​patient, I went to Dr. Shah for a second opinion. She told me I did not need a root canal, I had a cavity under two of my fillings and needed them to be replace. All for the price of $ 90… Needless to say, those state of the art facilities are no longer in business.

I can’t believe her reviews were so bad. I got an appointment right away. The women at the front desk was so nice and helpful. I had a situation where I completely misunderstood my insurance so I wasn’t sure if I was covered to see her and the women at the desk spent almost an hour on the phone figuring it out for me. On top of that she was just super nice and friendly.
Dr. Meena as also very nice. She was clear about how much it would cost me to have my cavities filled and was not pushy about me having it done at all. She also made sure I was very comfortable.
Honestly, reading the other reviews in the waiting room I actually considered sneaking out of the waiting room. I’m glad I didn’t.

I am writing this review because all the negative reviews on here don’t really paint an accurate picture of the quality of service they provide. No, the place is not perfect, but they do a pretty good job and are totally competent. After visiting some other dentists who are waaay worse I came running back. Lets face it, going to the dentist sucks and they will get you through it here with a minimal amount of trauma. I had them put a crown on my front tooth and they did an outstanding job.

I JUST left after my first and LAST visit. I went in because I had a crown fall out and needed some place close to glue it back in.
Arrival and paperwork
45 minute wait
X-​Rays (the machine arm is broken so you have to hold it yourself)
45 minute wait
Dr. Shah came in. Says I need 2 fillings and she’ll fix a chipped tooth for free. Ok.
9 injections and she never got me numb. She’s filling «HUGE!» cavities (that weren’t there 4 months ago) with no relief, tears streaming down my face and an assistant literally holding my head still. The tooth stump (remember I only needed a crown glued back on?) has a cavity and she has to «build it up» which my insurance «doesn’t cover» that’ll be $ 339. Fine. MORE SHOTS. Says that since she can’t get the tooth numb I need a root canal. I have had NO PAIN except the exposed surface to the tooth. She «offers» me to put on a temporary crown, but that will cost $ 250. I say no thank you and ask for a pain prescription which I have to remind her THREE TIMES for.
Go to front desk. They ask for the $ 339. I explain that that work was not done. Goes back to doctor. Comes back says thank you. I request a receipt that shows a zero balance. They say they can’t give me that until they submit my SIGNED treatment plan to insurance. It takes 20 minutes of arguing for a third person to finally come out and cross through the $ 339 on my chart and write «zero balance» on it. How much you wanna bet she was going to submit that?
I call my insurance. «Of course we cover build-​ups. They’re much cheaper than root canals.» and «Of course we cover temporary crowns. We don’t want our customers in pain.»
If my review doesn’t tell you to stay away READ ALL THE OTHER BAD REVIEWS!
The funny thing is that in the lobby there are three different signs that say, «The best compliment is telling someone else about us.» This ain’t no compliment.
UPDATE: Went to my regular dentist today. No decay. No need for a build up. Got me numb in ONE injection. Glued on my crown and sent me home with NO CHARGE!

Dr Hanson… More like Dr. HANDSOME. WOW!
Ms Meena on the other hand… Mean? (OWW!)
And yes I was pressured into surgury by Shah, but Han (d)so (me)‘s doing it, I’ll be the first to elect for oral work*!
*Is this place open after-​hours?

I will do you guys one better. Called in on a Monday and spoke to a lady named Elizabeth. She said she would check on my insurance and call me tomorrow — never heard from her. Then, called back next day. The hired answering service kicked in and left a message, still heard nothing.
Called back on Weds, Elizabeth claimed she knew nothing of my calls and also said that the «other» Elizabeth handled me. Considering how shadey that office is, I think she was lying about another woman there with the same name. I asked if she could email me my appt and info, she said she didnt have email and didnt accept email!!! Then she gave me a website link of their office and commented that «she didnt know if that was an email address, or a website link!!! It is almost 2012, and she didnt know the difference of an email address and a website! Stupidddd. Well she ended up doing her office an injustice, because I keyed in the link she gave me and ended up seeing all these negative comments of Dr Shah. That was the last straw for me.
After reading awful things about Meena online, I cancelled my appt. And Yes upon speaking with that office, they did press and try to sell me upon coming in. They even pressured me to come in on Sept 27^th when they knew my insurance didnt kick in until Oct 1^st.

I’d give negative stars if the rating allowed!
Dr. Shah came off as a used car sales man, pressuring me into procedures I didn’t come in for. Very push and cold, and honestly I am very suspicious about the copay amounts.