Sears Dental Center: A Review

I began going to the Sears Dental Center as a kid and continued with the company for more than two decades. I only recently became aware that many people aren't even aware that Sears offers dental services.

I finally switched dentists this year. How does Sears Dental compare to private dental offices in terms of price and customer service? Here's my review.

Sears Dental Center: Background and criticism
I'm not sure how many Sears Dental locations exist across the country, but I know they can be found throughout the Midwest, in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago areas. I went to one in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

I've read some poor reviews of Sears Dental on some message boards. Some commenters say that many dentists don't respect Sears Dental. They see it as a place that hires any dentist or hygienist off the street, pays them low wages and forces them to work long hours. Many dental professionals commenting on these message boards stated they couldn't wait to leave Sears Dental and start their own practices.

I never felt like I was getting substandard service at Sears Dental. But then again, since I'd been going there all my life, I had nothing to compare it to. What would happen when I switched to a private dental office?

My new dentist: A review
I moved to a new city not long ago, which meant I had to locate a new dentist. I selected one and scheduled my first appointment. It was a great experience.

The office was bright and colorful and the dental assistants were extraordinarily friendly - far more engaging and personal than those I'd encountered at Sears. I got the feeling the dentist and hygienists really enjoyed their jobs and enjoyed dealing with people, which is something I never felt at Sears Dental.

The new office was also much more thorough in terms of the examination. They took x-rays of my entire mouth, not just the very back teeth, as Sears had always done. They measured the depth between each tooth and the gums to check for periodontal disease, something Sears had never done.

When I got a good report at the private dental office, I felt more confident that it was accurate because they had conducted such a thorough examination.

Sears Dental Review: Price comparison
I have to admit I thought the cost at the private dental office would be far more than the cost at Sears Dental. I braced myself as I waited for the receptionist to present that first bill.

But the cost turned out to be just slightly more than what Sears Dental had charged me. I was quite relieved. I was even able to save money because they offered a "new customer" promotional discount. The private office also gave me a free Colgate toothbrush and toothpaste, while Sears had only ever provided a free generic toothbrush.

I've never needed braces or extensive dental work, so I can't compare the prices for those plans or services. Perhaps Sears would be quite a bit cheaper in those cases.

Sears Dental Review: Summary
The service I experienced at Sears Dental was professional and courteous. It wasn't bad, but it didn't measure up to the personal, more thorough service I received at the private office. And since I didn't notice a great difference in price, I'd recommend choosing a private dental office over Sears Dental if given the opportunity.

Sears Dental Center Review: Sources
www.searsdental.com
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=254580