ISABELLE M BRUNETTI-PAI DDS

I was in need of a root canal because I had an infection in my tooth. Due to my insurance, my options of endodontists within my network was extremely limited. I found Dr. Brunetti-Pai since she was the closest and didn’t need to do a consultation since I had the paperwork from my dentist. The procedure itself went well; she wasn’t sure if I had to come in a second time, but she was able to complete the procedure within that day. I haven’t had any issues with my tooth since then, thus far. When I went to the front desk, I paid the amount I thought was my full patient responsibility and left. No one told me anything additional was owed.

Come to over two months later, I get a bill saying I still owed an unpaid amount (I got two bills actually, the second sent a day after the first one for some odd reason). I was annoyed by this, as I thought everything was settled the day I went in for my procedure. I looked over the bill and noticed some discrepancies. I reached out to my insurance and they reached out to the dental office. The endodontist reached out to me to discuss the discrepancy and advised she will have it corrected. The amount I owed still didn’t make sense so I was trying to explain that.

She then proceeds to threaten me by saying I needed to pay my bill before a certain day, which was in about the next 2 to 3 weeks, or else it would be sent to collections. She claimed she had no control over that, as that’s something her attorney handles and not her, so she supposedly has no say in it. She also claimed I owed her the deductible, which I didn’t because I had already paid that.

Because her office doesn’t use any kind of online portal for payments, I waited until the next day and decided to make the final payment over the phone. The receptionist I spoke with said they would send out a receipt, which I have never received to this day. Even the week after I had made the payment, another receptionist reached out to me and asked if I had made the payment.

This occurred over a month ago, but to this day, it still disgusts me. The office waited until the last minute to send me a bill, over a month after my claim was processed through my insurance, over two months after the initial office visit, and then threaten me by saying if I don’t pay that my bill will be sent to collections. Again, I thought I had paid my portion of what I owed upfront. The patient responsibility amount was not the problem, but the communication and the way I was charged was. The way this office handled the billing was awful, and I would like to try to avoid coming back in the future if I can.

Dr. Pai is a very talented endodontist. She really cares about her patients and actually calls on weekends to check up on how the patient is doing. I had a complicated and extremely painful tooth that needed root canal treatment. Dr. Pai successfully saved the tooth which was part of a three tooth permanent bridge. I highly recommend Dr. Isabelle Pai.

Overall, I had as pleasant an experience as one can have at the endodontist. My regular dentist discovered I had an infection in an old root canal and referred me to an endodontist who had recently opted out of my insurance plan. I called 3-4 other recommendations and unfortunately, it seems many endodontists in Dutchess County don’t take insurance. I have good dental insurance and Dr. Pai was recommended and on my insurance company’s “in network” list so I made an appointment. I had nothing but a pleasant experience with the receptionist (Anne Marie) each time I spoke with her. I was originally given an appointment for a consultation a month away, but there was a cancellation and she was able to get me in sooner. She verified my insurance benefits and confirmed I had no copay for any of my visits. There were some long wait times unfortunately for some of my appointments (afternoon appointments). Dr. Brunetti-Pai opened up my root canal twice and cleaned it out, but unfortunately, the problem persisted. The appointments all went smoothly and I had no pain. She referred me to an oral surgeon, also luckily with good reviews and in network, who recommended an implant. If I ever need an endodontist, I would definitely return here, but fingers crossed I don’t.

Dr. Brunetti-Pai is absolutely amazing and nice. She handled my root canal with such great care. Her receptionist and assistant were very amazing and nice, too. I was so grateful that she accepted my insurance plan! My whole experience couldn’t have been better!