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Scorecard for... Dr. Donald Laston Dentist  Berkeley, California
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Overall Score as rated by bity510 |
Year of Treatment |
Comments by bity510
on 04/07/06 3 responses to this scorecard |
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Don Laston is a pediatric dentist in Berkeley, California. I would not reccomend him to anyone. I have no idea why he has become a PEDIATRIC dentist. He barely speaks to the children. He insists that they take valium and nitrous oxide gas to even have simple procedure such as a filling. My child is 8 years-old, he is not nervous about going to a dentist and has no problem sitting still for a procedure. I argued about giving my son the valium because I was more worried about the effects of it on him and it was TOTALLY uneccessary. Don Laston absolutely insisted that he be on it for the 'first' filling so they could see how he does. My son was emotional, 'loopy' acting, and generally unhappy on the valium. We went for the procedure, which might I add that the doctor does not like parents in the examination room with their children and is rude if you insist on being there. He did not involve me in anyway on the decision of whether to fill his teeth with an amalgam filling or a white resin filling, he just did what he wanted with out questioning me or checking to see what insurance would cover. In the meantime, I asked the office staff for a treatment plan and was told they really couldn't give me one. I was told the doctor could just give me a receipt showing what was done AFTER he had performed all of the work in multiple appointments. They also would not give me a receipt showing the total that they were going to bill my insurance for or what they worked on at this specific appointment. All I got was debit receipt for my son's deductible. They wanted to schedule each filling seperately which meant that they would numb his mouth multiple times, of course he was to continue taking valium each time even though I insisted after the first time that he didn't need it. Everytime he had a filling he would have to miss school because he was so messed up from the valium itself. It was ridiculous! The doctor does not want to deal with or talk to the children about their procedure and in fact DOES NOT speak to them about it. He just dopes them up and gets started. After all the stuff they gave him to 'relax' him, they didn't even use the Lidocaine gel to numb his gum before the novacaine injection so he felt that. Finally, when my oldest was undergoing his fillings, my 4 year-old was having his teeth cleaned. When the dentist examined him he told the nurse 'major crowding at 7 to 8, and braces at 12'. I asked Dr. Laston how he knew that my 4 year-old would need braces later since his teeth are beautiful and straight right now. I was just curious as to what he saw in there that let him know this. I politely asked how he was able to tell that he would need braces and he said ' It has to do with 40 some odd years of looking in mouths'. I was furious, it was an arrogant and condescending answer. He is just not a personable guy. I will not take my sons back. EVER. |
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| Cost | Medical Equipment | |
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5
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5
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| Office Waiting Time | Appointment Availability | |
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5
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3
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Hi Julie,
The reason I originally posted on this site was to try to help other parents avoid the problems I ran into with Don Laston and to be informed. He may have a fabulous resume but his bed side manner was terrible with my children and although you maybe seduced by his 40 years of experience with looking in mouths, I am not if that means that he has become so arrogant that he doesn't feel it is necessary to explain a procedure to a parent or the reasoning behind his beliefs that a 3 year-old child is going to need braces when he has yet to lose a tooth and had not even had x-rays at that point in the visit!
The reason I continue to post on this site is because I receive emails when someone new adds something to his doctor scorecard. What about you? Why do you feel the need to continue to post what a wonderful dentist he is over and over again?
Your comment above that says 'In reading the initial review here, I felt there was a lot more going on that a straight critique and I followed my gut and went to see for myself. I am glad I did.' -You may choose to believe what you like... but that was a straight critique of the service that WE recieved. I am happy for you that you have had a difference experience with Dr. Laston and that you have been happy with the procedures he has performed on your child. As you said yourself though, 'Her feelings and her experience are valid and her own. She and her children saw him in Spring of 2006.' You are right about that, you were not there for our appointments (yes, we saw him more than once) and you did not witness his bedside manner with my children, so although your experience may have been stellar, I do not think you have the right to beg to differ with me on my own experience.
This website is devoted to opinions and critiques and it is up to the user to make their own decision about Don Laston after reading our postings about our PERSONAL experience. I think the users have heard enough from both of us to know how strong and polar opposite our opinions are from one another and how different our personal experiences were. You also mentioned that my children saw him in the Spring of 2006, as though it made my posting less valid because I haven't been in as recently as you have. I doubt Don Laston has completely changed in a matter of 9 months. If my post had been from 9 years ago or 19 years ago, I would concede that he could have changed his practices and procedures quite a lot in that amount of time. In 9 months, I think the average user would still consider my review to be recent. (especially since most of us only see our dentist every 6 months or so)
I hope you have Happy Holidays and that you continue to have a wonderful experience with Dr. Laston. :)
Post-script to my review of Dr. Laston:
I read Bitsy's initial review here very carefully before pursuing treatment for my daughter with Dr. Laston. I also read his glowing reviews on the Berkeley Parent's Network, a group of well-educated and informed parents, many of whom are UC alums. His solid reputation was celebrated as two generations in one family had seen Dr. Laston. In reading the initial review here, I felt there was a lot more going on that a straight critique and I followed my gut and went to see for myself. I am glad I did.
My daughter had her last treatment today. When we left the office, my little girl asked when we could come again. Dr. Laston and his team are absolute pros with delightful, calming & loving bedside manner. One staff held Elsie's hands and stroked them while the other hygenist swabbed and passed instruments. Dr. Laston repeatedly said, 'thank you' to my little one after each short drilling or filling. He complimented her on her dress & her boots and asked her about Santa. He asked her what color balloon she wanted today and reminded her to pick from the treasure chest. Just delightful, but not over the top. My little girl (and I) responded very well to his manner. And his 40 years 'looking in mouths' speaks volumes in this case. So, too, does employment as an educator in the Pediatric Dental Department of UC Berkeley. My brother is a professor. Positions at CAL are not awarded to mediocre talent. Further, my own esteemed Walnut Creek dentist had heard of Dr. Laston and his stellar reputation. I obviously beg to differ with the last poster though I don't care to get into a battle of opinions. Her feelings and her experience are valid and her own. She and her children saw him in Spring of 2006. I have to wonder why she continues to post here. I would be more than happy to engage in email correspondence with any curious/concerned parents. Please post here with your information and I will be sure to respond to constructive inquiries.
All the best and Happy Holiday!
Julie Wilson