I just moved to the area and I needed a new dentist. When I went to this office for the first time, I was informed that I had to have 18 dental X-rays for individual teeth plus panorama dental x-rays since I was a new patient. I had been having my teeth checked twice a year by my old dentist before I moved here and she was comfortable with getting an x-ray every three years. I am not against the dentist getting a panorama to see the overall condition of my teeth as a new patient. However, an X-ray for every single tooth regardless? I told the staff I agreed with getting the panorama x-ray but I questioned the necessity of the other x-rays and my concerns regarding unnecessary x-ray exposure. The staff explained that the individual x-rays would allow them to identify root problems and the cavities between the teeth. Well, they may if there is a problem, but I have no symptoms what so ever. Following their logic, my family doctor should order a chest x-ray for me every year because I could have a tumor in my lungs that I am not aware off. It is possible? Yes. Is it serious if the tumor is missed? You bet yes, and it is definitely more serious than missing a cavity. However, no good doctor will order a chest x-ray merely because it could identify tumors. They need other indications. Two minutes later, the staff came back telling me the dentist did not feel comfortable examining my teeth without all the x-rays first and if I refuse to get all the x-rays the dentist would not see me. It was clear to me that I had no say in what I do with my teeth in this office, so I left. I am not against getting necessary exams, but ordering x-rays to be done on every single tooth without examination first is not what I consider a good care, especially when the dentist did not even come to talk to me. After I came back from the office, I made a point to look up the guideline by the American Dental Association and see if it is the "standard of care" to order x-rays like that for new patients. Guess what, it is NOT. It is indicated for patients with symptoms and it should be discussed between the dentist and the patient. I understand that doing x-rays can bring in more money for the practice, which is very important for every business. However, dodging my questions and refusing to see me unless I get all the x-rays give me the impression that the practice does not care about their patients so much as the money.
October 2016 - My first experience with Dr. Pirkle's office started with a receptionist who was condescending and rude. I didn't have my insurance card with me and she glared at me saying "well you're not going to be of any help to us are you?" I then sat and searched the internet for 20 minutes, using my phone, to figure out my member number and group ID... fine. The dental hygienist, Dr. Pirkle, and the other receptionist were very nice and made up for the unfortunate first impression. Our visit my son and me resulted in needing to schedule another appointment to get cavities filled. The next available appointment was at the beginning of January. My son has braces so when we make dental appointments, it requires two ortho appointments before and after so that the wire can be removed and then replaced... so this is no simple appointment. I received a call one day before my scheduled appointment telling me they needed to reschedule. I said OK... and we rescheduled for a month later, today at 10:30am... 4 months AFTER the initial visit. Yesterday afternoon, we take my son to the orthodontist to remove the wire, this morning I leave work to pick him up from school at 10am. As I drive away from my office, I receive a phone call informing me that my appointment needs to be moved to APRIL!!!!! I learned that Dr. Pirkle is only in Gainesville once a week b/c he has an office in Sebastian, FL... which by the way he treats his Gainesville patients is clearly the priority for him. If you are in Gainesville DO NOT see Dr. Pirkle. I literally feel scammed, which is a weird thing to say about a dentist. This last minute cancelling of appointments is rude and disrespectful... it has not just happened to me... it happened to my coworker as well.
I have been a patient with them for months , my first day there wasn't the best and the older woman in the front was very rude ! Honestly she was rude every time i went in for an appointment. I never got a full mouth examine they just did my crown for a root canal that I had with a diff dentist. I complained about a diff tooth that was being irritated by anything cold the DR. Never really did anything about it or have me come in sooner to help me with my problems he just looked and said oh a small little cavity . My old dentist sent my xrays to them mutiple times but they claim to "never" have recieved them after the dentist sent them to me and them is when they finally say they have got them. Anyways I had an appointment January 2017 they called canceled told me feb. 3 today is the 3rd and they called again and cancel and told me march that's when I completely cancelled anything further with them. I didn't get anything done with them while my pain gets worse and no one there seem to even care ! As for my mother they kept referring her to someone else saying she had a problem in her tooth that u couldn't even see on an X-ray and wanted her to get some sort of surgery I jus feel like they just want to collect your insurance money with unnecessary problems and same day cancellations! I wouldn't recommend this dentis to NO ONE!
I loved the hygienist and staff, but I am a high needs patient since I have had multiple root canals and fillings. Since Dr Pirkle is only in the office part of the week, it didn't fit my needs. I switched to a new dentist after I was referred for a broken crown that would need extraction and an implant or bridge. Full mouth CT scan ended up revealing infections above 2 of root canals.
Apparently, the dentist has two practices, this being the secondary in Gainesville he is only here once a week. As a result, this location is not a priority; he doesn't seem to understand accountability or the value of people's time/money based on his behavior. He not only habitually cancels appointments e.g. is not above canceling minutes prior to your appt, but cancels the rescheduled appointment from his initial cancellation as well! There are other words my reptilian part of my brain would like to use, but I will simply say: avoid this dentist, and recommend he closes this practice and focuses on his primary location and learns the value of client relationships and accountability in business.
