Gramercy Dental Group – Laurie S Litwin, DDS

Very poor and crooked business practice. My review may be long, but you should read this so that you are not scammed in the same way they tried to scam me.
I went to Dr. Litwin for the first time last month. They suggested that I get a full mouth x-​ray since I was a new patient. I was hesitant because I had x-​rays done recently, but they said it was covered by my insurance and I might as well get it done.
I was still very hesitant, but after being repeatedly persuaded to get the full mouth xray, I made it clear to the hygienist that I would get the x-​ray done if it was in fact it was100% covered, otherwise I did not want it. I said this twice. They went to check and assured me it was covered, so I proceeded to get it done.
One month later I get a call from receptionist in the office to tell me that the x-​ray was in fact not covered. The very x-​ray I said I did not really want, and I definitely did not want if I had to pay for it.
The office manager was then put on the phone and he extremely rude, and he started to yell at me as soon as I started to suggest that I didn’t feel like I was responsible for their error. Any point I tried to make to reason with and explain to him how I should not be charged for this service made him even nastier and more defensive. I asked him why he was yelling at me, and he said «because you are accusing us of being at fault when if fact it is your insurance companies fault and your fault for not knowing that it was not covered» (despite the pressure from this office to get it done, and being told not to worry).
They argued with me, they belittled me, and raised their tone with me on the phone trying to convince me how this was now my responsibility despite what we agreed upon. Like putting a price on an item you purchase and calling you to charge you more a month later.
They wanted me to do the footwork to obtain the missing money from my insurance company or to pay them the difference out of pocket like it was no big deal.
A good business would absorb the cost after telling you something was covered, a good business would not call you and fight with you after an agreed upon service.
A good business would not talk to you like you are and idiot and tell you «you know that small pamphlet you get from you insurance company, where it tells you what is covered, it is your responsibility to know what it is covered.»
As a provider if you told me you called my insurance and they told you something was covered 100%, I’m going to trust you. Besides who knows every little detail of their insurance?
I told them that I would not pay them for the service and would fight it in small claims. Despite them constantly backing their end as being in the right, they told me they do not respond to threats and instantly withdrew the fee and banned me form ever coming back to the office (as if I would want to at this point). That does not sound like the actions of someone who is in the right.
A good business does not ban you from their office, after they are the ones who tried to screw you.
Words can not describe how disgusted I am with this way this practice treated me as a new customer. I can not believe they had the audacity to call me and attack me the way that they did. They should have taken responsibility for their error.
To top it off, at the end of the phone call she told me, if I had been nice and not threatened to sue they could have given me a payment plan to pay for the service I never agreed to pay for in the first place.
Terrible business ethic, crooked business practice, and F grade service.
I do not recommend.

My wife went here first and saw Dr. Litwin and was so happy with her experience that she urged me to go. After putting it off for as long as I could I finally relented and made an appointment with Dr. Estrada.
All I can say is that they treat you right here, and everyone is very friendly. Dr. Estrada does a great job, and is easy to get along with. They don’t leave you in the waiting room forever, and Matt at the front desk is friendly and very helpful.
Going to the dentist is not anyones favorite thing, but they make it almost pleasant.

It seems strange to love your dentist but I do. As a physician, I tend to be a bit trepidatious about going to another medical professional. All I can say is that Dr. Litwin exceeded my expectations. She is professional, meticulous, detailed, and honest. She also has a great manner with her patients and seems to remember what is going on outside of the dentist chair. I had a negative experience with a dentist on the Upper West Side (they actually cracked my adjoining tooth during a procedure– and I subsequently had to get a root canal) — and I am pleased to say I made the right decision coming to her.
The office staff is super helpful and will go the extra mile to work out the right billing for your insurance. You don’t wait and they were always willing to squeeze me in as needed. Dr. Estrada is also great.
I’m not the type to write reviews, period, especially for my dentist, but she is really fabulous.

Wonderful office. Very attentive and loved not waiting to be seen. I was in and out with x-​rays and a cleaning in 1 hour!!!

I cant tell you the last time a dentist called me after a proceedure to see how I’m doing the next day! Dr. Litwin’s staff is caring and compassionate, and Dr Litwin herself has been through enough personal dental experiences to understand what hurts, and how painful it could be for the patient. She walks you through what you need to have done, manages expectations for the experience while its being done, and is very careful for you not to have pain. I have yet to be hurt in her chair.
Her staff is organized, caring and will crack a smile with you. I actually really like going there (this coming from someone who used to need gas for a cleaning!) and her referring doctors are amazing. She is connected to wonderful surgeons and specialists that all provide the same experrience.
Everyone there feels like a «private pay» client.
Pros: excellent work– best smile ever
Cons: a little pricey, but very much worth it!

Okay, so this is an odd review for me, as I generally reserve even thinking about writing a review for something that I hoped would be good — restaurant, massage, shopping experience — but turned out better or worse than expected.
In this case — the dentist is a dreaded, horror experience for me. I would never think about a review, because, well I don’t expect anything great, even think I’ll be tortured.
So, it takes a lot for me to write a dental review. And I’m adding these key words to this review «afraid of the dentist» incase any one searches for reviews for great dentists for people terrified of the dentist.
I put off going as along as I can because I had a torturous 6 years of braces when I was a child and it left me scarred for life. My orthodontist was satan with pick, probe and mirror.
So, when I chipped a tooth (minor) a few weeks ago I figured it was time to go just so it didn’t get any worse (yes I’m vain). I mustered all the courage I could and made the call. The receptionist answered and I said I had 2 questions. 1 — do you except my insurance. 2 — okay now that you except my insurance, are you a good dentist for people who hate dentists. Answers were both yes and before I knew it today was upon me.
The length of my experience today was filled in a cold sweat, but that was just my nerves. Everyone was fantastic. They completely understood my concerns, were sympathetic and talked me through everything they were doing. The worst news I received was that I need to wear a guard when I sleep because I grind my teeth which is why I chipped a tooth. That news was much better than what I expected, because I was sure I was going to need to have every tooth pulled followed by a root canal in each socket.
So, I highly, highly recommend this dentist. They even humored me with my defense mechanism of joke-​laded banter throughout my entire appointment.

I can’t believe I’m writing a five star review of my dentist, but here goes:
I don’t like going to the dentist. In fact I dislike it so much that I didn’t bother to go for over a decade. I was young and not prone to cavities, so what did it matter?
My wife had some issues with less-​than-​great dentists over the years before she found Dr Laurie, who proceeded to get her teeth in the right again. She was so pleased with her work that she insisted I pay her a visit. I’ve been going semi-​regularly for the last 5 years or so. In that time she’s managed to reverse my receding gums, fill a few cavities and fix a chipped tooth.
I won’t say going to the dentist is now a pleasant experience for me, but Dr Laurie makes it as bearable as possible. Not only is she very skilled, but her manner is exceptional. I actually like seeing her, and this is a woman who puts needles and drills in my mouth.

Best dentist around. 2 other dentists tried to fix a messed up crown another dentist put in. Laurie fixed it first time around without blinking an eye. I didn’t even think it was possible. I had lived with it for 3 years because the other dentist said it was not fixable. I have recommend her to many and everyone has told me, «thank you, she is amazing.»