University of Florida | College of Dentistry, Gainesville | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

This was my UF Dental College experience as a patient of 3 years. The first 2 years were very smooth. Dental students Valledor & Vasconez worked closely together. And with the dental plan they created consecutively, we made great progress. What I really appreciated about Valledor & Vasconez is that they listened actively. As a patient in the dental student program my commute to the C.O.D was no less than 4 hours 1-way depending on my work location. I really appreciate the fact that my travels were taken into consideration and my appointments were for a full day. I felt confident both students were competent, genuine, trustworthy and transparent. When Valledor graduated, Vasconez picked up where they left off and we were still making great progress. Shortly after Vasconez graduated.

My year 3 in the program was nothing shy of an unadulterated disaster. Instead of picking up where the previous dental student left off. I was being forced 3 steps back and a change in my dental plan. I was scheduled for another consultation in the perio-clinic. The consultation was for the same surgical procedure (crown lengthening) that was already recommended just 6 months prior. There was no need for me to drive a minimum of 4 hours to be consulted on a second crown lengthening that what was already decided and confirmed (read the previous dental student notes). At that point it was either I was going to accept or refuse treatment.

The dental specialist assigned to do my first crown lengthening was very patient, professional and proficient. However, my tolerance for pain is about as high as a deck of UNO cards. This surgery is not for the faint. Perio, no pun intended. According to UF’s C.O.D website, a patient can accept or refuse treatment, except as otherwise provided by law. Therefore, I elected to forego the 2nd crown lengthening.

I met with Dr. K. and he explained future potential issues if I forgo the procedure. I stood my position. Dr. K. then made demands that I have the procedure or be dismissed from the program. Bully much? At that point, I just wanted my bottom partial and be completely done with the program. That day my appointment was scheduled for a full day. When I declined the 2nd crown lengthening I dismissed from the chair, 2 hours into my appointment after driving 6 hours, one way. The dental student then insinuated that work on my bottom partial would not start until the second crown lengthening was done. I left feeling like a whole hostage.

I expressed my concerns and frustrations to UF’s patient advocate. All at my expense by force there was a minimum $650.00 change in my dental plan (w/extended treatment), issues with UF antiquated billing system, lack of transparency, lack of trust, still missing teeth/no bottom partial, nearing financial hardship and then to be threatened by faculty to be dismissed from the program for refusing elective treatment is just asinine. At this point I was willing to forgo all recommended treatment, complete my bottom partial and be done with the program.

UF’s patient advocate was absolutely useless & very dismissive. Do not initially expect a callback or any feedback, instead expect adverse reactions. She is there to protect UF programs, not to facilitate patient grievances. After about 2 months, I completed the program. On the last day, I agreed and signed a consent form to come back in about 3 months for a cleaning and to address any issues with my bottom partial. About a week ago, I called to schedule a cleaning, I was informed I was removed from UF’s student patient program in its entirety. If I needed to scheduled an appointment I would need a doctor’s referral. Retaliation, much?, but UF will not have to tell me more than once.

So unless you have a minimum of 3 – 5 years to invest a full day appointment once a month into this program ( 2 root canals, 2 crown lengthenings, 5 cleanings, 1 extraction, 3 crowns, composites and bottom partial) this may not be the dental college for you. UF COD’s sense of time, ethics & accountability is stuck in neutral.

I sent in my application and months later received a letter that I had an appointment.

What they didn’t tell me until I got up there is that they are only looking for patients who have a mouthful of many problems. If you need one thing done you’re of no use to them. For some reason the students can’t learn from that.

Why don’t they tell you that up front? Because then you’d cancel the appointment, or not make one in the first place, and they wouldn’t be able to push their full price faculty practices on you.

After the interviewing dentist disqualified me she tried to push a faculty practice on me at least three times.

Such an annoying waste of my time. The only redeeming thing was that she refunded my $30 because she decided they couldn’t help me before she took X-rays. So all I wasted was my time and not my money.