Columbia Dental - New London, Connecticut

Lauren A.

Most people will only write a review if it's something bad but won't take the time to write a good one. I think people will find something negative in everything like I've seen reading other reviews on here.

Anyway, Columbia Dental has been pleasant both times I've been so far. I've had traumatic experiences with another CT dentist so I always get nervous going anywhere new ..
This place made me feel relaxed & calm. Everyone is super nice & explained everything or answered any questions. The Doctor was gentle as you can be for getting extractions done. And swift. He was done before I even realized it.

Thanks again to the great staff!
I definitely Recommend 💯

Patrick F.

I'm in the process of getting an implant here and Dr Lashgari could not have been more helpful.

I expected: Post installed in my jaw and then come back in 6 months to get the tooth installed.

Instead, I have come to meet a very dedicated and professional dentist.

Post stud implant, I was told to come back once every two weeks to make sure that I was healing right.

After a while, it closed up and I was told to come back in a month.

After I came back a month later, Dr Lashgari noticed something wasn't healing correctly and promptly addressed it.

I have never felt so comfortable and taken care of with a dentist before.

If you like having teeth and don't like having holes in them, I highly suggest you to come down to Columbia Dental in New London.

Sa L.

I was referred to this office for impacted wisdom teeth removal. The office was dirty, everywhere- the front reception area had stuff all over the floor, the bathroom had stuff all over the floor and it was noticeable it hadn't been cleaned in a while. The dentist I had was very impersonal, didn't offer me any laughing gas or anything despite me being physically anxious. He was ROUGH and apparently I bled a lot, and he told
his assistant 3x "this has never happened before" (about my bleeding) I CAN HEAR YOU. Quick (but not in a good way) rough and uncleanly.. hopefully I don't end up with an infection.
I was swiftly done with no real instructions and due to the extra rough brutality to my face I am abnormally swollen. Do not recommend

Christine L.

Horrible. Two weeks in a row I showed up for my appointment and they were closed. After the first week I asked them to please text me if that were to happen again (they text to confirm appoitments). When I called them the second time the office was closed the woman on the line was incredibly condescending. I will never go there again.

C F.

Let me preface this by saying if I can save a single person from experiencing what I did - then I’m glad.

Got all 4 wisdom teeth pulled on the classic
Husky Torture Tuesday.
All Husky patients get lumped on one rushed overcrowded Tuesday and get to see the same old butcher dentist - Dr Lashgari.

After waiting in the lobby for well over an hour due to being backed up (fine) - mostly due to people coming back in pain from botched procedures earlier in the day (sorry to the veteran with the botched crown job)

Brought back for an X-ray. I get seated in the back. Nobody hands me consent forms. No communication. Just left in the room.
More time goes by, doctor rushes in:
Does not ask my name, just asks what I’m getting done. Takes the tiniest dot of numbing and puts it on one cheek, then puts the q-tip on my other cheek for around 5-10 seconds when normally it’s 5-10 minutes at any other practice
Immediately starts stabbing my mouth with the numbing needed. I state I’m in pain. He apologizes and continues. I continue to state I’m in pain and he gets irritated
Saying he’s only given 3 when normally he gives 6. I tell him he didn’t wait long enough with the base numbing gel.
He storms out and goes to work on someone else.
An assistant comes in after a considerable amount of time just looking for something else, I tell her the situation and she apologizes stating he’s stingy with the medication.
She gives me 2 swabs of numbing gel and is surprised the dr never came back in.

Finally he comes back in and is pissed I have more numbing gel. Demands to know who gave me it and claims they have no idea what they are doing. Immediately stabs my mouth with more numbing needles and has me hold my own suction as I’m not good enough apparently to have an assistant help? Asks if I’ve signed consent forms - aside from lobby - no?
He gets mad at the “incompetence” of the staff and has me sit up and just sign without reading - I’m literally half numbed up and holding suction while signing a paper I can’t even read.

Immediately he just starts ripping my teeth out. Apologizing that he’s going fast but is in a rush. At one point a tooth snaps and he just looks at the ceiling scraping and digging around by feel. Given I was in the office for over 2 hours. The pulling took about 5 very rushed minutes. And it HURT. He rushed through instructions and sent me right up to the front desk.

(No anesthesia ? no stitches ? Okay)

The nicer receptionist left for the day, and I was left with a blonde lady. I can’t speak due to having to bite on gauze. I mentioned a penicillin allergy on my paperwork from earlier - after waiting in pain at the desk she hands me scripts with my name and address WRONG for Amoxicillin
WHAT?
My to go bag isn’t even ready. She has to have me write my name and address again and get approval for a different antibiotic?

For pain I get 800mg of ibuprofen
It didn’t touch the pain. I start taking Tylenol with it and the next day I call stating I couldn’t even sleep due to pain.

Receptionist informs me that other doctors won’t help his patients. And due to the DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE AREA the doctor won’t prescribe anything other than Advil.
This wasn’t a cavity This was 4 healthy teeth ripped out of my face. They also have received numerous complaints against this doctor.

SO BE WARNED.
~KARMA TAKE NOTE~
This isn’t helping people. This is traumatizing and hurting people. I feel bad for the support staff. But the higher ups need to be aware. Seems they already are and won’t act.

Tina Z.

Going to the dentist causes me a lot of anxiety but I had a great experience this time. Great dentist and staff. My crown was done by Dr. Lashgari, and it looks fantastic! Thank you

Meghan S.

I have never been a fan of the dentist but not only was the actual dentist amazing and gentle, but the staff was great as well. They were running a little behind but actually took the time to call me ahead of time to let me know so I didn’t come in and sit in the office for the extra time. When being checked in the staff had amazing personalities. Diana was especially great! I would highly recommend this dentist office.

Scott S.

Its really too bad, the dentist that worked with me for a short time, about 3-4 months was fantastic. That is the only thing going for this place. The establishment is poorly run, period. I went there in desperate need of a root canal and leaned I needed a second one as well. After numerous visits with no work done, they finally filled a huge cavity that the filling had fallen out of. All the while each time I continued to ask about my root canals. I was told numerous times it takes weeks for the insurance approval. After this went on for 3 months, I was all-of-a-sudden dropped due to them deciding not to accept my insurance anymore, in the middle of my treatment. Of course, I have Husky as I am currently unemployed. So here I am trying to get this root canal done for the last 9 months, however without the dental records I can't schedule the appointment with the surgeon. I dropped off the release in person well over a month ago. These people put you on hold for ten minutes then hang up on you. You call the number for the New London office and someone at a different location answers the phone. Right from the start I wanted at least a cleaning when I went to three appointments for no reason, couldn't do that because they don't have a hygienist. Like I said, the dentist that looks really young (I can't remember his name) is fantastic. I wish he could go work for a facility that is worthy of his talents.