Dr. Backiel and Associates

Please check your bills closely if you go here, or better yet, just find another dentist. Dr. Backiel’s office made me pay massive out-of-pocket estimates up front, promising they would bill my insurance and refund me the overpayments once the insurance checks cleared. Instead, their billing department is a total disaster, and they are currently withholding ~$3400 of my money. They messed up my account in two major ways: - Double-billing: For several appts, they collected my cash upfront, and then turned around and collected payment from my insurance companies for the exact same visits. They got paid twice for the same work and refuse to return my overpayment. I’ve been advised that this practice is potentially illegal, and I’ve filed a complaint with the PA Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. -Blowing insurance deadlines: For several other claims, Dr. Backiel’s office took my money upfront but sat on the paperwork for so long that they totally missed my insurance company's mandatory filing deadlines. Because of their delays, my insurance now refuses to cover the claims, and the office is trying to make me foot the bill for their mistake. I filed grievances with my insurance companies and they’ll be investigating Dr. Backiel’s administrative negligence. The office manager admitted to me in writing that they have a billing backlog because they are "extremely short-staffed.” They still won't give me my $3000+ owed refund or even provide a basic itemized ledger of my account. I tried for years to resolve this nicely. Some of these claims are over 2.5 years old and I still have not received a dime that I’m owed. I’ve had to file a lawsuit against them in Philadelphia Small Claims Court and also report them to the PA Licensing Board. The actual dentistry is just as bad as the billing. Dr. Backiel placed a crown in 2022 and it failed after only 3 years, causing me so much pain it had to be cut out. I had told staff at the time it was placed that it felt uncomfortable, and Dr. Backiel said it’d feel fine over time (clearly not). She charged me $753 to replace her own faulty work. My new Center City dentist was appalled and said he would never charge to replace a crown that failed under 5 years (they’re supposed to last 5-10 years). He also pointed out that a more recent crown she placed is way too tight of a fit, causing gum inflammation. Overall Dr. Backiel seems to care much more about squeezing money from her patients than quality work. She’s also very unprofessional and talks down to her staff in front of patients. The turnover is so high it’s a constant rotation of staff learning on the job. Dr. Backiel, it would have been much less costly to your business to simply write me a check for my owed refund when I asked the first 10 times. Your office took advantage of my patience and kindness, forcing me to escalate this to a legal issue and write this review to warn future patients. As a result, you’re going to lose much more than $3,400. I’m an investigative researcher for a living so you chose the wrong patient to pick a fight with. I investigate corporate and financial misconduct every day :)

I’m happy and satisfied what comes out to my teeth, definitely recommended

have been going to this practice for about 2 years and have always had a great experience every visit! i especially want to shout out Cat, she's awesome! I had a spot on my tooth that I was nervous about and she was able to clean it off with ease - she's amazing! Dr. Backiel is great and always goes over my options if anything needs to be done with my teeth. truly a great practice - professional, clean, and friendly!

A fine office. I keep going because it is convenient. Dr. Backiel comes in and out like a whirlwind, and I always feel like she is trying to upsell me on something to make more money. Dr. Foreman is much better - she spends time with you and seems to really care about your dental care, not just about making money. The hygienists have a ton of turnover, but are always friendly and competent.

Honestly couldn't have asked for a better dental visit, especially from my hygienist, Preet. She was friendly and funny, but more importantly she was clear about what she was doing and needed from me to do it. She was also great at showing me what I need to do to take care of myself moving forward. The dentist who checked me out was also lovely. I would highly recommend this office.

I had my first appointment with Dr. Backiel and Associates on March 6th after having moved to Philly this last summer. Everything about my experience with Dr. Backiel and Associates from booking my first appointment to scheduling my next appointment was great and I would recommend this practice to anyone looking for a new dentist! Upon entering their office, I was pleasantly greeted by a lovely secretary who helped me obtain my original x-rays from my previous dentist in Rhode Island. I had previously struggled for a week or so trying to get my previous x-ray documents sent over. Luckily, the secretary at Dr. Backiel and Associates was able to quickly and smoothly obtain those x-rays without any issues which was a huge relief (I apologize for not remembering your name, but thank you!). My dental hygienist was Preet who did a fantastic job cleaning my teeth and helping me determine the best products and practices to use for my dental hygiene. Throughout my cleaning, Preet kept me informed as to what she was and would be doing so that there were no surprises. Preet ensured that I remained comfortable throughout the entire cleaning and made quick work of checking and cleaning my teeth. After leaving their office Preet provided me with quality dental advice, especially about the use of fluoride and floss recommendations, that'll help me improve my teeth care even further. Dr. Backiel herself was very personable and brought a positive energy into the room. She provided me a warm welcome to her dental practice and I look forward to coming back for my next appointment! Thank you, Dr. Backiel and Associates, for such a great dental experience!

Dr. Backiel and her team are exceptionally warm and patient with their patients. Their teeth cleaning is meticulous and painless, and I truly appreciate their professionalism. The tooth I had filled at her clinic has remained strong even after four years. I highly recommend Dr. Backiel’s clinic to my friends.

I’ve been going here for dental work for a little over a year, and have had both cleanings and fillings done. It’s a nice office, clean and professional, with lots of friendly faces. I have bad anxiety about dental stuff, and tend to get claustrophobic and short of breath in the chair. Most of the techs are good about this, but Shawn is exceptional. She put me so at ease, and I appreciated how she explained what was happening every step of the way. Really helped with the “this will never end” feeling.