Dr. Ban R. Barbat
Staff
Punctuality
Helpfulness
Knowledge
6044 24 MILE RD
Shelby Township, MI, United States
48316
Facility Affiliations
Dr. Ban R. Barbat's Credentials
Accepting New Patients
Yes, this doctor is accepting new patients
Biography
After completing undergraduate studies at Wayne State University (Detroit), Dr. Ban Barbat was accepted at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) School of Dentistry where she was awarded top ranking in comprehensive care as well as crown and bridge procedures. In 1993, she received a doctorate in dentistry and began a one-year residency. She began dental practice in Shelby Township in 1994 and formed her own private practice in 1997. She has also achieved advanced training as a Neuromuscular Dentist and has earned Fellowship status through the renowned LVI For Advanced Dental Studies. Additionally, Dr. Barbat is a member of the International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Languages
- English
WARNING: I went for a TMJ consultation, which, over the course of multiple appointments, included a diagnostic examination with multiple tests and a discussion of treatment options. After spending over half a grand for this consultation, I found out after I paid that the consultation wasn't with the listed dentist (Dr. Barbat), but instead was with her husband Joe Dindo, who strangely wasn’t listed on their website anywhere – including under their doctors and staff page – until very recently. In fact, the archive.org Wayback Machine tracker shows that he was missing from their website staff list as recently as 6/10/23, long after he had done many such consultations in the name of the dentist. When my wife and I met with him, we found him condescending, rude, and impatient. He lacked empathy for concerns brought up. While the diagnostic appointment did seem thorough, we were shocked to discover their office charges $1900 per crown, which is 36% higher than even the University of Michigan dental faculty dentists charge for a crown, and 58% more than the national average crown cost. For an additional comparison, I found another neuromuscular dentist with 25+ years of experience in neuromuscular dentistry who charges 45% less for the neuromuscular dentistry phase 1 orthotic (almost half Dr. Barbat’s price) and 37% less per crown compared to her office. Dr. Barbat's office markets very aggressively, not only frequently hitting you up with texts and emails asking for referrals, but also sending you letters in the mail. Office staff are rude if you cancel an appointment or want to hold off treatment, echoing sentiments expressed by other reviewers on platforms like Yelp and Google. This behavior raises significant questions about the office's underlying motives, possibly suggesting a $ales-based incentive scheme.
The dismissive and impatient demeanor of Dr. Barbat’s husband, coupled with several other concerning signs, points to a disheartening reality: the practice seems to prioritize profits over quality care and patient well-being. Their services come at an unjustifiable cost, demanding a staggering 36% more than even esteemed dental faculty dentists for similar treatments. This steep expense is hardly worthwhile. Their suggestion for us to pay for the inflated treatment cost was to take out a loan.
I must also caution about a misleading diagnosis of a "locked jaw" I received by Joe Dindo, contradicted by opinions from multiple reputable neuromuscular dentists. This discrepancy hints at the possibility of scare tactics. Joe asserted that I had a “locked jaw.” Seeking further insight, I consulted four other neuromuscular dentists for additional professional opinions, all of whom confirmed that I do not exhibit signs of a locked jaw. In fact, some even suggested that the assertion from Dr. Barbat’s office might have been intended as a scare tactic. When I contacted Dr. Barbat’s office to ask for clarification on what they meant by “locked jaw”, I never received a call back despite a promise I would.
Given this distressing experience, I strongly advise against choosing Dr. Barbat’s office. However, if you do, obtaining a second opinion before proceeding with any treatment is imperative. Superior options for TMJ treatment, neuromuscular dentistry, and general/cosmetic dentistry undoubtedly exist elsewhere.
At the end of my consultation with Joe, he proclaimed in a complaining tone that other dental professionals wouldn’t spend so much time answering questions as if we should feel lucky he graced us with his precious time. This was strange considering that they insisted we have an in-person consultation going over the study results rather than a virtual consultation even though we had a multiple-hours-long drive to their office and the reason they gave for this insistence is so that we would have more time to ask questions. My wife is a generally agreeable person and gives people the benefit of the doubt, but even she was turned off by his overall attitude.
I called the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dentistry (where Dr. Barbat was trained in neuromuscular dentistry) and spoke with a director there who recommended a different neuromuscular dentist who is more up-to-date on the latest training. I took the advice, and with this new dental office, the actual dentist met with me and spent more time than Joe, coupled with kindness, respect, empathy, more affordable pricing, and who in fact had better and more recent advanced training than Dr. Barbat, far surpassing the standards set by Dr. Barbat’s office.
In your pursuit of dental care, I encourage exploring alternative options for TMJ treatment or dental work.
Submitted Nov. 15, 2023