For many years I thought that Shirkin was a very good dentist after the work she'd done with my daughter's fillings. A pediatric dentist refused to do them and only offered metal crowns but Shirkin had no problem with the job. After that, I recommended her to everyone and my whole family has been visiting her for all dental problems.
However, the last 3 cases I had were very disappointing.
1. I had a lot of inflammation and pain around my dental implants for a few years and complained every time I came for a cleaning. Every time she said that it's normal and just rinse with salt water.
It was during a cleaning when Katya, who left the office since then, said that my implants definitely failed and I need to see a specialist asap. I had a check up with Shirkin 2 weeks prior and nothing was said about the implants except for the usual "rinse with salt water".
A dental surgeon removed the implants and said that they could've been saved if I came when the inflammation just started. I trusted Shirkin with her diagnosis that inflammation is normal and common around the implants. I lost bone, had to have 2 bone grafts and still not enough bone, and I'm nearing $20,000 in expenses by now.
2. My daughter fell last year and almost knocked her front teeth out. Shirkin recommended a retainer. Instead of holding the teeth stable, the retainer moved the teeth back and forth every time a child opened her mouth. They made another retainer - the same story. They were not able to produce a retainer that keeps her front teeth stable. Then the technician delivered the punchline "Why don't you use this retainer since we already made it?" Yes, she was aware that it was moving her teeth instead of keeping them in place but they already made two, so why won't she use them instead? Who cares if the effect is the opposite of what she needs?
Thankfully, during the next visit Shirkin wasn't available and we got another dentist. She found a wire in the office and made a temporary brace, took her only a few minutes. Problem solved.
3. I had a filling done this May. I had no pain before the filling and extreme sensitivity after. When I came with the complaint, Shirkin said that it happens and it may become better in the future.
I'm not a dentist but common sense says that something is wrong with the filling if right after it's placed I can't even drink water. Shirkin said that my gum was a bit inflamed as a reason. I had inflamed gums for years because of the failed implants, I know the feeling and it wasn't that. I told her that it was definitely a tooth pain, not a gum. It's like a nerve was open. She said no, it's fine and sent me home.
The sensitivity only got worse and in July the filling fell out. It wasn't placed properly just as I thought and told her right away but no, who wants to bother...
The problem is, I broke my leg and can't leave the house. So I'm enduring toothache right now on top of my injury (my leg bones broke in 3 places and I had a metal rod with screws installed, can't bend or lift it yet). It wouldn't happen if Shirkin cared enough to properly inspect the filling when I came back saying that it hurts.
I'm very disappointed. If only she cared and paid more attention, I could've kept my implants along with the lost bone (and the dental surgeon said that salt water wouldn't help, she just needed to tell me to see a specialist when the problems started). Dismissed me after the filling site hurt instead of properly checking it. Now I can barely eat or drink and have to wait until my leg heals to go fix it.

Submitted Aug. 12, 2022