Seems like there are different dentists every time you come to his office. Front office is very rude! Dentists seems like they are just out of school with no experience. A simple cleaning turned in to bloody flossing and pain for my child. Dentist used a different instrument after I noticed and decided to take to her assistant and not the parent the entire time!

Submitted June 14, 2023

STRONG WARNING!!! Dr. Gary Heitzler's Dentistry for Children in Hastings, Yonkers and Peekskill should be avoided at all costs. His dentistry is horrendously negligent and his business practices are abhorrent. Our story demonstrates his failures in both areas.

My 8 year old son went to Dr. Heitzler's office for a normal cavity. A young, recently graduated dentist (Dr Heitzler hires recent dental school grads, but shows up at the office maybe once a month, and runs this office and the others merely as profit centers), put a cap on the tooth on a Wednesday. What should have been a standard, everyday procedure caused a significant amount of pain. When we went back have it checked on Thursday, another young dentist in Dr. Heitzler's office suggested that "he would get used to it," and "if he was still in pain Monday (Three days later!) to come back to the office to have it checked again." For this “follow-up,” they charged us $100, which is unethical and it’s own right, and is no way to run a business - (think if your car mechanic claimed a problem was fixed, you paid him and it wasn't fixed, you would expect him to re-do the work to make it right at no cost). On Friday, my son's face had swelled enormously on both sides. Panicked, we sought out another dentist. When that dentist looked at the tooth, he was angry and horrified at the quality of the dentistry! He was even more angry that Dr. Heitzler's office put off the follow up for 3 days when a patient complains of pain, and said that he himslf would return from a vacation in this situation to attend to the patient. He said the cap was too big and not sealed correctly, likely encapsulating a unsanitized tooth. There was major infection and he sent us immediately to an oral surgeon to have the tooth extracted.

The tooth was extracted, but it was too late. The infection had spread to his bloodstream, and he spent the next 2 days with a 102-103 degree fever.

I spoke with Dr. Heitzler about this situation. He could not have been more arrogant! At no point did he take responsibility or offer any concern for my son's condition. Instead, he bloviated about how his practice is great and the dentists he hires are top quality. He refused to drop the charges or pay for the second dentist or the oral surgeon. A true money-grubber. To make matters worse, but true to form, Dr. Heitzler hung up the phone on me.

We will be filing a formal complaint with the NYS department of Professional Misconduct Enforcement and the NYS Department of Health.

Heitzler is a hukster and if you care for your children's well-being, which I know you do, I recommend that you run away from this practice as fast as you can.

Submitted Aug. 18, 2020

Wait time in the office was minimal. Office was clean, welcoming and age appropriate for young and older children. Dental treatment was excellent and Dr. Gary was great with the kids!

Submitted Oct. 22, 2013

I was extremely impressed by this pediatric dentist. The entire staff was friendly and accomodating. The office was kid-friendly and even the exam rooms were fun-filled. My two children, although anxious about visiting the dentist, were put to ease immediately. They actually enjoyed visiting this dentist and that is impressive. I highly recommend this dentist!

Submitted Aug. 11, 2009