Definitely a disaster during my recent visits. I felt teased and disrespected. When I didn’t catch his words "anesthetic," he just repeated it and then asked me directly, "Do you have a partner who speaks English?" I felt humiliated and responded, "I can speak English." I believe the fundamental quality a dentist should have is patience.
I went in that day for a filling, which, in hindsight, was a rash decision. During previous check-up, I told the dentist that I occasionally feel sensitivity when exposed to cold air or when drinking something cold, but only occasionally. He just did a visual check and didn’t take an X-ray or any other thorough examination, yet decided to do the filling. I trusted the dentist’s professionalism, especially since I had that tooth filled about ten years ago. I thought it might need a refill. So, I agreed to the filling, but I didn’t expect the entire back of my tooth to be ground down and refilled. Last time, I only had the side filled. This was never communicated to me before the procedure.
When the procedure was almost finished, the dentist asked me to look in the mirror. I noticed one side of my tooth felt unbalanced. He said he hadn’t changed the length, but he could grind it if I wanted. At that moment, I didn’t fully understand what "grind" meant, and I almost forgot that grinding can’t be undone. He never recommended against it, and made it sound casual, as if it were as easy as losing a hair. Anyway, he ground it down, and that’s another thing that frustrated me—it made my tooth feel unnaturally curved.
At the end of the appointment, the dentist told me to rinse my mouth and repeatedly said, “You should be closer to the sink, otherwise, it will splash on you.” I was already close to the sink, but he insisted I move closer and even pushed me with his hands. I didn’t understand the necessity of this move.
I don’t know if I’m being too sensitive or exaggerating these things, and maybe this is just common here. All I know is that I don’t feel respected or well-treated as a person.
Reactie van/namens:
Van Leeuwen Tandartsen - centrum voor mondzorg en implantologie Leiden
Dear Madam,
I am very sorry to hear how you experienced the treatment in question by me in my practice. I firmly believe that you have completely misinterpreted my intentions towards you and the way in which I treated you.
It is crucial in the communication between dentist and patient that both understand each other well. If this is not the case, misunderstandings can arise.
When my patients have difficulty understanding me or when I myself have difficulty understanding someone, I usually only treat the person in question when there is someone present who can translate or help at times when there is ambiguity in the communication. That is why I asked you if you have a partner who speaks English. The question of whether I will anaesthetise the tooth in question is a question that one can expect from the dentist when a treatment is to take place. My English is good and it rarely or never happens that when I ask this question I have to ask it three times before I am understood. That is why I asked you if you have a partner who speaks English. It was never my intention to hurt you in any way..
After replacing the restauration you indicated that you had the idea that the shape was different than before I had replaced the filling. I told you that I had hardly changed the shape of the tooth and that I thought it would be better not to change anything else in the shape. While I was telling you that, I noticed that the tip of the tooth could be a little rounder and I told you this and then I rounded this tip off a little bit with a polishing disc. This was a very small correction. We than put the chair upright and suggested that you would rinse your mouth. Since your mouth was numb, we suggested you to get well above the spittoon while rinsing. Because you were not completely above the spittoon with your mouth, we carefully guided you a little further towards the spittoon by hand. Again, there was no negative intention at all.
It is unfortunate that I was unable to convey my good intentions to you and that you have the idea that I did not treat the tooth in the right way. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that I have treated you professionally and with the best intentions.
Kind regards,
Fred van Leeuwen
Duidelijke uitleg
1
Behandeltijd
1
Is deskundig
1
Aanbeveling
1
1.0
jantien 04 Mrt 2025 - 13:51Review voor de praktijk
Een prettige behandeling.
Duidelijke uitleg
9
Behandeltijd
9
Is deskundig
9
Aanbeveling
9
9.0
Lisa 03 Mrt 2025 - 20:32Mw. H. (Hafsah) Ahmad Mondhygiënist
Ik ben altijd bang geweest voor de tandarts en elke keer, bij alle behandelaars in de praktijk, ga ik met een goed gevoel weg. Je wordt professioneel en heel vriendelijk geholpen!
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
JL 19 Feb 2025 - 14:51Review voor de praktijk
Consistently providing professional and good care service
B. van Brussel 16 Jul 2023 - 09:12Mw. S. (Sophie) Roorda Tandarts
Kundig, rustig en patientgericht.
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
M.S. Peers 15 Jul 2023 - 21:20Mw. H. (Hafsah) Ahmad Mondhygiënist
Mondhygiënist is erg professioneel, en ik voel me op mijn gemak
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
M. Sadeqi 15 Jul 2023 - 17:39Mw. S. (Sophie) Roorda Tandarts
Hele slechte service, ik liep 2 weken met pijn eindelijk afspraak gemaakt toch moest ik uren lang wachten op de dokter.
Duidelijke uitleg
1
Behandeltijd
1
Is deskundig
1
Aanbeveling
1
1.0
R. Paardenkooper 24 Sep 2022 - 10:06Mw. F. (Fatema) Djabbarkheel Paro-preventieassistent
Behulpzaam, professioneel en vriendelijk
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
Cindy 23 Sep 2022 - 18:14Mw. H. (Hafsah) Ahmad Mondhygiënist
Gerustellend, deskundig en meedenkend
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
Y. Yüksel 20 Sep 2022 - 16:37Mw. M. (Muberra) Arslan Mondhygiënist
De uitleg over goede mondhygiëne was duidelijk. De behandeling verliep echter voor mij te hardhandig. De dagen na de behandeling had ik veel last van mijn tandvlees
De front desk was wat onder bemenst, verder geen opmerkingen.
Duidelijke uitleg
9
Behandeltijd
8
Is deskundig
8
Aanbeveling
7
8.0
A. Platje 31 Aug 2022 - 13:36Mw. A. (Amber) Blansjaar Paro-preventieassistent
Deskundig, betrouwbaar, goede zorg en nazorg, goede communicatie over behandelplannen.
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
M.J.J. de Vries 31 Aug 2022 - 10:27Review voor de praktijk
Prettig en professioneel.
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
9
9.8
Karen 30 Aug 2022 - 19:23Dhr. F.W. (Fred) van Leeuwen Tandarts
Persoonlijk, oog voor persoonlijke omstandigheden
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
A. Guldali-Sakal 04 Nov 2021 - 22:05Dhr. F.W. (Fred) van Leeuwen Tandarts
Deskundig
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
E. Sleijser 03 Nov 2021 - 16:23Dhr. F.W. (Fred) van Leeuwen Tandarts
Een zeer vakkundige tandarts met goede apparatuur, geeft goed advies en denkt mee over oplossingen
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
K. Siskasari 30 Okt 2021 - 10:14Review voor de praktijk
So far, I have great experience with the dentist and team.
Duidelijke uitleg
9
Behandeltijd
9
Is deskundig
8
Aanbeveling
9
8.8
P.M. Bosch 29 Okt 2021 - 19:07Review voor de praktijk
Dit gaat niet over de tandarts maar over de mondhygiënist. Omar is een patiëntgerichte professional. Hij is rustig en legt elke handeling op voorhand uit. Hij komt bekwaam en uiterst vriendelijk en beleefd over. Een echte aanwinst voor de praktijk en hopelijk blijft hij nog lang werkzaam hier. Tip: je hoeft geen ‘U’ te zeggen wanneer de patiënt aangeeft graag met ‘Je’ te worden aangesproken.
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
8
Is deskundig
8
Aanbeveling
10
9.0
A.E. de Jongh 24 Okt 2021 - 13:31Dhr. F.W. (Fred) van Leeuwen Tandarts
helder en geeft juiste feedback
Duidelijke uitleg
9
Behandeltijd
9
Is deskundig
8
Aanbeveling
8
8.5
L.A. de Rijke 22 Okt 2021 - 20:10Review voor de praktijk
Heel erg goed! We hadden een leuk gesprek. Omar kan alles goed uitleggen, neemt de tijd en is heel vriendelijk. Ik ben heel erg tevreden.
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
P. Mannaert 22 Okt 2021 - 18:28Review voor de praktijk
Geeft duidelijke en rustige uitleg
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
10
10.0
S.M. Nalmpanti 22 Okt 2021 - 18:08Mw. H. (Hafsah) Ahmad Mondhygiënist
Hafsah was very understanding of my teeth situation and showed me that she listened when I shared with her my problems with my teeth. She made me feel comfortable and she was very careful in the areas where I told her that I am sensitive. I am very satisfied with her work, her attention and her advice. Well done Hafsah! Thank you!
Duidelijke uitleg
10
Behandeltijd
10
Is deskundig
10
Aanbeveling
8
9.5
David van der Laan 13 Okt 2021 - 09:11Review voor de praktijk
Omar is een topper, duidelijk introductie van hem zelf en wat hij gaat doen. Tevens een hele prettige behandeling in een tijdsbestek die korter is dan bij voorgangers. Dit voelde echt goed en ik hoop dat hij mij nog jaren gaat verzorgen!!
Dear Madam, I am very sorry to hear how you experienced the treatment in question by me in my practice. I firmly believe that you have completely misinterpreted my intentions towards you and the way in which I treated you. It is crucial in the communication between dentist and patient that both understand each other well. If this is not the case, misunderstandings can arise. When my patients have difficulty understanding me or when I myself have difficulty understanding someone, I usually only treat the person in question when there is someone present who can translate or help at times when there is ambiguity in the communication. That is why I asked you if you have a partner who speaks English. The question of whether I will anaesthetise the tooth in question is a question that one can expect from the dentist when a treatment is to take place. My English is good and it rarely or never happens that when I ask this question I have to ask it three times before I am understood. That is why I asked you if you have a partner who speaks English. It was never my intention to hurt you in any way.. After replacing the restauration you indicated that you had the idea that the shape was different than before I had replaced the filling. I told you that I had hardly changed the shape of the tooth and that I thought it would be better not to change anything else in the shape. While I was telling you that, I noticed that the tip of the tooth could be a little rounder and I told you this and then I rounded this tip off a little bit with a polishing disc. This was a very small correction. We than put the chair upright and suggested that you would rinse your mouth. Since your mouth was numb, we suggested you to get well above the spittoon while rinsing. Because you were not completely above the spittoon with your mouth, we carefully guided you a little further towards the spittoon by hand. Again, there was no negative intention at all. It is unfortunate that I was unable to convey my good intentions to you and that you have the idea that I did not treat the tooth in the right way. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that I have treated you professionally and with the best intentions. Kind regards, Fred van Leeuwen