Halgren Orthodontics - Mount Vernon Lindsee Nichols: I started going to Halgren in 2007 when I started high school. I found out I needed braces and I was so nervous! However when I went for my consultation the staff made me feel so welcome and comfortable. I always looked forward to my appointments. Although the staffing has changed over the years, I still feel the same way every single time I walk in even just to visit! I am always greeted with a smile and a genuine care for how I’m doing.
Happy 20 years Dr. Halgren!
So thankful for you and your team!
I will always refer others to you!
Mount Vernon Periodontics & Implants - Mount Vernon Karen Gimnig Nemiah: After two procedures with Dr Bal, I changed doctors. As best I can tell, he is skilled surgically and he cares about his patients. I was willing to overlook his arrogance and the sterile feel of his office until a procedure failed and everything changed. I have no way to know whether Dr Bal made an error or whether I was just unlucky - every doctor has some bad outcomes. My problem was that once the bad outcome occurred, Dr Bal became defensive and unpleasant. When I asked him why the bad outcome had occurred, he said "I dont know. Thats up to you to figure out." When I complained that his post op instructions (lasting more than 2 weeks - for a recovery that he had told me would be 3-5 days) were impacting other elements of my health, he told me he didnt care about any of that, he was only interested in the part of my mouth he was working on.
I could go on, but the point is that for me, skill and caring were not enough because when I needed it most Dr Bal appeared to be caught in a shame storm and prevented him from having an intelligent conversation. I hate to think what would have happened if I have blamed him, yelled at him, or been oppositional. All I did was ask him rational questions and push him for answers and he did all he could to shut me down.
I didnt fully appreciate how much difference empathy and care make until I found an office that has them. I felt so much safer and calmer with a doctor who noticed my discomfort and took steps to reduce it. If you need a periodontic procedure, its not going to be fun, but it doesnt have to be cold and arrogant.
My wish is for Dr Bal to grow his interpersonal skills. If he could build compassion, empathy, warmth and curiosity to the level of his surgical skill, he would be an ideal doctor. Sadly, this seems unlikely to happen. If "bedside manner" is at all important to you, or you prefer not to take the chance of a bad outcome being made worse by arrogant defensiveness, go somewhere else.
