Kotary, Detar & Associates

Wish that I could give this ZERO stars. I had needed dental implant surgery back in 2007 and had gone to a few different individuals in the State College Area, but had decided on letting Dr. Kotary place the implant. Once the implant was placed and the healing time had passed, I went in to get the temporary crown. The implant was for the tooth directly next to my big tooth, so I was so excited to finally get the temporary crown on as that is a very noticeable part of my smile. However, the crown was BROWN. Not white, not yellow, but BROWN. Being a 17 year old girl with a brown tooth was AWFUL, and Kotary seemed to thing my frustration and embarrassment about the matter was comical and overdramatic. After the final crown was placed I was told that my other tooth on the same location but the other side of my mouth would need «gum lengthening» to make it look like my other tooth (the implant) so we had that done. However, my gums reacted awfully and just made them look infected. In addition, my papilla (I think its referred to as) did not agree with the implant and started to recede. In addition, the positioning of the implant itself is awful and does not align with my teeth (which I spent years and money on via braces) It is now to the point where I am having a SECOND dental implant surgery to correct the issue because I get physically ILL when I look in the mirror and see the botch job that Kotary did to my mouth. Nothing about the experience was enjoyable, he was the most awful «dentist» I have EVER encountered, and I have heard from the individual who is fixing my implant that I am, unfortunately, not the first person that has had him severely screw up placements of dental implants.
DO NOT under ANY circumstances trust Kotary to place ANY dental implants.

Have been there almost ten times for various treatments and cleaning. Bad experience, looking to switch clinic.
It is a big and well equipped clinic. The doctors have a tendency to recommend all kinds of elaborate and expensive treatments. Not ideal for customers like me who wants only direct and simple treatment. But could be a plus side for some people.
However, their service is very disappointing.
Technique wise, for a simple x-​ray, I have to get exposed to the x-​ray two extra times because the technician repeatedly failed to get my tooth in the back. For an impression (in order to get a bite guard), I was called in a week later to have it done all over again because they did not get it right the first time. I was told my bite guard will arrive after two weeks, but so far no sign of it (more than a month have passed).
It was almost a joke when they rescheduled my appointment and call me on the original date and asked me why I did not show up. After I clarified things with them, I showed up for my rescheduled appointment on time. While I was physically present in the clinic and actually receiving treatment, the front desk called me again to ask me why I still not show up for appointment. I checked in with them ten minutes ago!

Kotary & Assoc. was the first dental practice I went to in State College, many moons ago, on recommendation of an acquaintance that their slogan at the time, «Gentle dental care,» was true. And as far as the hygienists are concerned, it’s still true. I have sensitive teeth, and the cleanings were always a painless experience for me except for the corners of the X-​ray films. I didn’t like that it took 3 weeks to get a weekday appointment, but I was accustomed to such wait times from previous dentists.
The trouble that led me to leave the practice was twofold: 1. arrogant, inattentive, rotating dentists, and 2. a series of what is most generously called miscommunications with the billing staff that led to all checks from a payment plan being cashed at once.
In my first visit, Eddie Kotary (owner) examined my teeth, noted wear from grinding them them in my sleep, made an offhand recommendation to come in to be fit for a custom night guard, recommended whitening treatments and walked away. At no point was the grinding issue followed up on, and — perhaps because I was an idiot at the time — I did not pursue an over-​the-​counter version until several years afterwards when I was in a great deal of pain.
In the following five or six visits, I think I only saw any given dentist once, with the exception of the one who diagnosed the need for a root canal and performed the necessary procedures. In the case of the root canal, the procedure was not adequately explained and the costs were not fully explained. Rest assured: One of these babies will max your Penn State insurance and saddle you with an extra $ 500+ bill at K&K. That the root canal was to be followed by a temporary filling, post mounting, and installation of a crown was not explained until after the root canal was done, even though I was very clear that this was my first one and I was unfamiliar with the procedure. That each of these procedures would be billed separately was also not stated until I needed to fork over the cash.
I was a graduate student at the time, and did not have $ 800 up front to cover everything the insurance didn’t (I’d selfishly used some of the insurance earlier in the year for fillings). I managed the copay, and when I got the balance bill for $ 600 after the insurance had maxed out, I was offered a «standard payment plan» of submitting three checks, one to be cashed immediately and two postdated to be cashed in the subsequent two months. This seemed straightforward enough and I agreed. Fast forward three weeks to when I went to take some cash from the ATM before going on vacation the next day. Expected balance: $ 800. Actual balance: $ 200. They had cashed all three checks at once! When I called them about it, I got a lame excuse about how people pay all sorts of ways and was I sure I wrote a note? Was I absolutely certain it wasn’t my fault? I cancelled all future appointments and asked them not to call me again.
One of the reasons K&K’s root canal treatment is so expensive is the custom-​milled crown. It’s a really cool materials technology and 3D milling/​printing application, but the cost of a crown made by that method is about twice one made by traditional sculpting. You needn’t wait for the crown to be produced, but you still need to sit around for 3 weeks with a temporary filling because they need to make sure the root of the tooth is healing properly before they hermetically seal that SOB. And you bet they bill procedures chronologically and refuse to discount anything after your insurance has run out.
Also, I don’t know about now, but as of 2009 when I had my last appointment, they still used traditional X-​ray films rather than digital. Digital films use 10% of the radiation, provide immediate read-​outs, and have a smaller, more comfortable device profile in the mouth. I would have been happier as a patient had K&K invested in this cool technology instead of the crown miller.

I have to agree with the person who stated that the female dentist is fine, but the males – especially the elder Kotary– are unprofessional and arrogant. I could cite several examples of him yelling (you read correctly, YELLING) at a patient, but most telling is the following example. I had a root canal in a tooth done ther thee (endodontists they are not) but still had pain. The elder Kotary insisted that the pain was in my head because «you had a root canal, so you cannot feel pain.» I promptly found another dentist who discovered an infection in the root that they did not completely repair. The root canal had to be completely redone. Needless to say I do NOT recommend this dental practice.

I have been going to K&K for at least five years, and I have always been a fan. They gave me braces (and I am very happy with the results), clean my teeth twice every year, and filled my one cavity. The new building is super clean and modern, and I love the little water fountain in the waiting area. No complaints here! As far as dentists go, I haven’t experienced better.

I’ve been going there for about 4 years now, twice a year. They are on time, they accept PSU’s graduate dental insurance, and their equipment is top notch. Nothing to complain about when it comes to the procedures.
The problem with K&K are their costs. Their elective procedures seem to be much more expensive than others though. I remember talking to them about invisalign and they quoted me at $ 4500. Others quoted me at about $ 3000. I asked them about professional teeth whitening, and they said $ 500. I asked at another place (Dr White if I remember correctly), and they quoted same procedure for $ 200. Plus, on all the claim reports I get, they charge right up to the maximum they are allowed.
Finding a good dentist is difficult, but if their prices are so high I might have to change. I know I’m not paying for most, but indirectly we all are through the cost of our premiums. I’m pretty sure I can find something cheaper, with Unilocalers’ help.

The dental hygienist, Jody, was great and really made the experience pleasant (no, seriously). But, I will echo that the MDs are distant and impersonal (insert «pulling teeth» pun here).
That said, I had two cavities filled at a follow-​up visit and am pretty satisfied. The MD was informative and calm, responding quickly to a painful twitch with a second dose of novacaine.
To be honest, it’s a dentist. No one likes the dentist. The place is clean and has a ton of kids’ pictures up that adds some personality to the place. I like it!

I have very mixed feelings about this place. Some dentists here are stellar, others are jerks. The technicians have always been nice, though.
The space is gorgeous: very soothing, with homey woods and a fountain in one of the waiting areas.
However, the dentists, as I said: hit-​or-​miss. The female dentist there I like quite a bit. I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with the males, though (I think those are the two Kotarys, actually).
If all you’ll ever need is cleaning, and really prefer a relaxing atmosphere, sure, go here. But the minute you need anything further, take my advice: avoid the Kotarys.