Pretzer, Stephen C, Dds - Wake Orthodontics

WHAT? First, I want to respond to the first review, Dr. Dave and Dr. Pretzer are great! My daughter is now twelve and has been seeing them both, since she could smile and LOVES going to see them. We both like the new office, it's kid friendly, bright and cheerful . Secondly, why do the reviews come up for the Dentist and not the Ortho? I was looking up the new address for the Orthodontist office and found all this? Dr. Macon is simply the BEST!!! He and his staff are so friendly and my daughter actually doesn't mind when we have an appt.! Her crooked front teeth are already straight and her smile has changed already after just a few months. She is always greeted with a smile, called by her name and NOT a number. SUMMARY- As a parent, I've NEVER been worried a bit about her dental care in this practice. They are KIND, CARING and I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PRACTICE TO MY FRIENDS, BECAUSE I HAVE!! more

**PLEASE NOTE..WAKE ORTHODONTICS AND PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY.. I AM SPEAKING OF THE ""PEDIATRIC DENTIST PRACTICE"".. NOT THE ORTHODONTICS**"" I RATE THIS ""0""..very poor\r \r HORRIBLE RUDE UNPROFESSIONAL Dental Assistants and Hygienists. Dentists are just ""ok"" I would not recommend this practice to my worst enemy! Seriously, do not take your child here. They are uncaring and terrible with communication. You WILL be treated ""as a number"" more

We've been going to Wake Ped. Dentistry for several years and I echo the previous posts about Dr. Pretzer—he's great. They were wonderful and accommodating when we had a dental emergency. I've never had any problems with the other doctors on the dentistry side, but I do have some complaints about the orthodontics practice. The desk staff is always friendly, but I did have to argue that we had a scheduled appointment that we didn't have on the books. We don't live close by, so these trips are carefully planned around school and work. Anyway, they said they would ""work us in"" which meant we were the very last patient of the day--behind several other patients who arrived after us--and they could offer no explanation of what happened, but they sure weren't going to take the blame for it. It seems no matter what time our appointment is, we are the very last to leave, which is frustrating for both the patient and the parent. Perhaps they overbook? The orthodontist and hygienists are pleasant enough, but they give the impression they don't like questions and aren't good communicators. They want to get you out the door. After a fairly major milestone with our braces, they ""assumed"" I was waiting in the car and sent my child out alone. (They have a sign that specifically says not to leave during the appointment). I think they simply didn't want to talk to me. We have so much invested I feel we can't turn back now, but I wish I had asked around beforehand because I'm less than pleased. The last time I left their office I was furious. If you choose this practice, make sure you stress that your expectations are, especially if updates and communication are on your list. more

My children went in once to have their teeth cleaned/check up. Dr Pretzer was great! I was allowed to go back in the examining area with them and sat on a bench near my children. Dr. Pretzer was ver paitent and kind to both of my children. My only complaint is with the woman that answers the phone to make appointments. She's short, snippy and unfriendly. Well, I can get short, snippy and unfriendly back so I just dish it right back to her. Pros: good location, nice facility Cons: lady that answers the phone more

The Dr.s we have dealt with at this office for the last 5 years have the best qualities of any doctor you would want to see. Carring, competent, and professional. If you can't deal with the children going back to the dentsit alone, then you should go somewhere else. The office noifies you by email of upcoming appointments. Helpful courteous staff. Pros: Competent Caring Professionals, Aquarium in Waiting Area Cons: Somewhat small in size more

When my son (who is now 8) was two years old my husband and I were mortified when we noticed almost all of his teeth seemed to form massive cavities over night regardless of our three time a day fight with him to brush his teeth. After a disappointing visit with his pediatrician I called our family dentist for help. They referred me to Wake Pediatric Dentistry. His first appointment was with Dr. Parrish, who had extremely poor bedside manner with my terrified son. He also had a difficult time speaking to my husband and I in a way that was not condescending. I left the first visit absolutely livid with him. After many agonizing conversations and many nights full of comforting my son who was without a doubt scarred from the visit and still in agonizing pain we made another appointment. I made it extremely clear to the receptionist that he was NOT to see Dr. Parrish again, who is possibly the worst pediatric dentist . The next appointment was set up with Dr. Pretzer. Needless to say all of us were nervous sitting in the waiting room for the second appointment. They came and took my son to the back. After a few minutes (possibly a few seconds) the hygienist came and got my husband and I because they were unable to console him. Dr. Pretzer was sitting in the room with him, talking to him calmly about his favorite animals. My son's dental problems were bad enough to warrant surgery to correct the cavities. Dr. Pretzer was wonderful. He put my husband and I at ease immediately. We called and spoke to him (not a hygienist) several times about our concerns as they came up. After his surgery Dr. Pretzer gave us his personal cell number and asked us to call if we even thought our son was acting unusual after the surgery. He educated us on ways we could help him maintain his beautiful new smile. Dr. Pretzer has been caring for him ever since as well as our two other children. Dr. Pretzer has been seeing our other two children since they cut their first teeth, as a favor to us, to ensure that we would not have the issues with our other children that we did with our oldest. Now,our oldest, our 4 year old son, as well as our 2 year old daughter LOVE going to see Dr. Pretzer and they LOVE the walk to the back without Mommy and Daddy, it makes them feel very independent and it has truly helped them feel more in control of the whole situation. It has also helped them take a more active role in caring for their teeth at home. While Dr. Parrish may be the worst pediatric dentist, Dr. Pretzer is without a doubt the BEST pediatric dentist in the area and my children will not see anyone else. My oldest has decided that he wants to be a dentist like Dr. Pretzer when he grows up so he can help other kids the way Dr. Pretzer has helped him--and that's been his goal since he was three years old. I think it takes a lot for someone like a dentist to make that kind of impression on a child. All of my children as well as my husband and I consider him to be much more than a dentist. We consider him to be an irreplaceable ally in our kids well-being, but more importantly we all consider him our friend. Pros: home of the best pediatric dentists Cons: also home of one of the worst pediatric dentists more

Reading the negative responses needed to throw this in - we have had very good experiences with this practice and the dental practice as well. They prefer we not be in there with the kids but would allow us if we really wanted to. On the orhodontics side our kids have their ritual of signing themselves in and sending us on our way. We are always called in at the end to talk about the kids teeth and needs. It is basically a big room with lots of stations (think hair salon set up). At first we were concerned but the kids did great. We were at another kids practice in Raleigh which had a similar set up and the kids did fine there as well. Kids like the doctors. Pros: fairly flexible scheduling - email and phone reminders. Good with Insurance claims. Good with the kids. Also did work with the schools. more

I was really suprised to see these comments. My kids both went to Wake Orthodontics for their braces. The lady Jamie who answers the phones is ALWAYS so rude. That should be a sign to anyone who calls in. They really need to hire someone a little more friendly. If they treat the parent's like this it's hard to imagine how they are treating our kids. I regret paying them now the $10,000 for both sets of braces. I will not recommend them to anyone! Pros: Location Cons: Staff is RUDE more

When I was told my 5 year old had to go it alone and I had to waiting in the waiting room, I cancelled the appointment. That is a horrible policy they have here. Our previous pediatric dentist in another town (too far now) was awesome. Not only are parents invited in, she also lets the children choose which character to wear. Her masks were decorated as cats, bunnies, ect.. She was extremely professional with a calming, soothing voice. Never did you hear crys of terror like I heard at Wake Pediatric Dentistry. Please \r SHOP around this is no place to take your kids. We pulled my son out of the ortho's office (same practice)after he was treated so rudely by the staff/doctor. NEVER again. I'm not a blogger, I signed up just to write this review. There are better dentists and orthos for your kids out there. We hope to find someone else in Raleigh. By the way, if youre one of those parents sitting in their waiting room, put your magazine down and take a listen. How can you let someone treat your kid and not be there for them? Cons: terrible policies regarding the care of children more

Well, after that review, mine might seem a bit tame. However, it all comes down to our kids and whether or not they feel comfortable in that chair as the dentist is working in his or her mouth. My daughter did not feel comfortable going into the office by herself as parents are not allowed back in the actual area where the work is carried out. My daughter came out crying. I was appalled that I was not notified of her anxiety. She informed me that she did tell the dentist that she wanted me back there but to no avail. Furthermore, the procedure which was done turned out to be painful. And again, although she expressed this feeling, nobody seemed too terribly concerned. \r So here is what I have learned from all of this. I will never ever again allow any of my children into any doctor's office by his/herself. If there is a policy forbidding it, then we will walk out and go elsewhere. I truly regret allowing my daughter back into that office by herself since her feelings were not taken into account. Cons: bedside manners, office policy regarding parents going w/their child more

Although not a special needs child, my son is highly anxious and we were hopeful, based on the high recommendation of parents of autistic children, that the dentists in this practice would be the right fit for our son. Prior to the visit, my wife spoke with the receptionist about my son's anxieties and asked if this practice used nitrous oxide and oral sedation. We were assured that they did in fact use these techniques which were successful for our son at his last dentist. After meeting Dr. Parrish, however, I learned that this is not the case. Apparently, they prefer not to use nitrous oxide as, in their opinion, patients will breathe through their mouths and the ""doctor and assistant then gets all of the gas"". When I asked about oral sedation, Dr. Parrish replied that he did not like to do that, especially in today's ""dr_g culture"". When I asked what they did do, he said that they would ""strap down"" my son and have someone else ""hold down his head"". I know my son well enough to know that the thought of the papoose would be more stressful than any procedure. According to my son, the dentist and the assistant also repeatedly threatened to ""tell your Dad"" on him because of his behavior. As I was left in the waiting room, I do not know why they could not have simply come and asked me for either assistance or some advice as to how to best to approach my son. Finally, and this is the reason I discourage anyone's patronage of this office, Dr. Parrish likened working with my son to ""starting a war"" and twice compared the work with Viet Nam and once to the Gulf War. I realize my son could have been far more cooperative, and granted I did not serve in teh armed forces, but somehow I find it highly unlikely that working with any patient in any type of medical field is comparable to Viet Nam or the Gulf War. UNSETTLING AND MISLEADING. Pros: Nice waiting room Cons: misleading information, poor bedside manners more