When I was new to Harrisonburg and needed a dentist for my routine check-up, I went straight to the dental insurance plan's list of preferred providers and chose a group practice. I visited twice, never knew who I was going to see, and ended up having a lot of recommended work done. To my dismay a large part of the claim was rejected by the insurer. I was not treated like an individual but rather was shuffled from station to station to get me through to the end as quickly as possible.

I decided to see Dr. Shahani at Shenandoah Smiles, even though she did not participate in any insurance plans. I found for the first time ever in my life that going to the dentist can be a positive experience! Dr. Shahani did my cleaning and exam personally. The advanced procedures that she uses resulted in a pain-free, bloodless cleaning. She has state-of-the-art equipment for x-rays. Not only did she get to know everything about my teeth, she worked with me, respecting my preferences for treatment. Finally, she crafted an occlusal guard for me to wear at night to help correct a tongue thrust and teeth grinding. The guard fit perfectly by the end of the visit.

No work was done until all charges were thoroughly explained to me by Dr. Shahani and then the practice manager. An insurance claim for reimbursement of eligible expenses was submitted on my behalf. Did I end up paying a little more than I would have with a participating dentist from my insurance plan? Sure, but it was worth it. I plan on keeping these teeth for life. Dr. Shahani has given me the time and personalized attention that I have needed to do just that.