I would not recommend Dr Karkow to anyone expecting professionalism from their dentist, although I have tolerated both the doctor and her staff for years due to lack of alternatives in the Milw area. One receptionist at the Wauwatosa office has made scheduling appointments difficult, was rude and easily exasperated. Office also sent me back home rather than seeing the doc when unavoidably 15 minutes late (only time ever late), but doc is often very late, ""late driving from Racine office"" etc.\r
Communicating and relating with Dr K herself is more challenging and less rewarding. She seems sympathetic, draws you out, and then disagrees with you or puts you down. I have never left the office without feeling like my self-worth was under attack. She will seek feedback about splint adjustment - if you can't tell, she chastizes. If you can tell and want more adjustments, she may refuse.\r
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One time when I was really trying to keep it light, she gave me a new splint case, so I said, ""How nice, this case is even a little smaller for my purse - thank you!"" Her immediate response was (paraphrasing) Oh, no, the case was BIGGER, because her business partner wanted that big clunky style but she wanted a smaller case, so she was sure it was bigger. So much for keeping it light - and why should I have to listen to that? Just be prepared - she is always right and if you don't like that, you will leave feeling like something isn't quite right about the doc-patient relationship.\r
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Lastly, Dr K would frequently complain (yes, that''s the word) to me that the professional who referred me to her was not sending reports about my progress. That's a fair concern, but when I mentioned it to the other professional, he said he was sending her regular reports, and that she was not communicating with him. Go figure.\r
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I myself find Dr K to be difficult to communicate with, sweet on the surface but an emotional ""put-down"", and I question some of her professional behaviors.
Pros: No billing problems
Cons: Staff rude, doc always right and you leave feeling emotionally trampled every time!
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