I'm 41 years old and my current dentist is retiring, so the office is asking patients to send messages and well-wishes. She's a lovely dentist who saved me after a traumatic experience with Dr. Shupe Sr. when I was a child. It prompted me to see if Dr. Shupe was still practicing. I see the practice is still open under his son, but that not much has changed as I read reviews (strapping kids down, refusing to allow parents to comfort crying children, etc.) I will never forget how scared I was after seeing Dr. Shupe and my parents could not get me to go to a dentist for a few years. They showed my parents and me films about dental care in this dark little theater-like room, and then told my parents to stay there, and they took me back. The chairs were all in a row, so you could see the other kids, and some were screaming so I got scared. They put me back in the chair and I looked over at a boy screaming in the chair beside me. So I naturally started to cry. Dr. Shupe came over and was angry that I was crying and he said, and I will NEVER forget this, "Do you want me to whip you with my tie?" For years I wondered if I'd imagined the tone in which he said it, but now, reading other peoples' experiences, I know I wasn't just imagining his tone as a scared kid. He said it angrily. It was scary. It scarred me. Dr. Shupe Sr. was sick for saying the things he did to children. I cannot speak for Dr. Shupe Jr., but reading recent reviews is seriously disturbing. My children both go to our family dentist. They are not strapped to a chair. I am never forbidden to accompany them if I request to do so, although I feel no need to because our current dentist is gentle and kind and my kids love her. I understand having a policy to try and treat certain age children without parental supervision; however, when a parent requests access to their child and is denied, that is a whole different concern, and it's really disturbing. What medical professional refuses a parent to have access to their child upon request? Or to comfort them? Why are kids being strapped to a chair when it is unnecessary to do so? It's barbaric. I pray Dr. Shupe Jr. is not as mean as his father, but the policies and methods folks have listed in recent reviews leads me to question whether the practice needs a serious overhaul. I would never take my children here. Ever. And I now feel vindicated seeing that I wasn't the only one. I wasn't crazy. Dr. Shupe Sr. traumatized some children. I was one of them. I don't take negativity lightly, and hate posting negative reviews about a specific person, but I feel deeply that what happened to me (and other children) wasn't okay. And I feel some closure in getting to share my experience publicly, outside of my immediate family, to whom I've talked for years about my experience. To anyone who has been traumatized by this dental practice, please know that kind dentists are out there. Get dental care. Don't give up. I had a whopping 9 cavities when I finally agreed to go back to a dentist. That was almost 30 years ago, and I haven't had an issue since. Use your gut, parents. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.
Kristi Becker
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May 10, 2017
My young son had a few cavities needing taken care of but he had a lot of anxiety. The first dentist had to stop half way through. The second wanted us to do general anesthesia because he was unable to begin the procedure before my son started screaming. Dr. Shupe was our third evaluation in two weeks. He was very pleasant and straight forward. He explained everything thoroughly and didn't make me feel like a horrible parent because of his cavities. He gave me a third option of using an oral sedative in office to relax my son. My son fussed a little in office during treatment but later remembered nothing. He actually wanted to go back. The office staff is incredibly helpful in dealing with individuals with limited or no insurance. I was given a pretreatment plan and paid for services AFTER the work was done. They worked with me on the payments so my son could receive the treatment he needed when all other dentist wanted payment in full up front. I switched all of my kids to Dr. Shupe and will see him again in October! I
Can't thank his office enough for the excellent and speedy care.
Carrie Ulmer
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May 13, 2021
I took my kids here when they were really little and I regret every appointment. Every time I took my kids for a cleaning there was a cavity found. They do not allow you to come back with your child and every cavity fix is done with a numbing shot. One hygienist took it upon herself to lecture me on the amount of juice I gave my children, when I did not give my children juice. When I transferred my kids to my dentist they refused to give my daughter's records & I told my dentist to let them know I said I will be there in a half hour if they don't get them to you. They are shady! Looking back I should have left at appointment #1 & feel awful that I ever took them there. I warn every mother looking for a pediatric dentist about this doctor and his office. I would give zero stars if I could.
Dom LS
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February 07, 2019
He tried to tell me i can't be in the back with my son when my son get work done to his teeth. First he's only 4 years old and second I should have been stop going to him when my kids where 1 because of how rude and aggressive he was. I do not recommend anyone take their kids to him ! Also every since my daughter got teeth I been telling him her teeth are not good in the front and he kept saying no her teeth are good. Now she's 3 and her teeth are horrible in the front. Worst dentist I ever been too. I'm so upset at myself for staying so long
Pratibha Singh
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May 15, 2018
Based on my experience I would recommend Doctor Shupe to every parent. My 5 year old had extensive decay in almost all of his teeth since he was 18 months old.We went to almost every dentist in Fort Wayne. Infact he got 4 of his teeth extracted at one place. But he was so traumatized with the experience that he never wanted to go the dentist again.Then we were referred to dr Shupe and I thank god that we went there. In 4 sittings almost 1 hour each, he treated my son. Now he has got all the necessary work done with crowns and space maintainers. And I am really thankful that he is not scared of dentists anymore. Though I didn't accompany him during the treatment, Dr shupe's team kept updating me about the procedure he was going through.Is been a month and a half now and I am glad that my son hasn't complained of any discomfort or pain so far. Thank you Dr Shupe and team.
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I'm 41 years old and my current dentist is retiring, so the office is asking patients to send messages and well-wishes. She's a lovely dentist who saved me after a traumatic experience with Dr. Shupe Sr. when I was a child. It prompted me to see if Dr. Shupe was still practicing. I see the practice is still open under his son, but that not much has changed as I read reviews (strapping kids down, refusing to allow parents to comfort crying children, etc.) I will never forget how scared I was after seeing Dr. Shupe and my parents could not get me to go to a dentist for a few years. They showed my parents and me films about dental care in this dark little theater-like room, and then told my parents to stay there, and they took me back. The chairs were all in a row, so you could see the other kids, and some were screaming so I got scared. They put me back in the chair and I looked over at a boy screaming in the chair beside me. So I naturally started to cry. Dr. Shupe came over and was angry that I was crying and he said, and I will NEVER forget this, "Do you want me to whip you with my tie?" For years I wondered if I'd imagined the tone in which he said it, but now, reading other peoples' experiences, I know I wasn't just imagining his tone as a scared kid. He said it angrily. It was scary. It scarred me. Dr. Shupe Sr. was sick for saying the things he did to children. I cannot speak for Dr. Shupe Jr., but reading recent reviews is seriously disturbing. My children both go to our family dentist. They are not strapped to a chair. I am never forbidden to accompany them if I request to do so, although I feel no need to because our current dentist is gentle and kind and my kids love her. I understand having a policy to try and treat certain age children without parental supervision; however, when a parent requests access to their child and is denied, that is a whole different concern, and it's really disturbing. What medical professional refuses a parent to have access to their child upon request? Or to comfort them? Why are kids being strapped to a chair when it is unnecessary to do so? It's barbaric. I pray Dr. Shupe Jr. is not as mean as his father, but the policies and methods folks have listed in recent reviews leads me to question whether the practice needs a serious overhaul. I would never take my children here. Ever. And I now feel vindicated seeing that I wasn't the only one. I wasn't crazy. Dr. Shupe Sr. traumatized some children. I was one of them. I don't take negativity lightly, and hate posting negative reviews about a specific person, but I feel deeply that what happened to me (and other children) wasn't okay. And I feel some closure in getting to share my experience publicly, outside of my immediate family, to whom I've talked for years about my experience. To anyone who has been traumatized by this dental practice, please know that kind dentists are out there. Get dental care. Don't give up. I had a whopping 9 cavities when I finally agreed to go back to a dentist. That was almost 30 years ago, and I haven't had an issue since. Use your gut, parents. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.
My young son had a few cavities needing taken care of but he had a lot of anxiety. The first dentist had to stop half way through. The second wanted us to do general anesthesia because he was unable to begin the procedure before my son started screaming. Dr. Shupe was our third evaluation in two weeks. He was very pleasant and straight forward. He explained everything thoroughly and didn't make me feel like a horrible parent because of his cavities. He gave me a third option of using an oral sedative in office to relax my son. My son fussed a little in office during treatment but later remembered nothing. He actually wanted to go back. The office staff is incredibly helpful in dealing with individuals with limited or no insurance. I was given a pretreatment plan and paid for services AFTER the work was done. They worked with me on the payments so my son could receive the treatment he needed when all other dentist wanted payment in full up front. I switched all of my kids to Dr. Shupe and will see him again in October! I Can't thank his office enough for the excellent and speedy care.
I took my kids here when they were really little and I regret every appointment. Every time I took my kids for a cleaning there was a cavity found. They do not allow you to come back with your child and every cavity fix is done with a numbing shot. One hygienist took it upon herself to lecture me on the amount of juice I gave my children, when I did not give my children juice. When I transferred my kids to my dentist they refused to give my daughter's records & I told my dentist to let them know I said I will be there in a half hour if they don't get them to you. They are shady! Looking back I should have left at appointment #1 & feel awful that I ever took them there. I warn every mother looking for a pediatric dentist about this doctor and his office. I would give zero stars if I could.
He tried to tell me i can't be in the back with my son when my son get work done to his teeth. First he's only 4 years old and second I should have been stop going to him when my kids where 1 because of how rude and aggressive he was. I do not recommend anyone take their kids to him ! Also every since my daughter got teeth I been telling him her teeth are not good in the front and he kept saying no her teeth are good. Now she's 3 and her teeth are horrible in the front. Worst dentist I ever been too. I'm so upset at myself for staying so long
Based on my experience I would recommend Doctor Shupe to every parent. My 5 year old had extensive decay in almost all of his teeth since he was 18 months old.We went to almost every dentist in Fort Wayne. Infact he got 4 of his teeth extracted at one place. But he was so traumatized with the experience that he never wanted to go the dentist again.Then we were referred to dr Shupe and I thank god that we went there. In 4 sittings almost 1 hour each, he treated my son. Now he has got all the necessary work done with crowns and space maintainers. And I am really thankful that he is not scared of dentists anymore. Though I didn't accompany him during the treatment, Dr shupe's team kept updating me about the procedure he was going through.Is been a month and a half now and I am glad that my son hasn't complained of any discomfort or pain so far. Thank you Dr Shupe and team.