Wyndhamsmith David R Dds - Pasadena Dental Care

I was very pleased with dr. kim at valencia dental care. I had called in on friday for an appointment. I was having a tooth ache. I was called in quickly. I then saw dr. kim who sait that I had broken a tooth an needed a crown. He then explained to me the process for the crown. I was in and out of the office in 1:30hours.

Posted 11/06/09 | Report Abuse

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I've been a patient at Valencia Dental Care for 12years. The doctors there have taken good care of me and I wouldn't go anywhere else. They're thurstworthy.

Posted 10/30/09 | Report Abuse

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I've always been afraid of dentist. I hadn't been in over five years.My intial exam and subsequent crown with Dr. Hendrickson ended up being much easier than I thought. She's gentle and made me feel very relaxed.

Posted 10/30/09 | Report Abuse

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I've become a little cynical lately when going to the dentist. I've been to several different offices over the last five years because it's been hard to find a dentist I feel comfortable with. I don't think I'm hardcore phobic but I definitely don't love going to the dentist. So I think I was prepared to dislike my most recent experience at Valencia Dentla Care. Much to my surprise, the experience turned out to be faily pleasant. The staff was friendly and courteous and I was seen within a few minutes of my appointment time. I was seen by Dr. Wyndhamsmith, who I think is one of the partners. He was also friendly and spent time talking with me about my problems (I have many). I returned approximately a week later to have a root canal and bridge done. I had never had a root canal done before so I was completely freaked out. Again, much to my surprise, it really wasn't so bad.Dr. Wyndhamsmith prepared me in advance for everything that was going to happen and told me to raise my hand if I felt any discomfort. I would recommend the office to anyone who is a little frustrated that they can't find a decent office on their dental plan provider list. Thank you Susan E.

Posted 10/30/09 | Report Abuse

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My 82 year old mother has Alzheimer's. I recently brought her to the dentist as she was having some problems and couldn't eat very well. She has dementia so she is not really able to understand or cooperate while having treatment. I brought her ti Pasadena Dental Care because her other dentist said the only way she could have the treatment done was under anesthesia. He recommended Dr. Wyndhamsmith who is also an M.D. anesthesiologist and was used to dealing with patients like my mom. The staff was very helpful and courteous. Dr. Wyndhamsmith spent time with us and reviewed my mom's medical history. He called her primary physician to get the okay for the anesthesia. I took her in early in the morning and by noon she was finished. Everything went smoothly and my mom is doing much better. The anesthesia wasn't covered under my mom's dental plan and wasn't cheap, but it was definitely worth it. I would recommend the office to anyone who has a parent or relative with serious health problems. It definitely made getting the treatment done a lot easier

Posted 10/30/09 | Report Abuse

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I'm very busy, and my time is valuable (and limited!), so I appreciate the efficiency of the doctors at Pasadena Dental Care. My appointment was painless and quick.

Posted 10/30/09 | Report Abuse

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They are generally rude and misinform their patients. My experience has been that they sell the most expensive service, by not disclosing the less expensive alternatives so as to collect higher co-pays.

Please do not sign or agree to any estimate without first getting a second opinion and checking with your insurance company (if you are fortunate enough to have insurance).

Steve A.

Posted 10/01/09 | Report Abuse

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I agree with all the negative reviews on this "Acacia Dental" office. I have a loose tooth and wanted it pulled out, and Dr. Kim spent all of ten seconds looking at the X-ray and said he could pull it out in "ten minutes." The price was $225.00. So I decided to shop around. He then wanted $25. for the X-Ray which my insurance had already paid for.
After all these disparaging reviews, I was still willing to take a chance on him, but in view of my experience, never again.

Posted 09/29/09 | Report Abuse

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We're sorry that Mr. Justin W. is so unhappy with our office. We're confused as to which employee
with a "Mexican accent" spoke with him, because
we have no one here with a "Mexican accent". We
do have Americans of Mexican descent who happen
to be bilingual in English and Spanish. However,
we can't be responsible for patients who either
took the appointment information down wrong or
who simply miss their appointments. Pasadena
Dental Care has been in business continually
since 1979, so we must be doing something right.

Posted 09/18/09 | Report Abuse

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The guy in charge of appointments, Martin, is extremely rude. I had made an appointment (which, by the way, one has to make about a month or more in advance) for their earliest available, which was one of two times - not sure. The person told me 2:30 on Tuesday and that was fine. Day of I call for directions and they say the appointment was at 10:30. So one of two things could have happened: either the receptionist really did tell me 10:30 but her Mexican accent was so thick I thought she said 2:30 (and I'm a fluent, American born 21 year old UC student so there was no miscommunication on my part) or they really did schedule me for 2:30 and then decided to cancel on me the day of. When I called asking if there was any way they could fit me in, because I was going back up north to college the next day, the guy in charge Martin said there is no way and I misunderstood the appointment and he said he had no idea how I could have confused it-very unprofessional. No apology at all from him. Good luck getting in, then maybe it could be a decent place.

Posted 09/15/09 | Report Abuse

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Hey seemed so proud of all his locations, but not so proud of the work he does. It absolutely feels like a factory where you're shuttled from one room to the next without anyone taking the time to explain what is going on. I wish I would have read these reviews before going. I told him I was going to a dentist in Encino because I trusted him, but really wanted a local dentist. He did nothing to convince me he would be the dentist for me. In fact he asked me if I was interested in braces. When I explained the only reason I was interested is because I was having issues with my bite, which was causing teeth grinding, he cut me off and said he was only asking for cosmetic reasons. He never even finished listening to the real problem I was having with my teeth. This was the only brief interaction I had with him.

Posted 03/02/09 | Report Abuse

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I have had some cavities filled and my wisdom teeth removed here over the last four years, and I would call their service average so far. They have pushed unnecessary crowns, even when I told them that I was a student, but they seemed competent.
My latest experience was bad enough that I just switched dentists. I am scheduled to get a cavity filled. As the Dr. comes in (I didn't get his name from him, so I don't even know who to complain about) he asks the assistant which number he's doing. He wasn't the dentist that gave the diagnosis, so I don't think that he ever looked at the X-rays.
He pokes around in my mouth for about ten seconds and says "I don't think that we even need anesthesia" I am not sure if he is asking me a question, but I say OK and he starts drilling. After drilling for maybe 20 seconds it felt like the drill went to a different spot, my whole head jerks in pain and he stops drilling. He asked for a different sized drill, which the assistant didnt have. The assistant goes in search of one, followed by the dentist 5 seconds later. They come back and continue drilling. The whole time they are acting like they need to finish soon or the bomb in my mouth is going to go off. I am all for efficiency, but there is a point at which it becomes completely unprofessional. As he takes the composite from the assistant, he puts his metal pick tool on my chest(on the sterile napkin, and I am a man, but still). It was as though he couldnt be bothered to set it on a tray. After placing the filling he asks for a tool, which again the assistant does not have. The assistant runs from the room in search of this tool. The dentist chews him out while continuing to work on my mouth. He grabs the tool from off my chest and uses that and his gloved finger and yells at his assistant that he doesnt need the tool anymore.
I have not had any problems with the work I have had done there in the past, and I am not qualified to judge his competence as a dentist, but I do feel qualified to say that this place is horrible and I will never go back again.

Posted 01/21/09 | Report Abuse

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I tell all my co-workers not to go here. I chose Pasadena Dental Care because it had a convenient location, but I'll never do that again. This place has worse service than I would ever have imagined. I think they rely on the convenient location because it is so close to all the office buildings in the financial district.

I know that when you go to a doctor, you can expect to wait 15 minutes or so, but this was different. Nobody works with any sense of urgency, and they are ALWAYS behind schedule. I waited an average of 30 minutes per visit in the waiting room, 50 minutes maximum. I was docked pay from work because they were behind schedule and I couldn't return in time (total visit time = 1 hr 45 minutes). I was there on Valentine's Day, and 3 staff members were standing around chatting while I waited. 30 minutes later, I walked over to them to check what was happening. One of the staff answered, "I was just about to call you over." They told me that would be a 15 minute visit.

As far as the dental work, I would say it is below average. My temporary crown broke and needed to be replaced, and their concern for the patient's comfort is really lacking. Lots of scrapes from the dental instruments which are used to pick at teeth, not gums.

After visiting 6 times, I know that I would never go back and would rather go out of my way to find a better office. Don't go here.

Posted 02/28/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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For almost 4 years I placed my trust in PASADENA DENTAL CARE at 1092 E Green Street. During this time, I experienced several office paper work mixups that were alarming because actual patient records had been mis-filed and confidential Patient Health Information (PHI) was placed in wrong patient folders! HIPPA violations are common in this office. Making matters worse, the front office staff as well as the so called "office manager" (who just happens to be the wife of the primary dentist/partner) were both incompetent, rude and of low-level intelligence. The SMARTEST thing I ever did was LEAVE THIS PLACE and find a COMPETENT and QUALIFIED dental office. I hope you do DO THE SMART THING - and keep looking for true professional dental office.

Posted 11/14/07 | Report Abuse

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I went to this office as it was recommended to me through people at my work. I went there for a first visit which I thought would include a cleaning, but that was scheduled for a month later. I came back the next month for my cleaning and the "assistant" was pretty friendly, but very quick. I saw the dentist for literally 45 seconds in which he told me to schedule a wisdom tooth removal. The dentist didn't say much else and definitely had the "get in and out" mentality and acted as if he didn't care at all.That was just the tip of the iceberg. I got my wisdom teeth taken out by the dentist that they recommended (Dr Petty) and I was to get them taken out at the office where you usually go for cleanings. The room didn't look too sanitary. To make a very long story short, they didn't stitch me up at the end of the surgery EVEN though I was at risk for being a hemophiliac (easy to bleed and the blood does not easily clot). I returned to the office a few hours later as I was GUSHING uncontrollably with blood, only to be completely ignored (of course the bleeding stops when I arrived) and sat in the chair for 20 minutes while the office staff sits right behind me and gathers and starts laughing and chatting as if they are on their lunch break. Someone finally comes over to me and asks me condescendingly if I had drank through a straw, I say no and then he goes "Are you sure?!?!" with a very sarcastic tone of voice. Then the dentist comes in and takes the quickest glance and says "Oh yeah that is completely normal, you don't need stitches". I figure that since he is a professional, I would be correct to take his word. Well he sends me on my way...Cut to 11:00 pm, my mouth starts gushing with blood again and does not stop... I was given no emergency contact number, so I was unsure of what to do. I eventually collapse on the floor, was unconscious for 30 seconds, then have to be taken in an ambulance to Huntington Hospital...This dental office was completely negligent in their procedures. They knew I was at risk for bleeding and did nothing to prevent any complications, they did not stitch me, they ignored me when I returned later in the day with problems and if they had just taken the time to properly look at me and stitch me, maybe I wouldn't have ended up passing out and ending up in hospital. Thankfully my roommate managed to catch me when I passed out or else who knows what else I could be facing.I am now facing almost $2,000 worth of bills...

Posted 10/19/07 | Report Abuse

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My dissatisfaction is with the front office staff, not with the doctors whom I found to be efficient and professional. I was there twice with my kids and will not go back. The radiologist was patient and was focused on what he was doing. I wish the office staff would pay more attention to the patients and lesson applying their make up at their desk. When I tried to ask a few questions about our insurance, the person I spoke to would not let me complete my question and would "trip over" my words. I don't know, but when an office employee is munching on food and chewing gum at the counter... One of my kids had a cleaning and I found out it was not done by a higienist, but an "assistant"? Then I also found out that she told my kid that he was being a "lazy butt" for not brushing his teeth more often. What a role model. No I don't recommend this office, although they have efficient doctors.

Posted 05/03/07 | Report Abuse

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Perhaps this office improved since the last reviews were written, but I found their service, while less personal than other dentists, to be competent (although only time will tell). They deliver dental work, and it's wham, bam, thank you maam service. I had a root canal done within about an hour. Diagnosis, sit down, do it. It is the same Home Depot / Costco model of doing business: low (PPO premium) prices and little extra services. For your low PPO premium you get an examination and two cleanings a year and discounts on dental work. Dentists in a PPO get a "per capita" from the insurance company for each patient and they have to schedule their patient services based on these amounts. So you might have to wait a month to schedule a cleaning.

The question is whether the work they perform is competent and it appears to me to be so here. I can't really judge this because I am not a dentist, but a check on the wall shows the dentists here went to USC and UCLA. While no one wanted to chat with me they got me in and did the work. Again, only time will tell about how well it was done, but it appears to me that I got the same results I would have from any other dentist.

The offices were clean and the work appears to have been done correctly. The X-ray technicians didn't seem any worse than anywhere else. While it is unpleasant to have to bight down on a big square of plastic stuck in your mouth, that is the case anywhere. I suppose they did not commiserate wih me about but they didn't attack me or anything.

Most people are not fond of visits to the dentist, with all the potential for discomfort. A dentist might be able to fully assess dental condition in 30 seconds after a look at the X-rays, but most will hang around to talk about it for a while. I think the problem here is that people expect a dentist to offer this comfort but this dental office operates like pure technicians. It is as if you went to a barber and they did not want to chat, just get it done.

It might be a little disconcerting but I suspect this is the future of PPO medicine. I think this is just a different style of practicing dentistry and it may not be palatable to everyone. While this place may lack bedside manner, a "factory," I would rather have a competent "Dr. Becker" who does what needs to be done and gets me in and out of their office rather than a friendlier dentist with less stellar credentials. For myself it was fine, as long as the work is performed correcly I do not really care about it being a "factory".

Posted 12/15/06 | Report Abuse

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Dr. Michael D. Kim is the worst dentist I've ever encountered. He does not care one bit about his patients. I can't believe this guy actually makes a living doing this! I am in worse condition than before I went to see him. He left me in pain and refused to return my calls. What dental school did this guy go to??

PROS: Alex
CONS: DR. Michael D. Kim

Posted 05/17/05 | Report Abuse

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This place is a good reminder that popular != quality. Very overcrowded and impersonal. For my first visit, which I thought would be a cleaning, I was made to wait a couple hours, then plopped into a chair for an x-ray, and shuffled out as soon as possible--no cleaning occured. I saw an actual dentist for literally 30 seconds (I timed it). The actual cleaning was scheduled for 2 months later. Of course, they took the full mouth x-ray which insurance only covers once every 5 years, so to switch dentists (which I did) requires getting copies of the x-rays from them (for which they charge) or just paying for new ones. They're really running a racket over there...avoid 'em!

PROS: Uhhh... nice big sign in front?
CONS: Gives dentists a bad name

Posted 02/23/05 | Report Abuse

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Poor service (there's one worker who makes dental xrays painful) and price gouging made me leave this place. The estimate I was given to replace my old silver fillings with white ones was outrageous - the office manager said my insurance didn't cover it. To make things worse, they tried to schedule me for services and collect a deposit. I ended up visiting another dentist and contrary to what Pasadena Dental said, my insurance picked up most of the expenses.

Posted 11/21/04 | Report Abuse

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This is a dental factory, not a personal service kind of place but it gets the job done. I am looking to upgrade so I suppose I don't really recommend them too highly.

Posted 11/08/04 | Report Abuse

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This place is a great example of a factory, not a business. They pack the schedule, give you no time with the actual Doctor, and then put up a HUGE DELIBERATE struggle when you attempt to leave them for a different doctor. Add to this the general lackof interest by the doctor if you do get to talk with him, and this is most certainly a place to miss. I was actually told, 'Ah, cavities just happen, there is nothing you can do' when I uncharacteristically ended up with 6 cavities at a visit. He didn't even bother to ask about my diet, my brushing methods/habits, etc.

Posted 08/15/04 | Report Abuse

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