Insider Pages Reviews for Price Sheldon - Hillcrest Family Dental Ctr

5 Stars: Great!!!!! (by Matthews K.)

Matthews K. — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:54:00 GMT

I am no longer scared to go to the dentist any more. The Whole staff is very nice and the dentist take really good care of you. I really enjoyed my visit.

5 Stars: Great office to visit (by Connie A.)

Connie A. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:08:00 GMT

I had a great experience at this office. The staff was very friendly and informative. I feel that I have been treated with the best care a dentist could give a patient.

5 Stars: Good work!!!!!!!! (by Daugherty G.)

Daugherty G. — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:15:00 GMT

I was on the fence with the diagnosis of treatment, but after having my work completed I was truly impressed. The color matched my other teeth, and I could not see the seam between where it ended and my tooth began. I was quite cranky, but it really does look as if it was always there. I have been telling my co workers about this office. Very impressed.

5 Stars: Cleaning and crowns (by Janet T.)

Janet T. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:37:00 GMT

Very professional and courteous. A good experience. Called back at appointment time and very pleased with all services. Have recommended to friends and family.

4 Stars: Consistency (by Leonard S.)

Leonard S. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:32:00 GMT

I go to this office because the do good work, but because I have have to see different dentist sometimes there has been a difference in opinion on how to treat my appointment. They should try to set each appointment with the same dentist every time a patient comes in. Overall good work. Very clean and modern looking office and friendly staff.

3 Stars: Waiting too long (by anonymous a.)

anonymous a. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:21:00 GMT

I waited too long to see the dentist during my last visit. My appointment was at 11:00am and I did not see the dentist until 12:00pm. I was informed that an emergency was keeping her busy but still it was a long wait. The check up was fine but wait to long

4 Stars: wonderful (by Cindy M.)

Cindy M. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:16:00 GMT

I was completely comfortable and at ease. There was a bit of a wait on my first appointment to see the doctor for xrays and exam, but my next two appointment were wonderful.

5 Stars: My new favorite dentist (by James D.)

James D. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:07:00 GMT

I don't know how you do it, I came for the 1st time and got scary news and had to come back for lots of work but I somehow love coming here and feel and feel great about it and excited to take better care of my teeth.

1 Stars: terrible, bad, the worst, crazy bad (by felix m.)

felix m. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:19:00 GMT

hillcrest family dental will rip you off in my opinion. i paid them over $2,000 because they scared me and said I needed an extensive cleaning which would require numbing and medication.

my teeth have always been perfect. they scared me so much and I had just gotten the new insurance, so like an idiot, i believed them.

the procedure was painful. it was unnecessary and costly. very costly.

1 Stars: The County Grand Jury Should Investigate (by PT P.)

PT P. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:53:00 GMT

The San Diego County Grand Jury should investigate Hillcrest Family Dental Center for insurance fraud and patient abuse (subjecting patients to unnecessary procedures). When one receives as subpoena and has to testify UNDER OATH before a Grand Jury, one cannot have a lawyer with them in the Grand Jury Room. On the basis of the complaints and negative reviews posted here, HFDC could easily be indicted on charges of fraud and abuse. I, too, stupidly chose HFDC via my dental plan. I have had few dental problems in my life and in 2007 received my first crown ever. In mid-2007 I had a whole set of X-rays taken by my previous dentist and everything was in great shape. For decades I had my teeth cleaned twice a year, too, and things were always great. In June 2008, I visited HFDC for the first time. X-rays were taken. I was immediately told (six months after my last cleaning) I needed deep cleaning (two sessions) and antibiotic treatment. This cost me almost $400 of my own money. After the second treatment, I was scheduled to return in November for a routine cleaning. What? The deep cleaning didn't do the trick? Shows how good HFDC's deep cleaning is. It was during that routine cleaning I was told that my X-rays showed a cavity under the crown. Huh? No one told me that in the summer. And $500 would be my cost for crown replacement. When asked if I was feeling any pain there, I said no. That told me something was not right, so I went back to my previous dentist who FOR FREE took -- with state-of-the-art equipment superior to HFDC's equipment -- X-rays again of the crown area and found nothing; no cavity! Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I submit that HFDC is unscrupulous, if not incompetent. It is ripping off insurance companies and consumers. You as a citizen and consumer have the right to contact the San Diego County Grand Jury and ask that HFDC dentists, staff and patients be compelled to testify about the center's operations. If nothing else, contact the Dental Board of California, www.dbc.ca.gov and file a complaint about HFDC.

5 Stars: Amazing....... (by Joel M.)

Joel M. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:48:00 GMT

First off, the moment I walked into the office I felt like I was at home. Was greeted right when I walked through the door Starting from the receptionists to the doctors, everyone was so nice and made me feel comfortable. The Doctor was really knowledgable and helped me out to understand what was going on and helped me understand what the Treatment that I was diognosed with was all about. From reading the reviews on this site, I was very nervous about going to my appointment, but knowing that people are just nervous about going to the dentist anyways, I had to just check it out myself. Its not the dentist fault that people do not keep up with the dentist and try to go after five years. Keep up with yourself and it will not be so expensive and your teeth will not be so un healthy. Your teeth are important and next time maybe you will think twice about getting yourself into the dentist office instead of holding back. All and all, I had a great experience with them and I recommend this office to anyone and evryone. All the reviews on this site you can tell are from people who have not been to the dentist in a while or they were just nervous in the first place to go to the dentist. Thank you...

1 Stars: My Cleaning was painful (by maggie h.)

maggie h. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:45:00 GMT

I thought it was silly and a waste of time to have to make 2 separate appointments for
X-Rays and then the cleaning. After my initial appointment with the X-Rays, I expected
to get my cleaning the same day, since I hadn't had one in three years. Well, they don't
tell you until you are paying for the X-rays, etc is that you can't have your much-needed cleaning that same day. I had to make another appointment for that, and they didn't have one for 3 more months! That didn't make sense to me- I hadn't been to a dentist for three years, they knew I needed a cleaning, but they refused to do it that same day! Well, I made the appointment and had to miss two days of work. At the cleaning, the hygenist was scraping my teeth and gums very hard and making them bleed bad. While she was doing that she went on and on about how much plaque I had and how hard it was for her to get it off. Then something occurred to her. She said, "Oh, no wonder! my tools haven't been sharpened!" "No wonder it's so hard for me to get the plaque off!" She then sent her assistant out to sharpen her tools. When he returned, she easily got the plaque off and my gums didn't bleed like before.. I DO NOT RECOMMEND HILLCREST FAMILY DENTAL!! I need a cleaning again and they want me to come in for that initial X-Ray appointment again before they can do it! Ridiculous. Waste of time and money. Think twice before setting foot in this office.

1 Stars: ALL DENTISTS ARE RIPOFFS (by L D.)

L D. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:40:00 GMT

I was being scammed by Mission Valley Dental Clinic for years for all the same reasons the other reviewers had with HFDC, but I thought since I couldn't do the work myself what the heck just pay for it, its only money. I decided to go to HCDC for two years for a change. They are mediocre as far as the regular high pressure sales are concerned - deep cleaning, arestin treatment, crown, root canal, etc. I recently made an appointment for a regular routine free cleaning and after a 20 minute wait and x-rays, a heavy duty dentist enters the room, who I hadn't seen or met before, and a consultant shows up with my x-rays. Now they recommend I need 6 arestin shots, deep cleaning, replace a crown, and all 4 wisdom teeth have to come out because they are old and will eventually cause me pain. I thought I had found a decent dental clinic even if their office is in an old building and in a somewhat shabby condition, but they are turning out to be the same as MVDC was - ripoffs. I know I have to have dental work done and I know I can't do it myself so I have to pay for what I believe would be best in the long run especially at 60 years old. They also recommended I get a credit card through their Credit Care Company which of course is a loan. I told them I'll pay after each treatment but the young foreign woman said the credit card is without interest for 18 months after which any balance would be charged a high interst rate. I agreed and thought about it later how would I know they are going to perform all of the treatments I already agreed to pay for???? Dumb move -- live and learn. Stay away from this high priced dental office with any insurance plan. Throughout my life I've been scammed one way or another by different types of businesses, but there's no way to avoid it. Just ask plenty of questions before you commit to any procedure and get a second opinion if you can afford it.

1 Stars: HORRID (by Lana G.)

Lana G. — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Okay. I had a whole 5,000 word diatribe all written up about the evils of this place, but I decided to spare everyone and keep this short and sweet.

These con-artists have been scamming me for about 2 years now. I am no connoisseur of dental providers. I also suck at listening to my intuition when it tells me something isn't right. Hence, the fact that it's taken me this long to realize that Hillcrest Family Dental is a "meat market" dental office, and they rip people off.

They quoted me $8,500 for dental work that I later have found out should only run me a little over $5,000. The work they have done has been mediocre at best. The last visit was horrible. One of the many dentists I've been saddled with at this place left a huge open sore on the inside of my lip after doing a crown-prep/post build up. He said "You'll probably be sore later. You had decay down under your gum line so I had to cut away some of your gums." That was a bit of an understatement. That s*** didn't heal for over a week and hurt like you wouldn't believe.

I wish I would have read reviews on them sooner. I didn't even realize this site existed. Now I know.

Please be smarter than I was and AVOID HILLCREST FAMILY DENTAL like the plague.

1 Stars: dental place SUCKS ... BIG TIME (by alex m.)

alex m. — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:34:00 GMT

hillcrest family dental will rip you off. i have insurance and my teeth are in excellent shape. after the doctor recommeded that i "change my smile" which would cost 5k+ ... he told me i needed a DEEP CLEANING .... since i hadnt been to the dentist in 8 months, i figured he would know what he is talking about. $1600 dollars later, the deep cleaning was a complete waste and very painful.

The prices are HIGH here and they will upsell you.

1 Stars: AVOID THIS OFFICE AT ALL COSTS (by CARY T.)

CARY T. — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:28:00 GMT

I too wish I had seen this site before I went to Hillcrest Family. It was fairly pleasant until my exam by the dentist and "treatment coordinator". I had a broken cap and dental insurance - and by the time they were done working up their estimate, I was going to be paying over $3,000.00. I am so disgusted that I was subjected to high-pressure sales techniques at a dental office - I think it's criminal. After I talked them down to a more reasonable $800, I called my insurance company, which then called Hillcrest Dental and informed them that they could not charge me more than $550. I can't believe this place is in business, and that insurance companies allow them on their panel - we all should call and complain to protect people who may really get hurt financially.
Oh, and by the way - the temporary three-week cap they put on my front tooth is bright yellow - it's the only color they had left, and didn't bother to mention it until they held up the mirror.

1 Stars: I wish I would have found this site earlier (by e s.)

e s. — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:01:00 GMT

I changed my dental plan to this office as I had problems scheduling a 6 month cleaning at Dr. Carlo's office. My initial impression was good. The receptionists were friendly and the lobby was nice. I then got the high tech exam and woman telling me how bad my teeth were and that I needed to replace my fillings. I was surprised, as I go to the dentist twice a year and take good care of my teeth. I do grind my teeth though, so I thought their opinion must have validity. Plus, in the past, I have trusted the dentist to be able to assess my teeth and their needs. Then came the high pressure sales technique. I was shocked. I ended up paying $50 up front and scheduling to have the fillings replaced. It did not feel right at all. Who pays for treatment upfront? I ended up cancelling the treatment and getting my money back, on principal. I thought about it again and decided to have some of the fillings replaced. The male dentist was arrogant and offensive when I asked his opinion on one of the fillings I chose not to have done. He insinuated that I was not having it done because I wasn't smart - or something? Very odd. Several people came in and out of the room while he was working on my teeth. They spoke about other patients and he sounded clearly annoyed that a patient called with questions about the treatment she'd received. All of the bad reviews resonated with me. I am going to do what I can to get this place off the list of approved dental offices with my insurance. Oh, I forgot. After I had the filling replaced in one tooth, it later chipped. I went back to the dentist to see what they recommended. They recommended a crown. I was only curious. There was no way I was going to have them do anything more to my mouth. When I went to my new dentist, he told me that he would replace the filling and it should solve the problem. The hygienist at this new office told me that my old dentist should have done that for free - and did I talk to my old dentist about it. I told her he/she just offered to do a crown. Her response was - sure, more money!

1 Stars: THIS OFFICE IS A JOKE AND A SCAM!!!! (by Sumrall R.)

Sumrall R. — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:05:00 GMT

After two visits I got wise and switched providers. The first visit went fine...according to the dentist, I had mostly healthy teeth and gums, and a good thorough cleaning would be a good preventative measure...sure, no problem, I paid for and scheduled the cleaning. During the cleaning, the hygenist stopped to tell me that my gums were "horrible" and that I needed to see a Periodontist right away. She also told me that the dentist was completely wrong about my diagnosis and scheduled me for a re-evaluation and then suggested I schedule another cleaning that involved anesthesia and scraping all of my gums. So how many times is this going to happen? The dentist says one thing, schedules an appointment, charges me money, the hygenist has a different story, schedules an appointment, tries to charge me more money, and I am supposed to just smile and pay up? This is ridiculous! I don't have time to come in for twenty five different appointments just to hear that the previous appointment was a waste of my time and money. If these people could get their act together and stop trying to milk their poor unwitting patients, they might be a fine place to go. As it is, they come off looking completely unprofessional and absolutely inefficient. While the reception staff is extremely friendly, and you might have a good experience initially, be warned that this is not an office concerned about building a loyal customer base. There are many, more reputable, professional, and efficient dentists in San Diego. Stay away from these clowns!

5 Stars: Pain-Free Happy Visit! No Pressure, No Milking-it, Friendly Staff (by KYle P.)

KYle P. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:12:00 GMT

I had a tooth extracted by Dr. Saldana at Hillcrest Family Dental and the experience was very pleasant, he is sincere and really cared about my concerns. He and all the staff really went out of their way to make sure that I was comfortable and satisfied. I have no idea what all these negative comments are doing on this site, then again how often do you have FUN at the dentist? But, my experience was, like I said, AMAZING.

1 Stars: Avoid!...These people are scam artists. (by Mike C.)

Mike C. — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:38:00 GMT

I can corobrate nearly everything I have read here. My dental "insurance" - Smile Saver lists these folks in their directory of providers. I chose them because they were able to schedule my consultation within two weeks (something that none of the other dentists in the plan could do). I had not seen the dentists in 2 1/2 years, and was starting to have mild periodontitis symptoms when I sought their services. I went in for a consult, and was greeted by a D.D.S. that spoke very poor english (native italian I think), who was beyond rude. She was a complete sensationalist, saying that she hadn't seen gums as bad as mine in years (what a load), she then called in a tech and asked him to colloborate. They lay it on thick. Also, like other patients have mentioned, I then sought explaination for the $3k of under gum planing, antibioitc treatment, and fillings (refillings I should say). I got no explaination other than doom and gloom of the state of my mouth, the dentists (italian female) was not willing to explain much of anything, simply falling back on the fact that I needed work, and that none of it was negotiable. I should have RUN, as another reviewer indicates here. Instead, I booked my first visit. I then came in for 5 sessions in which they (deep) cleaned my gums, and applied antibiotic pads under my teeth. Now mind you, in the end, these things did work, but my original quote of $3k only covered 10 of these pads...once in my mouth, they asked if they could add more, and the prince went up $350 in that moment. The cleaning was exgruciating, and I later found out unnecessary. When it came down to getting my fillings redone (3), the dentists (not the non-english speaking woman, but another dentist), he ground my tooth down WAY too much after inserting the polymer filling in each tooth, the result is that one of my teeth is now sensitive to temperature, though it never was before. The final funness, is that upon going to the hygenist, who did 90% of the work to my mouth (the dentist only did the 3 fillings)...she shot a novacaine-like substance into a nerve near my nose, and it caused my heart rate to go through the roof for 2 incredibly scary minutes. These people ripped me off, caused me incredible pain, and in three instances did incredibly questionable things to my mouth and body. CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!

4 Stars: A Positive Experience (by David W.)

David W. — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:31:00 GMT

I chose Hillcrest Family Dental because they were listed on my insurance plan. I was a bit apprehensive because of the negative feedback on this site. But I had a very positive experience, there. The staff was friendly, the doctor was attentive and thorough, and I felt very much at ease, there. I never at any time felt that I was being pressured to have any work done that I was uncomfortable with. For example, the doctor suggested veneers in addressing some discoloring I have. But I didn't at all feel pressured to have the work done. As for the cost for the work they did, I have to say that dental procedures have always been very expensive, no matter where I've gone. Perhaps the people on this site who've complained about the cost don't have the greatest insurance. I know that how much you have to pay out of pocket can certainly make a difference. But the good news is that this facility offers you the opportunity to make payments, if necessary. I've rarely seen that with any other doctor's or dentist's office.

4 Stars: Always a fine time (by Christen B.)

Christen B. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:27:00 GMT

I have always had a fine time for my check-ups and cleanings at this dentist office. They are courteous, friendly, and professional. I have even recommended them to friends!

5 Stars: CONFORTABLE GREAT OFFICE (by wei d.)

wei d. — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:55:00 GMT

This office really provides dentistry in a comfortable environment. From front office, to the back, you can feel that all people work in great harmony by treating every patient with the utmost respect.

On recent visit, what surprised me most that the patient next to me was coming all the way from LA for a regular dental cleaning for a hygenist. She told me that after an awful experience in LA, she does not mind to drive all the way to this office, use this opportunity to visit a couple friends while she is in San Diego. My experience with the office have always been great. All the people working there, from front office to doctors and assistant always treated me with utmost respect. Going to a dental office is not more a pain for me and I would recommend this office to everyone.

1 Stars: Do you like unnecessary shots in your mouth?... (by Robb T.)

Robb T. — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:34:00 GMT

...then go to Hillcrest Family Dental. I went in for an initial checkup and was told that I needed deep cleaning and that I would have to come in twice more. My first impression was that the staff was friendly, but the place was not very clean. I can live with that. First deep cleaning session was OK.

For the second deep cleaning session, I had the same dental hygenist as the last time. I received a couple of shots on the right side of my mouth and then all of the sudden a shot on the left side. When I told the dental hygenist about this, she argued with me. It wasn't until everything from my nose down was obviously asleep that she believed me.

To this day I regret not doing anything about this. I actually let them continue because I wanted to get the cleaning over with. Listen to these reviews. Choose another dentist.

5 Stars: HAPPY TO BE A PATIENT IN THIS GREAT OFFICE (by felicia s.)

felicia s. — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:26:00 GMT

If you like to expect a professional service, friendly staff, painless dentistry and reasonable fees, this is the best office you can find around Hillcrest, Downtown and Mission Valley. This is according to my and most of my collegues' opinion visiting this office for dental need.

The office is high tech, decorated very well and clean. All staff including doctors are very friendly.
The only negative is that the office is pretty busy and you need to get your appointment in advance.

Finally, I attest the positive comments stated on this site. Simply, ignore the comments by those anonymous people. They are usually disgruntled people and their unsatisfaction are usually due to reasons unrelated to dental service and they are probably the ones who ask free customary cleaning with heavy gum problems and then turn and sue the office later when they loose their teeth for not providing deep cleaning at the first place.

5 Stars: Great Office - Highly recommended (by elliot G.)

elliot G. — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:04:00 GMT

There must be a reason that this office has so many patients. I think that main reasons are that they have great experienced doctors and the office is a very well maintained and clean high-tech office with pleasant people.

The front office staff are very friendly and informative as well as the doctors. You are given clear explanations regarding the diagnose, financing and receive great treatment. The deep-cleaning and medication has finally treated my ever lasting bleeding problem.

I would definitely recommend this office to everyone especially those seeking a second opinion. Their high tech equipments will leave no doubt on your mind regarding the diagnose and detailed explanations regarding the treatment and financing would make you satisfied and comfortable.

I have always enjoyed my painless visits to this office.

5 Stars: Always pleasant experience (by bill j.)

bill j. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:29:00 GMT

My family have been coming to this office for few years. This office offer personalized dental care at reasonable rates in a caring, supportive atmosphere. The front staff are particularly pleasant and friendly. The doctors look out for his patient's best interests in their dental health. I was made it clear when something is optional especially if it is a radical treatment. We have been always very satisfied with the treatments we received. The hygenist in the office is excellent, thorough and a breath of fresh air. I think their charges are often within the reasonable and customary range. They are very committed to the patient relationship and to giving excellent service. I would highly recommend them.

5 Stars: Dentists, Vets, and Auto Mechanics. (by Herman M.)

Herman M. — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:26:00 GMT

I've had a decent experience at this office with nothing that was unexpected to complain about. I say only decent because this is a dentist office were talking about, nothing pleasurable about visits such as these.

After reading all the reviews here, half of which are negative, I can't help but to think back to similar experiences I've had with Vet visits for my cats, and work I've had to get done to my car. All three of these types of business are well designed to up-sell the customer. One should not go any of these places if one is uninformed, lacking in some common sense, or not expecting to be up-sold. Even restaurants will do the same thing when you go out to eat. You may not be thinking you want or even have room for that desert, but when they stick the cart in front of you, BAM! Your up-sold. It's just not as costly to be up-sold a dessert at your local dining fare as it is at the dentist.

I may be wrong, but if your gums are not red, puffy and painful, then you probably don't need a deep, under the gum cleaning. Refuse it for a standard cleaning and leave if not granted one. If your tooth hurts so bad that it's all you can think about every second of the day until the dentist can see you, you probably need a root-canal. If that's not the case and your told you need a root-canal, it's probably a judgment call, or what my Navy Dentist used to say, Preventative Dentistry. They can look at an X-Ray and see trouble looming. Fix it now, and you won't have to deal with the inevitable pain. If the tooth does not hurt, and it's an x-ray find, then wait if you don't have the money or want a second opinion. I've always waited until the tooth started hurting and the end result is always the same. Drill, Fill, Crown. If you decide to and can afford to take care of it early, then you guessed it...Drill, Fill, Crown. Either way is basically the same accept if you get it done early, you won't have to be reduced to a whimpering, tearful remnant of yourself every time you take a breath or your heart beats. I've found this type of pain usually starts and the end of the business day on Friday. Ahhh, nothing like a tooth-ache you get to enjoy all weekend!

And remember, if you choose to get either of these procedures done here in the States, your going to pay a lot. Sometimes a whole lot. If your not wanting to pay a whole lot, shop around for a place that will only charge a lot. That's your right. We live in a great country, not only are we capitalists where we can charge as much for our services as the market will bare, but there is also rent, equipment, employees, and insurance to pay for. HFDC is in a nice, quiet location near 3rd and Thorn and the facilities are pleasant to be in. If you don't believe me, try a dentist office in Imperial City or San Ysidro to save a buck or two.

No matter where you go, if your in a lot of pain, just ask for the bare minimum to stabilize the condition and then shop around for the rest. I've done this, and it works. Usually, they will cater to your needs/desires to keep you there. Just be firm in a pleasant way. Nobody likes to deal with an Arse, you have to be nice.

I've always walked into Hillcrest Family Dental Center with a good attitude and it's always been returned. I believe Dr. Cori (sp?), though sometimes hard to understand, has a wonderful accent to listen to. I've never had a problem asking her to repeat herself when I didn't understand, and she's always done so with a smile.

Also, when it became clear to her what my financial situation was, she worked with me to make what I needed to have done a little easier on my wallet. I can't thank her enough for that, and it proves my previous point.

I did have a little tit-for-tat with a male dentist that took care of a filling for me. I could only afford the amalgam filling, old-school style silver/mercury, and after repeating myself a myriad of times that I did not want, and could not afford, the composite filling, I finally got my way. Even after that I had to listen to the Doc. blather on about how he hadn't done one of these types of fillings in fifteen years and he was hoping he could remember how to do it. That sort of nonsense I had a problem with. First to try so hard for the sale, and then to lie about not doing one for so long to make me feel uncomfortable about the procedure. I can't imagine a dentist not doing an amalgam filling for that long. My goat was got. If the drilling had not already been done, I would have walked out.

I think the most important thing we should remember when going into a place that has the opportunity to up-sell us, just be firm in what you actually want or feel you need. If you have to be talked into something, it's probably not necessary, or you may not be financially able. If it's the latter, tell them again what you want and if they don't want to do it, then take your business elsewhere.

5 Stars: GET A SECOND OPINION IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY (by chris e.)

chris e. — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:56:00 GMT

I am glad that I got a second opinion in this office after being told to pay a fortune for some cosmetic work I needed in another dental office. The front office made an excellent first impression by being very friendly. I did not mind that I would be admitted 15 minutes late for my appointmet. I watched TV and noticed that how beautifully decorated the waiting room. The second thing I noticed is the cleanness in the office. All the countertops are shining, the dark colored hard wood floors - yes dark brown hard woods- were so beautiful and clean.

The office has high tech equipments. The diagnose was not so different than the first office but the reall difference was the attitude of the dental assistant/coordinator and the doctor and of course the total bill. The diagnose was smilar to what other office told me but I was quoted hundreds of less than what I was told in another office. I had to come for 2 more visits to complete my treatment and extemely satified with the service I got and with my beautiful new crowns. I would definetely recommend this office and you also GET A SECOND OPINION IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR DENTIST.

1 Stars: DO NOT GO! (by Shelly T.)

Shelly T. — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:53:00 GMT

Wow - i wish i'd read these reviews BEFORE going. I was there yesterday for my initial exam. I was there two hours and all I got was 15 min of x-rays and about 10 minutes with the doctor. While I was waiting, some guy named Alex came in and showed me all these photos of gum disease, made me watch a DVD, put a camera in my mouth and pointed out how badly damaged my gums were. Then the dentist finally comes in and tells me how concerned she is by my gums. There are also posters and photos of periodontal disease all over the office.

After a quick examination, the dentist tells me I need deep cleaning and must make two apointments in order to get it. On my way out, Alex pulls me aside and shows me all the costs associated with the deep cleaning. I ask him if I can have the basic cleaning covered by my insurance and he says NO. What kind of office doesn't give you a basic cleaning? What if I can't afford a deep cleaning? Ridiculous. I also told him that I am really careful about taking care of my teeth, go twice a year to the dentist, brush and floss everyday and all my previous dentists never found any issues. And he says, most dentists are lazy and miss signs of gum disease. Hmm, I find it hard to believe that my last four dentists (yes, I move a lot) all failed to see what Hillcrest Family dental said were "obvious" signs of gum disease.

So thankfully, my internal alarms were ringing and I told Alex I was going to get a second opinion before returning for any cleaning. I called 3 places who all said that they should offer the basic cleaning no matter what; and that the deep cleaning would be in addition to it. They were surprised that HFD would not give me the basic cleaning and were pressuring me to have the deep cleaning.

In any case, stay away from this place! They are all about scamming you for money by scaring you into thinking you need a bunch of services that are conveniently not covered by insurance. There are so many better places to choose from in SD.

1 Stars: Extremely Dissatisfied (by Michael R.)

Michael R. — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:17:00 GMT

After my wife refused to return to this dental office due to dust balls on the floor and overall lack of cleanliness, I requested that Hillcrest Family Dental Center refund the balance for the work which they had not yet performed. It took several calls for me to have the necessary form provided to me. Once received I filled it out and immediately faxed it back. I left messages with the receptionist for the office manager and then contacted their corporate office. I never received a return call.

Today, I called again and was fortunate enough that the office manager picked up the telephone. I was told that the credit is in line for processing to my credit card in 1 week.

It did not take them 1 week to charge my card. It will have taken approx. 4 weeks to receive a credit.

Neither my wife nor I will return to this office and if we don't receive our money back, we will see them in Court.

Beware.

5 Stars: VERY INFORMATIVE, AND CARED ABOUT MY DENTAL HEALTH (by David D.)

David D. — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:26:00 GMT

I had a PPO before my office switched to an HMO. The one thing that my job did not explain was the difference. I am glad that Hillcrest Family Dental took the time to explain how my HMO benefits operates.

From the moment I walked in the door, I was greeted by two very freindly front office girls.They even asked how was my day. I felt very relaxed and in good care. As I was called back for xrays and exam I found the back office clean and with high tech equipment. After my appointment I was suprised at how much I would have to pay. I did my own research and agree with the doctors diagnosis. I also discovered that dental BENEFITS is not insurance. Hillcrest Family Dental did not try to scam me. In fact they are trying to educate me on my dental needs.

I made a decision that my HMO will NOT dictate my dental needs. I would rather pay a reduced rate for services that will help bring my mouth to its best health.

For those of you who do not agree with the doctors diagnosis, then simply GET A SECOND OPINION. Do not try to discredit an office that has serviced its community for years. There is a reason that they have so many patients. They do a great job and provide a truely needed service. I have always enjoyed my visit and will recommend this office to all.

Lets face the facts, Dentistry is expensive and our benefits do not cover what we truly need. Maybe you all that have a problem with Hillcrest Family Dental or any other dental office should direct your rude and mean behavior toward the BENIFIT company that takes your money on a monthly bases.

5 Stars: Classy Office (by yvette b.)

yvette b. — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:08:00 GMT

I have been going to Hillcrest Family Dental for more than 3 years. It is never fun to go to a dentist but this office is as good as it gets for someone difficult like me. I was always treated with respect. I think that the diagnosing doctor explains everything in detail and diagnose conservatively. Of course, digital X-ray and monitor helps you to see your problem very clearly and does not leave a doubt regarding to the diagnose. Hillcrest Family Dental had been recently renovated and it is very classy and hygenic. I discovered that their list prices are much less than the other offices nearby. It is sometimes difficult to have a cleaning appointment with short notice and therefore make your appoinment well in advance.

1 Stars: Unnecessary procedures (by Gideon B.)

Gideon B. — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:00:00 GMT

The people at this office talked me into getting a crown that I am more or less certain I did not need. (You ask: then why did you get it done? Frankly, because I'm a wee bit gullible and willing to trust the advice of an officious-sounding dentist. Plus, I was only in town for a short while and couldn't get any other dentist to see me for a second opinion in time.) They told me that my tooth was cracked on four faces when, in fact, I was fairly certain that it was only cracked on two or three. They told me that I was feeling pain and sensitivity when I clearly told them that I was not.

Moreover, the dental assistant who did most of the work on my mouth spoke barely-intelligible English, and his explanations of what he was doing were impossible to understand.

However, I will say that they were efficient in doing the work, and seemed to do it well and thoroughly.

5 Stars: Pleasant Experience (by martin h.)

martin h. — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:00:00 GMT

After changing my insurance, I chose this office due to a referral from a friend who found the charges very reasonble and people professional.

The office is very clean, private and organized. I found everyone very friendly including the doctor. You feel that she cares. The quality of dental service is excellent.

By the way, I noticed the frustrations in the reviews of some patients below who found the services unsatisfactory. I felt the same way with my previous dental offices. Then, I realized that my dissatisfaction lies first with the insurance coverage and then the office. If you are paying a $10 a month, it is not an insurance and your yearly amount does not even cover the cost of a half an hour visit. Unless you have excellent teeths and gums, your benefits does not go so far and you will be frustrated. You will be better off picking up a free office visit coupon from your mail box for any dentist then paying $10 a month for referral service called insurance with hard to get benefits.

5 Stars: Professional Office (by anna m.)

anna m. — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:14:00 GMT

I had a very positive and pleasant experience in this office where I got cosmetic work done and recommend to anyone.

Front Office: Friendly people trying to accomodate your request
Back Office: Very clean, striking and equiped with high tech instruments
Doctors: Seen by two doctors both were very professional
Insurance: I have PPO and did not have any problem and my share of the insurance was acceptable

1 Stars: HORRIBLE (by Catherine O.)

Catherine O. — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:56:00 GMT

My experiences with Hillcrest Family Dental were actually so bad that I changed my dental plan so I could go elsewhere. After I switched, my roommate had recounted one of the stories of my experience to her dentist (the one about my $550 cleaning that took them less than 20 minutes), who practices nearby, and they asked which dentist she was referring to.

When she told them, they LAUGHED. They said this office has a reputation of over-inflated estimates and unnecessary treatments.

Do yourself a favor and choose another dentist immediately.

1 Stars: Fool me twice... shame on you. (by Wallace W.)

Wallace W. — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:39:00 GMT

I can confirm the negative experiences with Hillcrest Family Dental posted on this site:

I went in for a routine checkup. I did not have cavities. They used the camera that others have mentioned and showed me how "bad" my teeth were. I brush and floss regulary but had not been to the dentist for a year so when they recommended the "deep" cleaning I agreed.

My insurance covers regular cleanings but their recommended cleaning cost my insurance $900 and me an additional $100 (remember that my insurance told me this visit would be free assuming I just needed routine cleaning). This treatment included "irrigation" which, as others have testified, couldn't be done in one visit. So I had to leave and come back (THE SAME DAY). To top it off the "irrigation" was about the most unpleasant dental experiences I've ever had.

As stated I take care of my teeth but hadn't seen a dentist in a year so I took responsibility for this unpleasant experience. They would soon prove me wrong.

When I went back four months later for my next regularly scheduled cleaning I saw a different hygenist. She was very nice and told me the whole time that she could tell I take good care of my teeth. She even went so far as to say that she didn't have to do much cleaning.

HOWEVER when I went up to the front desk to check out and schedule my next cleaning, they presented me with a bill for $78.

I showed them my insurance policy indicating that routine cleaning were fully covered and refused to pay. The desk attendant indicated that the extra charge was for "irrigation." I had experienced "irrigation" the first time around and knew, of course, that I DID NOT get that done (unless they want to charge me $78 and my insurance co. who knows how much to "rinse and spit" and call it "irrigation").

I objected again and the attendant went to consult with the head doctor who had checked the work of the hygenist. He came back and indicated that they had performed "mild irrigation" and wouldn't charge me this time but that I will be charged for it next time.

I will not be going back. This place has the business model of an auto repair shop and clearly has no qualms about fleecing you for uneccesary or unperformed work.

Visit this clinic at your own risk.

5 Stars: definitely recommend (by walter o.)

walter o. — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 17:16:00 GMT

I was referred to this office by a friend. After reading some review, I hesitated but nicely suprised from the start and completely satisfied at the end. Even though this is a family dental center, most people look professionals from Hillcrest and Downtown area. Maybe, that explaines the number of reviews this office is getting. I found the office very friendly, clean and the doctors professional. I had painless visits in terms of both treatment and cost and recommend this office to everyone.

5 Stars: Professional friendly office (by suzan m.)

suzan m. — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:56:00 GMT

I definitely had a great experience in this office. I visited this office for 3 times and everytime I withnessed great friendly service. The waiting room puts you at ease before you see the doctor. You do not feel that you are at the waiting room of a dental office. The back office is very nice and has all high tech equipments. I did not even smell the medical/dental office smell. Both the doctor and the financial coordinator were very informative in my first visit. The coordinator spent a lot of time with me and arranged the credit I asked for. I did not like paying some abfront to make an appointment for my second visit but I guess some offices do that in order to prevent no-shows.

My veneers and crown ended up great and I can not be happier.

1 Stars: It's a scam. (by Nicki B.)

Nicki B. — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:21:00 GMT

All they want is your money. From the minute I sat in the chair it was one big scheme to get as much money out of me as possible. At the end some woman sat down with a financial payment plan they could put me on for the thousands of dollars of dental work they claimed I needed. She was pushy and manipulative and called me 3 times after I left when I wouldn't call her back.

Horrible experience!

5 Stars: I ONLY FEEL SAFE HERE... (by nancy b.)

nancy b. — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:02:00 GMT

I only feel safe here...that is what I heard from a lady who got a treatment in this office. After hearing many horror stories, you can be safe here, get a perfect diagnose, thanks to both the diagnosing doctor and the high-tech equipments in the office. If you need fillings, you can bet that you will see it on the monitor as opposed to other offices who can not diagnose with old x rays or conveniently tell you that you do not need fillings since they do not get paid enough for fillings or prefer you pay for crown later. If you like to have a perfect dental treatment in a clean, homey, comfortable, high tech office, Hillcrest Family Dental is the place. I prefer to pay for a filling that was caught on early stage with hight tech equipment than be sorry for not having the treatment and end up paying big bucks and suffering from pain later...

1 Stars: I'd rather let my teeth rot than go back to Hillcrest Family Dental Center (by richard a.)

richard a. — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:34:00 GMT

Hillcrest Family Dental are crooks and that is an understatement. They belong on an episode of 60 minutes or some investigative news program. They have what seems to be the latest dental technology (not to mention their upscale interior design) but that is their way to present themselves as a legitimate dental service.

I went there for a cleaning. They told me I needed a deep cleaning. I accepted and only received the cleaning. Apparently they never do it in one appointment. I later did some price checking and found that most local Dentists charged the price. Before the cleaning, the dentist, using a small cam, showed me images of teeth on a TV monitor. I believe the images they showed me were a recording of someone elses teeth. The dentist pointed to an image of a rotting tooth I had never seen before. I was then told I had 9 cavities and needed extensive work, approximately 1,300.00 dollars of extensive work. I take good care of my teeth. I was shocked.

Then the treatment coordinator (a woman named Sandie) pressured me (like a used car sales person) to sign up for a dental credit card (Credit Care which is another story in and of itself. I will just say that they are loan sharks.) She then charged my Care Credit card a thousand dollars before I received any advised treatment. She also kept pressuring me to replace my cavities with expensive white fillings (that my insurance would not pay for) instead of regular (insurance covered) grey fillings.

Anyways, after my experience with Hillcrest Family Dental, I sought out a second opinion at two different dentists. Using the same set of x-rays taken at Hillcrest Family Dental, both dentists advised me that I had NO CAVITIES and only needed a regular cleaning.

I realized that Hillcrest Family Dental couldnt care less about my dental needs. They are only in Dentistry for the money. My advice is very basic: get a second opinion when something sounds weird or near outrageous as my experience. You might save yourself a lot of time, stress, and money problems, especially if you have a very limited income such as myself.

Btw-My insurance was delta dental PMI. They sort of got me in this mess. Hillcrest Family Dental was on their very limited list of local dentists who accepted delta dental PMI. Ill never sign up for this insurance again.

1 Stars: Stay Away (by John G.)

John G. — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:20:00 GMT

These guys will use high pressure sales tactics to fit you with a first class bill for services. I got the distinct impression that patients come last at this office.

Do not pay for or schedule services until after you have had a chance to go home, think it over, and look for alternate providers.

Some of the staff is pleasant, but the operation is very inefficient, the examination rooms are not clean, and the whole place has an air of second rate opportunism where only the minimum effort is made for you.

Watch out.

3 Stars: Did a good job. (by c f.)

c f. — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 11:04:00 GMT

Saw me in one visit for a crown that fell off... told me they cant replace someone elses work, need a new crown. It was an older crown, so i let them fix it. They pretty much forced a gum injection treatment on me, but it might have been for the good. Friendly staff, I am satisfied with my treatment, probably gonna switch to another dentist when I can upgrade my dental at work. It was an ok place, and I will go back until I can change to a better level of insurance.

4 Stars: Good experience, even though it was early in the morning. (by Sean C.)

Sean C. — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:23:00 GMT

I had a positive experience with everyone that I encountered in the office, from the receptionist to the hygienist and the dentist. Everyone treated me with courtesy and respect. They all had a helpful demeanor and answered my questions honestly and provided good explanations for the course of treatment that they recommended.

5 Stars: Great Service Friendly Poeple (by jose g.)

jose g. — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:51:00 GMT

1st Visit Like Everybody Hates To Go The Dentist But Made Me Comfortable Just Like A Big Family . Friendly People And Great Service Will Recommend To All My Family And Friends.....

4 Stars: EXCELLENT DENTAL CARE (by kathy l.)

kathy l. — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:26:00 GMT

I was referred to this dental office by a collegue more than a year ago. Actually, now many people in company go to this dental office. It is a very friendly, professional, high tech dental office. You get excellent dental care with reasonable prices. It looks like you either love this office or you hate it if your dental insurance is simply a referral service and expect the insurance cover your dental work. Even those unsatisfied people have high remarks for the dentists and dental work. So go there for excellent dental treatment and have more information about your insurance if you do not want to be frustrated later.

PROS: excellent dental care, very clean
CONS: it is a busy office, make your appointment in advance

1 Stars: Run don't walk, RUN (by Kay B.)

Kay B. — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:04:00 GMT

Insurance scam. Their was one dentist and his assistant that were excellent, but the front office is running an insurance scam. They make you come in for an initial exam, then back again for x-rays, then back again for a deep cleaning, then back again for the polish. They say they cannot do everything in one day ONLY because they are charging your insurance company for every visit. Then they come up with some MAJOR work that really does not need to be done, that your insurance does not pay for. So they come out with a finance loan application from a finanical instutition for you to sign your life away. Shop around, you are better off.

5 Stars: Professional and informative (by Theresa P.)

Theresa P. — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:23:00 GMT

I went to this office after reading some of these reviews expecting to be disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised on how nice and informative the staff was. The digital x-rays are much easier than the old cardboard ones. They don't rip up your mouth! They also used a camera to show me where the problem areas in my mouth were. The assistant really knew what she was talking about and explained everything really well. She told me I needed a little more than just a regular profalictic cleaning (which is just a polishing) and had to get the middle type of cleaning. I also had to have a root canal done (YIKES!) but the doctor made it very comfortable for me. It didn't hurt at all! I had a very pleasent experience.

PROS: Very informative and fun staff, beautiful remodeling in process
CONS: Brought me back a little late.

1 Stars: Disappointing (by Magda O.)

Magda O. — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:31:00 GMT

I went once as a new patient. Here are the "highlights" of my visit.

1)There was tension between the dentist and hygienist. Whenever the dentist would say something that the hugienist didn't approve of, she'd interject into our conversation, rudely.

2)The dentist wouldn't tell me how many years of experience she's had in this industry.

3)I came in with a troubled tooth, and after I got home and looked at the tooth chart which had the troubled tooth circled, I realized that the dentist zeroed in on the wrong tooth. It's a dentists's JOB to inspect each tooth carefully (especially on a first visit) to prevent any unnecessary work and to fix the problem teeth!

4)The dentist wants me to get an expensive cleaning, which I know is unnecessary.

5)The dentist was bragging about being a good dentist. This should go without saying. The arrogance made me uncomfortable.

6)Appointment started late.

I'm not going back.

5 Stars: happy camper (by brian b.)

brian b. — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 13:15:00 GMT

I have been going to this office more than 2 years. I am very nervous guy and probably considered a difficult patient. You are met in this office with friendly people both in front and back office. The office is clean and getting more cleaner and beautiful (renovating was almost finished). I felt that I should write here since I was very happy with the result of deep cleaning and the medication they put last time which stopped the bleading I was having for years. This time I did not pay anything for my regular cleaning and I am happy camper.

PROS: fund friendly clean dental office
CONS: you sometimes see two diffent doctors

1 Stars: Stay away from Hillcrest Family Dental it is an insurance scam operation!!! (by thomas r.)

thomas r. — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:38:00 GMT

I spent two days there for a total of 4 hs. They perfomed no real prophylaxis at a cost of ~$900.00 (co-pay and insurance). You can't even get a complete basic cleaning for $900 bucks.

PROS: None
CONS: These crooks are only interested billing insurance for as much as they can!

5 Stars: Painless visit (by wendy s.)

wendy s. — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:11:00 GMT

Probabably because of my insurance is not really an insurance, I did not have good experiences before in any dental office. After not being able to get a cleaning appointment for the next 6 months in my previous clinic, I tried this office. Office is a high tech office and very clean. All the people in the office were really kind. I was told to pay a little over $500 for a crown, which was almost half of the price of some dental offices charge. So, it was a painless and happy visit for me. Wendy

PROS: high tech, clean, frendly staff
CONS: admitted 5 minutes late

1 Stars: horrible dentists (by Anahid B.)

Anahid B. — Thu, 25 May 2006 18:46:00 GMT

These dentists are ridiculous. I went to them because they accept reduced-fee insurance plans, and I have Liberty CA90. (After this, I'm going to suck it up and pay the higher price for dental insurance through work.) I could go on & on about this place, but suffice to say when I was getting a rather deep and painful filling, the dentist acted like he was annoyed the whole time. He didn't let me rest my jaw once during the 30 minutes of drilling and filling the tooth, making me keep my mouth wide open the whole time. AND, when I asked if everything was going okay, since he wasn't saying anything and seemed to be having some difficulty, he answered, "Yes, it's just a hassle." When he was done, he got up and walked out without evening saying anything to me. I expect a dentist to at least be nice to me when I'm going through a painful procedure. On top of everything, the tooth keeps hurting and I have to spend money again to have it looked at by another dentist.

PROS:
CONS: unprofessional, rude dentists

3 Stars: think before you sign on the dotted line (by Brian J.)

Brian J. — Fri, 05 May 2006 09:04:00 GMT

My opinion of this firm didn't start out well, mainly due to the fact that the assistants seemed to be playing around instead of acting professional and a few (not all) of the dentists need to work on their people/communication skills (pretty impersonal). At your initial visit, the dentist will check out your teeth listing everything they think you need done. Immediately (while you're still in the chair) an administrative person will come in and get you to sign off on those procedures.

THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU SIGN. If you have immediate pain, get that work done, but realize that they're going to keep adding to that initial "quote".

Having said that, I think that the dentists are skilled and do good work. I had 2 porcelin overlays done which turned out great. I'm convinced that the "arestin" deep cleanings weren't worth the money and do not like the waiting times (but that seems to be standard practice with dentists these days).

Overall, I think they have some in-house issues they need to work out, but when it gets down to fixing teeth, the dentists are very good and are the best I've been to which are covered by my insurance (head and shoulders above SmileCare and Mission Valley Family Dentists).

PROS: helpful front desk, skilled dentists
CONS: unprofessional assistants, salesmanship

1 Stars: UNPROFESSIONAL CROOKS! (by Cristin K.)

Cristin K. — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:19:00 GMT

Copy of what I sent to my ins. co., I thin this office is scamming patients & insurance:
My husband & I made 1appointments w/new dentisit, have our teeth cleaned, xrays, etc. I would not be getting my xrays or cleaning that day b/c I was pregnant-My previous dentist always cleaned my teeth when I was pregnant. The tech stuck a camera in my mouth then my appointment was over. Same thing happened with my husband. The tech told him they would not clean his teeth that day because he needed lvl 3 cleaning fro $900, when the dentist came in he said the procedure wasn't needed, but lvl 2 for $120 should be done. The dentist went on to quote scriptures from the bible about populating the earth, which was VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. The tech told us that that they'd be billing the insurance company $900 for the appointment. THEY DID NOTHING EXCEPT TAKE MY HUSBAND'S XRAYS THAT DAY. She required to us to prepay $120 for a future lvl 2 cleaning & would not provide a receipt. When I called them to make the appointment I left 7 messages over the course of 4 days w/no return call. My 8th call on the 5th day someone answered she was VERY rude. Today my husband had "lvl 2 cleaning" he said the tech did nothing except spray something in his mouth & all his previous cleanings at other dentisits offices thehis teeth were cleaned & polished-not this time. He felt very uncomfortable with them, like they were trying to cheat him & you the insurance company. The tech then told him he needed to make appointment for a $900.00 deep cleaning and tried to pressure him into it/prepay for the deep cleaning. There is NO WAY we will go back, I'd bet my life's savings that this people are crooks & scamming patients & insurance-You should investigate them. I was googled their address for this form & I found this link, wish I found it earlier

PROS: Nothing, this was the WORST medical/dental experience I've had
CONS: Bragging about billing insurance for NOTHINg-don't go here

1 Stars: I cannot believe how unprofessional this dentist is! (by david s.)

david s. — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 08:57:00 GMT

As others have mentioned, go here to get rude service and to be ripped off. I was absolutely NOT treated like a client....more like cattle being herded through their money machine. For one thing, they expect you to return a verification phone call a couple days before the appt to let them know that you will definitely be coming in. This shouldn't be my responsiblity. If I make an appt, I'll be there. I didn't return the call the first time, and they acted like they weren't expecting me when I showed up. The first visit was decent...I only waited an hour to be seen. But two weeks ago I went in to get my teeth cleaned, and instead wasted an hour and a half of my day, leaving only with xrays done. They told me to come back in two weeks to get my cleaning and a tiny cavity filled. That was supposed to happen today. Two days ago I get a msg telling me that my 'under the gum' cleaning and fillings will come out to over $250. I never asked for this treatment and was never notified that I'd be recieving it. "Didn't someone go over the fees with you?", they asked. "No!"
And how the heck am I supposed to know what a full cavity ultrablah blah blah is? Am I supposed to know all of their industry jargon? "You could have asked more questions", they told me. So I tried to tell them that I just a regular cleaning, and they tell me that I'll need to reschedule something cuz there's nobody there that can perform a reg cleaning today.
To top it all off, the staff is rude and obnoxious. I just wanted my teeth cleaned!!!
Do not go here unless you want to be jerked around and enjoy wasting your time.

PROS: none!
CONS: rude, scam artists, dishonest, dumpy

1 Stars: Unnecessary treatments and some rude staff (by Joshua D.)

Joshua D. — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:41:00 GMT

They recommended under-gum cleaning for me also, and I've never had any gum problems. I used to go to another dentist that I really like but when I changed employers, I had to change dentists also. This place is sort of dumpy, and the first visit was awful. The dentist was rude and had a language barrier and when I asked for explanations on why I needed procedures, she scoffed at me. One of the dental assistants there was also very rude to me. The only staff that were friendly was the receptionist and the person that took the xrays of my teeth. I joined my employers PPO plan instead of the HMO just so I won't have to use this dentist anymore. It was very bad. Last thing - on my second visit, I waited for over an hour to be seen.

PROS: friendly receptionist
CONS: rude dental assistant and dentist, long waits, unneccessary procedures

1 Stars: Go here if you want to get unnecesary treatment and ripped off. (by Erin S.)

Erin S. — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:03:00 GMT

I picked this dentist from my limited list of choices provided by my insurance, not knowing what I was in for. First off, I was waiting for about 30 min in the waiting room just for a consultation, since it was the first appt and couldn't get just a basic cleaning. After x-rays they took me into another room where they examined my mouth with an impressive camera, telling me my mouth looks "very infected and needs a lot of work." I then waited about 30 more minutes for the real dentist to come in and look at it, to be falsey told that I had 5 cavities and a gum infection that needed antibiotic treatment. The grand total added up to whopping $1000 with insurance. This was quickly followed by documents shoved in my face, agreeing to treatment and payment options. I signed nothing out of weariness, and eventually ended up going back to my old trustworthy dentist for a free second opinion.
Ended up, I had NO cavaties, no GUM infection... I just needed a basic cleaning. I ended up getting two sealents on two back molars, but only for preventive measures. This was done for a grand total of $130 w/o insurance.
So my suggestion, DO NOT go to this dentist. Yes, they may try to use a very personable approach to sway you into getting royally ripped off, but do not fall for it. It's a big dental scam.

PROS: Impressive dental tools.
CONS: Everything else.

1 Stars: Worst experience at a dental office ever (by Jill T.)

Jill T. — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 15:07:00 GMT

I have nothing good to say about this dental office.

The other reviewer mentions a mouth camera, which did seem impressive, until I realized they used to to scare me about my mouth (whixh is quite healthy) and recommend unneeded services. The first visit they won't even do a cleaning - just this consultation.

They recommmended a below-the-gum cleaning, and when I got it done the dentist there said I didn't need it. They gave me so many appointments it was ridiculous - I lost so much time from work.

Plus, I've never been seen on time - usually a half hour late.

The topper - they filled a tiny tiny cavity and now that tooth hurts like crazy and they say I need a root canal now. What?! I'm going somewhere else. I think they are scam artists.

PROS:
CONS: Long wait; they recommend unneccesary services