Hulme Orthodontics - Santa Cruz, California

Guadalupe R.

My daughter had a wonderful experience at Dr. Hulme’s office. Always felt heard and welcomed at every appointment. Staff was always friendly and willing to accommodate appointments based on needs.
Definitely recommend especially if your child is hesitant about the process.

Charles J.

My kid needed braces and expanders to make room for future teeth in a tiny, tight jaw. This could have been a rough year for all of us but Hulme made it positive overall. Staff there was, without exception, positive, friendly and fun and the doctor held a great position between casual and professional. He knows his stuff, and doesn’t flaunt it. The office fit us in quickly for emergency repairs (he’s nine, I think he eats rocks) and we had all the hardware removed last week. My kid’s smile looks amazing, and he has no reluctance to go back for followups.

Ryan H.

Review for Dr. Hulme’s Practice

I am deeply dissatisfied with the treatment my daughter received under Dr. Hulme’s care. My 14-year-old explicitly told him she did not want her teeth shaped or shaved down. Despite this, he proceeded without consulting her parents—who are the only ones authorized to make such decisions for a minor. Worse, he misled her by claiming he was removing glue from her teeth, but instead, he was removing the natural enamel ridges.

This unnecessary and unauthorized procedure has left my daughter with ongoing sensitivity and discomfort, particularly to heat and cold. She had previously undergone treatment to minimize sensitivity in her hypo-calcified molars, making this outcome even more frustrating. Dr. Hulme’s actions were not only dismissive of my daughter’s autonomy but also deceptive, as he failed to be transparent about the procedure and its risks.

Months after her braces were removed, my daughter continued experiencing discomfort. When I inquired, I learned Dr. Hulme had lied about removing glue during the shaping. Her dentist later confirmed that glue still remained, requiring multiple follow-up appointments to remove it, and noted no glue appeared to have been removed initially.

When I confronted Dr. Hulme about performing this unnecessary aesthetic procedure without parental consent, he dismissed my concerns and minimized the issue by saying he thought her teeth “looked great.” Later, during another appointment, he had the audacity to bring up my phone call with him to my daughter, telling her that her dad seemed “really mad.” Yes, I was mad—he lied to my daughter, caused unnecessary long-term tooth pain, and dismissed my concerns based on his own aesthetic opinions. This level of unprofessionalism is shocking.

To make matters worse, her overbite—one of the main reasons for getting braces—was not even corrected. Additionally, Dr. Hulme later spoke to my daughter alone about needing oral surgery, an unnecessary and anxiety-inducing conversation for a minor who legally cannot make such decisions. This was deeply inappropriate and unprofessional.

Further, their orthodontic practices were sloppy. For example, a turbo block was installed at her first appointment with the promise it would be removed in two months. However, it was never taken out until my daughter had to remind them during her last appointment. This raises questions about the accuracy of their measurements and overall treatment plan.

Dr. Hulme prioritized his aesthetic vision over my daughter’s health, dismissed her autonomy, failed to consult her parents, and caused lasting discomfort. His approach was careless, dismissive, and unethical. I cannot recommend this practice to anyone.

Julia H.

Every single team member I interacted with was so nice and wonderful. Lorena, who did my imaging and helped me through the whole process was so incredibly nice and personable. I knew going in that I have some very unique challenges to deal with (rare health challenges), and Dr. Hulme listened attentively, asked clarifying questions (which I SO appreciated), and then laid out 2 different treatment option plans for me to consider. It was a super informative and helpful visit without any high pressure sales. I left feeling like I actually mattered as a human being not just a dollar sign on a spread sheet. I will definitely be back once I get the answers to the questions Dr. Hulme helped me know to ask my primary care Dr. in order to know which path I can follow. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Hulme and the entire office and team to anyone needing an orthodontist. You will be glad you did!

Brenda P.

What an amazing first experience for us! Nicest staff ever. Sooooo thorough with the exam as well as explaining his treatment plan to us. We definitely made the right choice! Looking forward to the next two years!

Liz L.

I did not think it was possible! I had crowding and a bad bite causing recession. After 1.5 years my teeth are fixed and it feels amazing!

Alison D.

Dr Hulme and his team have been amazing! They are an accommodating, kind and thorough. Thank you so much for both of my children’s beautiful smiles!

josh G.

Very nice and great customer service. The person that helped me was Shandy. She was very helpful and nice would highly recommend.