Santa Monica Family Dental Group and Orthodontics - Los Angeles, California

No N.

I normally don’t do reviews like this, but I wanted to share my experience with this office.

Basically, if you need to get a check up done quickly and efficiently, this is probably not the place for you. When I compare this experience to that at other dentists’ office, there were some red flags that I hand waived away in the moment but, in hindsight, align with other people’s reviews

1) the wait. My appointment was scheduled for 11, but I wasn’t seated in a dentist’s chair till 12:30. Even then, I waited another hour yet no one came to do my cleaning.

2) the x-rays. Every dentist’s office I’ve been to, they normally take 5-10 X-rays of my teeth. This time, they took 20-25 x-rays. In the moment, I just chalked it up to the assistant being more thorough. Now, I’m not so sure.

3) the dentist. The only time I saw the doctor was when I was sitting in the chair and he was reviewing my X-rays. During that review process, he seemed more focused on the TV than on my X-rays. I was surprised to hear him say I had cavities, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Reading reviews, I saw someone say the dentist diagnosed them with a cavity and then hollowed out their 3 back teeth to fill them in. I’m honestly doubting if the doctor’s diagnosis was even accurate or if they just wanted an additional charge. Speaking of…

4) the charges. I came in for a routine cleaning (which should normally be free), but the doctor’s diagnoses meant they tried to charge me $285 ($75 deductible + $80 for fillings + $135 for a deep cleaning.) more importantly, they made me pay for the services BEFORE any work was done. when I left, the assistant tried to make me stay by saying the doctor was just about to apply anesthesia and start the deep cleaning. In all my time at dentists’ offices, I’ve never needed anesthesia for what was supposed to be a routine cleaning. That comment honestly cemented my decision to leave. Thankfully, they refunded my charges.

At the end of the day, I just didn’t feel comfortable having any dental work done here.

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UPDATE: I got a second opinion and they confirmed I had no cavities and no need for a root canal. So, this place is prescribing unneeded treatments just to make a buck. Hard avoid.

Thiago L.

NICE PEOPLE, BUT TERRIBLE ORGANIZATION

It was not good at all, and I don't recommend this place to anyone. I wanted to go somewhere close to my apartment, but that ended up being worst.

I must say people there are very nice, but dental service was terrible. I arrived there at 12:00PM (my appointment time). By 1PM, I was still undergoing x-rays and photographs, and waiting for my treatment. After initial dental assessment, I was told my treatment would take maximum an hour, and I ended up leaving the clinic at 6PM. Why? The dentist was working on several patients at a time. I don't even know if that is allowed - and if it is, it should not be. This is healthcare, and if he had focused on each patient at once, we would not have stayed there the entire day. I was numbed twice. And by the end I just wanted to get out of there.

Good thing I didn't have any plans or any other appointments that day, because otherwise I would have missed everything.

Norma S.

This clinic is always late in getting patients through. My daughter came in for a filling and they left it wrong and she came in to get it fixed and she told me that I had to wait until it was my turn. I had already wasted an entire afternoon and now I have to lose a morning too.

Mark 5.

Not sure what these bad review people talking about on here, I been coming here a long time and always had good experiences. The ladies at the front desk are great about working with your insurance, and the dentists have always done great work on my teeth, friendly, and helped me out a lot.

Danielle V.

Dr Josephus was great at fixing my teeth filled up what I needed
File down great, my tooth was hurting before seeing him.

The lady dentist is great on Friday and Saturday, for root canal

I enjoyed front desk staff and service
cracking joke with them,
help the entire process

Make a appointment,

pastel W.

Front desk are absolute evil. Never come here. Shrek gets mad at anything

Md K. B.

Too bad management, patients are waiting 3, to 4 hours but they are working 30 minutes. Two tooth filing they are takes 3, to 4 hours. No one can go there 🙏please.

Butterfly O.

First off they stole my identity from here either the dentist or a nurse! They were the only ones to have my social during that time, secondly this was The most painful dental work I’ve ever had!! Their Novocain does not work!!!! The Latina old women that work here gossip in Spanish about the dentists and about patients. Also the dentist don’t even greet you like your human they just ignore you and your concerns. I’ve known several people who have had a bad and horrific experience here so I would avoid it at all cost. This place is ran like a sales job, the nurses were teaching the other nurses in front of me how to sales pitch and what to say to get you to pay the most for treatments! They are all demonic and cold hearted and I’m praying they close down. I’m a child of God and they will get justice coming to them