My children were patients at Brent Porter's pediatric dentistry practice since February 2024. We have since left the practice because our experience with communication, treatment planning, and follow-up regarding our children's dental care was not what we expected. In March, my 4-year-old daughter had a follow-up after a cleaning due to tooth decay. Dr. Porter's office sent us home with a consent form for Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and scheduled a treatment appointment, requiring us to take her out of school. When my wife brought our daughter to that appointment, she learned that no procedure was actually planned. Instead, the appointment became a consultation where Dr. Porter recommended future treatment involving anesthesia and tooth extraction. This was confusing because we had previously been given the SDF consent form, yet Dr. Porter stated he never intended to pursue that option. When asked why we were given the paperwork if it was not being considered, we did not receive a clear explanation. The recommendation was to extract both teeth, even though one had significantly less decay than the other. During that discussion, Dr. Porter also mentioned placing a spacer afterward to prevent space loss, which was concerning because this was the first time we had heard about the need for one. This was especially concerning because our son had previously had a tooth extracted by Dr. Porter about a year earlier. That procedure required anesthesia, resulting in a significant out-of-pocket cost through a third-party provider. The experience was difficult, as our son woke extremely upset and appeared to be in pain. While we were trying to comfort him, Dr. Porter commented on how rewarding the experience was because he was able to help our son. Given that we were holding our clearly distressed 5-year-old autistic child in that moment, we found the comment inappropriate and felt it showed a lack of awareness of what our family was experiencing. During our daughter's consultation, we learned that our son's previous extraction should have involved consideration of a spacer to prevent space loss. Despite this being discussed during our daughter's consultation, this was the first time we had ever heard one was needed for our son. It had never been discussed before his extraction, during treatment planning, after the procedure, or during any later cleaning appointments. When my wife asked Dr. Porter why we were only learning this now, he repeatedly focused on patient compliance rather than answering why we were never informed a spacer was needed. When I later called, I received the same response. Only after repeated attempts did he acknowledge he may have made a mistake by not bringing it up. Our concern was not whether our children needed treatment -- it was whether we were being given complete information and all reasonable options. We expect clear communication about procedures, alternatives, and follow-up care regardless of why treatment is needed. I requested Dr. Porter's office send our children's full dental records to us and Capitola Kids Dentistry, where we had begun becoming new patients. The records were not sent then or after a follow-up a month later. They were provided two months later, one day before our appointment with the new dentist, and only after the new dentist requested them directly. Our experience at Capitola Kids Dentistry was a clear contrast. They confirmed that one of our daughter's teeth did require extraction, which we expected, but recommended trying to save the other tooth with a steel crown rather than removing it immediately. They also recommended a different sedation approach for the needed extraction and immediately addressed our son's spacer situation after noting space loss had already occurred. Most importantly, Capitola Kids Dentistry involved us in the decision-making process, explained the options clearly, and made sure we understood the reasoning behind their recommendations. Given the contrast between our experience at Brent Porter's practice and Capitola Kids Dentistry, we would not recommend Dr. Porter to families looking for a pediatric dentist who clearly communicates treatment options and takes ownership when follow-up concerns arise. Our concern was not simply that extraction was recommended -- it was that extraction appeared to be presented as the only option for both children without discussion of alternatives, while a missed part of our son's prior treatment was never communicated to us and was only addressed after we raised the issue. When we did raise that concern, we found it difficult to get a direct answer rather than a clear acknowledgment of what happened. Parents should feel informed and confident that they understand all reasonable options before making decisions about their children's dental care. read more

I love that this office offers the laser. I actually told all my friends & doctors I work with about him. However, after today I will be letting all of them know he's not someone you want to work with. I came to find out that they are not transparent at all about the materials they use in their office. I told Dr. Porter I don't use fluoride on my son & he said that was no problem. He failed to mention that they use fluoride-releasing dental composites for their fillings. I had a bad feeling this morning when I was taking my son in for his fillings so I asked them to give me the brand & name of the composite they use. I was shocked that he hadn't mentioned to me that they had fluoride in them because we specifically had a conversation about fluoride. When I asked to talk to him today about all of this hoping that he would be willing to order a different material to use to fill my son's cavities, he wasn't open to the idea at all. However, he did mention how happy he was that SC doesn't have fluoride in the water. I asked "so you are happy about that but then you put fluoride in people's mouths? How is that any different?" He was unable to answer the question. He just said sorry I'm not going to work with your son. Also another important thing to note is that his hands were shaking a lot when examining my son's mouth. I am definitely wondering if it's okay for a dentist to have those issues when needing to be so precise, especially with something like a laser. He also doesn't allow parents chair side when their child is having the laser/cavity filling which is a big red flag to me as well. When a doctor isn't willing to honor a parents request or even consider doing so, and then also failing to be transparent about their materials, this is not a good doctor & I will not be recommending him to anyone. read more

Wonderful friendly kind staff with an insightful and knowledgeable dentist. Took my daughter for her first visit and it went extremely well. read more

The whole team, Brent and Buzz lightyear went above and beyond to give the best care to my child. I am forever grateful.

I just want to take a minute to talk about our EXCELLENT 1st visit to this office (and first dentist visit for my baby!) My son and I came in today and were blown away by how beautiful and kid friendly the office was. Everyone from reception to hygienist to doctor were friendly, kind and knowledgeable. Dr Porter really took the time to educate me on how to best clean and floss my babies teeth and answered all questions without rushing. He really cares and it shows! I am so pleased we landed with this office for our dental care and truly am excited to continue bringing my son! Also cutest little gift bag was the most special touch. Thanks Dr Porter and team, truly 10/10 experience! read more

My family was cancelled after we paid for 3 missed appointments, per kid (and we have three kids, over like 8 years). He cancelled my boys after they were diagnosed with cavities, which was lousy because we were mid-treatment. And had to hustle and find a DDS to not only take us as new patients but tranfer records and book appointments to fill cavities. In the long run, he likely did us a favor! read more

Really amazing people. My daughter has gotten such great dental care here. Staff is super amazing. You can tell they care. On top of all that they do a drawing for a new bicycle and my daughter won! So fun!!!! These people actually care and love what they do helping children have good dental. read more

Brent J Porter, DDS MS - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Dr Brent Porter and his staff are great. He is so gentle and caring with my son. They make him feel comfortable and each time my son goes there he feels more comfortable and relaxed. Definitely recommend him. read more

Brent J Porter, DDS MS - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I've had a generally positive experience with Brent Porter's office in the past, especially for routine pediatric cleanings. The hygienists are excellent, appointments are efficient, and my kids usually enjoy their visits. However, my recent experience left me deeply disappointed and frustrated, particularly with the lack of communication and care during recent appointments. I had a confirmed appointment for both of my kids, but when we arrived, the secretary was surprised, and the dentist was a "no-show." Despite showing the confirmation email, no one was available to see my children, and there was no explanation or follow-up. This was a significant inconvenience for me as a working mom, who had to leave work early, pick up my kids from school, and drive across town during rush hour, only to find out the appointment was not being honored. Given that the office confirmed the appointment in advance, I expected better communication. Had there been a last-minute change, a simple cancellation notice--by text or email--would have been the least I could expect. On a more personal note, I've had concerns over the years regarding some treatment options. For example, when my children were prescribed fluoride pills at their first visit despite no hygiene issues, there was no explanation or discussion about their potential benefits or risks. After doing my research, I chose not to give them the fluoride. Over the years, there's been very little evidence supporting the use of fluoride; it is not 100% safe, and hydroxyapatite has the benefits and none of the chemicals. More recently, during a filling procedure for my daughter, I was instructed not to tell her anything about potential discomfort - he said do NOT mention pain. This approach seemed to stem from the dentist's discomfort with causing any pain, but it felt like an attempt to avoid setting clear expectations for my child. Transparency about what to expect would have been a much more beneficial and responsible path as an adult, as my daughter is very resilient with pain when she understands the process. I want my children to be treated with respect, informed, and educated about their bodies. We value having healthy boundaries with trusted adults who know the importance of clarity, consent, and compassion. Additionally, when I raised concerns about my daughter's oral habits (such as mouth breathing, snoring, and recent chewing on objects), the dentist shrugged them off, not recognizing that these behaviors could be signs of underlying issues like developmental ENT issues, sensory processing concerns or anxiety. This lack of awareness led me to seek another dentist who specialized in OMD, sleep-disordered breathing, and oral development. After a more thorough assessment, she was diagnosed with issues that required ENT surgery and ongoing orofacial myotherapy. I was also disappointed by the policy of not allowing parents to accompany children during procedures, which feels counterproductive in a pediatric dental setting, and not having a parent present feels like a missed opportunity for building trust. Finally, I've noticed an ongoing issue with the office's business practices, particularly the barrage of emails and texts asking for five-star reviews after every visit. While I understand the importance of feedback, this persistent messaging is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience. While I appreciate the staff's efforts in many areas, I am now seeking care elsewhere for my children due to the lack of communication, the dentist's approach to child care, and their reluctance to provide essential medical advice. I hope this feedback helps improve the experience for others in the future. read more

Wonderful experience from the moment we walked into the office. The waiting room is very visually stimulating for busy little bodies. There is a large interactive game in the middle of the room and a bookcase full of wonderful children's books about teeth. Couldn't recommend more for your child's first and continued dental care. Looking forward to calling this practice home for my child's dental needs for the foreseeable future. Thank you to Dr Porter and his team for making my sons first dentist experience at 3.5 years old such a positive one! He loved receiving his new patient goodie bag and was excited to brush his teeth this morning. Its a win win all around! read more

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Office is not very understanding of special needs kids. Our child has autism and other disorders, and it's difficult to get her anywhere for any type of appointment. Our child is 14 years old but is also developmentally delayed and behaves much younger. Because we were 15 minutes late for her appointment for fillings and a coating, they wouldn't take her, and charged us $100 for a missed appointment. As long as you don't have a special needs child, I would recommend them. If you do, it's very stressful and probably better to look for an office that is more understanding and accommodating. read more

I was very nervous when looking to take my oldest son to the dentist and found Dr Brent on our insurance app and decided to go here. From the very beginning all staff and Dr made us feel welcomed and attentive to my son's needs. Started taking my 2 year old and both my sons love going to their appointments. Highly recommend Dr Brent. read more

Our family has entrusted Dr. Porter and his staff to help both of our kids through cleanings and now the 3 step braces process. He cares about each of his patients so deeply and as I saw today. Dr. Porter was excited to get started helping my daughter's mouth/teeth, which to me on screen looked difficult. Put simply, he cares deeply about his patients, loves what he does for a living, gets satisfaction from helping families, and takes a philosophy of prevention. It has worked for us! I truly enjoy meeting with Brent in his office to talk about my kids' teeth health. Appointments are quick and on time and the office vibe is extremely comfortable. If you are looking for a solid solution for your children's' teeth, look no further. read more

My son is two and doesn't like doctors or dentists offices much at all. Usually lots of crying. Last visit to my adult dentist office for him was scary. This morning's visit with Dr. Porter and his staff was wonderful. No tears, lots of smiles. He still wanted to be done, but he let them brush his teeth and look in his mouth. Dr. Porter and his staff were great with him; they're the kind of people that should be working with kids. If you're looking for a dentist for your toddler, I'd recommend this office. The waiting room has lots of books, a lego table, and a train table. Lots of different little toys and stickers for after the visit. This office doesn't have TV screens like other pediatric dentist offices, but I'm glad they don't. The little toys in the office were enough for my son. read more

Dr. Porter and his staff are incredibly kind and patient. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and meet you where you are. I went to Dr. Porter as a child and now I am delighted to bring my kids to him. The front office staff are easy to communicate with and offer helpful information. I was able to bring my 1 and 2 year old in together. The hygienists are gentle and reassuring. Most importantly, both kids had a positive experience and left smiling. read more

I highly recommend Dr. Porter ! He is so good with my grandson. Very friendly and puts Alex at ease. He gives us the straight scoop in a very professional and pleasant way. We also enjoy dealing with the staff. They are very helpful and nice. read more

Dr Porter is great with his patients and their parents . He really takes the time to be one on one with them. His staff is always great when you check in and out and the girls in the back are very friendly and nice read more

Brent J Porter, DDS MS - Dr porter and his family - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Dr porter is a amazing dentist that explains everything in detail and is very helpful making it easy for my son to understand what is happening with each appointment glad to have found a dentist for my children read more

We had a great first experience at Dr. Porter's. All of the staff were great, very welcoming space, and professional vibe. We don't have many specialty dental needs at this point so I can't speak to any dental *work* but can recommend as a good place to get your child into proper oral hygiene etc.. Very happy to have brought my kid here. read more

Both my children see Dr Porter for gen and orthodontic dentistry. We come to this office routinely. They make appt handling, easy peasy. They send reminders and keep us posted updated and informed. And not to forget they are very accommodating making my children feel comfortable and well taken care of. Thank you to Dr Porter and is overwhelmingly kind staff. read more

I can't speak highly enough about my sons dentist and the staff at Dr.Porters office. My son has had some very real anxiety about doctors in general for as long as I can remember, and Dr.Porter has worked with my son so patiently, and always taking in to consideration his sensitivity while providing optimal care for his teeth. I Can't say enough about this office and the good work they do. -Lono read more

Dr. Porter and his team are total pros. We always feel like part of the family when the kids get their teeth cleaned.

It is with some trepidation that I even post a review. I would just say, stay away. Anyway, we had gone to Dr. Porter for several years and it seemed things kept falling through the cracks. Missed reminders and just a sense of unclear communication. But he was a nice man, seemed professional and caring, and the front office was acceptable. Then we were told my child needed some work done and to please come in for a consultation with the doctor. I let months pass and finally followed up and through some significant effort finally learned from the front office that the doctor had recommended the removal of teeth! When I finally caught up to the doctor (not easy) he said he hadn't actually recommended that...he said there were many cavities that needed to be filled! Again panicked, I felt terrible so much time had passed. But I was uneasy about the history of poor communication and the casual way we were informed about a pretty significant diagnosis. So I took my child to a different dentist who simply stated there were no cavities to be filled. None--teeth were all pearly white. So I informed Dr. Porter of this development and the next day I received a letter from his office firing us as patients. So strange. read more

We have been going to Dr. Porter since our kids were little. We now have teens that need orthodontics and Dr. Porter can supply that too!! Such a great guy that really gets to know the kids. We are so happy to have him as our children's dentist. We have dental insurance so our rates/payments are not bad. When it comes to braces he is happy to work out a payment plan. I always recommend Dr. Porter. read more

Brent J Porter, DDS MS - The waiting room. - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Great pediatric dentist for my son. The best attention. The office it's awesome and the waiting room very colorful. I recommend this pediatrician very professional and friendly. #BeCavityFree #buzzybooth read more

A good place to take your kid. A busy office, but Dr. Porter is very gentle and thorough. The practice is set up especially for youngsters, ages three and up. Price? We pay cash since he doesn't take Medi-Cal. $100 for a checkup, $200 for a filling. Expensive, yes - but excellent service. read more

I took my son to Dr. Porter when he was 4 for a cleaning etc. My dental insurance is not great so I decided to pay out of pocket. My son ended up needing two cavities filled. I feel like I overpaid but my son had a good experience. Fast forward less than a year later and a different dentist found cavities on the same teeth that were supposedly filled ( X-rays showed no evidence of any fillings at any time), and they were so deep that he needed to have two baby root canals. I called Dr. Porters office and asked to speak to him and wanted to find out how this could happen on filled teeth. He never returned my call. I ended up writing a letter and asking for my money back. His receptionist contacted me and told me fillings fall out and that because Dr. Porter guarantees his work for two years they would refund my money. I guess I got the refund but I feel disappointed and ignored. No apology from anyone and not even given the respect of the dentist to speak to me himself. It's just rude and a poor business model. If you have choices of pediatric dentists I would definitely recommend shopping around. I regret taking my son here in the first place. read more

My son has been a patient of Dr. Porter's since he was an infant. He is almost 11 years old and is both cavity and tooth decay free. He offers coatings for molars that protect the teeth and keep them cavity free throughout childhood. Dr. Porter is also an orthodontist and therefore provides a one stop shop for your children's dental needs. My son's teeth were crowded and there was not enough room for a few teeth to grow in. Dr. Porter installed the ALF system, which is like a semi- permanent retainer. My son's teeth have improved remarkably with the ALF system. His teeth have grown in and they look straighter. It looks like he has had braces and he even gets compliments on how nice his teeth are. I am grateful for the care that Dr. Porter has provided. read more

This dentist told me that my daughter had at least 5 cavities and needed to be put under. The cost was in the thousands. Needless to say I went to two other pediatric dentists who confirmed my daughter had one cavity. read more

My children both just had their 3rd visit with Dr. Porter, and he is a great dentist. You just can't say anything negative about him and his office staff. Has anyone been to a dentist lately? They are not cheap, but you are paying for an extreemly important service. As someone with major teeth issues, I will pay the extra money to get things done right the first time and have it maintained rather than pay a a cut rate dentist to do work I am going to have to have redone in 3 years. The raffle thing is a great idea...I highly reccommend him to any family! read more

This is my first Yelp review - I don't believe in leaving negative feedback unless extremely warranted but I truly believe Dr. Porter's license should be revoked. My children had gone to Dr. Porter for several years - I found him cold and I found the policy of "don't tell your children what's going to happen" a little unsettling but my kids didn't seem to mind too much so I stayed. Then my 12-year-old son was scheduled to have a tooth pulled - insurance had said that laughing gas was not covered but apparently they did it anyway. My son has a history of hallucinations - as soon as the gas hit, he informed them that a hallucination was coming on and to take the gas away. He is extremely calm and logical and prepared to deal with the onset of hallucinations, but it still made him panic - he cried and asked if they could get me (it is frowned on for parents to be in the room, as Dr. Porter believes we make it more difficult)...Forty Five Minutes later my son comes into the waiting room, puffy eyed, red faced, goes straight to the car. Dr. Porter calls me in for the after-visit and very blithely tells me everything went well "[your son] didn't seem to care for the laughing gas so we just didn't use it and pulled the tooth..." all hunky dorey. When my son told me the story, he said Dr. Porter completely dismissed his assertion that he would get a hallucination, saying "well I've never had one so I wouldn't know what you're talking about" and then refused to get me from the waiting room and continued on the tooth pull even though my son was fighting panic and tears. There are MANY disturbing facts here: the use of gas when it was not approved, the refusal to get me when requested by a child in distress, the refusal to treat the hallucinations as real, the complete failure to mention it to me in the after visit (as a health care provider of any kind...wouldn't that ring a bell of CONCERN if a child says they have hallucinations???). And the kicker is that I went to the next appointment prepared to confront Dr. Porter about it all - an appointment we had cancelled Spring Break plans in order to keep during SB Week - ...and their office was closed all week and they had not informed us or rescheduled the appointment. We are happy now with a new dentist. My advice to anyone considering this office would be to find another one as well. read more

Dr. Porter has been excellent dentist for my son, giving us a great deal of personal attention and going to great lengths to make my son feel comfortable and not be anxious. The quality of his and his staff's service has always been outstanding. read more

As everyone else states here, Brent is a great dentist and also has good hygienists. The front office staff is hit and miss, some are definitely more help and friendly than others. The costs are over the top and keep us from visiting as often as we would like. read more

Dr. Porter is incredibly kind and thorough. He explains everything to my son and is empathetic. No t.v.s are needed here. The office is decorated in a surf decor and the children are given the standard prizes after their checkup. Are you the kind who flosses and brushes really well? Well, than congratulations! You just may be one of the lucky ones who get to enter their names in a raffle and walk off with a new cruiser! If you're not such a great brusher, no worries. You're still treated kindly. My son is not a flosser and he still is congratulated for just using a toothbrush and a post brush "wash". He does not need braces, so I can not comment on that type of service. read more

I cannot speak to the prices Dr. Porter charges because my insurance has always covered my costs (guess I have good insurance). What pleases me the most about Dr. Porter and his practice is his philosophy on intervention. Contrary to what some other reviewers have said, Dr. Porter has always erred on the side on non-intervention, specifically concerning orthodontics. He has cared for my daughter since the age of 4. At the age of 8, when several of her permanent teeth were coming in crooked, he kept telling us, "Let's wait and see what the teeth do before we start talking about braces." Sure enough, her teeth straightened out! I have always felt like Dr. Porter has the dental health of my daughter first and foremost in his mind and actions. I also find the office staff friendly and helpful. The hygienists are thorough, thoughtful and develop a good rapport with parents and children. I've recently moved out of the area and am struggling to find a pediatric dentist that can hold a candle to Dr. Porter :( read more

We had our first child over 9 years ago and a second over 7 years ago. We wanted to find a great pediatric dentist to help us care for our kids teeth. We wanted to find a pediatric dental office that made our kids feel at ease. I called a lifelong friend that has kids a couple years older than ours and asked, "Where do you take your kids?" Their response, "Dr. Brent Porter." We called the office, made the appointment and I'm happy to say we've been going there ever since. Dr. Porter and his team make it fun. Yes, going to the dentist is fun for our kids at Dr. Porter's office. We've referred other families there, and they love it too. Dr. Porter treats with his heart. He and his team work very hard to make it enjoyable for the kids and educational for both the kids AND the parents! After all, we (the parents) have a job to do and it's to educate and encourage our kids to have the best practices when it comes to oral health care. I'm grateful to have Dr. Porter in our corner. read more

Although we didn't end up having Dr. Porter do any work on our son, we felt compelled to write a review about our experience with him. Based on a 2 minute exam of our son's teeth, no xrays, he prescribed a treatment plan of over $6k in work (not including the anesthesiologist's fees). He said our son (4.5yo) had decay worthy of treatment on all but 4 teeth. Said he'd have to do at least 1 extraction and 3 pulpotomies. He also said he had an abscess, and when my husband questioned what made him think that, his reply was "Well, 17 years of experience", with no further clarification. We knew our son had issues, but he was in no pain, and we couldn't see going to such great lengths if the adult teeth aren't affected. He wanted all this done under IV sedation. Seems to be the only way he works, from what I've heard around town. Even though our son is nearly a perfect patient - very compliant. He offered no alternatives, no possibilities to do anything different from his plan. He wouldn't take xrays until that morning, so we'd have no recourse to give it some further thought. We would've had to pay the anesthesiologist $350 upfront to schedule the appointment, with no refunds other than due to illness. It really felt like a scam and a drill mill. Luckily we asked around and got a referral to a family dentist known for being good with children. Our son just had his first tooth worked on yesterday, and it went perfectly. She was able to do a pulpotomy and place composite in his worst tooth, all with just a novocaine shot - didn't even need the nitrous. Her treatment plan will come to just over $3k and only involve 7 of his teeth. There are no abscesses and it doesn't appear he'll need anymore pulpotomies. She made her plan after getting xrays and 2 exams, as well as asking us about our concerns and preferred approach. A complete difference of night and day! I shudder to think what we would've put our son (and bank account!) through had we followed Dr. Porter's ego-filled advice. I'm writing this in hopes that other parents won't be swayed by his fear-filled talk. read more

My daughter had high anxiety after seeing our regular family dentist, so we were referred to Dr. Porter who specializes in children's teeth. After seeing Dr. Porter, my daughter's fear of dentist visits is substantially better! I would credit most of this to his calm, attentive interactions, and the patience he employs as he explains what's happening. The waiting room is fun, and inviting - especially for young ones. His staff has always been kind and helpful. read more

When we said that our kids don't get juice or candy or soda, instead of checking genetic issues as a possibility, he actually said we should stop feeding our kids fruit. Oh, and he'll want to prescribe you everything in the book, at premium cost, of course. And, when my husband said he'd have to "check with his wife" about the estimate, Dr. Porter shamed him as a man for having to do so. He also required that we have an adult-only consultation, failed to unlock the door for the consultation, then sent me a $50 bill for a missed appt. I sent him a bill back for the waste of my time, then was fired as a client. read more

Dr. Porter is a good dentist, but he is too expensive and he is a premium dentist on Delta Dental's insurance plan. That means that he is too expensive for my insurance, and I usually have to pay a lot more money out of pocket. read more