This review is long overdue, but I feel it is important as I nearly got conned into some unnecessary and expensive work. I went to Bright Smile as a new patient and had my x-rays and everything done. The assistants, to their credit, were patient and kind. Then came time for the dentist, Dr. Kim, to do her work. She had barely finished saying her name before aggressively digging into my teeth. My comfort seemed to be a nonfactor for her. She then pronounced that my teeth/gums were in terrible shape and that I had multiple cavities which needed immediate work as well as a costly deep cleaning. I had been to another dentist months before and I keep fairly good hygiene so I was not convinced. Nevertheless, Dr. Kim repeatedly tried to pressure me into receiving these treatments. Instead, I went to see another dentist for a second opinion. I did not have cavities, nor did I need a deep cleaning; I have been to other dentists multiple times since this visit and my teeth are in fine shape. The dental group I visit now has a far more modern and clean office, gentle dentists, and free beverages in the waiting area, and most importantly, doesn't try to pressure me into unnecessary treatment. I'm quite glad I never went back to Bright Smile. read more

tl;dr: Dr Kim insisted that I get deep cleaning. When I asked for regular cleaning instead, she refused me all care and had her office manager see me out. The good stuff: + Easy to book an appointment + Nice people at the front desk The bad stuff: - The X-rays.  I lost count in the early 20s and we kept going for a while after that. I would guess one X-ray taken for every tooth in my mouth. The tech (seemed like a nice guy) assured me that the technology they use causes much less exposure than standard X-rays. Hope he's right! -The braces sell.  They repeatedly tried to sell me on clear braces so I can look awesome. To be fair, this is standard for all dentists these days and they were not aggressive about it. - Deep cleaning or out you go!  Dr Kim looked at my X-rays and my teeth, and assured me that I had no cavities or gum disease (hooray!). Then she told me that I need deep cleaning because my teeth "are dirty". You can do your own research, but deep cleaning is an involved, long, and unpleasant procedure that can be necessary, but is often overprescribed because it is lucrative for dentists. Dr Kim did not even use a probe to measure the gap between my gums and teeth, a standard part of the process to determine if deep cleaning is necessary. I replied that I would just have a regular cleaning, thank you very much. She said something along the lines that it would be unprofessional of her to do so. An analogy to cleaning a dirty floor was made, but it was lost on me. When I insisted that I did not want deep cleaning she left, and her office manager came in shortly afterwards to (very politely) inform me that they cannot treat me. If deep cleaning sounds appealing to you, perhaps Dr Kim is a good match. Even better if you want some braces. read more

The quality of care I've received at Bright Smile in the past 6 years has been absolutely top notch. Dr. Kim is compassionate and good at her job, the staff turnover is very low, and everyone is kind and thorough. I recommend this office for all your dental visits. read more

Dirty access stairs littered with trash; outdated reception area, questionable infection control measures, appallingly rude and unprofessional front office staff ...mainly Denise, who told me she was "the boss"(office manager?). She told me to leave and find another dentist as I declined to sign consent for Xrays unless i was given the opportunity to discuss the need with Dr Kim, with whom I had an appointment. As a physician I know, and everyone should know that an INFORMED consent is just that, and patients are entitled to an explanation of risks and benefits and ask questions before signing. I explained that I already had a full set of Xrays 3 months prior at another dentist's office, and they could be shared. I expressed concerns regarding unnecessary radiation exposure and cancer risk. Wow! Never had such a horrible experience in my entire life! So glad I left!!! read more

I love Dr. Kim and her staff . I love idea of them being on time. I didn't have to wait and they took me immediately and I feel that they did a very efficient job. I had one tooth pulled and some old fillings rplaced. I will. Return for cosmetic surgery. read more

Bright Smile Dental - General Dentistry Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been a dental patient of Dr. Michelle Kim for over 15 years; she is exceptionally gentle, as well as efficient. I highly recommend Dr. Kim to my family members (who are also her patients), and to my friends. Her office is conveniently located, and there's plenty of parking. So glad I have Dr. Kim advising me and taking care of my dental health read more

Finally done with Invisalign! Dr. Kim and the staff were great. I am a returning patient, always go back to the best. Thank you Dr. Kim and staff for my great read more

All of the staff members are so sweet and helpful! The dental office is very clean and I feel very COVID- safe there!

After going to another place for another opinion. . . I come to find out that Bright Smile did my fills completely wrong! All my fills have to be redone again because some have been seen to have water inside. So they didn't really take time with my teeth to avoid this. Which is crazy because I trusted them, but I shouldn't have let them since they made me feel uncomfortable about getting white fills. They told me to get silver fillings! Which of course I didn't want. After all the pain I went through I sure did think it was worth it, but clearly not since I have to redo them due to them not doing it correctly. read more

It has been over 6 years that my two daughters have been coming to Dr Michelle Kim and they both trust and feel comfortable around her to do any type of dental work. Now, my daughters are the one to remind me that they need to visit her! I have recently gotten two crowned done on my front teeth. The shape and color of the crowns are perfect and far better than what I expected! read more

Bright Smile Dental is fantastic! They call a day or two your appointment so you never forget and the staff is always so friendly. Highly recommended for anyone. Thanks Bright Smile Dental! read more

The efficiency, communication, and service at Bright Smile Dental is 5-star! Dr Kim and her staff exude professionalism and they always explain procedures in a reassuring manner. I have a long history of dental issues/pain and they ensured that I was always comfortable and aware of what to expect. They are the best! read more

I have been seeing Dr. Kim at Bright Smile Dental for almost 4 years now, and am such a huge fan of her, and of this office. I have struggled with bad teeth all my life, and as a result, had a massive amount of work to be done - cavities, root canals, extractions... you name it, i've had to have it done. They held my hand all along the way, gave me the right advice, worked within my financial limitations, and were just great! The office is clean and friendly, and all the assistants are unusually fun and helpful. I have referred Dr Kim so many times, and all my friends have loved her too! read more

I came here for Zoom whitening deal (I think it was either LivingSocial or Groupon) and I was expecting a little more warmth. The dental assistant who did my teeth was great! She was friendly and made sure I was comfortable during the hour-long process. However, I thought perhaps the dentist would come over at some point during the procedure and introduce herself or something. After all, aren't these online deals meant to promote the business? If the dentist doesn't appear, then how will ever have the desire come back for other dental services done by the dentist? Dentists are a dime a dozen. If I don't feel a connection with you, then I'm movin' on. read more

I was charged for services I never received. On top of that, services were overpriced, so ended up paying high rates for work that was never done. Staff was rude too. This place cares more about money than customer service. read more

Always great service & glad I was able to find a new dentist in the area after my move to Pasadena. Thank you Dr. Kim & staff!! read more

Wonderful practice. Been a client for over a year here and each time was a pleasure. Switched over from a larger practice in Pasadena and I'm happy I did. Besides the cost being cheaper, you get the individual attentiveness from the head Dentist herself each time for even routine cleanings rather than having a hygienist perform the work. As a result, the cleanings are much more thorough. In addition, they open early (6 am) on certain days so I don't have to take leave from work. I also never had to wait long once I checked in and the front office staff (especially Nailea) is very pleasant and friendly even at 6 am. No complaints from me. Highly recommended. read more

I have been going to Dr Kim for over a decade and I finally decided to get my smile even more perfect! The work she did with my veneers is absolutely amazing! I can't stop smiling! The process was fast and the temporaries were great looking too! Thank you so much! read more

Dr. Kim is amazing, she has great bedside manners and she's gentle on my teeth. I've had so many traumatic memories from the dentist but when l come here, l don't feel scared. The staff is really nice and I always feel so comfortable! :) read more

I came for a cleaning. I only needed a cleaning. I have a dentist in Long Beach, it's just a long way for a cleaning. They wasted an hour taking X-rays then told me they did not have time for a cleaning. So my X-ray insurance is wasted for the year and I still need a teeth cleaning. I explained that I only needed a cleaning and they demanded X-rays first. It's a complete scam! Don't let these people rip you off! Why would they schedule a tooth cleaning at a time that was not available? I took the day off of work for this. Ridiculous!!! read more

Found this office via yelp and my insurance provider. The location is easy to find. The receptionist was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and made sure I was informed. The dental assistant was very thorough with her xrays, made sure I was taken care of, and asked continuously kindly if I wanted to watch TV while waiting. The dentist (Dr. Santos) was very genuine and kind. I love that they take pictures of the parts of your teeth that needs work and show you on a nice big screen. I've never had that at any dentist I've visited in the past. That was special. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of the 5 is because I came home with a radiation headache from all the xrays the dental assistant took. She was almost too thorough, wanted them perfect, and took over 15+ photos. The most I've ever had done in one visit and I just need 3 fillings replaced, all on one side of my mouth. Being thorough isn't bad. I have confidence in their ability to do a great job which is why I'm coming back in a few weeks. Happy to have chosen this dental office! Would recommend them to others. read more

Got recommended to Bright Smile by a friend and boy am I happy I listened to her!! Dr. Kim and Dr. Santos are great. Emily and the rest of the girls are friendly, patient and very informative! They take time to answer all my questions and address my concerns. So glad I finally found my go to dentist office! read more

I'm so glad I found this place right in my neighborhood! I've had horrible experiences with past dentists. But Dr. Kim is exactly the opposite: she's the BEST! Dr. Kim is extremely friendly and caring and has great bedside manner. I never feel intimidated or rushed and she always answers my questions. As a doctor myself I always want to know what I need to do to have the best oral health and hygiene. She definitely helps me do that. Also I must say that Dr. Kim is as skillful as they get. Like most people I am usually terrified to go to the dentist or have any procedures done but my experiences here have always been completely painless. I feel totally confident with her! Her staff are extremely nice too! They answer all my questions, give me tips and encourage me to brush and floss right. I had to reschedule my appointment because of an emergency at work and they were able to accommodate me on short notice without any problems. Thank you Bright Smile! read more

Thank You Emily for great customer service! Every experience at Bright Smile has been a good one. I also bring my Daughters and they have recommended family and friends to Bright Smile Dental. Thank you for been our family Dentist, our great smiles are because of you! read more

Wrong !!! Butcher. Verified by her own specialist she sent me to to fix the DAMAGE DR KIM CAUSED.

Love Dr. Kim and all her staff. They are all so friendly, caring and patient. I have had numerous appointments and procedures in the last several months and they are always on time, never make me wait. I can't say enough good things about everyone at Bright Smile Dental. I would never go to another dentist! read more

I love this dentist. Been going to Dr. Kim since I was a little girl. Extremely nice and friendly staff. Met Dr. Scholl for the first time today and she is also amazing. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a dentist!! read more

First impression: cordial, professional and caring staff. Excellent dentist - Dr. Kim. Each visit I was greeted with friendly "hello's" and got the impression I was a valued client. Willl be returning for sure. read more

I've been putting off the dentist for years and after much research I found Bright Smile Dental. The staff and doctor are great. The hours are different compare to your typical dentist, they open as early as 7am, so it works for those 9 to 5 jobs, however not mine, but I don't mind because they are so accommodating. On two different occasions they were able to squeeze me in for a much needed deep clean and emergency mishap. Everyone is very friendly and they get you in and out as quick as possible with out lacking in professionalism or quality. I definitely recommend this dentist to anyone. Dr. Kim is a perfectionist and that is exactly what I need when it comes to my teeth. I want it done right the first time and once upon a time I wanted to be a dentist and I understand the special skills it takes to be in this profession. Thank you Bright Smile!!! read more

Parents and grandparents. Don't bring your child to this dentist. This dental office makes your child feel scared when going to the dentist is scary enough for kids. The dentist would not allow even one person in the room with my grandson to make him feel more comfortable. I thought yo myself, what do they have to hide? Having one familiar face in the too I would think would help a child feel more at east. They also wanted to strap my grandson my confining him. He's 9 not a toddler. This should be illegal to do. The staff were marginal and didn't make the situation easier. I would tell anyone, don't use this Dental office. They Do not promote a child friendly environment. read more

Dr. Kim is a hero she is so nice she really cares about her patients I am so glad I met her and trusted her. 100% she helped me so much I was in so much pain and she came to my rescue I will never forget what great service her and her staff gave me !!!! Good doctors are hard to find ! Look no more if you need a professional , clean , reliable dentist she is the way to go. . read more

I came in with a host of problems. One was that I was mistakenly 45 minutes late and they they still saw me. Problem number 2... I am HORRIBLE with X-rays. The dental assistants worked sensitively and diligently with me until they got what they needed. After X-rays the team noticed a host of issues my last dentist clearly missed. They came up with a comprehensive treatment and payment plan so I can maintain healthly teeth and gums. After a horribly painful experience with my last dentist..... I found a new dentist. I love these ladies! read more

Dr kim is the best dentist I have ever known. Her staff is very helpful and nice. Getting your mouth drilled is never fun but they make you feel comfortable and the novacane shots go in easy without any pain. If you want the job done right the first time call Dr. Kim at bright smile dental read more

I'm editing my review because I have come in a few times after my first visit. This is how my overall experience went down : First visit: I had a check up. I found this place on Yelp, seeing the great reviews. The first time I came in, they saw me right away. The dental assistant was extremely nice. Her name was Stephanie, she took X-rays and told me when things would get uncomfortable. She gave me a mini tour of the place just in case I had to use to restroom and didn't have to ask where. I thought it was nice. The front desk lady, Annette was so sweet and very helpful. All the staff I met were extremely kind and the place was very clean. My second visit, I had a fill with Dr. Kim and after asking many people, my aunt who's a dentist , friends and family who's gotten fills, they said it is suppose to be pain free. My experience with Dr. Kim was extremely painful and uncomfortable. I was told my cavity wasn't too bad. I also received another numbing shot after the first one. Even after that, my experience during the drilling was PAINFUL and I can tolerate pain. I couldn't even eat until my appointment the following day because the fill was high and I was extremely sensitive when biting. My third visit today with Dr. Quam was AMAZING. He fixed my bite from yesterday and he did another fill which was completely PAIN FREE. I brought my son who was crying the whole time but the staff was so nice to try to entertain him during the process. I deducted 1 star because if I ever go back, I would never ask for Dr. Kim. I would request Dr. Quam for any procedures needed to be done to me. He was very nice and made my experience pain free. He answered any questions I had and made sure I was aware of any water or air or any type of discomfort, before it happened. read more

I absolutely love the people there!!! I just recently moved to California and I had to find a dentist to go to. It was quick and easy to go in. At first when they told me about my cavities I was nervous but they assured me that everything was going to be okay. Emily was one of the ladies who took pictures of me teeth and she was the nicest of them all. If you go there I would definitely ask for her! She is extremely nice and helped me so much when taking better care of my teeth. I would definitely recommend going to Bright Smile Dental! :) read more

Dr Santos is the best dentist ever will recommend her to all all .... Her staff in the office make you feel welcome like u want to be treated read more

Haven't seen the dentist in awhile, was a bit nervous but the staff made me feel comfortable and Michelle is a miracle worker!

These people will lie to get you into their office. They also won't give you you x rays or report when you ask for it. They do NOT offer nitrous for us who are afraid of going to get work done. read more

I'm updating my review because it was a bit harsh before. Apparently the day they had me waiting 30 min, there was an emergency patient but they could have told me that at check in and my mood might have been better. Other than that, the dentist is friendly and so is the staff so that's nice. I have more pain after a filling than I did before and apparently now I need a root canal. I would have left my tooth alone awhile longer if I knew that would have been the result. So other than that terrible news they've been ok. read more

Where do I begin.. The people here are absolutely wonderful! I've been going here for over a year now and every time I am so happy with my experience. I just got my teeth bleached and my mouth has never looked better. I am so happy!! Had a few fillings done too and Dr Kim is amazing! Very kind, very gentle and pleasant. I have never had a better experience going to a dentist until now. They make it a comfortable place to get any dental work done. Already got my fiancé to come here and I will be recommending them to my family and friends. Thank you!! read more