I drove from Los Angeles to La Mesa to see Dr. Paul Michels and the team at Cardinal Dental, and it was 100% worth it. The process took about four months because they are incredibly thorough and make sure each tooth fits perfectly and heals properly. I came in with multiple broken/missing teeth thinking some couldn't be saved, but I was wrong. They have payment plans available if needed. All options are discussed beforehand. The entire team was kind, attentive, and always checked in about comfort, fit, and color. They truly want you to leave happy. I was given clear instructions on how to care for my new smile, and the results have been life-changing. I feel more confident, have a full set of beautiful teeth, and no longer worry about smiling. If you're considering an implant or crown, this is your sign. Highly recommend Cardinal Dental. I'm including some before & after photos. read more

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I had a dental emergency and was nervous to find a new dentist. I called and set up a next-day appointment to get a crown glued back in. They were super friendly and helped me feel comfortable. It was great that the did not charge for a consultation and did X-Rays and gave me quote for treatment plan with no pressure. I don't have insurance right now so couldn't afford to do all the services however I know that once I do, I will be back. Super gentle touch, great bedside manner. Def would recommend!! read more

Been going here for a a few years now they are pretty legit. I always go back. I like there care.

We've been coming to this office for years now and I absolutely would recommend this office to anyone wanting a clean, kind, professional office. I left my old dental office because I felt like i was being "upsold" at every appointment. This office makes me comfortable from the hello when i walk in to the have a good day when i leave. read more

Cardinal Dental - One side of the waiting area. Coffee and water always available, for the few minutes you at have to wait. - General Dentistry Near Me - La Mesa, California

My husband had an appointment scheduled at this dental office, and the morning of his visit he woke up with a cough. He called right away to be proactive and ask whether they would still prefer him to come in or if they wanted to reschedule. Instead of guidance or flexibility, he was told he would have to pay a $25 cancellation fee. What was frustrating is that he wasn't trying to cancel last minute for convenience -- he was trying to be considerate about potentially coming in sick. He even asked if he should still come in, and they told him no, but still required the $25 fee. We understand 24-hour cancellation policies, but most offices make exceptions for illness, especially when someone is trying to do the responsible thing and not expose staff or patients. The situation felt unfair and left a bad impression. Policies are important, but compassion and common sense should matter too. read more

Clean office & staff is all amazing Loved Liv & hygienist Will probably return for cleaning 3xs a year read more

My mom is a newer patient here; this was her second visit. Julie was her hygienist, and she's the best! She carefully explained everything she did, and she also provided good tips for preventing tartar build-up in between visits. She also patiently answered all the questions I peppered her with regarding my own dental care. Overall, it was a good visit and I'm happy my mom found a good dental practice. read more

Cardinal Dental - Front door - General Dentistry Near Me - La Mesa, California

I've had my teeth cleaned there a few times, but this was the 1st time with Julie. She did a great job and was very informative. I got some expert help from Monique at the reception desk with scheduling my next appointments for cleaning and deep cleaning. read more

After several years, and a few bad experiences at other dentist offices, I found myself back at Cardinal Dental. I've wanted/needed my front crowns replaced for YEARS but my insurance always denied as they considered it "cosmetic". Cardinal was able to get them approved and I paid a fraction of the full price. I couldn't be happier. The staff is amazing! Everyone is friendly and wanted to make sure I was happy before placing the crowns. No pressure or scare tactics, which can be hard to find. I absolutely will refer anyone asking me for a dentist. read more

My Mother goes to this dentist, and I transport her here and assist during the appointment. The parking is easy, and there are two handicapped- designated spots right in front. The waiting room of the office is spacious. There is usually only a short wait after arrival. The dentists who have attended to my Mother have been patient and understanding. The pricing for their services is in line with standard charges for the area. Recommended. read more

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Just wanna say this dental office is nice and wanna say thank u to the staff for always helping

I have to tell you, I really fear going to the dentist. I have to say the lovely ladies at Cardinal Dental are wonderful and amazing. The quality and level of care they deliver is very nice. Everything is in house, you don't have to be sent out you can get everything done in one spot. They truly have made my experience a memorable one that gets better every time. Now I actually show up to my appoints, thanks to Cardinal Dental. read more

I have been going there for several years now the staff is excellent and especially my dental hygienist Julie is the best very knowledgeable and caring with my dental issues thank you read more

Amazing care. After changing my dental insurance and now under a new one with a new dental facility, I feel very confident that this was the right choice and cared for. In other dental office it's very transactional. Here at cardinal dental has made me rethink about having positive experiences. The staff here are responsive and very positive. The doctors on sight are very clear and provide a level of professional care. In terms of my experience and first impressions, I definitely feel happy and confident with my instinct of choosing this location. They are knowledgeable of insurance, they give a lot of autonomy on my teeth and making sure I understand what I am getting myself into. Everyone is sweet and makes me feel comfortable. If you have Coveredca and CDN as a dental insurance, definitely give this place a shot read more

OMG, Dr. Matthews is fantastic! She has an amazing personality. I felt extremely comfortable. Had me fired up and ready to get serviced (maintenance cleaning). Backstory: my dentist retired last yr 2024 after taking care of my teeth over 25 yrs.... looking for a new dentist is exhausting when you don't have a referral. Tried several dental consultations elsewhere, none of them passed the vibe. On google I came across this group picture of the Cardinal dental team (happy smiles). Location is perfect off the 125 freeway, friendly staff, excellent Hygienist Julia and her assistant Mary! I found my new home! Thank you Cardinal dental for providing a wonderful experience See you again read more

Came in for my first appointment today after waiting 20 minutes past my appointment time, someone came out and told me it would be another 20 minutes. I walked out . Terrible first impression. Pretty wild given I was sent 3 appointment reminders about my appointment, including the morning of read more

This is the first dental office that has made me feel genuinely cared for and listened to. Every single employee has made me feel so comfortable and we always have such lovely conversations. From Mary to Dianna to everyone in between, each time I go I leave with a smile on my face. They also took such great care of me when I had to have a root canal and was scared out of my mind I even chose my dental insurance based on what they accept/dont. I will forever recommend Cardinal to EVERYONE best dentist ever! read more

Cardinal Dental - My perfect teeth thanks to Cardinal - General Dentistry Near Me - La Mesa, California

Dr. Michael's and his team are wonderful! They are all so kind and made me feel very comfortable. He really listened to me and understood what I wanted done. They took care of my chipped tooth that same day and it looks amazing! Both Dr. Michael's and Michelle did a fabulous job and gave me my smile back. Thank you sooo much to Cardinal Dental, Dr. Michael's and his Team!!! Michele C read more

I have been coming here for a few years now and the staff has always treated me great. My hygienist Julie is great and gentle.

My new General Dentist and very quick to respond to your needs. After having a root canal, Dr Dulzura discovered and infection, suggested I see and Oral Surgeon ASAP. H was 100% correct. read more

Nothing has changed with the rude receptionists. Everyone in the back is fantastic. If they would get people in the front like the back, this place would be fantastic.! Based on reviews, I'm not the only one that has experienced this. read more

I will never go to another dentist ! I came here to have my tooth pulled, and an implant put in and the whole experience was amazing. The whole staff takes the time to explain what to expect, both in office and at home. My implant was a success and I'm looking forward to bringing my little ones here for their first checks ups. I never leave here with questions or confusion, and every experience is a great one. Thank you ! read more

Must be fake reviews! Initial visit: the dentist was very old. Should be retired. Probed my teeth poking causing pain. The front desk younger Asian women with clear glasses beyond rude & condescending. Stated the "only crowns they use are 800". Does not want to use my insurance options. Basically said I was lying about what happened to my tooth. Violated HIPPA by talking about my treatment in the hallway in front of other people. Seems like a scammy place. Such poor patient care read more

Just want to say I would choose a different dentist if I had it to do it over. The dentist was okay but one of the assistants was not. They put a cold gel on my tooth that she just yanked the cap off of, and this created so much pain. I have never felt anything like that and never want to again. It also seemed like they were never on time at every appointment. They did comp me a filling because I am a person who speaks up but I wonder about that pain?? I will leave the rest up to you. read more

They have a wonderful and caring staff. The dental care I have received outstanding.

What happened to this place?!?! Called them to get a filling replaced. Instead, ended up with a 2- hour waste of my day with an unnecessary exam (no doubt billed to my insurance) and an "updated" (not necessary) plan of care. NO FILLLING!!! But I was, instead, forced to make a second appointment at a time that I made clear to them was unworkable for me for a cleaning (which I did not want nor did I request) and for the filling - - the original (AND ONLY) reason for my appointment request. When it became necessary for me to reschedule this appointment (because it was at an unworkable time for me), I was charged $25!!! Sad to see the changes here. read more

I can't help but write a review because I got such a good impression on my first visit. I have been afraid of the dentist since I was young, and even now as an adult, I still don't feel comfortable with the dentist. And it was always difficult to visit medical institutions because I am a foreigner. But since I visited Cardinal Dental, I've changed my mind about the dentist completely. What I am most satisfied with is the excellent service of the staff. They treated me very delicately, kindly and affectionately, and helped me understand my tooth condition accurately and easily. I really appreciate their great works! :D read more

For the past few years I have been going to Cardinal Dental. From the front office to the back office they have never failed to amaze me with their patience and attention to detail. Dr. Michels has always taken time and has been detail oriented in explaining to me everything as to make me feel comfortable and relaxed in his care. read more

I took my parents there a week ago. Got good service. The staff are friendly and nice. The price is good with their MetLife HMO insurance and Humana Medicare Dental. There was confusion about the charge on irrigation as to whether the insurance covers it or not. I emailed them about it and got a prompt reply the next day informing me that Victoria will work on it when she comes back. Victoria called, and gave us the benefits of the doubt, took care of the charge for irrigation and gave us a refund. She also worked on both insurances to see how much she can save us and found a way to get another $10 off. So mom got a mid-level cleaning done for $50 with insurance. Victoria is fair, kind and professional. The doctor and hygienist did a good evaluation of my parents' teeth. They accepted the previous X-ray at another office from a month ago so they didn't have to go through unnecessary x-rays again. Dad needs to be referred to a periodontist first because his teeth are so bad. Mom only needed a mid-level cleaning. We didn't feel like we were being upsold nor told to have things done that are not necessary. The office is clean, spacious and nice. Good experience overall. read more

Not happy with this place at all. First of all the front desk people are not welcoming at all. When you call to schedule an appointment they give you an attitude because you ask questions. If you are looking to schedule an appointment after 4:00pm because you cannot leave work, this dentist clinic is not going to work for you. They Do Not have ANY APPOINTMENTS AT ALL. You have to adapt at their schedule, otherwise you end up not having service. If you ask me that is BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. The clinic looks clean and neat. Some of the nurses are super nice. Dr. Is okay. read more

Another successful trip to Cardinal dental. Dr. Michaels always does such a great job of describing the procedure before he starts and his assistance are courteous and professional. The scheduling was a breeze. i chipped a tooth on the weekend and they were able to get me in right away. Thanks read more

I've had a great experience with this dental office. The staff are welcoming, thorough, and remember me each time i attend an appointment. The dentist is great, explains everything in detail, is efficient and works fast. Overall, the staff show concern and care for my comfort and safety. read more

I received excellent care during my visits to Cardinal Dental. The care was exceptional from the initial consult all the way to the root canal/crown work I had done. The office was diligent in getting my appointments scheduled due to my discomfort and also provided me with ample financial options if I needed them. I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a gentle, honest and proficient dental practice. read more

Cardinal Dental has always been a Great place to go get my dental needs. I've always had a pleasant experience. When any issues arise they address them promptly. Everyone is kind and pleasant. No grouchy employees. lol Give them a shot if you're looking for a new dentist. No regrets. Thank You Cardinal for great service. read more

Cardinal Dental has very professional and knowledgeable staff. Thank you, Victoria, for your guidance and support!

I came in today for a routine cleaning. I arrived 5 minutes earlier than my 4pm appointment time. I was brought in by a blonde woman in a white coat who brought me to the chair to do the cleaning. Then I waited 15 minutes. She comes back and before even acknowledging that she's talking to me, starts saying something like "I'm going to polish your teeth first, and THEN we're going to do the cleaning, ok????" in a really sort of strange tone that was meant to imply that it's totally fine doing it in that order, but all it made me think was that something was wrong and they were backed up. So I asked her why we would do it before the cleaning because I'd never had it done that way before, ever, and if something was wrong (like, are you guys backed up?). She then kept saying that it basically doesn't matter if you polish first, clean second and became very passive aggressive with me. She kept trying to make it all as if I was upset, making a big deal out of nothing, and essentially just threw insults at me disguised as apologies. After a lot of frustration going in circles with me asking "well if it doesn't matter and nothing is wrong, then why don't we do the cleaning first?" and her just continually responding with "because it doesn't matter", I ended up saying "then let's do the cleaning first!" She says "ok!", clearly very frustrated and walks away and says something pretty rude and sarcastic out loud. I've been coming here since last year and have gotten a deep cleaning, new crown, crowns redone. I moved from that area to University Heights but continued to come to Cardinal Dental because I liked going there. Not anymore. I got up off the chair, asked for my money back and left, after driving all the way out there. In my line of work, I also have customers and sometimes don't meet their expectations, and when that happens, I own up to it and I sure as hell don't throw it in their face and make them feel stupid for not getting something that you're relying on an expert to explain to you. read more

Easy to get an appointment. Friendly staff. Nice office. Comfortable experience. I would recommend this Dentistry office to anyone, especially anyone who is at all apprehensive about going to the dentist. They are friendly yet professional from the moment you enter. They took my HMO/Medicare coverage and I had no co-pay for my initial visit. They took X-rays and photos of my teeth and I had a consultation with the Dentist. All-in-all I had a great visit. read more

I can't say thank you enough. Fantastic operation. Took me right in, had a crown that came off from another dentist in Orange County, 2 years attached. After review of issue the result was to reattach the crown and schedule within a week a new crown with root canal work. Previous dentist felt it wasn't warranted. Now since this issue came to pass, a root canal and new crown was the outcome. Wonderful and sincere technicians and docs. Front end personnel are always pleasant and greet you warmly. Good feeling about this office. read more

I have been here several times. My first time was teeth extractions. Second time I needed a cleaning, but since I haven't been seen for over a year, they recommended an exam. I asked if I can get the exam and the teeth cleaning at the same time, the receptionist said yes. When I went into my appointment, they said they cannot perform a teeth cleaning only an exam. Now, I tried to make an appointment for teeth cleaning the lady Karen told me that the hygienist will not perform my cleaning because the dentist recommended a deep cleaning. Karen did not want to hear what I had to say, she just kept cutting me off. This goes to show you all they want is more $. read more

Horrible- go somewhere else! Had my teeth cleaned a year ago and they had not even looked into my mouth and when I told them I just wanted the regular cleaning that is paid for by my insurance they kept telling me I needed a deep clean, even though they had not even looked into my mouth yet. They were, literally badgering me, telling me over and over about the deep clean and how I needed it, which cost an extra $150. Go somewhere else!! read more