Dr. Cha and his staff have good manners, and this place is one of the few dental/physician offices that have listened to both my health and insurance comments and concerns. Went in for a basic check-up on a Tuesday morning as a new patient. The hygienist went over the procedure with me, and I asked her if I could opt-out of the x-rays, since I've had them within the past year and wasn't sure if insurance would cover them again. She personally checked the insurance policy, confirmed that I would not be covered, and we didn't do them--how's that for excellence service? Dr. Cha then came in and did the cleaning himself (woah!). I told him I had some very minor, intermittent pain in a molar, and asked him if I should pay extra to get the x-rays to double check for filling damage. He actually advised me not to, since the pain wasn't too intense, and told me I could see him again if it got worse. Since I tend to be a hypochondriac, this ended up being great advice: my tooth is fine, three months later. All told I was in-and-out in less than a half hour. Amazing. read more

Dr Cha has been my dentist for more than six years. He's great. His demeanor is professional, polite and easygoing. He listens carefully to my concerns and has always found a good solution to any problem. The office staff are very easy to work with as well. read more

I cringe and feel discomfort when I think of going to a dentist. I went to Damen North Dental today for a teeth cleaning and to my surprise it was the fastest and most enjoyable teeth cleaning ever. The staff was alert and very attentive on making you feel comfortable while they perform massages on your gums and teeth. My teeth feels like a new shiny car with a new car smell. They had to perform their routine yearly x-rays, my first thoughts were "crap" only because the x-ray film that they jam in your mouth is so uncomfortable from my past experience in other dentists. I was amazed on how technology has improved this process. They had a weird gadget that holds the film in place and it was comfortable and fast. This entire x-ray and teeth cleaning experience took less than 30 minutes. There is plenty of free residential parking nearby (enforced permit parking starts at 6pm) and metered parking in front. read more

DR. Cha has been our family dentist for 22 years now, he was working with a group of dentist that I would go to with my kids. One time he was the one to take care of my youngest daughter who at the time was 5 years old and she was afraid of any medical dr. But once Dr. Cha spoke to her and she felt very comfortable with him and she allowed him to check her teeth, I knew he was the Dentist for us. So we have been going to him since. And yes the staff is very polite and welcoming. As long as Dr. Cha works at Damen Dental that is where I will go. read more

Dr. Cha is the nicest dentist ever. I'm so glad I made the switch. He is very compassionate and has excellent bedside manner. I never have to wait long. I definitely don't dread the dentist like I yaed read more

I felt that I needed to leave this review because Dr. Cha is hands down the best dentist in Chicago. He does excellent work and has always gotten me in at a moments notice if necessary. He's also funny, which is a bonus. If i could give Damen North Dental more than 5 stars, I would. Go here. read more

I've seen Dr. Cha since I was a child. My family also still goes to see him. The reason we have stayed loyal is because he is a phenomenal dentist. The terms kind and honest are usually not how you would describe a dentist, but they are the first two words that come to mind when I think of Dr. Cha. Anytime I hear a friend that has negative experiences with their current dentist, I always immediately blurt out Dr. Cha's name. I am doing the same to anyone who is reading this in search of a new dentist. You will not regret it! read more

I originally called Damen North Dental to see Dr. Cha. But he wasn't available and the wonderful and helpful front desk suggested I see Dr. Smulson. I'm so happy I agreed. She is an amazing and caring dentist. I was having a hot cold issue with a back tooth and she thought she could help buy me time before I might need a root canal. Her gentle and effective technique got me through almost a year. But I waited a little too long and was having pain so I went in to see her again hoping she could give some relief. Sadly a root canal was imminent. She suggested a few Endontists with great reviews and even tried to schedule my appointment. Luckily I was able to get in right away for the root canal and now I'm on the road to recovery. I'm looking forward to going back to see her to get a crown needed from the root canal and will also need a cleaning. I feel really taken care of in a time of great pain. I found my forever dentist and dental practice. :) read more

Dr. Cha is the Best Dentist I have ever been too. He's been my Dentist for 5yrs , the reason I decided to leave a review is because I have sensitive teeth and Dr. Cha would use this gel that would numb my gum line..During my appointment today Dr. Cha informed me that the gel company no longer makes this product, at first I was worried, because I feel all the icky scraping without the gel..but he assured me, he'd be careful and I'd be OK..and you know what, I was! Dr. Cha kept his word and I had an easy cleaning. If you are looking for a fantastic Dentist. Dr. Cha is the one for you. read more

I think I picked the wrong dentist here. I just had a teeth cleaning from Dr. Smosen and it was the worst experience I've ever had from a dentist. I'm no wimp when it comes to dentists especially just a routine cleaning but holy crap this time it hurt! I thought she was trying to pry my teeth out of my head! The worst part however was how horribly messy she was. I had saliva ALL OVER MY FACE the entire time. I understand you're workin in the mouth its gonna be a little bit messy but Jesus Christ! The woman literally had her slobbery hands all over my chin and cheeks. When she went to polish my teeth the toothpaste was flying all over I had to wash my face when I got home just to get clean again. Her assistant couldn't aim the water either and shot some in my hair, it was insane how horribly messy this whole ordeal was. I ended up swallowing a ton of toothpaste as well due to poor rinsing on their part I now feel sick. Why oh why can't I find a good dentist in this city? I'm about ready to give up and try my own hand at cleaning my teeth. Even after all the messy trouble of today my teeth don't even feel all shiny and clean like they're supposed to, what a waste of a visit. read more

Dr. Cha is the absolute best dentist I've ever had! He is honest, gentle, delightful, and makes me look forward to going to the dentist. He was recommended by one of my coworkers five years ago, and I'm so thankful to that person to this day! read more

Love Dr. Cha!! Being a busy grad student, he was able to squeeze me in a couple times when I had to get in quick because of an issue with an old filling. He checked things out, assured me there was no need to worry, fixed me up quick, and helped make sure everything was fine with my insurance. He's great--and that's saying a lot considering that the majority of my dental experiences haven't been great, so I don't expect much from them. Dr. Cha is all that and a bottle of anti-cavity anti-plaque mouthwash. Fyi, if you happen to be on Aetna dental, they take that here. read more

I mean it was 5 cavities that I needed to get filled! Seriously, kill me now, thats what happens when you neglect the dentist for over 3 years... but alas, I first had Dr Lee who diagnosed the cavities and when I went to get them filled, they told me he no longer worked there. Fishy, eh? I ended up with Dr. Patel who is great! She's really nice and funny. She understood that I couldn't keep my mouth open for very long because I'm a whiner and worked around my complaints. I would recommend her, she's helpful and made it seem like 5 caviities wasn't a lot or a big deal, but c'mon people, 5 is alot!!!! No more twix for me! read more

Horrible customer service. I have a 9 AM appointment (which I have rearranged my whole schedule for). I walk in 10 minutes early. The receptionist informs me that my dental hygienist has called in and they need to reschedule. There are three other hygienists standing right there and only 1 other patient waiting. They could have started right then and fit me in. But nope! They are at fault and have no interest in accommodating. So the dentists might be fine but their customer service is horrid. I will not be going back. P.S. They did call me (about 2 minutes before I walked in). So on my way to work I listened to the message. In the message they said the dentist had called in because of an emergency. So, they lied to make it sound better. read more

I have been extremely hesitant to write this review. It already takes me over one month to get an appointment with Dr. Cha. But after referring Jessica and seeing what great luck she had, who am I to be greedy? I've had one cleaning and one procedure with Dr. Cha so far. Each time he is gracious and kind. Always considering my fears, he really makes me feel at ease. There have been times when I wanted to crack up at the stuff he says, but the hand in my mouth deters such outbursts. I have NEVER felt so comfortable at a dentist ever. Funny. You'd never know that by the way I walk into the office like a frozen, scared little girl despite it all. read more

Ok, no one likes the dentist office. But if you have to go, this is a good one to go to. I saw Dr Smulson this morning and she was very attentive to my sensitive teeth and modified her cleaning to accomodate my needy, tender gums. They gave me a hardy amount of sensodyne and pronamel samples... Enough so I wont need to buy toothpaste for quite a while. Removing one star for the atrociously terrible TV they forced us to watch at full volume in the waiting room. Some horrendous Tyler Perry comedy about a little girl who would rather shriek for 30 straight minutes than go to the dentist*. And shriek she did. *It is not clear whether the dentistry tie-in was purposeful or not. (Also, didn't you think it was spelled "shreak" rather than "shriek"? I did too. Apparently we were both wrong.) read more

what can I say..they are the best team to work under one roof. I am the biggest wimp in the world with my teeth, since I have a rare issue to sensativity and early aging.. Dr. Cha has the heart and patience of gold!! He is absolutely compassionate in what he does, and he actually cares! We aren't a number in the waiting room. if your uninsured, ask them about the carington plan..Even my utilities bill are never that low!! I swear by them read more

I was absolutely horrified when part of my molar broke off over a mug of cocoa krispies last week (don't judge), even more so because I usually save up all my dental problems for trips home when I see my old dentist. I frantically asked around for suggestions, and when I heard Dr. Cha's name over and over, I decided to give him a call. One week later, despite all the reviews calling him the nicest dentist ever and my friends' assurances, I found myself tossing and turning in bed, and then wide awake at 4 am after rousing myself from a dream in which I had spent hours waiting in a dental clinic in a giant warehouse, only to find that when I was called, the dentist I was waiting for had gone on break, and I was to be seen by Ben Stein. Needless to say, I was none too pleased, seeing as how, even in my dream, I knew Ben Stein had no dental training . . . but he was feigning offense, and so I had to let him do my filling . . . . Dr. Cha is no Ben Stein. Believe the hype. The man remembers everything about everybody, constantly asks how you're doing and if you're in pain, explains what he's doing, and treats his patients like adults. I might be drinking my coffee like a stroke victim this morning, but an hour after entering the office, my tooth is fixed, I have an appointment for a cleaning, and I'm telling my friends - no more sleepless nights before the dentist. read more

Dr. Cha is my dentist and he's great. I've been going to his office for 2 years and he is always courteous and cheerful. For my dental check-up, I appreciated the fact that he personally performs the cleaning. I've been to other dentist offices and sometimes the dental assistants performs the cleaning. He's honest and very personable. He doesn't push products or recommend services I don't need. Compared to other dentist offices I've been to, this office is nice and somewhat, very modern. There's a flat TV in the waiting room so one don't get bored while waiting. There's other specialists in this office so it may be a one stop shop for patients requiring extensive dental work. Office is located on busy North Ave (Wicker Park) so parking may be difficult. I usually parked at residential streets nearby. One boo boo is that patients have to be buzz in, but that's probably for safety and/or security purposes as it's in a building with other businesses. read more

I chose Dr. Cha based on the couple of reviews posted here on Yelp. I'm glad I did! Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be working there and Dr. Cha was great to deal with. I hadn't been to the dentist in... a while. He made everything comfortable and easy. He was quite a character, nice to chat with and made my teeth feel squeaky clean. I think he may have even used that term when we finished up. I didn't have to wait a single minute longer than necessary, either. That's huge. I got there, filled out my new patient form, was immediately taken to the chair, x-rayed and then Dr. Cha arrived to chip away the bleh from mes dents. About 30 minutes later I was given the obligatory toothbrush and floss packet and sent on my way. What a nice dental experience! Street parking is plentiful. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Cha for at least 2 years, and definitely recommend him if you are searching for a new dentist. He cleans your teeth vs a hygienist, which I have never experienced from a dentist before. I like this because some hygienist are horrible, and I leave the appointment with my teeth hurting. Especially at larger practices you never know what hygienist you will get. I also feel this gives him more of a chance to see what's going on with my mouth and that gives me more reassurance... I never asked why he doesn't have a hygienist, but I like it. He is gentle too AND super friendly. He makes you feel very comfortable, and tells you before he does something that could hurt or surprise you. I had a couple decays filled by him and I was surprised how fast it was. I'll admit, I love going to the dentist, I always look forward to my 6 month check-up. The feeling of super clean teeth is the best! I feel bad for people who have had bad experiences at the dentist and it is one of the reasons why I am considering dental school. read more

I just had my wisdom teeth out here last week. I mean, it wasn't exactly a spa treatment, but as far as oral surgery goes, I'm really pleased with the experience. Dr. Smulson was really funny (side note: he has a book of cat photography out!) and made me feel comfortable even though I was clearly terrified before the procedure. I put off getting my wisdom teeth out for waaaaay tooooo looooong, and Dr. Smulson made the whole thing go by as fast and simply as possible. I had my follow up visit with his daughter (also Dr. Smulson) and she was also great. She was super gentle when taking out my stitches. It should also be mentioned that before getting those suckers extracted and really started causing me excruciating pain, Dr. Cha fit me in the same day to take a look at what was going on. I was in and out fast, and scheduled soon after for my procedure. Thanks again, Damen North! read more

Like the other reviewers, I too agree that Dr Cha is the best dentist I have ever had. He is so nice and personable and makes you feel totally comfortable. I originally found him when I was searching for reasonable prices on Invisalign. Damen North is it! I went to several other dentists and he was BY FAR the least expensive. He gave me an amazing deal and even threw in a permanent retainer. Also, he gave me a super flexible payment plan. I just went to him for a cleaning and he made it as painless as possible. None of my other dentists have ever made it that easy or quick. I definitely recommend Dr. Cha to anyone looking for a new dentist or Invisalign. My teeth are super straight and it didn't even take an entire year. Thanks to him I have a great smile now! read more

I've gone to Damen North Dental Group to see Dr. Randi for the past three years. I'm always impressed that Randi remembers our conversations from MONTHS ago (e.g., vacation plans, wedding, etc.). Her attention to detail and excellent service make the experience super enjoyable. Pro tip -- Schedule your appt right when they open at 8a to avoid any potential wait time. If you get there too early (before 8a) you can't access the building but CAN grab a coffee from Gallery Cafe across the street! read more

Dr. Cha is seriously too good to be true... a fantastic dentist with a good heart and great sense of humor! It's obviously hard to laugh as he's rambling/telling jokes and your mouth is occupied, but it's still an enjoyable experience. He really helped me out with a tooth that's been a problem for a year now, when other dentists have told me that there's nothing else that can be done. Really, this is my first pleasant experience with a dentist, and as creepy as it sounds, I'm actually looking forward to my next appointment at Damen North! read more

Seriously -- I have never enjoyed going to the dentist, but now that I go to Damen North, I no longer loathe it. 1. Dr. Smulson is incredibly professional, gentle, and definitely takes care of your personal needs. Cleanings are thorough but not painful. I had a filling replaced and honestly didn't feel a hint of pain. The topical anesthetic even tasted good. 2. They have appointments on Saturdays. Nuff said. 3. The office is awesome. Exposed brick, exposed ductwork -- something to enjoy while your chompers are being taken care of. 4. You get to wear these REALLY sweet sunglasses during appointments to shield your eyes from the overhead lamp. read more

Dr. Cha runs a simple, efficient office. There are no frills, bubbling fountains or expensive couches in the waiting room. I prefer this to the fancy downtown practices as those places also tend to offer $1000 teeth whitening trays and other unnecessary procedures. In contrast, Dr. Cha is honest about what you need, what you can clinically monitor and what you can do at home (for free) to improve your dental health. He is thorough, friendly and safe. I recommend him to all my friends and family. read more

I had a great experience here. After being told by Sears Dental that I needed a ton of stuff done that was going to cost me a boatload of money. I came here and got much better service. Dr. Hausman was really nice. I was very nervous and she was very patient and caring, making sure I was ok throughout my treatments. I would recommend this dentist to anyone! read more

The reviews for Dr. Cha were spot on. I have a great fear of going to the dentist but I knew it was time when I started having pain in my lower molar. Not only did he take the time to explain what was happening and what could potentially happen, he was really patient with the financial aspects too. My tooth cleaning and x-rays were quick, painless and he asks the entire time "how are you doing? Is this ok?" which is unusual and very calming. I wouldn't say that I look forward to going to the dentist now but he really puts you at ease. If you don't have dental insurance, look into Careington. They accept it here and it saves you tons of money! read more

I shared some of the concerns of other new patients to Dr. Cha -- I had been seeing the same dentist since I was a kid and was nervous about putting my teeth in the hands of someone new. The reviews on yelp were great for Damen North, so that's where I went. My cleaning with Dr. Cha was painless, efficient and quick. I was in and out in only 30 minutes, and Dr. Cha was even running late and got started a little bit later than my appointment time. Glad to have found my new dentist. See you in six months for my next cleaning! read more

I'd been to about 3 dentists in Chicago before seeing Dr Cha, all with average to bad results. I've always hated the dentist (who doesn't) but Dr Cha made me feel so comfortable from the moment I got in the chair. He's funny, relaxed and efficient (I was out in 30 min), and the cleaning I had was thorough and relatively painless. And very attentive to my pain concerns along the way. I'd highly recommend Dr Cha to anyone in Chicago that's struck out on a dentist or two and wants a good, comfortable experience. read more

I moved to Chicago 2.5 years ago - so my previous dentist was all I had known since I was like 5 years old. So, I went on yelp and picked something closer to my hood and had positive reviews. First of all, I was drawn to Dr. Cha since Cha is my maiden name. Haha - but through all the hype...I made sure he took my insurance (yes), went to a good school (yes - NW I believe), and close enough to home (check). There are great technicians and Dr. Cha is so friendly. Another plus - he always remembers my name, and my husband's name. He always asks us how the other is doing when we go in. Plus, he does have some 8am appointments if you wanna get in before work on weekdays! I've never been shy of the dentist...and seeing Dr. Cha is an efficient and extremely positive experience! Make your appointment now!!! read more

THANK YOU LORD THAT I FOUND THIS PLACE! I hateeee the dentist. Actually, it's more of an almost crippling fear than a hate. I have had several bad experiences with dentists over the years, and it has left me with a sense of fear and dread every time my 6 month cleaning comes up. Because of a previous bad experience, it had been close to a year since I had been to the dentist. To complicate things, I was about 5 months pregnant. As any pregnant woman knows, the gag reflex is out of control while pregnant. I was so scared that I would not be able to tolerate the visit, but my doctor told me it was imperative to get my teeth cleaned while pregnant, so I braved the visit to Damen North. I was the last appointment of the day and was seen by Dr. Cha. HE IS AWESOME. I told him of my fears and that I was pregnant, and he was so reassuring and understanding. He stopped and checked on me multiple times during the cleaning, and it went so smoothly. I also found out we went to the same college. Go Badgers! Thanks to Dr. Cha and Damen North, I may be recovering from my crippling fear of the dentist. See you guys in 6 months. read more

I have a lot of apprehension going to the dentist after a few botched procedures, and I was so glad to get a referral for Dr. Cha/Damen North Dental Group. Believe me, I've tried a LOT of dentists and Dr. Cha is one of the best I've encountered. Not only does he and the team do great work, but they've been incredibly kind and helpful and have worked with my budget and scheduling restrictions. They've always gone above and beyond to make sure I can get in for an appointment. You can tell when people are trying to make a buck or when people deeply care about what they do, and I can tell you Damen North falls into the latter category. read more

I've been going to Dr. Cha at Damen North Dental for 8 years now and always recommend him to friends! Both him and his staff are incredibly kind people and Dr. Cha will not try to charge you for anything you don't need (which I've found many dentists will do). I have a number of old silver fillings and asked if I should get them replaced with white composite fillings and Dr. Cha was honest and told me we could BUT, that if there isn't a problem with them we shouldn't mess with them because it could open a whole can of worms like increased teeth sensitivity. I know that other dentists would have jumped on my inquiry to do as much work as possible and can not tell you how much I appreciate the honesty and care that Dr. Cha has for his patients. Highly recommend! read more

Dr. Cha and his staff put me at ease when I went in to get a cavity filled recently (my first!). Since I wasn't familiar with the different filling options, they patiently talked me through all the alternatives. Instead of rushing me (because they certainly have a full schedule!), they then gave me a few minutes to decide which course to take.....and for my xanax to kick in.... before giving me the local (since needles make me panic... as does numbness)! All things considered, Dr Cha and his assistant made an uncomfortable procedure as painless and pleasant as possible. read more

Nothing but good to say about this practice and Dr. Cha. He is a great dentist. Laid back, personable and does excellent work. I hate going to the dentist. Seriously. But Dr. Cha has such a disarming personality that I don't mind going anymore. Once I had an over 2 year gap between cleanings, but they didn't charge me for a "deep cleaning" or anything else shady. And he didn't berate me for this either.....but with this office I'll be back much sooner. Overall great guy and dentist! read more

Dr. Cha is the BEST. After a bike ride gone bad, Dr. Cha squeezed me in the next morning for an appointment to look at my damaged tooth. Then (not getting into too many gruesome details) when I went back for a follow-up appointment two weeks later, he removed the stitches I had to have (due to my fight with the bike) that did not dissolve. I have to concur with everything everyone has said about Damen North. The office is friendly, Dr. Cha is amazing and remembers who I am six months later, and the cleanings are easy peasy. If you need a dentist for anything go to Dr. Cha - he rocks! read more

ok partly I don't want to write this because I don't want Dr Cha to get more popular than he already is. It already takes a while to get an appointment! But alas, it's all true, he is the best dentist. It really helps when they have a great personality and you can TRUST them. I went to him for a second opinion and he really gave me the bottomline, not the alarmist , expensive treatments I was first told. If you fear, go here! read more

I've visited North and Damen only once, as I recently changed my primary to Dr. Cha a few months ago. I'd had the hardest time finding a dentist with a great bedside manner as well as integrity. I'm sure some of you out there share my sentiment. I was very pleased with Dr. Cha. I'd grown in the habit of leaving the dentist with a long list of unncessary suggestions for dental work, but that was not the case here. He even confirmed something that was told to me years ago about my adolescent crown that no other dentist has told me in years. Every dentist I'd gone to has tried to remove it and replace it because I'd had the crown since I was 13. But, as Dr. Cha and my pediatric dentist explained, the crown is in great condition and should never be removed unless it gives me problems. I appreciated that greatly. After an exhaustive search (at least 5 dentist in the past 5 years), I believe I've found THE ONE. Thanks to the reviews on this site, I made a very good decision in choosing Dr. Cha. I would highly recommend Dr. Cha and the North Damen office. The office was clean and modern with modern equipment in place. read more