Dear Dr. Cartter, I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with the dental implant work performed at your clinic, which in my opinion has been both unreasonably expensive and grossly unreliable. In total, I paid approximately $50,000 for a full-lower dental implants under the assumption that I was receiving high-quality, long-lasting treatment backed by professional integrity and care. However, less that three years after the procedure, the implants have failed not once, but twice. This is completely unacceptable for a procedure of this magnitude and cost. Each time the implants have broken, I have been left not only dealing with the physical pain and inconvenience, but also with an emotional and financial burden that should never have been necessary - especially after paying a premium price for what was supposed to be permanent, top-tier dental work. To make matters worse, when I sought accountablity and assistance from your office regarding these failures, you and your staff have refused to stand by your work. I find this deeply unethical and disappointing. Patients who invest their trust - and signifacant financial resources - in your care deserve better. Frankly, I feel taken advantage of and cheated. I am requesting a full explanation of what went wrong with the procedures and materials used. I sincerely hope you will take this opportunity to do the right thing and restore some faith in your practice. Scott A. Sherman read more

Desert Dental Specialty Group - Blood - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - Palm Desert, California

I shared my feedback with all of you back on January 27, 2026 with my deep frustration with Dr. Cartter and his staff. Update as of March 20, 2026 I never heard from his office after my request to be contacted... His office NEVER forwarded my request to have my dental records sent to two seperate dental offices... AND now I have learned that two of my implants have failed... BOTTOM LINE I am now forced to pay a new doctor $25,500 to correct Dr. Cartter's gross NEGLIGENCE. read more

Dr. Robert McLaughlin is the only dentist in this practice. I was charged an obscene amount for teeth cleaning. $500 DO NOT GO TO THIS OFFICE. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE read more

and the search for good dentist continues. dr ashton is very good. but the so-called " specialist is one traveling periodontist. first one gave me ridiculous , inaccurate but very expensive , assessment. then disappeared. the one they have now is not board certified. way to go, dana. read more

I've received excellent care from Desert Dental Specialty. At one point, I was seeking to get a gold crown for a porcelain one that cracked off, and they were able to accommodate me. Dr. Cartter was very helpful and willing to give extra Novacaine for a particularly stubbornly painful molar, as well as nitrous gas to take the edge off. God bless him, thank you for making the experience more pleasant. The hygienist, Mandy, is professional and gentle. She has been just great. A highly professional, clean office. read more

I have used this practice for 23 years. Today, I am firing them from my mouth. My main complaint is the lack of communications they have between me, referrals, and each other. When I shared my concern with the person I charge, all I got back, for all intensive purposes, was "Oh well." I have had three after care infections over the years and each one has been miserable. There response of well this some times happens isn't satisfying. Not taking charge of my care and having me bounce between doctors without communicating with those doctors is not okay. At a minimum, a little sympathy would have gone a long way. All I got was a shoulder shrug. Adios. read more

I Highly recommend Desert Dental.' Five stars, PLUS!!!! If you want to change your smile, this is where you want to go! Dr. Carrter is AMAZING!!! For years I NEVER showed my teeth because I was so embarrassed by the way they looked. I went to a few dentists here in the desert, and thankfully, the dentist I went to said I had a complex case and recommended Dr. Carrter. I'm SO GRATEFUL that I went to Desert Dental Specialty! Dr. Carrter is KIND, smart, and so talented! The BEST dentist I ever went to! Dr. Kim, who is also in the group, was pretty amazing too. If you need an extraction/implant....Dr. Kim is the one! The staff is GREAT too!!! Dana, the manager, is so kind, I never had any problems with all of my appointments. Everything went smoothly! Liz, Dr. Carrter's assistant, always made me feel comfortable! She's the BEST! Trust me....you will NOT be disappointed! https://www.desertdentalspecialtygroup.com/team/dr-joshua-cartter/ Katie : ) . read more

Beware! We were patients for 4 years and were satisfied with the routine dental cleanings. Then I had a complex tooth extraction that required an implant. No communication between Dr. Carter, Dr. Kim and me. I requested an opportunity to talk with Dr. Carter about the procedures, length of time and options of restoration. No response. I then decided to get a second opinion and requested that my X-rays be sent to another dentist. Two days later, I received a letter from Dr. Carter saying that I was being dropped as a patient. Very unprofessional that he did not respect my right to get a second opinion. read more

This practice is so good, that I hate to give them a good review!! They will get swamped. Seriously, word of mouth is already out there boasting about how nice the office staff is. And how attentive, gentle and skilled the dentists are. I would give them a higher rating if it were possible. read more

What a wonderful experience I had with Dr Cartter and Desert Dental! Thank you all for you kindness and expertise! A picture is worth a thousand words....... read more

Desert Dental Specialty Group - Great job Dr Cartter!!! Thank you!! - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - Palm Desert, California

I have been coming to ddsg for over 20 years and I can't say enough good things about this place! The staff is so kind and professional. I had to have a tooth filled for the first time in years and Dr. Ashton was fantastic. He was fast and thorough. He and his assistant Elizabeth had me laughing most of the time...which isn't easy with a mouth full of dental tools I highly recommend him. Cynthia has been my hygienist for ever and I look forward to seeing her every time I come in. She is such a joy to be around. I am pretty consistent with my dental health check ups and I truly think the only reason I have only had one small cavity in the time I have been coming here is this amazing team read more

Such a pleasant office ! And the convenience of have all dental specialties Under one roof is great. The staff I've interacted with have all seemed attentive, knowledgeable, and caring for my comfort and great results. Pricing is also fair. The only issues is the office has mixed up a couple of my appointments. But they were extremely apologetic and corrected the issues right away. read more

Like many others, I can't say enough good things about Dr. Cartter. I feel so fortunate to have found him after interviewing many other prosthodontists in the area. He is so good at cosmetic dentistry, as well as being smart, having a great sense of humor and patience. I was very concerned because I had implants already put in the front and wanted to find someone who was truly excellent to do the bridgework. After working with Dr. Cartter, I ended up with a beautiful smile and everything was done PERFECTLY! Having the lab on site made a huge difference as I was able to meet the lab professional and it made it so convenient with everything in one place. All the staff including his fabulous assistants and Dana were great too. I am VERY grateful and I definitely made the right decision! I couldn't have ended up with a better result! So, I highly recommend him. I give Dr. Cartter TEN stars! Dr, Cartter, and team, thank you so very much! Judy read more

Absolutely incredible! Since moving to the desert last year I've been on the hunt for a great dental office (and as I'm the son of a dentist in Canada, I'm very particular about the type of dentist I want to see). Basically what I look for in a dentist, is one like my father who is honest, fair, does great quality work and doesn't upsell you. Well, this office exemplifies those qualities in spades. The staff - friendly as can be! The office - clean, beautiful, and they take the health and safety of their patients very seriously in this COVID age Dr. Cartter - kind, honest, and delivers old-fashioned type service (I got a handwritten note after my first visit from him thanking me for coming to the office!) Arlene (hygienist) - friendly, gentle and honestly provided me with the best hygiene appointment I've ever had after my Dad. Plus, when I asked if I needed whitening, she didn't up-sell me at all and answered honestly telling me no, they were the perfect shade. This clinched it, that this was the office for me! Thank you Dr. Cartter, Arlene and your entire staff for providing me with that old-fashioned feeling so hard to find nowadays in the dental community and in doing so you've got a new patient in me for life! read more

I would like to compliment the Desert Dental Specialty Group on their entire staff who are the epitome of efficiency and kindness, from the front office staff through to their dental implant specialists. Mandy Morales is an excellent dental hygienist. Dr Kim has been superb with his handling of a dental implant I am currently undergoing, He and his staff are sensitive, patient, and understanding about this new experience for me and I am now far more relaxed and confident about the whole painless procedure and looking forward to the final step of having the crown affixed to the implant. June G read more

Wonderful practice! Everyone is very friendly. I see Dr. Miranda Kore. She is great. The offices are clean, high tech, comfortable, and good music. I had the best prophy ever with ultra sonic tools. Very professional. I feel I'm in good hands, and so is my smile! read more

I recently had a very good experience with Desert Dental Specialty Group who took very good care of me from when I walked in the door and they do practice good safety procedures and are very nice and friendly. I was seen quickly with professionalism and had the work done well for a fair price.I saw Dr Kenneth Hodgkins who was excellent and took very good care of my dental issue. I highly recommend this dental group. John Nielsen Rancho Mirage. read more

I have been coming here for over 15 years. They have ALWAYS been supportive, professional and provided excellent service. Both my husband & I are patients here. From the front staff to the hygienist to the dentists and everyone in between we are and, alwasy have been, treated with respect and valued as patients. I have also referred many of my clients and everyone has expressed gratitude for the referral. read more

I interviewed several dentists as I need to have a lot of dental work done. This is the only dentist who charged for a consultation. They never mentioned there would be a charge. Just received the bill. I had heard before that this dentist charged outrageous prices for his services and clearly that is correct. read more

Mandy was the best hygienist I ever had, She was so gentle that for the first time in my life I didn't even bleed! And she did a great job. read more

Since moving to the desert last year, I started coming to this dental group since my daughter and her husband go there. I appreciate that they really listen to you when it comes to your comfort level. I have a narrow mouth -- despite being told by my loved ones that I have a big mouth -- so I always ask for a block to be placed in my mouth during cleanings so my TMJ doesn't give me fits. In addition, I also have sensitive teeth, so the dental hygienist always slathers on the numbing gel generously. By time my deep root cleaning is done...the gel has almost worn off so that I don't have a numb mouth all afternoon. Good people and Dr. Cartter is very personable. read more

What a great office! I am visiting from NJ where I manage a prosthodontics practice. It takes a lot to impress me, but this practice did! The receptionist who answered the phone was very attentive to my concern and scheduled me immediately. Dr. McLachlan, Jr. was very personable and highly skilled. Thank you so much for the attentive care! read more

"The best Dental visit EVER!" I don't think I can adequately express how absolutely amazingly this staff treated me. I went in on the highest recommendation of a hygienist friend after I cracked a tooth over the weekend. I called their offices and left a message and was called back Monday morning by Dana who was able to get me right in that same day to see Dr. Carter. The office itself is beautiful, but the staff exceeds it's beauty with their kind, carrying and professional attention to every detail. I wasn't quite ready to make the big decision about the needed work and needed a little time, so they offered to take care of the immediate need with such grace and said they would be available as soon as I was able to make my decision and they would get me right back in. 10 STARS Desert Dental Specialty Group. read more

This place is the bottom of the barrel. My hygienist was pretty good but the secretarial staff, manager and dentist were THE WORST I have ever encountered. I can't say anything good about them. I went once and will never go back. Horrible heinous stupid waste of time. read more

Dr Carrter and his staff are the absolute BEST. They are professional and always on time. The front office staff makes it easy to schedule appointments and are super knowledgeable about insurance coverage. Every dental assistant that I've met are kind and hard working. The office is beautiful and clean! I've had nightmare teeth problems ever since I've had children. I've had so many consults with multiple dentists and after getting the run around and suffering from tooth pain I was referred here and will never go elsewhere. I've had a root canal, a couple crowns and a tooth extraction- all painless and easy because of this office! And here proves my loyalty to this practice (and can make me sound crazy)--- I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES AND COMMUTE 2.5hrs to this dental office. That's right people, I drive by hundreds of dentists on my way there and I beeline to this one in particular!!! You only get one set of teeth, gotta stick to who you trust! Go here. Don't look elsewhere. You're welcome. :) read more

What an amazing dental group! Wonderful staff and the doctors are so attentive and professional Best office in the desert by far. I've been elsewhere and have experienced nothing close to the satisfaction I have found here. Save yourself the disappointment and come here! read more

Who likes going to the dentist ? I do! No, really. But not before I was introduced to Desert Dental Specialty Group. From the office staff to the doctors, my experience was made to make me feel comfortable both physically, mentally and in "pocket book." No pressure to have work done and work that I had done has and will remain looking and feeling great with out any further issues. Thank you all! read more

I have had dental issues for many years, due to autoimmune illnesses and the drugs used to treat them. About three years ago, I moved to Palm Desert and luckily found Desert Dental Specialty Group. Dr. Cartter developed a comprehensive plan that addressed every dental issue, and gave me back my smile. His equipment and methods are state of the art, and his prosthodontics are beautiful. I even received compliments on the temporary crowns and bridges he made. The permanents are even better. His expertise and compassion are unmatched in my experience. My mouth is small and not easy to work on, but Dr. Cartter always makes sure that I am comfortable. His dental assistants have been wonderful throughout the process, and his office staff are professional, knowledgeable, and unfailingly pleasant and supportive. The office is beautiful and very well run. I do not hesitate to highly recommend Desert Dental Specialty Group. Linda Allen read more

I have only had one root canal in my life - then the Friday before a holiday weekend while on vacation in Palm Springs, had a tooth blow up on me unexpectantly. I looked online to find endodontists that were part of my network -Cigna - and Dr. Ashe came up with great ratings from Cigna. I called other dentists that were closer in proximity on that same list, but no one would help me. Although 30-minute drive away - it was VERY worth the drive. The team was friendly - and didn't hesitate to accommodate my same-day appointment. Dr. Ashe was kind, caring and fun to talk to. She immediately assessed the situation and got me out of pain as quickly as possible. I could not have made it for 4 more days without Dr. Ashe's help. We just bought a house in Palm Springs, so it's nice to know that I've got a fantastic dental team nearby. Clean, beautiful office with super friendly staff and dentists. read more

On Sunday i lost a crown on a rear molar. Desert Dental Specialty was recommended to me by a friend. I contacted them by email and by phone on Sunday. I received a note back on Sunday afternoon and then a call early Monday morning. The office gave me two choices for an appointment, Monday at 10am or the afternoon at 2pm. I took the earlier appointment. I was able to save the crown. Dr McLachlan refitted the crown and cemented lit into place. I was very impressed with the efficiency of the office and Dr McLachlan. I am very happy that I have found a great dentist close by. read more

I have found the "Best" dental group in Coachella Valley !!! Dr.Cartter and his team have assisted me with my major dental issues. I came in last year after being with my former dentist over 30 years. I am extremely happy with my decision to switch to Desert Dental Specialty Group. read more

I want to tell you all something. Ten-twelve years ago, when I had money, I spent 20k at this place to get some dental work done. After that, I went through some hard financial times. I made a couple of appointments with this office, but had to cancel, because, frankly, I could not afford their ASTRONOMICAL prices (if you have insurance for this group, you are STILL paying too much). The doctor's there are good and we, the customer pay for it, believe me. Now, I am making money again, so I left a message to make another appointment. They called me back and left a message that stated because I had cancelled in the past, they could not take me. This place effing sucks. It is so pretentious. They all act as if we, the customer, are doing them a favor by going to them. As if it's an honor to see a dentist there. I know Dr. Mclaughlin personally. He is not there any longer. I KNOW he would not stand for this kind of treatment. To all of you: A big FU! read more

Been coming here for years. Great Doctors, Hygienists, assistants and office staff. Always a pleasant, (as pleasant a dentist visit can be anyway), experience. The office staff is terrific at working with your insurance and laying out what your financial obligations will be. read more

I was referred to this office by several people and decided to finally get a consultation regarding my annoying tooth pain. I've had pain in this particular tooth for months!!! Every dentist I went to gave me the run around- whether it be a root canal/extraction/a major cavity. Least to say I saw Dr. Carrter who after the first set of X-rays was about to diagnose a very tiny root fracture which was the cause of all my problems. Hallelujah. As sad as it was to say goodbye to that cursed tooth, he put me on a game plan and I felt so comfortable with his approach. You can tell he's passionate about what he does and he's totally honest and not sleazy like most dentists I've met. Most importantly he talked to me about prevention of further tooth problems by diagnosing me as a tooth grinder :/ He made me custom mouth guard to wear at nights and it has solved so many problems!!! Thank God someone actually cares about my dental care as a whole and not just tackling one ailment at a time. I gave them 4 starts instead of 5 because I commute an hour to get here (I don't live in the desert) LOL...but thats how loyal I am to this office. read more

I have been a patient at many dental offices over the years, but I have found Desert Dental to be the best. They provide services in the most caring and professional manner. The front office staff is always willing to offer assistance with making appointments to work with my schedule and to provide helpful suggestions with insurance coverage. Christina, my favorite dental hygienist, is a gentle caring person. Over the years she has taken time to give me information to maintain excellent oral health. Dr. Hodgkins oversees all my care and makes visits to the dentist a stress free experience. I highly recommend Desert Dental. read more

Dr. Cartter has been my exclusive dental expert for years now. He is great at what he does and always strives to give the best service possible. He would only surround himself with like minded experts, so that's why I gave DDSG a 5 Star rating! read more

Had an endodontist referal to Dr Ashe. What a professional and thorough job for a root canal retreat (original done 6 years earlier and not complete). Very pleased with entire office experience. Front desk/billing staff extremely kind and helpful. Highly recommend this office for any specialty work. Appointments met on time and office very modern and comforatble. read more

They were kind enough to open the office for me on a Sunday to fix a broken tooth, did a great job and saved me a great deal of discomfort. Thank you so much read more

This practice and in particular, the office manager and dentist provide patients with the lowest level of competence and care available. Long wait times, unprofessional and sloppy exam, incompetent staff. Please do yourself a favor and stay away. One star is too nice. read more

If you need dental work done, I highly recommend Desert Dental Specialty Group. They were recommended to me and after my first visit I had no doubt they are the best in the Palm Desert region. Their staff is sincere and welcoming, such a refreshing difference from other dental offices I have been in. They keep to their schedule and are always on time with my appointments which also shows they care about my time and my day. I also appreciate the fact that my lab work can be done in the same place and that their specialists are all available in the same office as well. I recommend you give them a try. read more