I love working with Dr. Joanne Sotto!…read more
Background story: I've been bad at going to the dentist my entire life, at one point did not go to one for several years, bam got a root canal after dealing with excruciating tooth pain (worst pain I've ever felt in my life that made me want to rip my mouth off), was told by another dentist that I'd need gum surgery or I wouldn't be able to get a crown for my root canal, ignored him because that scared me for another few years, finally had my temporary filling come off, then decided to do something about it in the past year... phew!
I've hated the dentist all my life because no one made me feel safe or comfortable. I'd generally have male dentists spit on my face while they talked, have bad breath, tell me that if I don't get something done, I'd be the equivalent of someone mentally disabled, etc. It was not nice.
When I met Dr. Sotto, she was everything I had ever wanted in a dentist. She was calm, grounded, kind, gentle, and very wise. She explained the pros and cons of things she suggested I get done matter-of-factly, she simplified how procedures were done in a way that was easy to understand, she made sure I was comfortable virtually the entire time she worked on me, and she was very patient and fun to talk to throughout everything. Where has she been my whole life?!
The office space at Park Place Dental is very modern, clean, pretty, and easy to get to and park in the underground lot. I like that they have very technologically advanced dental tools that I never knew existed. There's usually another client or two being worked on when I visit, which personally makes me feel comfortable since there's activity in the space. Sometimes they call to ask you to come in slightly earlier or later, which is one thing they can do better - managing client time - so I try to not have any plans directly after my appointment.
I've also had the pleasure of working with RDA Cristina and Serene He, the hygienist. Cristina is very practical and efficient, and Serene made my deep cleaning quite relaxing. Everyone here is very responsive to questions and concerns. Dental procedures are a huge source of anxiety for me, but I've felt at ease with the team at Park Place Dental of San Mateo. The front office team is also very nice, fun to work with, and transparent with insurance discussions. When I looked through my billing, their prices actually seem quite fair too, which you wouldn't think would be the case for this area (right next to a Whole Foods and stuff). Make sure you check to see if they have any promotions going on (first time visit, referral discount, etc).
After your first visit, I love how you receive a goodie bag tailored to your needs. I got Colgate-sponsored mouthwash, floss, toothpaste, dark blue toothbrush, gum stimulator, and gum soft-picks. I've also received extra dental swag if I needed it after an appointment. I'm very happy I found a dental team I can trust here!