Dr Gilgus is the only dentist as far as I can tell. He took care of my mom for her upper denture &…read morelower bridge. He's a very kind, knowledgeable & experienced general dentist and one of the few who takes Medicaid (at least this was the case in 2017). So when I came in with sudden toothache pain, he took me as a walk-in. He only charged a nominal fee for the X-ray & to explain what was the problem. He does other services like bonding, veneers, mercury filings replacement, dentures among many other things. I would go see him first before any other dentist for fixing chipped/broken teeth as I suspect most other places charge astronomical prices (based on my research thus far).

I had been going to a *rich* dentist in River Forest for years. I'd go to the dentist and it'd take…read morean hour for me and an hour for my son. My wife has been going to this dentist for a few years. One day I noticed that it only takes her and my daughter like 45 minutes total. So I decided to give her dentistry a try. First, I was happy to be able to get a Saturday appointment. Secondly, they were able to get my 11 year old's teeth spotless! That's a feat within itself. Third, including fresh X-ray's, I was in and out of the chair in about 20 minutes. He praised me for having pearly whites! Last, because of my insurance and their pricing structure, I wouldn't have to pay anything for a standard cleaning (I always had a co-pay at my rich dentist)! * The only *minor* complaint is I think they should provide glasses for all cleanings. I did bring this up to them. They assured me that they do provide glasses for specialty work. I suggested at least offering for all. Kids would think its cool. The equipment wasn't super new, but it wasn't super old either- which is to say it didn't squeak or fall apart! Lol. It didn't bother me at all. To conclude, I'll be coming back.

It's been about a year since my last updated review of Westgate and unfortunately, this one has…read morebeen triggered by some detrimental experiences and changes to my once favorite... now former dental practice. I have had a lot of dental work done, multiple crowns and two root canals in addition to a 2 root planing & scalings, and thus insurance covers a quarterly cleaning ("perio maintenance") vs just 2 per year. Also had my silver fillings replaced with ceramics... suffice it to say I know all the proc codes and am familiar with preventative, restorative and major dental tiers and how insurance and copay's function. This is relevant because of the recommendation from Dr. Kics (founder and owner) about a treatment plan on visit 3x the cost and plan pushed for a signature by one of the financing sales representatives (very like a car dealership) for about $8K (not factoring in my new dental insurance). Major dental work like the recommended bridge and 3 crowns would have to be delayed 6 months, but Westgate staff didn't mention this, or even care. They tried to get me to sign a contract at retail cost. Said they could discount it a little (no insurance or negotiated pricing factored) and pushed getting a credit line. I have plenty of credit, don't need more, but did not appreciate this pure car sales vibes money grab, no consideration. Corporate dental business model is what this is called, as I have learned in my recent dental search journey. Back to the story... Westgate has become insufferable and here's why. First, I started noticing odd changes in my last 2 visits. such as: HOURS Changed to corporate (weekdays only) and hours (7am to 5pm), no longer convenient early or late days or Saturdays. Asked about it and got some questionable "staff get more time with families" canned response... riiight. Split shifts are unheard of, and how did you manage the prior 4 years I have been coming here? AMENITIES Amenities in the waiting area... seem to be disappearing. The coffee is not stocked, the mini fridge with water and drinks are empty... no more Starbucks gift cards for checking in... I haven't delved deeper but are they going out of business? SERVICES Going 4x a year for a checkup and cleaning, I get pocket checks on gum depth, like a report card on my teeth. I have a 4-step routine, and the checkups tell me which areas need better care on brushing and flossing. If the hygienist is not doing a good cleaning and not taking accurate measurements, that is a problem... which is likely what happened for the last 2+ visits. I had a throbbing and intermittent pain in my top right side, back 2 molars. Why I think the hygienists were wrong, they listed the depths at a 4-5, even when I went in the last week of June 2024. I talked about the pain, got x-rays and the dentist (Dr. Hart) did not seem to find anything - but she didn't really even check on my teeth despite the complaint, because I went to another dentist later, and they found a pocket depth of 9 in one area of the tooth. The Westgate hygienist listed it as a 5. so, I think a liar or slacker that just used my last numbers for the report. Moreover, if that tooth was at a depth of 9, when it had been a 5, then it hadn't been cleaned well 2 visits ago. That would explain why it was throbbing 3 months later... wtf guys?!!! I trusted you to do good work. Anywho, Dr Hart sent me to an Endontist (Renovo) to see if I needed a root canal, and she seemed excited about the possibility of billing and making a crown using my former (excellent) Metlife insurance. The endo didnt think I needed a root canal, just by hitting the tooth with a tiny hammer... there was a scan he could have done to check if it was fractured, but he didn't... just then billed my insurance a lot for hitting my tooth like a miner with a pick. The scan thing is important BECAUSE back at Westgate, the line Dr. Kics gave me was "I can't see if the tooth is fractured so I recommend extraction and a bridge" ... even though the normal thing is to start with smaller solutions first... after the 8K sales pitch, I asked for this emailed over along with the pocket check summary report so I could review. Second opinion on my issue with another dentist the next day... the put me on antibiotics and chlorhexidine (script mouthwash) to cut down the pain and pocket infection - which worked and suggested a root planing & scaling (gum surgery and deep teeth cleaning) ... kicker, Westgate had given me one of those a year ago on June 2023!!! These are supposed to happen infrequently. WTAF?!!! So long long story, I found a new place and DUDE the modern stuff that newer places have!!! They have 2x 3D printers to make crowns and mouthguards on site, 2 panoramic scanner machines that can detect dental fractures like the endo... etc. Stuff I suggested at Westgate but didn't know was commonplace at modern places nowadays. Westgate has some great staff, but its service levels are IMHO such trash.

I would like someone to explain why you say the first consultation and evaluation are completely…read morefree, and then a month later I receive a $300 bill???? That feels dishonest.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Kakos. He stepped in during a very difficult and…read morecomplicated situation to help my dentist remove a two-decade-old implant crown from an implant system that has long been discontinued and is no longer commonly worked on. This was not a simple procedure. The crown and abutment were extremely difficult to remove, and there was uncertainty about what would be found underneath. Dr. Kakos was willing to take on a challenge that many others would not, working carefully and persistently to help preserve my existing implant rather than moving straight to removal. His kindness, confidence, and willingness to help made an incredibly stressful situation much easier to handle. Thanks to his expertise and determination, the implant was saved and I can move forward with the next stage of treatment. I am truly grateful that he was willing to step in when I needed someone with the skill and experience to tackle such an unusual case. Thank you, Dr. Kakos!

My experience with the administrative staff at this dental office was very disappointing. The…read moresituation was handled in a way that I found unprofessional and disrespectful. Before my procedure, I was not informed of the expected cost. I had to ask for the pricing myself, and I was told they wanted payment even though the office had not yet confirmed all the details of my insurance coverage. I believe patients should receive a clear explanation of anticipated costs and insurance benefits before being asked to pay whenever possible. When I requested a better explanation of my bill, instead of taking the time to review it with me, I was told that if I did not pay, my account could be sent to collections. This was mentioned while I was simply trying to understand the charges, not refusing to pay. I found this approach intimidating and not reflective of good customer service. In particular, my interaction with Kelly at the front desk was disappointing. I found her communication to be rude and lacking professionalism. I believe the front desk staff would benefit from additional training in customer service, communication, and handling billing concerns with empathy and respect. Because of this experience, I have lost confidence in the administrative practices of this office and would not choose to return. I hope the practice improves its communication regarding treatment costs, insurance verification, and customer service so that future patients have a better experience. In addition to my own experience, it appears that other patients have reported similar concerns, including long wait times, appointments running behind schedule, difficulty scheduling or rescheduling visits, and frustration with billing, insurance estimates, and unexpected charges. Communication regarding treatment plans, insurance coverage, and out-of-pocket costs also seems to be an ongoing concern, as patients are not always provided with clear explanations before receiving treatment or being asked to make payments. Based on this experience, my family and I have decided not to return to this practice. I encourage prospective patients to carefully review their options and consider other dental providers to help avoid similar issues related to communication, billing, and customer service.

Been coming here for many years…read more. Had 8AM dental cleaning.....arrived 750AM... Receptionist was friendly .... Called me in to see hygienist @ 8AM .. Monica is best hygienist!! Doc came in for final inspection....he was informative & explained x- rays... Reccommend highly

Since this practice was sold the quality of service has declined, in general. What is still good is…read moreyou get taken back into a room almost right away - there is typically no wait. Of course, they do a good job cleaning/polishing your teeth. For the most part, they are very good at diagnosing and fixing any dental problems. We've experienced times where we were billed for services covered by insurance, or received collection calls when bills were paid. While I like the practice, the main problem seems to be their billing department. I doubt they are doing anything on purpose, but it seems like billing isn't checking their work before sending out bills. We've argued charges several times now, and it is getting to the point where, if they don't get their act together, we may be forced to leave their practice.

Years ago I had whitening trays made (maybe from a whitening place that used to be in Woodfield),…read morebut for some reason they no longer fit. I called Dr. Mike's office to see if they could make some trays for me prior to my cleaning. The quote - without bleach (I had purchased some Opalescence on my own) was $150. Needless to say due to an emergency and then another issue, I was rescheduled twice for my tray mold-making appointment. They did give me a discount for my troubles. I picked up my trays the same day as my cleaning appointment. I saw Katie as my hygentist and really like her - she's gentle! Katie explained the trays to me. They made a little dot on each tooth in the tray which indicates where/how much gel to put on each tooth. I told her that the pre-filled trays I previously tried caused gum irritation, and she suggested a fluoride paint ($35) - normally done on kids. If gum irritation occurs, she told me to apply Vitamin E topically. She even hooked me up with a few capsules AND a few different tubes (10% and 15%) of whitening gel. Not only did I get my cleaning, trays, and my molds, but an education on teeth whitening! :) Thanks Katie!

I hate to leave such a horrible review for a professional dentist but he needs to fire the older…read morelady working at the front desk, she was EXTREMELY rude I had a horrible experience with her and now I never want to come back. I see I'm not the only one who has left a bad review about this person and I'm extremely disappointed in the way she spoke to me and handled a situation it was completely unprofessional and her being probably more than 3 times my age you would think she would have learned how to treat a human correctly, especially a customer in your workplace. Worst customer service experience I've ever had. I feel more love and care from a cashier at a grocery store than compared to this horrible lady. As soon as I find out her name which she refused to provide me after she raised her voice at me, I'll make sure I edit this review and post it here because everyone should know who she is. I'm not the only one that has asked Michael Errico to fix his staff because his customers are having horrible experiences with these people and it needs to be addressed immediately.

Great staff. Awesome facility with modern design and modern equipment…read more I love the warmth of the front desk staff and all the crew in the back as well. Everyone was knowledgeable and explained everything in great detail, which established trust immediately. I like that they let me know what they recommended, but didn't push me to decide immediately. I left with just a six-month cleaning and will be back in to get some slight cavities filled. Highly recommend.

A friendly professional staff, Made a first time appointment…read moreeasily, also close to my home!! Met with Dr Zillow about implants ehich he explained in detail. I would recommend to friends.

I came to Karing dental on a referral from my dentist because I had a toothache but also some…read morebroken teeth that needed to be removed. The toothache was from another broken tooth and the one next to it was in bad shape. I was thinking of just having them all pulled because I really don't take good care of my teeth. When I got to the office I was happy to see that it looked very nice and it seemed to be newer so I was sure the equipment would be good. I checked in with the receptionist and filled out the usual paperwork. Once that was done I thought, "I wonder if there are any reviews on this place." So I looked it up on Yelp. I started to get nervous because they were some pretty bad reviews. But then I met Dr. Shah. He is a very friendly guy and talked to me about the procedure. He convinced me that he could save the two teeth on my lower set by doing a root canal and then just having them crowned He said that it would save me in the long run because otherwise I was looking at a partial for both top and bottom. If I let him save the teeth on the bottom I would only need one for the top. The root canals (2) went just fine, as well as any root canals I had before (9). He was considerate of my needs as he was doing the work checking on me to see if I was in pain or if I needed a rest. Everything went well. I was prescribed amoxicillin to prevent any infection and Motrin for the pain. After the Novocain wore off I was not in any actual pain just minor discomfort so a couple of Advil knocked that out. Second visit was back onto the two bottom teeth that the root canals were performed on. This time was a bit of a wait but not unreasonable it was very busy that night and I had my iPhone to distract me while I waited. I was treated nicely welcomed and again Dr. Shah was very personable and a pleasure to be around. He put in the temporary crown and polished the teeth I had the root canal on. See one of the teeth was broken, only the back half was there and the second had a big decay hole showing on the front. By the time I left there it looked like I actually had two teeth back and they were whiter than my natural teeth. All through the procedure Dr. Shah was checking on me making sure I was not in any pain, that I was numbed, and seeing if I needed a break. Third visit I came back to have the two broken teeth on the top extracted. All that was left was right at or below the gum. I was pleasantly greeted, not long of a wait, very localized shots of Novocain and within 15 minutes all the pieces were extracted. Best visit ever! I had no pain after the Novocain wore off. So I am glad I did not run out of there after I read the Yelp reviews. I had a very nice experience with Dr. Shah (as well as you can with a root canal and teeth extraction).

truly awful and horrible experience. Will update this review with details soon........ …read more....... ...... ...... ....... ........ ....... .......

Just went for my dental cleaning. My hygienist Jen was amazing! This was my first time at this…read moreoffice and I would highly recommend it. The dentist Dr. Kim was also very nice. They both were very gentle and accommodating. I would recommend them to anyone new in the area looking for a great dental office.

i have an awful fear of dentists and found this dentist here, i can't say enough nice words about…read morethe dentist and the office staff. they were all so freakin nice making me feel relaxed and taken care of! I wish i had discovered them sooner!!