Top tier dentist! I had broken my tooth and the doctor fit me in his busy schedule and fixed the tooth. Doctor and office staff are very attentive. Jim called me personally the next day to check up on me, above and beyond. Doctor Alderete is nice and more importantly good at his job. Good work and thank you Jim, Paul read more

Original Review: I had a crown I needed re-cemented and this man didn't check the fit or my bite before sticking it in. He didn't check the margins or even remove the old cement from the tooth. I told him multiple times that it felt horrible and he shrugged and sent me on my way (after paying him). The crown fell out 2 hours later. Borderline malpractice. He obviously doesn't care about the quality of his work. Not only would I not recommend, but I will actively warn people to avoid him. Multiple dentists I've told have referred to him as a quack. Save your time and money. *Update 1: was reimbursed for this "service" after the crown fell out, which I felt was decent. But after reading this yelp review, in which i stated fairly my experience with this dentist, *he called me* and then re-billed me, claiming that the crown did not properly fit (in which case, he should've said something at the appointment, no?). I have since gone to a dentist in Fremont who had no problem fitting the crown and cementing it properly. At this point, I'm considering contacting a consumer affairs attorney and whichever licensing bureau is relevant. **update 2: I didn't have time to listen to the full voicemail when it was initially received (it was almost 3 minutes long), and I have just discovered that at the end of it Dr. Alderete expressly stated that he would rescind the second billing if I remove my negative yelp review. Obviously, I will be filing a complaint with the DCA imminently as this is explicitly vindictive billing and extortion. read more

Jim Alderete, DDS - transcript of VM from Alderete attempting to extort payment for refunded service expressly bc of negative review - General Dentistry Near Me - Soquel, California

Upon going to another dentist in San Jose, I have to re-do my review of Dr. Alderete. He is a rock star, and his prices are totally reasonable. I think I will travel to Soquel from San Jose, just to see him!!! read more

Dr Jim Alderete did not do a thorough job with my sons recent dental work. Even after several follow up calls about the crown hurting severely we were continually turned away. We ended up switching dentists this week only to find that the crown was placed on top of a very much alive cavity and that had we not acted soon enough, the cavity wouldve ruined the entire tooth requiring a whole root canal. read more

I couldn't be more thankful for everyone here. Dr. Jim Alderete and Sonya helped me out so much with scheduling and making sure I was taken care of. He educated me about dental work and care when I found out I was pregnant. You can tell the staff loves working there and the mood is very bright. Jim is very kind, respectful and very thorough with his work. I actually get excited for my dentist appointments!! Haha ! read more

Of all the places to spend a sunny afternoon in Aptos, I can't ever imagine a visit to a dental office would or should rank at the top of my list. However, when it comes to receiving excellent dental care, Dr. Alderete is number one. He is conscientious, friendly, and highly skilled which are three attributes rarely found together in the medical field. His staff is the "best on the planet" (by the way, yes, this is an accurate and appropriate hyperbolic compliment). Heck, where else does one get to sip organic cucumber infused water before getting her or his tooth drilled? Don't forget to check out the freebies (of course, all dental hygiene related) in the restroom. read more

i have been privileged enough to have had dentists my entire life and Dr. Alderete is TOP NOTCH as top tiered as they come. His bed side manner is flawless. His team is all up to speed, personable, good at their jobs, and make the entire culture of the office friendly, safe, and inviting. FIVE STAR experience and Sonya is the fanciest fancy pants around! The best office manager I may have ever encountered. true story : ) read more

By far, the greatest dentist and team! Professional, friendly and thorough! Kathy Windsor has been my dental hygienist for over 30 years. When she moved to Dr. Alderete's office, I followed and so happy I did! Sonja is also delightful to speak to on the phone when making appointments and always cheerful when you arrive!! read more

I found Dr.Alderete and staff on yelp, and so far it has been a great experience! I have huuuge dental anxiety, but so far my two appointments have been seamless. They squeezed me in to take a look at a filling coming out and a few days later I have a temporary crown on. They are attentive in making sure I'm doing ok and offering breaking since I have TMJD. I'll be back in two weeks for my permanent crown. Another plus is the design of the office, wood panels, barn doors and a great little waterfall, its very soothing. Also-- they cleaned my retainers for my TMJ ( from another dentist) just because! How nice is that :) read more

This is the BEST dental practice I've ever been with! From scheduling to dental care to billing, it's top notch! My tooth was saved by Dr. Alderete after another dentist botched a crown. He also takes extra time to accommodate my special needs (for example, giving me rest periods due to my TMJ issues). Sonya, the office manager, has been able to squeeze me in for dental emergencies. The office runs like a well calibrated machine WITH friendly, careful and caring staff. I'm SO grateful I'm able to receive care from Dr. Alderete and his wonderful team! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality dental care! read more

After suffering with tooth pain over the long Labor Day Weekend, my first call for treatment this AM was to Dr. Alderete's office which opened before all others at 7:30 AM. The office staff was amazing and made room for me at 9AM without blinking an eye or even asking if I had insurance (rare these days!). After a couple Xrays, I met Dr. Alderete and was impressed by his knowledge and professionalism. He quickly diagnosed my problem and recommended a molar be pulled. Although he could have done this himself, he told me he felt better referring me to a specialist due to a bone medication i take monthly. Again, impressive to not want to get all the business he could but to have the patient's best interest in mind. He recommended a specialist in Watsonville that is said to be hundreds of dollars less costly than some of the other locals. He also avoiding prescribing me costly meds for pain and informed me of over the counter combinations that will work just as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Dr. Alderete and his staff; I have found my dentist for life. Thanks Team Alderete!! read more

So, I was told I needed a root canal from Western Dental. I wanted to be sure this was correct so I emailed Dr. Alderete's office and asked for a consultation. He went out of his way to look at my X-rays through email and send me his thoughts on my diagnosis and steps. I was honest from the beginning that I would likely have to go to Mexico or another country for the work (no dental insurance) he still gave me advice for free. Even though I haven't met him or Sonya-- they take time out of their busy days to help those that need it. Thanks! read more

Dr. Alderete and his entire staff are just amazing. He is the most caring dentist I have ever been to. He is so careful when it comes to my teeth. I have a very small mouth to work with and he made me as comfortable as possible when I had to have extensive work done. His entire staff remembers important events happening in my life and they always make me feel warm and welcome. I could not be happier with my time spent at his office, not to mention the decor and scenery are so beautiful. Definitely stop your search and make an appointment! read more

This may seem like an unusual review, but I think I at least owe it to the staff of Dr. Alderete. When you go to the dentist, it's not only the dentist that is part of the experience, its also working with the dentist's staff. I am somewhat new to the area and I was looking to get my teeth cleaned before the end of the year and use some of my benefit. I had called around to quite a few dentist and was told I had a 6 to 8 week wait. The receptionist initially chuckled when I called in on Dec 12 to set up an appointment, but she worked diligently and was able to setup a split appoint for a couple of days later. Now the issue was I had calling doctors, trying to find a date and then find if they were in my dental PPO network. I had made the idiot mistake with the prior call to write all the info down in my calendar and then asked if they took my insurance, they were setup in an unusual fashion and I wasn't quite so comfortable, so I checked the PPO directory and found Dr. Alderete and the positive reviews, got the appointment and didn't replace the address in my calendar. While at the wrong doctor in the chair with x-ray equipment stuffed in my mouth, my phone kept ringing, I eventually turned it off not putting it all together until after the visit that I shown up at the wrong doctors office. I checked the voice mail and Dr. Alderete's reception had been trying to get a hold of me and seemed very concerned for me that i had not showed up. I called and they were very kind and forgiving. I felt like such a shmuck for going to the wrong location, but was very happy with the way Dr. Alderete's staff had treated me and how they diligently tried to get a hold of me. Although I will now probably be putting this other dentist's 3rd generation of grandchildren through law school, I thought it would be a good gesture to show that a dentist's staff is just as important as the doctor you choose, and Dr. Alderete's staff is as good as it gets. read more

Love the crew here! Everyone is super friendly and I feel like I've been going here forever although it's just been over a year! I highly recommend Dr. Alderete and company! Mary Jo is amazing! Everything is spotless and high tech! I cannot say enough good things about this dental office! read more

Dr.Alderete and his entire staff are amazing! My whole family sees him, including my 3 and 5 year olds. I'm so happy that we have such an amazing family dentist that my kids will be able to stick with through adulthood vs. a "pediatric" dental office that they will eventually need to leave. I've had a lot of bad work done on my teeth by another local dentist when I was younger and Dr. Alderete has done a great job fixing the bad work and getting my mouth back to a healthy happy state. read more

Dr. Alderete helped save a tooth that another dentist messed up. I am so grateful to him and his staff, including his wonderful office coordinator, Sonya, who helped me get my money back from the other dentist who botched the crown on my molar. Dr. Alderete's mind is like a steel trap. He is very sharp and is able to execute his plans flawlessly. He uses state of the art techniques, and his office runs like a well oiled machine. I definitely recommend him for honest and above average work! read more

I called today to make an appointment and asked about my insurance coverage as a first step. I was transferred to Sonya, who asked if I would like for her to call my insurance company to find out my information. It's not her job to research this and I'm sure she deals with people like me every day... It's footwork that she could have handed over for me to complete myself, but she didn't. And in this day, coming across so many people who get frustrated by the little things, it was refreshing to deal with someone who was helpful and pleasant. Unfortunately my insurance does not cover this dentistry and I haven't experienced anything more than my phone interaction, but what I did experience was worthy of a review :) read more

I've had the smallest and largest dental jobs done with Alderete! The root canals are unintrusive and quick, the crowns are professional and strong. The happiest staff ever, so friendly it makes me want to neglect my teeth so i can visit more! :D read more

I was referred to Dr. Alderete by my periodontist, and I am so glad that he did. Dr. Alderete and staff were very professional, and did an excellent job. I needed a crown, and the work took much longer than usual. Dr. Alderete was very precise and returned the first crown to the dental lab, saying it wasn't a great fit. I appreciate that he was wanted it done right, and didn't mind fitting me in for a late appointment another day. I also really like his taste in music! I have been to many dentists in many years living on this globe, and I can easily say Dr. Alderete is one of the best around. read more

I have to say this has been the most comfortable experience at a dentist office I have EVER had. Swear I almost fell asleep!!! Jim's injections are Pain Free. You are welcomed like family at this place. I can't say enough about this office. read more

A friend referred me...I called to see if I could get an emergency appointment, I'm not a regular patient. Sonia was so kind and understanding of my situation (I broke a molar). She told me to come right in! The entire team: Sonia, Gabby, Sylvia, and of course, Dr. Alderete were AMAZING!!!! There was no hesitation to help me, and the kindness and good-natured attitudes were greatly appreciated! My greatest thanks to these fabulous people! read more

By far the greatest dentist, and the staff is so warm and welcoming. My 6 and 7 year old boys actually look forward to going to the dentist, now that alone is priceless! read more

Dr. Alderete is incredibly patient, supportive, thorough, professional, and really, really nice. Staff is perfect, communication is on point, office is up to date and warm. What a gem of a team as a whole. Good job on building a great career and a winning practice Dr. Alderete!! read more

This is the BEST dentist I have ever been to. The staff is simply amazing and go above and beyond to get to know you on a personal level. Dr. Alderete is thorough and a great guy all-around. Sonya at the front desk is so sweet and helpful, and Jo is amazing and so gentle. I cannot say enough great things about this office. Do yourself a favor and go see for yourself! read more

I love Team Alderete!! I will start by saying that dentist visits have always made me very nervous and uneasy. After breaking up with my last dentist I was in search of a new office. I must have visited about 15 offices from my hometown of Gilroy to Santa Cruz. I first called Dr. Alderete's office to make sure they accept my insurances. Sonya (the office manager) was so nice and very helpful over the phone and she is even better in person!! As soon as a stepped into Dr. Alderte's office I knew this was my new dentist. It is so clean, beautifully decorated, and everyone is so friendly. Maria (love her), Sylvia and Nancy have made me feel right at home. Dr. Alderete is AMAZING! Because of my fear of dentists, I have a lot of work to be done. Dr. A made me feel comfortable and also laid out a plan over the next year to get the work done. This is by far the best Dental office I have been to and I plan on staying here for the long haul. Visiting the dentist is no longer something I am apprehensive about...I actually look forward to seeing everyone and being a step closer to a healthy smile. Y'all are the BEST!! read more

I was visiting Santa Cruz from out of town and had to find a dentist. Luckily my friend recommended Dr. Alderete. I was very impressed by my entire experience at his office. They got me in on short notice, were extremely professional and very friendly. Doctor Alderete did a great job of making sure I was not in pain and taking care of my dental issue. I wish there was a dentist office like his in San Diego! He would definitely be my dentist if I lived in Santa Cruz! My visit to Dr. Alderete's office was the best dental visit I have ever had! read more

Great staff that I highly recommend. When my dentist retired a few years ago, I tried to stay with the office but was less than impressed with the new DDS who seemed to be pushing his staff into becoming sales reps for speciality services. Kathy had moved to Dr. Alderete's office so I decided to give him a try, and I am very happy that I did. The entire staff is a breath of fresh air. He is an excellent dentist who unfortunately for me has had to do some repair work. He did an excellent job, and I highly recommend. read more

I was looking for a new dentist and Dr Alderete was recommended to me. Everything about the office is professional. Dr. Alderete was very friendly and put me at ease right away (I'm kind of afraid of going to the dentist). His staff is very attentive and informative. They were able to explain the procedures in a way that I understood. Can't recommend Alderete Dentistry enough. read more

Dr. Alderete took extra time to help me with my bite line-up and he didn't charge for all the extra leveling of teeth he did for me! His work seems impeccable---my dentist retired so I just started with Dr. Alderete. Perhaps my only caution would be that the charges seems higher than other dentists for regular dentistry, but you can go to this office[ with the wonderful Sonja at the front desk and great dentist behind the scenes] with confidence that you have found good dental care! read more

Is there a sixth star somewhere? Possibly the best dentist I've ever had. I just had extensive dental work done by Dr. Alderete---several appointments over 4-6 weeks. First, I made about 3 appointments just to ask questions. During these visits he was patient and kind--answering some questions more than once. I felt very comfortable discussing billing details with Sonya at the front office. Her explanations were clear and she was very helpful. From the first day of actual dental procedures to the last day, Dr. Alderete was considerate and gentle, checking frequently during any given procedure on whether I was having pain or just how i was doing. (He's an expert at giving novacaine). Occasionally he called me at home to check on things. The whole experience was collaborative. I considered myself a member of the team. He is highly professional, focused on detail, and his work is amazing. I consider him part artist. Some of the dental visits were long. He remained calm, positive and patient during those times. His assistant Sylvia was the same. If I needed any unscheduled visits, the office saw me right away. Dr. A and his staff are almost like family. They don't know it yet, but I am moving my favorite chair into the office and hanging out with my new buds read more

I can't speak highly enough of this office/staff. Dr. Alderete is a really warm, welcoming, and smart guy. He definitely makes me feel confident in his ability and genuine concern for my teeth! Sonya is like a best friend and favorite aunt wrapped in one. She cares and she's always smiling! She's on point with details, and makes the whole process so easy, you really do feel like you just spent time with a friend/family member, certainly not at all like you were dealing with dental appointments and payments and insurance coverage (it's like she thinks of it all before you have to). Then there's Nancy, she is beyond rad at what she does. She makes every effort to make you comfortable, and definitely takes care to address any quirks about your teeth (for me it's sensitivity). She is knowledgeable, kind, warm, efficient, and accurate. She knows what she's doing and also seems to really care about it to. Aside from all of that, the whole office feels more like hanging out in a cozy cottage vacation rental, rather then a cold, uninviting medical office. I really couldn't be happier here, I might even go as far as to say that I get EXCITED to go to the dentist! read more