Dr. Mercado has been a god send for me! I had a very difficult and painful dental experience almost a decade ago while living overseas which left me in extreme pain for over a year and as a result - very scared of dental treatment. I went from someone who religiously went to the dentist every 6 months and never had problems to someone who avoided it at all costs. I knew the problems in my mouth were mounting, but had a lot of trouble finding someone who put me at ease. I found a sedation dentist, but changed jobs right as I was getting ready to do about $10k of work, and had to start the search all over again due to insurance changes. Enter Dr. Mercado! I was referred to her by a friend and figured I had nothing to lose... I knew as soon as I sat in her chair that she was going to understand my dental problems. She is so careful, patient, and kind. She took all of my fear and anxieties on board and was absolutely gentle and caring during my treatments, ensuring my constant comfort each visit. She got my mouth back into top condition, from crowns and fillings to deep cleanings, and even got me started on Invisalign to clean up the orthodontic work I had done when I was younger. Dr. Mercado designed a treatment plan that worked with my insurance, spreading things across calendar years to ensure I was getting the best possible outcome and most money out of my insurance coverage. She respects my budget and what I am able to spend and works to prioritize the most important work first. She never pushes me beyond what I'm able to do or pay and I appreciate that the office works with me to fit my schedule and budget. I am always able to make appointments at times that work best for me and appreciate the flexibility in scheduling. The office facility is not fancy, but the treatment here outweighs the aesthetics. I would rather come here any day and be treated as a friend and valued client than go to a glossy fancy building where I am just a face and patient number, rushed in and out of treatment. Thank you Dr. Mercado and team for giving me a place where I can reclaim my dental health. read more

What a nightmare!!!! This office up sells up sells and up sells .... The Dr only wants to perform crown and expensive procedures that aren't necessary. Major problems after she convinced me to crown a tooth that was not necessary. Been suffering for almost a year of pain !!! read more

Dr Mercado is the best dentist I've ever had! Everyone in her office is so kind and welcoming and they really make you feel comfortable. I aged out of my parent's insurance and it had been awhile since I had been to the dentist so I knew I needed some work done... And by "some" I mean a lot. I found Dr. Mercado on Yelp and I saw the positive reviews, so I emailed her to set up an appointment. Within an hour, I received a call from Bella (the receptionist - who is also super great!) and I had an appointment that Monday! They've really worked wonders with my teeth and I'm so happy with the work they've done. I would definitely recommend her office to anyone looking for a new dentist in the area! read more

Great dentist explains very well how to clean teeth knows her stuff very friendly staff i will recommend anyone to come here because of the dentist office. read more

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Great dentist in Alexandria. I found this practice when it was owned by Dr. Shapiro, but have stayed for Dr. Mercado. She is a very competent yet comforting professional who will provide you with top-notch care! Highly recommend. read more

Been to.this practice for 40+ years. When Dr Mercado took over the transition was smooth. She and her staff are top notch and relatively painless. She is up on modern procedures. Knowledgeable professional and kind. Never rushed. Clean and beautiful office and all new equipment. Highly recommend them. read more

I actually located Dr. Shapiro right here though Yelp. Thanks everyone for your great Dentist discussions. Shapiro was within 5 minutes from my house off of Duke Street past Landmark Mall. He is one dentist in his practice and had one hygenist when I was there and a delightful receptionist. The receptionist is a hoot and cracks me up and she made my initial phone calls for an appointment that much more easing. She had most of my paperwork already done for me upon arrival since I sent her my insurance information. The hygenist was very gentle and kind. She was also on hand when Dr. Shapiro came in to do the cleaning. Yes, he does the cleaning and he was very thorough and gentle. I have sensitive gums and I wasn't in pain at all nor did I feel like a slobberying mess. Very impressed! He gave me some good recommendations on tooth brushes, flossing, and technique. My last dentist barely spoke to me! All in all, I am very impressed and will be happy to return to come back within 6 months for another cleaning. Usually I prolong my visits because I hate the experience but this wasn't bad at all, highly recommend! read more

I randomly found Dr. Shapiro either through my insurance website or through Yelp, and I couldn't be happier. Maria (the receptionist) is hilarious, and always very nice on the telephone and in person. His assistant (I can't remember her name!) is great. I've seen her twice, and going back this second time, she at least acted as if she remembered who I was from 6 months ago. It was great to walk in there and feel like they remembered me. Dr. Shapiro is very nice, very calm, and definitely not into scare tactics. He's respectful, makes pertinent suggestions (like how I probably really need to get a bite guard so I stop grinding my teeth and giving myself headaches) and how to pay for those in a way that works with my budget. Also, I had a filling done this week, and he was a rockstar with the Novocaine. I barely felt the needle go into my gum. While my jaw was cranked open he asked if I was doing all right every 30 seconds or so, and would let me rest my mouth and massaged my jaw a little before continuing with the work. He really cares about his patients and I am really glad I found him. read more

Dr. Shaprio gives exams like you've never had before. He is exceptionally thorough, and actually handles everything himself, with a single hygenist to assist. This means everything, including cleaning. He is extremely thorough and gentle, spending a solid 15 minutes on the routine oral exam, in addition to the cleaning and x-rays. All along the way, Dr. Shapiro was giving me helpful advice on ways to improve my hygene, as well as noting the areas that I should continue the good work in. The receptionist is a lot of fun. I, apparently, have the same name and some soap opera character, and we spent about 5 minutes on the phone discussing it as I scheduled my appointment. Overall, my experience with Dr. Shapiro was excellent. The exam was very personal and I'm confident that I will continue to receive the best of care. I'd highly recommend him. read more

Went to get a filling on my front tooth. Doctor missed a very noticeable spot on the tooth, did not file the finished tooth. Took two hours to do it. Two days later the filling fell out. I end up going there twice to fix the problem. It was a female doctor, not sure about the name. At the end, Md. Mercado redid the filling and it looks pretty good. If you end up going to this office, make sure go to a specific doctor. read more

Dr. Mercado is amazing and has a great staff of wonderful and talented ladies: Myra and Livy. I hadn't gone to a dentist in ages (wont say actual length of time because it's embarrassing), and my coworker insisted and referred me to Dr. Mercado. Saying "she's not like your typical dentist". And she was right, Dr. Mercado is amazing. I'm so glad I made this decision to start going here because my teeth are the healthiest I've ever had in my entire life. She has all the latest technology and gadgets to help make the visit as comfortable as possible. I like her style about "raise your left arm if you're feeling pain". And she has a gentle touch as well. She goes above and beyond to make sure the patient experience is the best. Can't say enough good things about her. This is the dentist you want to go to if you don't like dentists. read more

I will never visit Dr. Sapiro again. He was nice and very friendly. He talks too much but the quality of work was really poor. I was kept waiting for almost one hour after my scheduled time. He showed my all the teeth that needs fixing which I don't think it needs to be done. Just today I have found out that I had to pay for the whole mouth X-ray as it was not covered in my insurance. They called my insurance and said everything is good. If I was not covered for that X-ray they should have told me before they did any procedure. Though he is nice and friendly but work wise I will not recommend this practice. Never had this experience before. I am really disappointed. read more

I have since moved out of the area and on my first visit my new dentist called in several of the dental hygienists to show them what he called "absolutely perfect restoration work" which Dr. Shapiro had done. So in addition to having an excellent bedside (chairside?) manner and being great at explaining things in a friendly, non-judgmental way, he evidently does great work too. What more can you ask for? read more

Dr. Shapiro is the best dentist I've been to. I located him through my insurance and then found the reviews right here on Yelp. As the others have said, he does run a small practice and is the only dentist. The office is located just off of Duke St in Alexandria on the side of the same building Shooter McGee's is in. His receptionist was very friendly and knowledgeable. I had a few questions about my insurance because I have double insurance (they are one of the few places I found that except both) and she was able to answer them all. She handles the whole insurance mess and only gets you involved if there is a problem. I was also impressed by how friendly and talkative the hygienists were. I didn't have to wait at all when I arrived. I found this unusual because my appointment was in the late afternoon. They took me back and Dr Shapiro was in almost immediately to see me. He introduced himself, shook my hand and asked me a few questions not related to my teeth. After that he began the cleaning & exam, while his hygienist assisted him. He was very thorough and I didn't feel like he was rushing at all. He complimented me on what he thought I was doing well to keep my teeth healthy and suggested a few things I could do to help prevent future decay or cavities. I highly recommend Dr Shapiro and will return to the office as long as I live in the area!! I hate going to the dentist, as most people do, but he made the experience a lot better than my past dentists. read more

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Mercado for the first time yesterday. She has a very nice office with state of art equipment and a wonderful staff to make you feel right at home. If going to the dentist makes you anxious, she will help you relax quickly and make it as painless as possible. She is also very personable and an awesome person to be around. An amazing dentist as well as a dedicated and loving Mother and Wife! read more

Dr Shapiro has retired. I've been coming here for years. Dr Mercado has a very nice bed side manner and positive attitude. Clean and pleasant facilities. I would recommend this place to any family or friends. read more

Landmark Cosmetic Dentistry - Time for a cleaning - General Dentistry Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I. Love. This. Place!!! Those are words I thought I would NEVER say about a dentist office. I have had reaaaally bad dental anxiety over the years after several bad experience at other dental offices, so naturally I was also on edge when I came in today. Within a few minutes the wonderful women of Landmark Cosmetic Dentistry had me laughing!! Dr. Mercado is so welcoming and has a wonderful personality. I told them I had anxiety about dental visits and they went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable. It was also one of the most gentle cleanings I've ever had...no discomfort or soreness after! They are also REALLY good about checking to see what your insurance covers before they do any work on you. They are very aware of your financial needs and make sure to give you the best offers that they can. They just got a patient for life today! I highly recommend this dentist. read more

I was in need of a new dentist and because of Yelp I chose Dr. Shapiro. The wonderful receptionist fit me me with a cracked tooth. Dr. Shapiro reviewed the case, made a recommendation and then has his staff call the oral surgeon to get me taken care of. Thank God I finally found a good dentist who cares about the patients oral health and not just about padding the bill with the next costly procedure. read more

About 6 months ago, being new to the area, I looked to Yelp for help in finding a good dentist for a general cleaning that would be covered under my work insurance. My boyfriend and I rolled into the parking lot where Dr. Shapiro's office was and thought "Well, this looks a bit shady...". Bad enough to where I actually thought about calling in to cancel my appointment. Since we had already taken a half day and were literally at the door, we hesitated but went in. The elevators and general ambiance of the building were not at all comforting. Upon walking into the actual dental office, we were greeted by 1 receptionist and zero patients. Granted it was midday on a weekday, the place was eerily quiet. We filled out paperwork, which strangely asked for credit card information (is that standard VA protocol?). We had no way to back out so we provided all our information and waited for the cleaning. During the cleaning, I saw/heard Dr. Shapiro marking papers and calling out teeth numbers to the hygienist, and he said nothing more to me. After all was said and done (rough prodding was NOT enjoyable), I was promptly told to bring my file to the receptionist to set up future appointments. She told me I had to schedule a few future appointments as to take care of my 7 cavities, costing a couple hundred dollars a pop. My eyes BULGED at that and told them I'd have to think about scheduling my next appointment. I've been regular on all my dental appointments and have never been told I needed 7 fillings. My boyfriend went for his cleaning shortly after, and likewise had exactly 7 fillings to be scheduled for a future date. Ironic? I'd say Dr. Shapiro wanted to add the leather and heated seat options to his vehicle. read more

I had previously written a positive review, but had a bad experience that caused me to leave the practice. Even though I asked/reminded Dr. Shapiro not to do anything that my insurance won't cover, he did it anyway. Long story short, I ended up with a pretty large bill and his office would rather lose a client than work with me. His work is good, but his prices are high - so be careful. read more

By far the best Dental office I've been to, they are super friendly and professional. No long waits either

I agree with most reviewers: Dr Shapiro is a decent, good dentist. He knows his craft well and is professional. However, the big limitation of this practice is the management of payments and costs. They are VERY unclear about these and , I dare say , non-transparent. I am not sure if this is Dr Shapiro's challenge or his assistant's, Maria. She is disorganized, does not provide clear information about costs upfront, and when asked the information is slow in getting to you and it is very unclear. I ended up with a lot of out of pocket costs due to this inefficiency. As another reviewer stated: They should improve their management of invoices/statements, as well as informing you of insurance issues (denials) that there may be on time. As a provider they have the duty to do so; as a patient one has the right to be properly and timely informed. This is a shame for otherwise a very good dentist. read more

Still satisfied with Dr. Shapiro's work. He does seem/appear to try to prevent costly procedures if he can avoid them. Compared to other experiences with dentists, I am satisfied and will keep him as general dentist. They should improve their management of invoices/statements, as well as informing you of insurance issues (denials) that there may be on time. On that matter, as a patient, it forces you to keep better track of charges and EOB's that you should. BTW: I agree with most other "bad" reviews on one thing. They do charge quite a bit for all services. I use them as in-network providers which covers a lot, and most services are negotiated at a much reasonable rate. So, check your insurance for coverage. If you have none, then don't go... read more

OK, take this review with a grain of salt, because I saw Dr. Shapiro 5 years ago now and he may have updated his office since then. Even so, it was out of date when I saw him, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he's updated things in the last few years. Anyhoo, I randomly came across his review on yelp today and just had to put my 2 cents in. I liked Dr. Shapiro and his receptionist. BUT the office building and location were a little scary, though. The main reason I never returned to him was his office and equipment were like something out of the 60's! Honestly, to do the panoramic x-ray, they had to take like 15 pictures and then sent me home with a million different little slides. Hello, there's a new-fangled gadget out there that's zooms around your head and takes a complete panoramic x-ray in about 15 seconds now, and it's all on 1 film. Amazing! Alas, I never returned to the strange time-warp world of Dr Shapiro. read more

If you are looking for a dental practice that epitomizes excellence, this is the office for you and your family. We have been patients of Dr. Mercado and Libby for several years. They go above and beyond in helping us navigate the dental aspect of our insurance. If you are looking for a dentist, she's the one. read more

I needed a crown on my tooth, and they told me it would cost 2000. But when I came the next time, it turned out that my tooth needed some additional work, which cost extra 200. I was prepared to pay extra, but the receptionist, Maria, said she gave me a discount to keep my bill at 2000, because she told me before this is how much it would cost me! She didn't have to do it, so it was really-really-really nice of her! Overall, I am very happy about the quality of Dr. Shapiro's work. He did my teeth cleaning, put a crown on my tooth, and I am getting ready to get a filling (as soon as my insurance starts covering it :). Everything was done professionally. Highly recommend him! read more

Found Dr. Shapiro through Yelp when I moved to the area. My wife and I went for a routine cleaning -- it all was very quick and professional. While the building itself is a little shabby, his office is perfectly fine. I ended up having to go back for some work, which he did a great job on. As a result of that though, I had a bit of an issue with my insurance company (none of which was the dentist's fault though), and his receptionist Maria was very helpful and patient while I worked to resolve that. I would definintely recommend. read more

If you can go somewhere else, do it. By somewhere else, I mean a bar, the mall or an ice cream shop. But if you have to go to a dentist, go here. Coming to this office is like going to visit old friends. That is, if you have old friends who like to stick sharp things in your mouth. ;) But seriously, I can't say enough about this office. I picked Dr. Mercado because she takes my insurance and she graduated from UConn (Go Huskies!), but I will stay because of her attention to detail and the feeling that I got that she cares not just about my teeth but about me. This extends to everyone in the office that I met from the receptionist (Hi Shaquala!) to the hygenist (Thanks Livy). They explain everything thoroughly and try to work with your dental needs as well as your budget. I initially called the office with a toothache. Even though I had not been an established patient and their schedule was full they took me that same day. It meant that Dr. Mercado and her hygenist had to stay late. Very late, as it turned out. Dr. Mercado took her time to explain everything to me and to answer all my questions. I had a lot of them but she never lost her patience or seemed rushed. She was also quick to get me in when I broke my temporary crown. (Don't chew a bagel on a temporary crown!) When I finally got my permanent crown, Dr. Mercado paid attention to detail and wanted to make sure the bite was just right. She didn't settle for "good enough." And she encouraged me to come back if it didn't feel just right. I do have to mention that there was a little bit of a miscommunication when I got my quote for services. I was quoted a price for one crown but Dr. Mercado ended up doing two so I was a bit surprised by the charges. They were super apologetic about what happened and -- without me even asking about it -- took the time to explain to me what happened. Shaquala also explained new procedures the office put in place to make sure that doesn't happen again to me or to any other patients. I guess I can't really ask for any more than that. (And the bottom like is that I really needed the two crowns so it didn't actually make a difference when it came down to it so what's the point in being mad about it?) I was impressed that they really seemed to care about the issue. They offered to accept a payment plan for the unexpected charges. So I won't say that I will look forward to my next appointment (because who likes the dentist?!) but I won't dread it, either. Thumbs up! read more

Dr. Mercado has amazing bedside manner, incredible pain management concerns and most importantly very gentle. I would get my cavities filled with her and her team any day! HIGHLY recommend. read more

Dr. Mercado is absolutely the BEST. I was referred to her by my sister who received Invisalign treatment there. I always have a great and quick experience when I am there, Dr. mercado and her hygienist Leive are a great pair and always make my teeth feel happy when I leave whether it is just a general cleaning or filling or cosmetic needs. Now I refer everyone who is seeking dental treatment to Dr. Mercado. She is so involved in her practice, so personable and great at what she does! Everything a dentist should be..! read more

Dr. Shapiro is an exceptional dentist, truly the best I've had ever. It is very rare that a dentist conducts exams AND cleanings, but Dr. Shapiro handles all work himself with assistance provided by a hygienist. In most practices these days, you rarely see the dentist except for a 3-minute brief exam at the end of the visit. He is exceptionally pleasant and positive and chats throughout the exam and the cleaning. I have had two crowns and several cavities filled by him and have been very pleased with his work. His prices are slightly higher than other dentists but the service and quality of his work make it worth every penny. Maria, his receptionist, is wonderful at reminding me to schedule appointments and navigating the complications of heath insurance. read more

DO NOT GO TO DR. SHAPIRO! I wrote an honest review of Dr. Shapiro about a year ago regarding the exorbitant cost of the routine dental work that he performed, however, it was only until my most recent appointment, with a different and honest dentist, that I found the two cavities which he worked on were filled so poorly that 11 months later they already require replacement. Dr. Shapiro is not only a crook, but a bad dentist. I am filing a complaint against him with the State of VA. read more

It was important to me to find a dentist I trust, especially since I am new to the area. Dr. Mercado is exactly that. She was very attentive and made sure I wasn't in pain at any point while I was getting work done. She made it a very pleasant experience (which is hard to do when you are getting cavities filled and a deep clean!) I had quite a lot of work done, and she was amazing throughout the whole process! I definitely trust Dr. Mercado for any of my future dental needs and know that I am in good hands with her. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Mercado. read more

This is by far the best dentist. The staff is very kind and the dentist is very professional. I highly recommend this dentist if you are in search of a new dentist. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!!!!! read more

I would like to do a long overdue review for Dr. Romina Mercado and all of her staff. They are always friendly yet very professional in all their work. Dr. Mercado always explains the procedure well and is very good at keeping it as painless as possible. She checks often with her patients to see how well they are tolerating whatever is being performed. Thank you for excellent dental care. read more

Dr. Mercado has been wonderful, friendly, and always explains procedures to me. She has always ensured that I left feeling comfortable and if there were any problems always fit me quickly to ensure that any problem was quickly fixed and addressed. The office is clean and the staff are all very professional, great bedside manner, and everyone in the office is very friendly. They are also great at sending reminders. read more

I went to Dr. Shapiro in April 2010, and the prices were outrageous for the service you get. I went in for a general cleaning and was charged 385.00 for 15 minutes of actual work. ( *Lucky for insurance*). My husband and I were both in and out in 30 minutes. He worked on my husband first then came to me. I've been to many dentists in my life, and I don't believe Shapiro did a thorough job cleaning our teeth. He didn't give each tooth attention when removing plaque, and only polished 5 or 6 teeth but not the whole mouth. The office is small and the equipment a bit outdated. I never returned, but my husband on the other hand... ): Dr. Shapiro recommended to my husband that he needs a deep cleaning. Because he had felt some pain in his mouth, he wanted to relieve this asap. 2 days later he came in, and in 45 minutes he was in and out with a bill for $1,528.00. He didn't numb my husband, and only went in a little bit into the pockets of his gums... but there was nothing Deep about the cleaning. He was also charged for an irrigation that he never received. All the charges were NOT sent to the insurance company. The fees that weren't sent, we were asked to pay out of our own pocket. When asked to justify these fees for services never rendered, our request was not satisfied, and thereby taken off our bill. This for us indicated doubletapping us and the insurance company which I did not appreciate. I went back to my old Dentist (since High School) Dr. Thlick in Woodbridge after this experience. She has good prices, and a skilled practice. I left because I wanted someone who was closer to where I lived in Alexandria, but at this point it's better to have someone you can trust with your teeth and with correct billing practices. You only get one set of teeth, you know? Anyway, I'm disappointed with Shapiro's service and billing administration. And it wasn't painful until Maria gave us the bill. read more

Dr. Romina Mercado is detailed oriented, passionate and professional. She is also personable and highly skilled at her craft. I love her staff, Leivi and Bella. They all make you feel very comfortable. The environment is warm and the office is immaculate. My husband and I have been coming here for over eleven years. Our son over 10 years. I refuse to go anywhere else. They are simply the BEST!!!!! read more

I went to Dr. Shapiro because I was in need of good dentist and hadn't been happy with anyone I'd been to since I moved back to the area 5 years ago. I found him through Yelp and couldn't be happier. I had questions with my insurance covering the x-rays that he wanted taken so the receptionist called my insurance while I waited in the examination chair. My insurance told her they would be covered so I had them taken. Dr. Shapiro did a thorough job cleaning each tooth. In fact, my teeth have never been so clean after visiting a dentist in my 33 years. He was gentle and took my concerns very seriously when I told him how nervous I was due to my sensitive teeth. Later, I received a statement from my insurance saying that now, they weren't covering the x-rays. Needless to say I was furious. I called the office and the receptionist remembered me, calmed me down, appreciated my frustration, called my insurance and me back after confirming their statement, and spoke to Dr. Shapiro. He didn't charge me. I can't attest to the other reviewers' experiences but he was very kind and generous to me. I just went in for my second visit with him, and again couldn't be happier. My teeth are amazingly clean and for the first time, I had a completely pain free visit. They run their office the way doctors offices used to be run and only few now do: like an extension of your family. read more

I recently had a terrible toothache and was amazed that Dr. Shapiro got me in FAST. Didn't even have to beg. I'm absolutely terrified of a trip to the dentist (so always put it off as long as possible). I had cracked a tooth and needed a crown. The entire procedure was painless and I actually enjoyed my visit. A small and very friendly staff. I have no worries about returning to Dr. Shapiro and yep, I would recommend. read more