I found Dr. Manunts while searching for someone that could repair a filling that broke after…read moreanother dentist "repaired" it a short while ago. (I wasn't willing to go back to that dentist - I take a lot of medication to get numb, but the previous dentist didn't really numb me all that much, plus provided what I consider to be a really subpar repair of a filling that had never bothered me before. I don't care if that filling would have been free; that dentist was not worth the trouble.) I didn't have dental care growing up, so dentists are a source of anxiety for me, but I can't avoid the fact that a massive chunk of one of my teeth was missing. After an exam of the broken filling three weeks ago, Dr. Manunts told me that I'd likely need a root canal, because she was worried about the pain I was in and some swelling around the gums, and while I wasn't exactly happy with that, she calmed my fears, helped me set up an appointment, and then encouraged me to research the procedure, stressing to me how important it was to avoid the horror stories. I was asked to call with any questions and absolutely challenge her with hard questions if I needed to. I was able to find some pretty great resources that calmed me down a bit and demonstrated the procedure without showing me actual video of it. When I went in for the procedure today, I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but she again put me at ease, suggested I put on an audiobook or some music, and just let her work. She asked me whether I typically need a lot of numbing for procedures like this, and I know that I do, so I told her that. She then told me that if I feel anything beyond the fact that she was there - meaning if I felt pain - to just raise my left hand, and they'd stop and numb me more. That was important to me. The previous nightmare of a dentist I had here in Ithaca did not listen to my concerns that I need more numbing than most, and when I tried to let her know that I felt it, her response was essentially to suck it up because she was moving forward anyway. I have a chronic pain condition. I can take pain. The pain of that dentist "repairing" that filling was so much more than necessary, to the point that I stopped going out of fear she'd find something else wrong and put me through that nightmare again. So if that dentist ever wonders why I never went back, it's stuff like that. When Dr. Manunts started, I did feel it and did as she suggested, raising my left hand slightly to let them know that I felt pain. She then pulled out the more heavy-duty anesthetic, then tried again. I didn't feel it this time, so she proceeded, and I tried to relax and listen to my audiobook. When she got down to the point she'd need to go to perform the root canal itself, she realized that she was mistaken and told me that I would not, in fact, need a root canal, and that she'd be repairing the filling instead. That was a pretty pleasant surprise, so I of course let her proceed. I appreciate that she admitted that she made a mistake and that she didn't want to put me through an unnecessary procedure. A few minutes later, I had a shiny, new, repaired filling, and she told me that my teeth are actually in pretty good condition...I just need to get them cleaned more often to avoid the gum swelling she was worried about that caused her to think I needed a root canal (which I totally agree with! I was just so gun-shy after that last dentist). She also told me what to look out for in the future to determine whether it's standard sensitive teeth (which I know I have), sensitivity to heat or cold, or something more serious. Then she sent me on my merry way. I'll be coming back next month for a cleaning before we leave the area for good. I'm sad that I didn't discover Dr. Manunts before, but I am more than happy to leave this here to hopefully save someone the same fears I've dealt with since visiting a less competent dentist. She and her staff are incredibly pleasant, low-pressure people who care about making sure everyone gets what they need when they need it, with as little anxiety or pain as possible. She is not afraid to answer questions, and more importantly, she's not willing to put someone through a procedure they don't need. If you're new to the area, seek out Dr. Manunts first. You won't regret it, I promise.

My long-term dentist retired and I needed work done when some childhood fillings collapsed. Dr…read more Manunts is very stand-offish with non-existent chairside manner. She sent me to have three teeth removed. While I was waiting for those sites to heal I lost the tip of another. I went in to have the tip repaired and she also did purely cosmetic fillings on the outside surface with the warning it might not last. She was right. It didn't. I paid over $800 for a gloss that fell out after two weeks. It's been a year now and the tip repair has fallen out, too. I had a partial plate with six teeth built for almost $2K. I can't wear it. It gives me a speech impediment. She said, "Oh, just read the newpaper outloud." There is so much plastic I can't find my alveolar ridge to form an l, n, d, or t. There is even plastic on the back surface of the upper front teeth, that I can't form an Italian l either. I'm a voice professional and must be able to perform in Italian, French, and English as well as demonstrate to my students. The only positives about the office are the delightful woman in the front office and the very healthy croton that gets morning sunshine through the window. Avoid at all costs. I have spoken with others who unanimously share my opinions, but they don't seem to register reviews here.

As a former healthcare clinic manager of 20 years, I can usually tell within minutes whether a…read moreclinic is well run. From my very first call, Gorges Dentistry gave me all the green flags. The staff were genuine, attentive, and professional -- you can feel when a clinic truly values patients, and this one does. My first visit was excellent. The care team listened, took their time, and never made me feel rushed. The atmosphere was modern, clean, and relaxed. Staff encouraged and reinforced positive habits rather than shaming anyone for what they "should" be doing -- a huge difference compared to other places. The first set of x-rays was essentially free (saving me hundreds), which stunned me. Both the dentist and hygienist were thorough, careful, and patient. This is how dentistry should feel: professional, compassionate, and centered on care -- not billing. I highly recommend Gorges Dentistry to anyone in Ithaca looking for quality dental care.

Accounting shenanigans and majority-culture power-as far as I can tell-instantiate the divided…read morerecord of Yelp/Google for this Triphammer Rd. address of recent-decade Ithaca. Schedule and bills were Rube Goldbergian. "It's broken" and "Yes, heh-heh, yes" were the responses, respectively, of hygienist Mattie and owner Anthony Raggi to herky-jerky "panoramic X-ray" and my comment "You want my money, don't you?"--as he appeared from the back room to interrupt my starting to ask about confusing paperwork with "Is there a problem?" A re-capped 20-year-old crown ran $1500 taken mid-term. At the close of 3 visits, a recurring "-$138" remainder not refundable was claimed as due to said feckless X-ray.

I switched to this dentist because they take Fidelis, which I changed to recently. I've found them…read moreto be very professional and proficient, and recommend them to friends and family. Dr. Singh is only in a couple of days of the week due to his working in another office in Cortland part of the time, but they've still managed to schedule me in in a timely way, so I don't have to wait for appointments. They call to confirm appointments the day before; if you miss the call they ask you to call them to let them know you're planning on coming in. All of my appointments but one have started right on time, and the one that started late happened to fall on a very busy day; I wasn't kept waiting for longer than about 20 minutes. The office staff and the folks who do the x-rays and so on are all really friendly. Dr. Singh, who's done two root canals, a filling, and three crowns for me, isn't a big talker. But I've always found it awkward to respond to questions when people are working on my mouth so I don't mind! He's very courteous and quick, as are his assistants. I've also had a filling done by another dentist there (I forget his name) and he was very friendly and told me a funny story as he was finishing up. Everyone here is working quickly and there aren't a lot of extra explanations - they just dive right in and do the work. But I've asked questions and they do take the time to answer. Also, one of my root canals was very painful - a general infection in the area that required antibiotics prevented the pain medication from being as helpful as it should have been. They took the time to give me extra lydocaine and didn't mind waiting a moment when I was nervous and wanted to give it a moment to take effect. Oh, and the location and parking are very convenient - it's near the mall and there's always lots of room in the big parking lot out front. EDIT: I just had a cleaning today with Lauren. She was super nice and fun to talk to. She did an awesome job at cleaning my teeth, checking her work and then going back to work again on a spot she felt wasn't just right yet -- I appreciated the thoroughness. After the cleaning she gave me a little bag of samples (brush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash). She didn't try to sell me anything at all, just sent me on my way. Looking forward to coming back for my next cleaning and x-rays in another 6 months.

While my initial review was 5 star because Dr. Rodriguez was excellent in all manners and form. My…read morefollow -up for the extraction was extremely unpleasant. Dr. Singh, who does this was a real brute with no bedside manners so to speak. The extraction required my bridge to be removed in order to extract the teeth. This was known from the beginning. They gave me one price and because Dr. Singh had a bit of difficulty removing the bridge, they added an extra $100 to my bill which since I was paying out of pocket, was no small change. While he was drilling, the debris entered my throat, and my involuntary reaction was to cough, Dr. Singh yelled at me , saying , "Don't spit me!" And treated me roughly. Needless to say. When I complained and refused him to make another bridge but requested the other Dentist. They not only stayed that she would do a bad job and I would be better off with him. Then said I should find another dentist. Which I will but not before putting my displeasure out there.

I have been a patient of this establishment for many years, and I find them to be the BEST in the…read morecity. The care they provide is genuine, and they will do whatever they can to make you comfortable. I've even been offered a blanket and a foot massage! Unfortunately, with Integrative Oral Health, you have to apply through Medicare to recoup the money you pay for the visit. Unfortunately, Excelles won't reimburse the full amount. The dentist's receptionist will apply for the reimbursement on your behalf. We also apply ourselves because the forms didn't get through the system a few times. I have tried the other dentists listed by Excelles, and I was NOT happy with their service. One tried to pull out my bridge and said I needed a deep cleaning, which wasn't true. The other dentist called me the day before my appointment (that took months to get) and cancelled on me, saying the hygienist wouldn't be in that day!!! I was not very happy! I felt like I was on an assembly line with these dentists. I would definitely recommend Integrative Oral Health because they don't jerk you around, but treat you with respect.

Dr/Dentist Alanouf gouged my top front tooth "for free" and would not fix it for free…read more It was not the tooth she was working on. She talked the entire time. It was a horrible experience, and my opinion is she's a terrible dentist. I will never go back. I don't know if she's still in Ithaca NY. She might be in Pennsylvania.

8/22 update: After my bad experience (noted below) I went to Gorges dental two days later: NO…read moreCAVITIES! You should get a second opinion before getting a procedure here. Im not the only person that reports unnecessary treatment. I highly recommend Gorges - very modern, professional and first x-rays are free! This place isn't a dental clinic -- it's a financial model with chairs. Ithaca, you should know better. First red flag? I asked about a chipped tooth, and instead of addressing it, the hygienist told me to "check with the front desk because they were short-staffed." (?!) That's not passing the buck -- that's trying to collect another one. The hygienist reminded me more than once about being short-staffed and made my gums sound like a crime scene. Evidently I'm the only one not getting an "A" for flossing. The dentist didn't touch a single instrument -- just had me open and close my jaw and called it an exam. Must have been using x-ray vision. On top of that, they overlooked a cavity previously noted in my chart. When I asked if the doctor would examine it, I was told -- not kidding -- "no, the doctor is done and gone." My cleaning wasn't even finished, and guess what? I still got the bill. And here's the kicker -- an elderly woman named Jean, clearly hard of hearing, almost had her appointment canceled because she didn't respond fast enough in the waiting room. I had to step in so she wouldn't be turned away. That told me everything: this office runs on throughput and billing, not care. I had a wonderful relationship with my prior practice in Austin for 10 years and never once experienced anything this careless. I cannot be the only one noticing this. Ithaca deserves a whole lot better.

Heather is great, but not impressed with Dr Ray. Dr. Ng seems to be unavailable most of the time…read more Was given an outrageously expensive estimate for an extraction and was also told I have a " cracked" filling in a tooth that does not bother me at all. Plus was charged $145 for a simple cleaning, no X-rays, not seen by a dentist. Will be looking for a new practice.

Tompkins Dental scared me off for nine months. I ended up at Aspen somehow, and from my first phone…read morecall through consult to the deep clean and extractions, it has been a wonderful experience. I was *terrified* to go there (thanks again Tompkins) but EVERYONE was fantastic. I think it was Dr Aspen who made me two teeth lighter (no thank you root canal and I have better things to spend my money on ... the kind of attitude that got me into this situation, probably ...). I felt really comfortable with everyone and considering how scared I was, that says and means a lot. I don't even care that I'm paying out of pocket. (Only complaint is it's hard to get someone on the phone and messages don't get returned, so backup would be nice.) Aspen would definitely be my dentist of choice if they were in my network.

They exaggerate need and try to make money by suggesting unnecessary procedures. After being told…read moreI needed loads of work I went to a different dentist who did not agree. They are worse than a rip off. They take advantage of people.

Dr. Zax is the best dentist in the area. Got me right in and with great music too!read more

I had heard a few rave reviews about Dr. Zax from some friends. Since my dentist of 20 years…read morepacked up and retired without a !?@%ing word to anyone, I was in a pinch to find a new one. Called up Dr. Zax's office and the appointment making process was pleasant and quick. That's where the positivity of this review ends. I also want to preface this review with the fact that I am NOT one of those people who is terrified of the dentist. I have never been afraid of any doctor. I spent nearly three hours at their office from start to finish. For a CLEANING! A Cleaning! Waited in the waiting room for a half an hour. Sat in the torture chair for an hour and a half. Waited another half an hour for the doctor to review the Grim Reaper's work. Waited ten minutes for doctor to get off of her cell phone. Listened to the doctor try to convince me for another ten minutes that I "might" have a cavity (I am 42 years old and have never had a cavity) and that I will need to come back and get it "fixed" for a few more hundred dollars. The rooms were freezing. Maybe they need to be, I don't know. The dental assistant proceeded to tell me everything that my previous dentist had done wrong in the last twenty years. Picked at my teeth with her mouth-hatchet for far longer than I've ever had anyone do in the past. My entire mouth was sore for two days (again, a first) and I had a headache for 24 hours after that appointment. The receptionist is very cheery. So thanks for that. Good music in the office too. Yeah, that's all I got.

Ithaca dentistry is so professional and i feel like i am taking care of when i am there . I do…read morerecommend them highly. susie

Many years lived, so many years of receiving dental care. My dentist retired, so I tried these…read morefolks out based on positive recommendations. So far, so good. Will update periodically.

I was going to Aspen Dental but I didn't feel all that comfortable there, so my hubby recommended I…read moresee Ira Kamp. Well, let me tell you the experience with Dr. Kamp was a very positive experience. Everyone in the office was so nice and so caring. The hygienist was amazing and so informative. Dr. Kamp was kind and checked on me several times throughout my visit. He, in my opinion is one of the best dentists in Ithaca, NY. I highly recommend him! Unfortunately he isn't covered with my dental care, but I would rather spend the extra on a positive experience than save a few dollars on a negative one.

It's Kamp is a practitioner who, in my estimation, had chosen/found dentistry as a way to serve. He…read moreis intuitive, generous, compassionate and truly a seer. i say this having seen him for over 30 years. Call me corny, it's ok. But really if you need a dentist, well....