I agree with some ratings they overcharge for services. I went in expecting to receive fillings for cavities and the front office gave me an estimate for over 1,000 dollars for a tooth that did not have a cavity. Preventive or not, their priorities seemed fishy to me and the price was extremely high. I was quoted about 3,000- 4,000 dollars for necessary dental work (apparently I needed a crown for each tooth that has a cavity). A second opinion stated that I did not need crowns, only fillings, and I was given an estimate of 100 dollars. One thing I will say is that Dr. McElroy did give me a necessary root canal on less than a week's notice, the same day as the exam appointment. For that, I am grateful. However, I do feel I was almost scammed. I also appreciate that the office was nice enough to email my x-rays to another dentist's office. I also liked to note that in the embarrassment of Smiles by Design, they did note that I was missing a crown that was CLEARLY there. Thanks for the laugh. read more

Today was my first time going in, the staff was incredible. Everyone is so kind and helpful. Super high tech office, if you've ever been scared of dental work you need to experience their hospitality. Sean was amazing. Great office im glad I switched! read more

This is now the professional I have chosen to see for my long term dental care. I'm very picky since I need my teeth til death do them part. Competent dentist, assistants, and staff. When a major repair was done, a prescription was called in and waiting for me at my local pharmacy to pick up on my 25 minute ride back from his office. Top quality care and office experience. read more

Impressed with every minute of my new patient exam, as well as teeth, cleaning, and visit with the exceptionally great doctors!!

I am a new patient here at McElroy Smiles by Design and I can honestly say that I have never been more satisfied at a dental office until now. Dannon was my hygienist and she is so skilled at what she does and always has a smile on her face. Dr. Austin was also great and explained what he saw in my dental images and areas on my teeth that needed some work done and gave me my different options for treatment. Susan was also such a huge help with my insurance coverages and made the whole process of going to the dentist so much easier, from the initial tour of the office all the way to checkout. The whole team at McElroy Smiles by Design works together to get the job done right. I already have my next appointment scheduled and I would most definitely recommend this office to anyone who needs dental work. read more

Dr Mc Elroy is an amazing Dentist He is professional and personable. Smile by design has all the perks to keep you comfortable. read more

McElroy Smiles - General Dentistry Near Me - Encinitas, California

I was looking for a new dentist and found Smiles by Design on Yelp. They accepted my insurance and so I made my first appointment. It was actually also a second opinion as I apparently needed a LOT of work done. I saw Dr. Austin (Haught). He and his staff were wonderful from the first person who answered the phone (Christina) to his wonderful assistant Maddie. Both explained everything in detail as they went along and truly listened. Susan did my pre-op and went over everything in detail too - she was very kind and patient. I had the procedure yesterday and it was AMAZING! I'm terrified of dental work so I elected to have anesthesia (well worth the $$$ if you ask me). I had three crowns and 5 fillings done in THREE HOURS! No temporary crowns! They were completed in their onsite lab! Scott, the CRNA (nurse anesthetist) was truly fantastic. I talked to him the week before and he really put me at ease. My procedure was flawless and my teeth look beautiful! Thank-you Dr. Austin!! You and your team do fabulous work!! read more

As always, I feel like a dear friend being welcomed rather than just a patient. I know I am receiving the most up-to-date and professional care. Dr. Mac and and his staff make every patient feel like part of the family. Friendly staff, they were very attentive to my comfort along with a thorough explanation of my procedure and post-op care. I'd surely recommend Dr. Mac to my friends and family. read more

Did the research. Read the reviews. Explored the website. After my first appointment I'm totally satisfied with this dental office. Friendly staff. They explained everything, showed me the pictures. I knew it wasn't going to be great news, but I'm relieved that I have a plan of treatment and can preserved my teeth. read more

McElroy Smiles by Design always has my back! I was recently maid of honor for my best friends wedding and I completely forgot that my smile will forever be saved in photos!! As a coffee connoisseur, I drink way more coffee than I should... One quick phone call and comforting reassurance by his staff and I was booked. I can't thank his staff enough for how easy and helpful they were in scheduling my appointment. Later, that week I experienced top patient care and my teeth were just as bright as the brides! I highly recommend McElroys Smile By Design for best results and customer service! read more

CAN I SAY, WOW! What an awesome practice! I felt totally welcomed upon entering this office and was impressed by the entire team as a whole! Beautiful office, clean, and super knowledgeable practice; I totally felt like I was well taken care of. Recommend to ALL of my friends and colleagues. Love!!!! Five stars all around!!! read more

I am deathly afraid of dentists. But Dr. Mac and his team made me feel at home. From the moment I walked through the door I was treated promptly and with care. My cleaning guy Sean was super chill and made me feel comfortable even though I was nervous. I will definitely be back. read more

I have avoided going to the dentist for the last decade due to a serious fear of the drill, but I knew I needed to get in. I made a consultation with Dr. McElroy's office, and they got me in quickly. When the consultation was done, I needed a root canal, to have a chip on my front tooth filled in. and to have 4 cavities filled. I picked McElroy Smiles by Design because of the sedation dentistry option. I have previously been given laughing gas for dental work, but that was only to start the procedure here. I was given an IV sedation, and while I remember brief parts of the procedure, I remember feeling absolutely no pain. Charisse also did an excellent job in making me feel comfortable and getting me ready for the procedure. I also am whitening my teeth, and have to give a separate shoutout to Charisse, who has made that whole experience wonderful! I heavily recommend Smiles by Design. read more

I have been going to Dr. McElroy for over 5 years now. He and his staff have always treated me great. I actually look forward to going there for an appointment. I have also referred many friends and co-workers there and they have all thanked me for referring them to Dr. MAC. I've been to many dentists in NY, GA and California and I can say I haven't had any as good or as thorough as Dr. MAC and his team. He has state-of-the-art equipment and he and his staff are up-to-date on the latest techniques and treatments. He has gone out of his way on several occasions to save some teeth others wouldn't touch. I never felt like they rushed me through anything. I always felt they advised me of my options honestly and gave me the choice. They also worked with my insurance to make sure I was credited the correct amounts and got what I paid for. Without a doubt I would recommend Dr. MAC to anyone that wants a true professional. There are plenty of discount dentists in Tijuana for those that want to take shortcuts. read more

This is such an Amazing dentist in Encinitas. I had to be seen immediately from a sudden a tooth issue (I may be addicted to frozen chocolate) and they were able to see me same day!! Thanks Dr.McElroy for amazing work! My pain is gone and I couldn't be happier! Also, dedicated to try out the KOR whitening trays, I am beyond excited to see the results, pretty smiles make such a difference . read more

I had such a wonderful experience today at McElroy Smiles By Design! Victoria at the front office was super sweet and helpful. Sean, who did my cleaning, was so kind, knowledgeable and made me feel extremely comfortable (which is not the norm for me at the dentist). I am always a bit skeptical of dentist offices as I have been to a few where I felt they were after money more than anything, but that is NOT the case at Smiles by design. I felt completely confident in the treatment recommended and that everything they recommended was for my health and to keep my pearly whites in the best shape they can be in! read more

This place is 25% higher then any other dentist I went to.They should keep there parting gift and tour and give better pricing to seniors as well. read more

If you are looking for a great dentist, your search is over. I am 67 years old and have been to more dentists than I can remember. When I found SMILES BY DESIGN I was more than pleased. I was relieved that my search was over. I could not imagine pain free dentistry, but that is what I found. I've been a patient here for over 4 years and I have found them to be honest, patient and caring. My teeth and gums are in much better shape today than they were 25 years ago. Check them out. You won't regret it. Jerry in Encinitas read more

I called in desperation as we were visiting family in San Diego with our 3 year old and new 3 month old. I have been working on my teeth and my temporaries popped off. I immediately called my dentist in Los Angeles and she reassured me that a dentist in SD can easily recement in no time at all. When we called, we immediately asked for pricing as we don't need to be spending and arm and leg to recement. We asked for a ball park price as we wanted to compare to other near by dentists before making the decision to drive back to LA or not. We were quoted $165 on the phone. When I arrived and made it very clear I only needed to have the dentist recement 2 temporaries, I was confused why I had to do a whole exam, X-rays and then treatment plan to get my 2 teeth recemented. I explained what I needed, encouraged the dentist to call my dentist and $500 later, I was in shock! Plus the temps popped out the next day-even after I only chewed on the side of my mouth without the temps-intentionally avoiding another expensive dental visit. When speaking to my dentist, she was appalled they would charge $500 to recement 2 temporaries. And after them coming out the following day, I was devastated and even more upset I wasted $500 which is A LOT for my family right now. Huge steep from $165. We would've never gone had we known that would be the price. I feel completely taken advantage of and disappointed in the lack of transparency their office provided, and even more frustrated that no one was listening to me. My husband called 2x to discuss and they completely disregarded us and blew him off. They couldn't even have the courtesy to call us back! So now I'm sharing my experience here. Do some research before giving this place your business. They are crooks. read more

Outstanding customer service. This was a routine dental cleaning and the safety precautions were in place and I felt safe the whole appointment. Monica did an excellent job. read more

Wonderful dental office in the heart of Encinitas. Super friendly and welcoming staff. They really care about their patients, and it's amazing! I feel comfortable and calm during my every visits (used to be afraid to go to the dentist) but not anymore, because I know I am in good hands. Dr.McElroy is one of the best dentist I know in San Diego. Highly recommend Smiles by design dental office! read more

I think Dr. McElroy is one of the BEST in the business! In all candor, we actually live in the same neighborhood, which made me hesitant to go to him because he is someone I kind of knew...Well, after some not so great experiences with other dentists in the area, I decided to go ahead and give Dr. McElroy a try. I started with his practice about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier that I made the switch! I know I am not the easiest dental patient due to a general dislike/fear of going to the dentist, previous trauma to the mouth and veneers, but they never make me feel that way! My hygenist (Monica) is great and "Dr Mac" has always been so patient and supportive. So far, I've had several routine cleanings, replacement of an old cracked filling (that another DDS missed and was causing discomfort) and now invisalign under his care and it has all been a great experience. Their office is beautiful, with state of the art equipment and all the latest advances. In my opinion they offer top notch level care. Everyone I have encountered on the staff are so nice, caring, positive and helpful...always willing to go the extra step when needed. I've actually referred several friends (and neighbors) to Dr Mac over the last year and they too are very happy with the care they have received... I decided to add a Yelp review because I remember what it was like when I moved to San Diego and needed a new dentist... I hit Yelp. Hopefully this review helps you. read more

Doc McElroy, Best dentist ever! Very professional with up to date modern techniques, equipment and friendiest staff. Charisse makes it all a lot easier read more

I was referred by a very close friend, after explaining my bad experience from a different office. She assured I would be in good hands! I took the leap and scheduled an exam, I felt at ease the moment I was seated. Dr. McElroy, is personable and very professional, he took the time to look over a few of my concerns and ruled out cavities. He also pointed out a few minor concerns that will need attention in the near future. I look forward to having him switch out a couple fillers and put my mind at ease! read more

I have been a patient at Smiles By Design for several years now and highly recommend them. Dr. McElroy and his staff are great and really care about their patients. I had a cleaning today with Esmeralda and she explained everything she was doing and carefully listened to my concerns. Much appreciated!!! read more

Cannot thank Dr. Mac and his team for such a pleasant experience, to say the least I am not a fan of dentist but yet he was able to get me in and out with ZERO pain. Comfort was my biggest worry but they knocked it out of the park with such a quick operation. Very very pleased will be coming back many more times. read more

I damaged a 20 year old crown this week, so I scheduled a visit to see Dr. McElroy. He got me in today and he completed the entire job of removing the old porcelain crown and installing a brand new one that looks and feels much better! I am not very fond of dental work and always dread going to see a dentist, but Dr. McElroy has changed this. I felt zero pain or discomfort today through the entire process. I was extremely impressed with the level of technology that he used for the process. The technology allowed all of the work to be completed in just one single visit, and the new crown is perfect. A special thank you to Charisse for being especially helpful to me through the whole process. She kept me super informed on what was going on and how long each step of the process would take (13 minutes for this, 18 minutes for that....). I would recommend the McElroy practice to anyone that needs any tpe of dental work! read more

Dr. Mac and his staff are without a doubt, the best in San Diego County. Have been going to Smiles by Design for over 20 years and am very pleased with the treatment I've received. Had the pleasure of having Danny for my routine checkup and cleaning today, she is an exceptional young lady. read more

Having just moved to Cardiff, I spent Labor Day weekend with a slowly increasing ache in two of my lower teeth. I reached out on Monday on line, they called me Tuesday morning and got me straight in at 10 am. I had to have a root canal--pretty bad infection. Dr, Austin and Eli took great care of me through a challenging repair. I was kept comfortable and informed throughout. I could not have asked for more responsiveness and a higher level of care. This is a busy, get down to business office, focused on patient care and well-being. I have had a lot of dental work over the years, and this team is outstanding! read more

They were great! I had a crown come off a tooth in the morning and they inserted me into their already full day smoothly, examined the tooth and made another crown on the spot. I left with a new crown. The staff were professional, efficient, and took care to make my experience as stress free as possible. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. McElroy and his team for many years and they continue to provide excellent service. Skilled, friendly, professional staff. Very clean and comfortable office and rooms, a very pleasant environment with nice music playing. The bathrooms are exceptionally clean with complimentary oral care products available. Susan in the front office is great and she always lets you know upfront what to expect in terms of cost for service/insurance issues, so no surprises when it comes to payment. The team works very well together and they really care about patient comfort and the quality of their work. They offer the most current treatment options and are very accommodating with schedules. Exceptional service! Thank you! read more

Do not come here ! if you do not have insurance they charge you a Premium of"$800" !!! the office manager suzan said it "because you dont have insurance and thats your issues not ours ". I would love an answer to this or i can post the pics proving this read more

I recently had a dental emergency due to a lingering root canal that had been neglected. When I called the office I was warmly greeted by the receptionist and was able to schedule an appt fairly quickly which I greatly appreciated. My insurance information was also processed in a timely manner so that I had no worries about billing issues when I arrived for my appt. The staff members that I dealt with were highly professional and took the time to both explain and show me examples of the work needing to be done. The cost is not cheap, even with insurance but after some research feel that it is on par with everyone else. The most important aspect being the work and how it was accomplished. I definitely feel better than when I walked in so that is a good sign. Free water , Free Masks, Free T Brushes in the bathroom. Thank You for taking me on as a new patient. read more

Always on time, professional and clean! Most fun  doctor's office I've ever been to, the staff always welcomes me with a big smile. Everyone truly enjoys their job at smiles by design and that makes my dental experience that much better. Best dental office I've been to. Definitely staying as a long time patient! Thanks again! read more

My first visit here was amazing! My hygienist, Sean, and my dentist, Dr. Austin, were both super informative and really took into consideration my specific needs/concerns. The office is super clean and updated and they had massage chairs/seat warmers and tv on the ceiling which definitely helped me with my anxiety associated with the dentist! read more

I'd been using a couple dentists in my local area and finally came upon smiles by design. I'm very happy with the quality of service and the quality of the team that worked with me as soon as I was on site. It's a great location with a very knowledgeable staff and Dr. McElroy both walked me through all my options and helped me to understand my current teeth condition as well as what I need to do for future care. I happily recommend to anybody looking for a great dentist team. read more

Long time patient here praising Susan for always taking such great care of me. She is very helpful and knowledgeable and she truly cares. So glad she is part of this fantastic dental team! read more

I have been a patient for over 2 years and have been very happy with the professionalism and service at Smiles. My first experience was with a very old implant that my previous dentist was unable to locate the necessary parts to fix the implant. Within two days, Dr McElroy was able to source the part and fix the implant. I have now used the office for crowns, veneers and cleaning and have always been treated with care and concern. Ken read more

I had not been to a dentist in over 6 years. Finally a chipped tooth forced me to seek out a reputable dentist. I asked one of my clients who she went to, and she highly recommended Dr McElroy and his staff. After 2 visits with Monica (best hygienist in the World), I decided to commit to on-going care with Smiles By Design. I've always hated going to dentists for cleanings and/or exams, but I honestly can say I'm looking forward to future visits and finally taking care of my teeth and I've already referred a client of mine. Thank you Monica for changing the way I've always viewed dentistry. Truly grateful!!!! read more

I had an urgent need to remove my impacted wisdom tooth but the original Oral Surgeon referral i received from my dentist could not see me until a couple weeks later. So when i was searching for my other options I found McElroy Smile by Design. They were able to arrange an appointment, examined me and even extracted on the same day. The stuffs were excellent, everyone made me feel comfortable. Thank you to Dr. Mac, Madison, Charisse, Susan, and Christine the quick response yesterday. read more