The car dealership of dentists. They try to update services you don't need in hopes you don't know that, so get a second opinion. The front desk girls are not pleasant. They are requiring masks still, no problem. I didn't have one and the sign said they had them available so I asked for one and the lady was so rude about it. "I'm helping someone else right now (nobody there) so have a seat and I'll get to you". I just wanted to make sure I had the mask they require before I sat down next to other people waiting. Appointments get taken back late, so if you need to be to work make sure to plan for that. When open enrollment comes around, I will be choosing a different plan to avoid these low end dentist offices. My fault, lesson learned. read more

First I want to say Jeressa (dental hygienist) is absolutely amazing. She is so kind and always walks me through everything with empathy and eases my fears and pain she is the main reason I kept coming back. When it came to the other half of dental work, my experience when I first started was a little rough due to miscommunication. Kelly saw I was struggling with this and was unhappy and went out of her way to make sure it didn't happen again. Since we have all gotten on the same page everything has been smooth sailing. Kelly even remembers details about me and asks how my trips went and showed she really does listen and care. Dr Ortega has also be patient with me as well throughout the process and adjusted to me communication needs. I also try to eat now before I go so I am not hangry when I go in... read more

Don't trust these people with ur mouth. Went in for a simple filling and they cracked my tooth. Now I need a root canal and a crown. And I am in immense pain due to an exposed nerve. read more

Came in for a cleaning and received phenomenal service. My Dental hygienist Jeressa was amazing. She really cared for my teeth and didn't rush me out of the office like my previous cleans in other offices. Jeressa took the time to properly examine, clean, and polish my teeth. Will definitely recommend my family and friends here. read more

My dentist Poway Family Dental sent me for redoing a root canal to one of their partner offices Santee Smile Dentistry, I had to pay for many services like exams again. After all I paid $45 for visit, $614 for the job after the insurance covering $274,- of it. Now after a few weeks I received a letter from their office for $210,- and at the same time I received a letter from a debt collector "Amer Assist A/R Solutions inc. for the $210,- When I called the dental office they just said that they will ask a manager to call me. But that never happened. After contacting my insurance they gave me the numbers they paid to the dental office and it clearly showed that I was over charged. So they also told me that they will send a letter to them to refund me the balance. Explaining all this to Amer Assist I was told that if I don't pay it will be reported to the collections. The only chance was to pay them or have the Santee smiles contacting the collections to remove their request. First I don't understand how rude can the dental office be, by sending the request to me and the debt collectors at the same. Second how come that Amer Assist didn't even take the effort to look at the bill and bring to their attention that their bill was sent to them immediately when it was sent to me at the same time. I didn't get a chance to pay it. Now it is forced this way. No problem that $210 will not kill me. But I'll see them at the small claims court. Welcome to America, Big eats Small... read more

I recently had a lot of dental work done by my dentist, then a few months later one of my old crowns (over 15 years) got a hole in it. I called my dentist only to find out that due to a family crisis, he had to take an early retirement. I was referred to Santee Smiles by my boss who just started to go to them. He likes them, but thinks they are extremely expensive. We have different insurances, so I already knew what my costs would be. I went to Santee Smiles and was actually impressed by the courteous people and nice environment. I told them I only wanted an x-ray on my one tooth since it was the only one bothering me and I had recently went to my dentist. They insisted getting full mouth X-rays and said they will do them for free. Along with my on cracked tooth, the dentist told me I needed another one filled for safe keeping (to avoid future root canal). When I got the quote to do the crown, it would cost me $1,255. I told them my insurance said I would only have to pay $195. They said that they "prefer" to do this special type of material that can be done on the spot, in house. I don't want that!! Also, the filling would cost me $163, when my insurance says I should pay Nothing. I called to tell them I want to get the porcelain crown, not the special one that gets done in a day. They put me on hold to talk with the dentist. When they finally got back to me, they said they won't do the porcelain. NOT OKAY! THIS PLACE ONLY WANTS YOUR MONEY (duh!). DON'T CARE ABOUT PATIENCE'S BUDGET AT ALL!!!! Even my boss is Not Happy to know he is being scammed as well. He's already too far into it to get out, but please BEWARE!!! Check with your insurance company first. When I spoke with mine, the customer service rep told me that he is always warning people about this. read more

Jessirae is a wonderful hygienist. Does a wonderful job cleaning your teeth.

I have the most fear and anxiety from trauma when I was younger. I am 38, still have my mom take me and my dentist and hygienist has made me feel so comfortable. They are all understanding of my anxiety and really make me feel comfortable, they listen and do whatever it takes to be patient with me. I will never go anywhere else because my fear can't take it but also because I feel really taken care of in so many ways. It has and does mean so much to me to be at a dentist who cares and helps me in every way. Seriously, thank you. read more

Dr. Rebecca Ortega is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. I always have an excellent experience every time I visit. The staff are thorough yet time-efficient, and all the procedures are explained well. Admin is always very open with me about my best options financially. read more

Dr J is a SCAM Artist. I complained of pain in a tooth during 3 different visits and then on the fourth all of the sudden I need a crown. He only spent about 2 minutes "examining" me each time. read more

The team at Santee Smiles all make an effort to help you feel comfortable and get to know you. A better relationship with them helps them understand your needs. read more

I am what you call a pain in the butt patient . I called the office and I spoke with Stephanie, she was very nice explained what the doctor will do the first appointment. Like everyone I hate needles and I know I need work done. Stephanie assure me that Dr Fergon would take good care of me. Make me feel very comfortable about going to see the office. I will definitely be back I was highly satisfied read more

Do not go here if you have a phobia of dentists - they are not prepared to handle phobias with client centered care. I am writing review for my mom (63 year old) who went in for a tooth ache, and was told the infection was severe after completing x ray, and would need the tooth pulled out. They informed my mom that insurance would not cover , and it cost her $2,300 due to having a specialist remove the tooth. Periodontist Anna Hsu was the provider that removed my moms tooth, and unfortunately did not provide appropriate care due to my moms phobia. My mom reported that she was crying for dentist to stop, that she could still feel pain, and that the dentist did not stop. I picked up my mom crying and panicked for the rest of the evening. When I went to the Santee smiles dentistry that evening to ask about what had occurred, I spoke with dentist Ortega and she informed me that the infection was severe and therefore may not have been able to numb the area completely. However, in regards to my mom crying for them to stop, the assistant next to Dr. Ortega said "your mom looked fine" and Dr Ortega said "I was informed they did stop for 10 minutes but then had to keep going." This was not ethical the way in which my moms treatment and procedure was conducted. I was then told by Dr Ortega that she apologized for my mothers experience and that she would call her the next day to check on her. My mom did not receive a phone call. I contacted the office the following day to see if my mother could speak to a dental assistant in regards to the pain she was experiencing which was at an 8 out of 10 in intensity and they said they would call us back. We did not receive a call until a week later, by then my mom has found a recommended dentist to treat her. It is unfortunate that my moms phobia was made worse by this experience, and I wanted to let potential patients know if they have a phobia, that I highly do not recommend this clinic. read more

Went there for the first time and it was a pretty good experience. Just wait though...High pressure sales for sure, red flag!!! higher than normal prices as well. Second red flag. third red flag, trying to schedule me for every 4 months instead of 6. My insurance only covers every 6. Here is why I wont return and changed my 5 star to 1 for them: I got rescheduled 4 times for a cleaning due to covid19. (I understand this is normal). Finally, I figured out that if I came in under emergency because a piece of my tooth chipped off, they could soften the edges. I have no pain there and no root exposure. They still would not clean my teeth (also something I understand during covid) . So anyway, I just needed them to file down the sharp edges, which was completed. Waited 2 more months to get back to my appt to look at the chipped tooth and do a cleaning. Mind you... A year and a half ago I had deep scaling done. in the meantime, they tell me I need a partial crown to fix the chip. so I tell them i'm good on the partial crown for now and if we could move on to my cleaning, and the dr. says well we cant because you need to do deep scaling again. you have got to be kidding me lol. It honestly sounds like they are trying to make up for all that lost time during covid. They are ripping people off. All I asked my dentist for was a cleaning. I mean after all these rescheduled appts, you would thing that wouldn't be something tough for a dentist to do. Highly priced, pushy sales, claims "if it ain't broke dont fix it" hahaha nope they are just the opposite. TOTAL RIP OFF. I agree with the other 1 stars. Felt your pains clearly. Cant wait to come back on yelp and update how much I saved going somewhere else. Maybe they will clean my teeth, now wouldn't that be something? Pathetic. A dentist that doesn't want to do a basic clean after I requested and expected it as well and waited months for. I'll let ya'll know if the other dentist agrees with the overly preventative care approach you get here. read more

I have a tremendous amount of anxiety about the dentist so when I was told I needed two crowns and potentially a root canal, I just lost it. Waited 6 months for treatment so I could have laughing gas to make it more tolerable. The root canal specialist said I didn't need it! Great news... And its always comforting to not feel taken advantage of. Dr. Ortega did my crowns and she was extremely patient with me. Waited for the laughing gas to work, talked me through each step. Paused once, re-numbed me, and waited. I highly recommend Dr. Ortega if you're not the biggest fan of the dentist. read more

Everyone was very kind and professional. However, I spoke with a Stephanie over the phone and she was very very unprofessional. I still attended the appointment nonetheless, I was greeted by everyone else very kindly and professionally. Then I met Stephanie. She was rude, rolled her eyes, and barely enunciated her words ( as if she couldn't be bothered talking with patients). She honestly ruined the entire experience for me, especially since she was the one going over the cost and coverage of my procedure. To be entirely honest, I thought she was high or drunk. During the end of the appointment, I had asked if there was anything that I needed to pay and she just walked away and didn't answer me (so naturally I just left). I wouldn't recommend going to this dentistry if Stephanie is at the front desk. ( This is the one on MIssion George Rd.) read more

Do not go here. Went in for a routine teeth cleaning and they tried to get me to agree to $5000 worth of unnecessary dental work that would not be covered under my insurance. After my cleaning that is fully covered by insurance I have received multiple bills for the cleaning. I called my insurance and they never submitted a claim. Called Santee Smiles and they were so rude. Made me play phone tag because no one wanted to answer my questions and then said some one would call me back wHich never happened. After hours of trying to reach the correct person she said she was going to contact the insurance person and put in a claim to get this resolved and would call me back. Now a whole week later my insurance still hasn't gotten a claim and I have gotten a debt collection notice. WORST DENTIST I HAVE EVER BEEN TO DO KOT GO HERE. read more

Echoing what others have said about the corporate "car dealership" tone at Santee Smiles. Both my partner and I came in on separate days for a regular 6-month exam and cleaning, as new patients. With both of us, the dentist and technician tried to upsell to a "deep cleaning" which they wanted me to schedule another appointment for. When asked if I could have the regular cleaning during the current exam, they declined.I have never experienced that at any previous dentist I have been to. Neither of us were able to get the preventive cleaning, and have since switched dentists. Please be more sensitive to the needs of your patients, stop upselling, and stop wasting everyone's time by forcing separate appointments. read more

Horrible experience. We were referred by la mesa modern dental group for a periodontist consultation. We arrived at 11 AM and they could not find us and stated we needed to return at 1:30 PM. We returned at 1:30 PM, waited one hour, and then were asked to fill out forms. We wasted three hours waiting for a consultation. I have never seen an office this disorganized and I am a doctor. We walked out. read more

My teeth were cleaned by one of the male hygienists who tried to flirt with me. At one point while he was taking off the plaque from my teeth he commented that he was trying to be gentle because he was gentle with all of his cute patients. He also called me baby-girl throughout the cleaning. I was very uncomfortable and found it very unprofessional. I am fine with small talk, but you are cleaning my teeth. Don't say weird stuff like that. Also, even though they did about 40 minutes of work on my teeth including x-rays I was at the dentist for at least an hour and a half. read more

I have to write another review for Santee Smiles especially Dr Ferguson. I called with tooth pain and they went above and beyond to see me on the same day. Unfortunately I had a crack in my tooth. I never worry about anything at this office because I know their Tx plan is fair and they do what they can to help out financially. Dr Ferguson is the sweetest and the kindest dentist I've ever been too. I trust her soooo much and I know she always has my best interest at heart. read more

Just left this office for the first time today and I have to say I was throughly impressed. From the moment I walked in I felt really comfortable. The office staff was exceptional. Lisa Ferguson was the doctor I was to see and she was so nice. She explained all my dental needs in details and answered all my questions. Marisol came in to go over the cost and to make further appointments and I could not have asked for better service. So glad I found this office. read more

Based on positive reviews for Dr. Ferguson, I scheduled an appointment for a routine exam and cleaning. I was given an appointment approximately a week and a half out. The morning of my appointment, three hours beforehand, I received a call saying the doctor had called out for the day and would be out of the office for quite some time. I was offered another appointment the following day with Dr. Ortega. When I arrived for my appointment I was notified by the receptionist I would not be able to be seen without a medical release from my doctor (which is understandable, however being notified as I arrive for my appointment is not). If such documentation is required, patients should be notified prior to their appointment and not minutes beforehand. This is a huge inconvenience especially for people who need to arrange for child care, which is something I had to do twice. Overall, based on my experience and prior reviews, I would not recommend this office. read more

I was very happy when I switched to a medicare advantage Plan that provided for dental insurance. My first need for dentle care was the result of a cracked tooth and I anticipated I would need a crown. I was basically told that the only solution for me was a ceramic Crown. Which is the latest and most expensive material there is. I was never offered any any other options for a Crown. I have other Crowns and none are ceramic. I was given 2 options for payment plans. But never another option for a Crown on that tooth. What I have in my mouth now is a little ceramic hump with no shape and no biting surface on it. I have called the office and complained and registered my dissatisfaction with the services and the pricing for what they did. I inquired if they could perhaps provide some kind of a discount for me under the circumstances and I was told they flat out, no. several times they mentioned that they had given me Two payment plans to choose from. They did but now i will be paying for that 1 crown for a year. If I had checked Yelp before I went there, I probably would not have gone because it appears that this is there MO. They up sell products and services to enhance what they receive as payment from the insurance company. My insurance statement of benefits said my share for the services should have been $495. NOT $1305,! BEWARE! ask tons of questions about options or get second opinions OR simply don't go to their practice. By the way, the owner of this location has another dental office also on Santee but by a9 different name. Don't be taken advantage of. BOTH LOCATIONS ARE PROBABLY OPERATED UNDER THE SAME POLICIES AND ETHICS, or lack thereof. read more

The front desk sucks. Called to reschedule appointment, went to voicemail and left a message. Then the day of the appointment I got a call asking where I was, then I said I left a message and the girl said "we don't have voicemail" wtf? So I rescheduled. Then I called again to confirm and the girl said I didn't have any appointment, so I scheduled a new one. After this, I read through the reviews and it threw me off completely. I called again but now to cancel it, and this guy answered saying my appointment for the ORIGINAL date had been cancelled (date that the girl said I didn't have appointment) what a mess. read more

I have had mostly negative experiences with dentists over the years and have become increasingly phobic about visits. Just the opposite with this office and staff. From the front desk to the dentist, Dr Ortega, the Oral surgeon, Dr. Ali Sami, Danny the "patter" who keeps you distracted during surgery, and Christine, who noticed I was shaky and offered me an arm, and ALL the other staff, you all have turned me into a convert for dental health. THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU. read more

Don't do it. High pressure sales. After the price quote I called my insurance company to see why the cost was going to be so much. I have 100% coverage. My insurance company wasn't even sure what they were billing me for. When I called Santee Smiles Dentistry they suggested I see another dentist or pay their price. I'm so glad I moved on. Santee Smiles Dentistry is greedy. read more

Highly recommend this office! My hygienist Jeressa made me so comfortable throughout my cleaning and was amazing. Dr. Ortega was wonderful and really cared to address my concerns. I'm no longer afraid to go to the dentist. read more

Fate brought me to this establishment! I needed to see a dentist really bad , not urgently but really soon. I was able to get in the next day however I wasn't ready to come in the next day. I scheduled my appointment for a Friday. Friday came but reception called an said I needed to reschedule which was ok with me I had a long day the night before so it's was a relief not to have to get up. So I scheduled for the following Friday. I'm not the best patient when comes to dentist offices. But I knew I had to be seen or risk not getting needed care for my teeth. I meet the hygienist first and she was awesome I wish I could spell her name just know that she is one of two J girls in the office Desiree but with a J. Her and Dr.Ferguson hands down have the best bedside manner! Treated with the upmost respect and kindness. We need more ppl like them in the business of people. I feel good about my up coming procedures and don't feel afraid to go and this is all that I wanted from a dental office. read more

We've been going to Santee smiles dentistry for my 2 kids for the past 8 years. We consistently get exceptional service. The staff is professional and friendly. They make us feel cared for. Some of these amazing staff include: Liz, Ana, Lina, Jay. My kids completely trust their doctors who are Dr. B, Dr. Allred and Dr. J. We are Very happy with this dental group. Do yourself a favor and choose this dental group for your family dentistry needs. read more

I can't say enough great things about this place! Every visit is so pleasant. I had a chipped tooth and I was able to make a last minute appointment. Clarissa, the X-ray tech, was so kind and considerate. As always, Dr. Ferguson was amazing and fixed me up with one visit, painless and very thorough. Her assistant Christina, was such a trooper for working through her lunch to take care of of me. I hope she got her full lunch period. I tell all my friends and colleagues about this place because they are just the best! read more

As an update, I went to another dentist and told them that Santee smiles wanted to charge me upwards of $6000 for an implant and $3500 for a bridge, my new dentist charged me $1300 for a bridge and said if I wanted an implant it would be $3000. Santee smiles is after your money. read more

I had a deep cleaning done today by Jeressa. She was amazing! She was very patient and kind and will make sure you are doing well throughout the whole process. Highly recommend her for anyone that needs a cleaning. Top-notch service! read more

LONG POST BUT PLEASE READ So glad I didn't read the reviews to this Dentistry till after my appointment earlier this morning because I would have cancelled. So I had been traumatized in my early 20's when I got my top wisdom teeth pulled out then learning I would need to go under for the bottoms they are impacted. Needless to say MANY YEARS later ....(this past Monday) I found my self with an infection with one of my impacted wisdoms. I assigned my self through my insurance for an emergency appointment (cause I don't go due to my trauma to the dentist, did I mention I have anxiety also) to Bay Park Dentistry in Clairmont, where I have heard nothing but great things from a friend of mine. They treated me so good. I cried upon arrive cause of fears and the dentist (sorry I don't remember his name) was caring and told me Dr.Sami was the best (not the first time I've heard this) so when they broke the news I needed emergency removal of both and of the infection in one I cried more cause now it's getting real now I got to consider my health. Jessica the receptionist (I think she also helped me with billing) was very patient and compassionate with me while I cried and just talked to me about my fears and her experience. You see I've never gone under. Since doctor Sami is a out contractor oral surgeon dentist (not sure if that's accurate title) she searched and schedule me within a few days at Santee Smile Dentistry. Upon my arrival at Santee Dentistry my anxiety was to the ROOF. Everyone was nice, they allowed my husband to wait with me till they called me back. It really hit me when I got in the chair and I balled. The two nurses were very kind and showed compassion one even wiped my tears. They both assured me I was in good hands. Then Dr.Sami and his entire team were in the room with me. He said hello got his briefing with the nurses while the anesthesiologist asked me a couple questions told me I'm be ok and he explained what he his role was. They all did as the entered by the way. He said I'll close my eyes and it will be like a blink. I'll be done. LITERALLY that's how it happened. He was talking to me and then next thing you know it I was in a wheel chair and they were talking to my husband. They wheeled me to the car and that was that. My husband said it was probably 30/40 minutes from the time he left me to the time they called him back to get me. Thank you to Dr. Sami and his team at both offices!!!!!!! read more

Just started a year ago with an hmo, went here cause I was new to the area. They do up sell you!!!!! My teeth are bad I have sjogrens diease,auto immune, let's just say I felt like I was in the twilight zone. The lady dentist did not even know about sjogrens it effects the saliva in your mouth causing more decay no matter what you do. I had to have 3 teeth pulled and half dentures. My share was you g to be $902.00. Of course the lady says hmos do not cover Anastasia! She spent 5 mins with me then the ins lady spent 2 min. I booked the appt for dec, 2017 ,I asked if they could just pull one at a time with nitrous, they said no! Almost a year later I never went back!!!! Waiting to return to my poo and back to my old oral surgeon who I trust read more

I want to give a special thank you this office.they always come through for me. I give top notch mention and accreditation to all who work at this office to making smiles even brighter.and they are as follows,stand up and take a bow when your name is called. Dr Jidali,Kat,Christine(a world class dental assistant)and our very own Kylie!! *hugs to all* Thank you for a job well done!! read more

I went to Santee Smiles Dentistry today and I just have to share my wonderful experience. I had been hearing word of mouth how wonderful the staff, dentists and office is from people. I have been looking for a new dentist and I had been passing by and thought that I would stop in and check out the office. I was so happy when I opened the door. The lobby is beautiful and so clean. The ladies at the front desk ( Heather & Alex ) were so friendly and kind. I was a bit excited and was more then likely talking in circles. They were very patient with me and answered all of my many questions. They helped put my mind at ease. They were so sweet and professional. I was able to get an appointment for the following day. They were very accommodating with my crazy work schedule. I went in today for my appointment with my nerves being all over the place. I was so impressed when I walked up to the counter and was greeted with such friendly, kind and warm young lady Katerina. She was very helpful and knowledgable when assisting me with all of my questions. Her vibe alone helped calm my nerves and I felt right at ease. She took me into the X-ray room and they have very high tech equipment. I have yet to see such advanced machines as they have. Katerina then throughly explained to me what process was going to happen. She took my blood pressure before my X-rays , I have never had that happen before. She made sure that I was A ok for the X-rays before she began the process. She was very sweet and answered all of my still many questions. It was nice to know that she knew everything she was doing. It helped with my fear and nerves of going to the dentist. After my cool experience getting super cool X-rays with Katerina. She took me to the exam room, Mind you I am a super clean freak. This entire office was so clean. She took me to the exam room and pointed out they have a purse hook, as silly as that may sound. I don't like to put my purse on the ground. So something as little as a purse hook, made me happy. She then explained to me what the next step of my visit was going to entail. The exam room was very welcoming and not that white wall scary type. They even have a TV. Katerina turned the tv on and handed me the remote and kindly told me that Dr. Ferguson is taking a look at my X-rays and would be with me shortly. Dr. Ferguson then came in and was so awesome. She was so sweet and patient with me. As I said I can talk in circles. She was so good at listening to my many concerns and fears. She was so professional and explained everything so clearly to me. She was very specific with my concerns and we came up with a solution to my situation. During my wonderful conversation with Dr. Ferguson, Katerina was right there by my side which helped calm me. After my visit was over. Katerina then walked me to the lobby and she re-explained to me what our plan and steps were for my dental situation. I was very pleased with my entire experience with Santee Smiles. It's nice to know that not only is the appearance of the office is outstanding,The staff & dentist is kind, friendly, warm, educated, patience, welcoming and make you feel at ease. Sorry this is so long,. I wanted to be very helpful for anyone looking for a very professional and friendly and hands down awesome dental office. I would also like to add that there is tons of parking. That's a huge bonus for me. The location of the office is wonderful. I am so excited to start the process with my dental care. read more

Dr. Ferguson is hands down the best dentist I have ever dealt with in my life. I found her through these yelp reviews. I have been working with her nonstop since March 2018 & meeting her, just really blew me away. She is so sweet & genuine. There is no judgment. She is there because she truly cares about her patients. You can tell she honestly just loves what she does. She has made me so comfortable through out everything. She really has gone above & beyond & I can't thank her enough for her work & advice. Her work is top notch quality. My mouth has never been better. I'll honestly follow her anywhere. read more

This dentistry was very expensive even with insurance. The people were nice, but prices were like 30% more than our previous dentist and our new dentist. Buyers beware. read more

So far this overall experiance has been wonderful. The service has beem very exceptional friendly staff. The waitnis not long at all. They call you in on your appt time. Highly recommend this place. read more

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