I have gone to this dentist for the past 2.5 years now however their clinic is out of my network which is unfortunate and my husband and I had to pay out of pocket for procedures (Peoples comments below - I feel ya). However, when I did go, the staff were so accommodating with my schedule and let me know when openings were available if someone cancelled last minute. Fortunately I lived in walking distance from the clinic so the convenience was a major factor. Although if you do not live close by, you have to find parking in the neighborhood I believe, unless there is a parking lot in the back - not 100% sure. I've had wonderful hygienists every time I've gone there and Dr. Samaddar is incredibly nice. However, every time I've gone she always suggests getting Invisalign, which based on conversations with a few of my dentist friends, is always something many dentists say to gain profit for their clinic (and Invisalign is not covered by insurance FYI). And sure - prevention is important. Giving SCSC the benefit of the doubt, one of the hygienists there was so thorough, and she was educational and suggested several ways I can maintain my teeth - I wish I remembered her name but kudos to her! All in all I would recommend this place only IF your insurance is in fact IN NETWORK! read more

Know what's sad? I've seen 3 different dentists after discontinuing this dental place. Remember my review where the dentist said I had 5 cavities?? The review I left was over 4 years ago and all the dental visits I've gone to with 3 different dentists. None of them said I have cavities. Last dentist visit was today with a dentist who has stellar reviews and he said "no cavities". My good teeth could have been destroyed over nothing. For what? For poor knowledge? Or for money? If 3 dentists said no cavities, there's something wrong with 1 that says so. read more

Dr. Samaddar and her entire staff--Michael, Jo and Paola--are all warm, generous and personable professionals who care about their patients and do their utmost to ensure their satisfaction. Unfortunately for me, I have had a lot of very expensive dental issues over the past year and had to get two crowns and Invisalign treatment, which has been long and extensive, but Dr. Samaddar and the others have been there every step way with a smile and a sense of humor. I'll never have a super model smile, but the Invisalign has helped a lot. I would recommend this practice to anyone thinking about Invisalign! read more

Worst dental experience I have ever had. During a routine cavity fill I was offered an on the split CAP because the dentist and her specialist thought the cavity was further along and might require a root canal. She and the specialist shaved my tooth and used a "new technology" and they deserved it to provide me a new tooth/aka a cap working an hour. Basically a 3D print. Well, the specialist screwed up the 3D tooth and it wouldn't fit into my mouth correctly. We shaved the fake tooth multiple times instead of doing it over. I ended up with what felt like a flat board laying in my mouth. The worst most unnatural feeling. Dr Samaddar then proceeded to belittle my concern and say I was being a "baby". I felt uncomfortable and said okay doctor, you're right I'm good to go. I left with a tooth that felt like an horse iron. Best part of this sorry? 1:They told me they obtained preapproval on my behalf from my insurance for this special procedure and later sent me to collections because it was denied and; 2: I had to pay another dentist a few years later to replace my tooth that fell out. Take your money elsewhere. read more

I'm looking for a new dentist and I just called this location. Kelly W stated this location accepts just about all insurances, well I've heard otherwise. They don't take my insurance and I'm a paid Federal government worker -what's up with that? Please don't include information if it's not accurate. read more

South Capitol Smile Center - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dr. Samaddar and her team are awesome. They went above and beyond to help me in an emergent situation. They were genuinely compassionate and understanding. Thankful they made the best out of a bad situation for me. read more

Dr. Sheila Samaddar and her staff are very personable, professional and experienced. I was told it would be approximately 3 hours from start to finish (two crowns) and they were absolutely spot on and the quality of work done by Dr. Sheila and Michael is exceptional as they do the crowns on the spot no sending out to a lab, no temporary molds, start to finish and no pain in 3 hours! So I DO recommend South Capitol Smile Center for all your dental needs! read more

Beware of this place!!! After reading the other reviews I'm starting to notice a trend!! This dentist office is misleading!! This office also told me (like other reviewers on here) that they were in network (THEY ARE NOT... I have delta dental btw)! They also billed me to where my health insurance would not cover me, so I had to pay $236 out of pocket for menial services. I went in to have a tooth looked at that had recently had a filling but was giving me pain. The menial services included: xrays (even though I had already sent them x-rays before the appointment) and then the dentist "fixed" my bite WITHOUT any pain medication which was extremely painful (this process also only took 1 minute because I did not want her drilling into my tooth without numbing meds). I was surprised when I went to check out and was told I had to pay $200 dollars. Afterwards I contacted my insurance and they said even with this office being out of network (surprise surprise) a majority of the procedure should have been covered. I then contacted the dentist office and was informed by the budget person that due to the way they charged me (as an emergency, even though it was a scheduled appointment) that is why my insurance did not cover the appointment. This is very sketchy practice and obviously I will not be returning. read more

Oh Em Gee!!! This has been the best dental experience that I have ever experienced before. They made me feel so welcome as soon as I came through the door. The doctor is amazing and she referred me to one of the best oral surgeons. I am very very very very terrified of dental offices so they were really able to put me at ease! I definitely recommend. I wish I can give 1 million stars. All smiles over here. read more

EDIT: I encourage you to read some other reviews on here with extreme skepticism because this office definitely astroturfs on Google reviews. I wasn't going to leave a review, but now I see that my issue is part of a larger trend and I feel it's necessary to add my voice to the chorus of concern regarding the billing practices of this office. First off, I want to be clear that I found the staff to be friendly and helpful. The service I received while in the chair was not amazing but certainly acceptable. However, this office was casual in estimating coverage of services to the point of negligence. I had a few standard cleanings and an additional recommended service (later determined to be unnecessary) that was also covered. However, when I booked my next cleaning, Smile Center assured me it would be covered as well, without checking with my insurance provider how the additional service had impacted my yearly prophylactic coverage. Of course my insurance denied the claim for the next cleaning and I got stuck with a bill for a cleaning I was told would be covered. I even have patient records with a note from Smile Center referencing coverage for "His June hyg appt" that I would later be billed for. I don't know about anyone else, but diligence in checking what I will and won't have to pay for is an expected service at a dentist's office. They can deny responsibility all they want and say I should know what my insurance will or will not cover, but I think we all as customers expect to be told the truth -- or at least accurate information -- when we ask about coverage. I have been told by a close friend who is a dentist that the additional procedure (Full Mouth Debridement) is often tacked on to cleanings to boost revenue for dentists when it isn't necessary. So please be aware as a first time customer that this office may suggest such unnecessary procedures. read more

Who is Ronnail R.? Federal Employees don't currently get dental - the program is only for medical. Some agencies do offer dental at a discount however. My fiance and I go here because it is close to our house and we love it. It's a great dentistry. The receptionist will go to great lengths to make sure that everything is okay. My wife got crowns, and the dentist gave out her cell number to have her call her if anything arises. I love this place. Great people, and very nice Dentists! read more

Well Folks. I'm a recent transplant from Kentucky. I was told to check out South Capitol Smile Center and am glad I did. The only other post to date for SCSC gave them 1 star. I don't think this can be any farther from a true representation than it gets. I can only imagine the hundreds or thousands of dental insurance plans out there - just because they don't take your insurance do they deserve a bad review? My favorite eyeglass place doesn't take my VSP benefits but I am sucking it up and buying the frames that I have only found there. I emailed the Dr. prior to making an appointment. Sheila answered me in detail herself - nice touch. I was concerned with my insurance changing after Jan 1 and she was able to get me in before then. My appointment was today. The office is small but was very clean, staff very friendly and professional. The equipment looks very new and state of the art. As type A as I am I was happy that everything was fully explained.Dr. Sheila seemed to really care about me as a patient - not as a paycheck as I have been made to feel elsewhere. This place really rocks. read more

I have never received such high quality dental care. Really extraordinary customer service -- probably the best I've ever gotten from a medical office. I was EXTREMELY nervous before/during an appointment last week, and Dr. Sprott could not have exhibited better "bedside manner," professionalism, and kindness. She stayed more than an hour late to complete my procedure after I needed to stop several times, and then waited out front with me until my ride arrived, all with a smile on her face. I actually felt compelled to send her a thank you note because I was so impressed with the entire experience. I have never sent a doctor a thank you note in my life. I've already referred three friends to this practice. If you've been putting off visiting the dentist due to nerves, try this practice. read more

**Absolutely Amazing** I've been going SCSC a year now, and it's top notch service !!! Dr. Samaddar is fantastic - a very pleasant personality and great memory, not only as to who you are but also conversations discussed during previous visit. Very laxed atmosphere and her staff is just as great. * Excellent dental work * Appointments on time * Very neat & new equipment * Email reminders (great) * Dental items after visit read more

South Capitol Smile Center (SCSC) should be avoided at all costs. While the doctor is perfectly pleasant, the office's business practices are shady, immoral and unethical, in my judgment. First, SCSC was fully aware that my children were out-of-network, but they never alerted me to this until after the assistant literally led my child into the procedure room. Only then did the front let me know this fact, and, for the first time, put a Proposed Treatment Plan in front of me. Then, SCSC grossly over-estimated the amount my insurance would pay - because I was out of network - which, of course, lessened the amount that I was expected to pay. Of course, the insurance company did not come close to meeting SCSC's estimates. The reason may be that SCSC charges far in excess of other licensed dentists in the DC area. Indeed, SCSC pricing for individual services is hyper-inflationary and far outside the mainstream for similar dentistry services within the District of Columbia. For example, SCSC charges more than 232% above current DC pricing for bitewings (2) and bitewings (4) (charging $77.00 versus $33.00 across DC dental community for bitewing (2), and $107 versus $46 for bitewing (4)); more than 255% of DC-based pricing for panoramic images ($194 versus $76); more than 176% above current DC pricing for sealant ($75.50 versus $44.00); more than 242% increase for resin-based composite filings ($476 versus $201); more than 184% for prophylaxis cleaning for my children ($97.50 versus $53.00); and more that 258% for a periodic oral evaluation ($80 versus $31). I already paid about $1200 for a check-up and some filings, and they now want an additional $1400 or so. Avoid SCSC at all costs. And, this is the first negative review I have ever given any business. read more

My husband and I have seen Dr. Samaddar for regular cleanings/check-ups as well as for more extensive work, namely fillings and crowns/onlays. I have found her and her office to be stellar in their service. Dr. Samaddar offers same-day onlays/inlays/crowns (look up CEREC for more info). It's amazing, truly amazing. I expected to have to make two appointments, and nope, just one. When having a dental emergency I reached out to the doctor via her email because I was having a mild panic attack and a phone call leading a receptionist/voicemail wasn't going to cut it for me. I received a prompt response back from the doctor; she reviewed my file and suggested a course of action. BEYOND THE DENTAL: the staff here are wonderful and they know what they are doing. Now what looks to be a receptionist at the front is actually an Insurance Administrator (no name for privacy reasons) and she is fantastic! She knows what she is talking about and if you have questions or concerns re. your insurance is very welcoming to go over your EOBs and benefits with you. I have to deal with BCBS, MetLife Dental and a FSA account, was swimming in paperwork and confused if the checks we received were correct; I brought in all of the previous claims, etc, and she was awesome explaining everything. If you've ever experienced concerns over your insurance benefits and claims, then come to South Capitol Smile Center because your concerns will be gone in a blink of an eye. ANOTHER TIDBIT THAT OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED: The doctor is a resident of the District and of the neighborhood. She has kids. This practice, the doctor, and her staff have the feeling of a neighborhood dentist from my hometown. Not corporate and cold, but welcoming and knowledgeable. PRACTICAL: The practice is a 4-minute walk from the Navy Yard metro; there is street parking on N Street, SE and SW and the surrounding area, but not on South Capitol Street itself. The entrance is across from the Left Field Gate to Nationals Stadium. They accept all major credit cards including American Express. I also believe they offer payment plans and financing. read more

Fantastic office! Personable and professional staff. Currently an Invisiligns patient and TOTALLY ecstatic with the results thus far! Dr. Sheila Samaddar goes above and beyond in making you feel comfortable by thoroughly explaining details before performing work, offering the reassurance needed to get through the process of top-notch dental health. I have yet to meet a more meticulous and proactive dentist who cares about meeting my needs and expectations for the best smile I can achieve! read more

I found Sheila professionally. She called me to do some work for her and now she takes care of my teeth. But please call her Dr. Besides our professional relationship she is also a neighbor and friend. She takes care of my mother and several of our family friends. She is incredibly nice, a great dentist and actually very gentile, and that's something to value when somebody is working in there! With my crazy work schedule she has opened her doors early and late for me and has also worked with me on payment. I can't say enough positive things about her. That being said, please don't expect her to offer the same things for all customers because like I said, I also do work for her and offer my professional services to her. As a patient and health care professionals relationship, she is the best dentist I've ever had! read more

Dr. Sheila Samaddar is a friend, neighbor, and my new dentist! She just opened her office - South Capitol Smile Center - across from the new Nationals Stadium. Her new office offers state-of-the-art in digital dentistry. Sheila is a graduate of Howard University School of Dentistry and has been working in DC area since 2000. She is currently accepting new customers and takes all kinds of insurance. Her office is accessible by metro (Waterfront or Navy Yard) of car. As a patient of hers, I can tell you she is very gentle and offers Saturday hours! read more

I'm new to the district and have hated hunting for doctors, dentists, and the like. I chose South Capitol Smile Center mainly because of the solid yelp reviews and its proximity to my apartment. I'm glad that I gave them a try! My husband and I both had cleanings and check-ups this morning and had great experiences. Dr. Shelia was personable, thorough, and explained everything going on with my teeth, including problems that are noncritical but will need to be addressed in the coming year, which is very helpful in planning. The office was very nice; the equipment all seems brand new and up-to-date. The hygienist and receptionist were great as well. They even offered to play a movie for me while I waited (for what couldn't have been more than 10 minutes) for the dentist! As far as the federal insurance debate goes, some federal medical plans cover preventative dental care; they just don't cover corrective dentistry. I have no doubt that the S. Capitol Smile Center's receptionist would be clear with anyone who called to inquire about what services are and aren't covered by a particular plan. read more

I was here from out of town . Had toothache and they were able to see me same day that I called. Staff and Dr. were amazing. Spot on service. Wish I could bring them back to where I live .to use as my primary care Dentist. If you know anyone new to the area I would definitely recommend this dentist. read more

Had a fantastic experience at this dentist's office. Very friendly & accommodating team. Dr. Samaddar is so down to earth & takes great care to make sure patients are comfortable. I accidentally left my driver's license and credit card on my first trip there. She drove it to my house & dropped it off the next day. Talk about awesome service! I would highly recommend this dentist & location is an easy walk from the Navy Yard Metro station. read more

Disingenuous and misleading. On the recommendation of a family friend, my wife called to make an appointment for our two-year-old and to see if they accepted our insurance - which they affirmed they did. However they withheld the fact that they're out-of-network ... which they're aware of because they're out-of-network for every insurer. After we received a bill for the appointment, I called back, I spoke to their business manager, Crystal. She seemed to have dealt with this situation pretty often because she had some lovely canned responses for me. Here's an idea: if you have to deal with this situation that many times, maybe you ought to train your employees to answer *completely* in the first place. Crystal did provide a lower 'uninsured' rate, but she also lied about having sent us a paper bill and threatened my wife that if she didn't pay immediately, she'd send the bill to collections. Take some customer service classes, guys. Do not recommend. read more

Dr. Samaddar's and her staff's handling of insurance and payment for their dental services is not transparent and highly questionable. I was under the impression, and the dental staff represented to me, that my routine cleaning would be covered by my insurance. Several weeks later, however, I received a billing statement in the mail indicating that I owed payment for the cleaning. Although the staff and Dr. Samaddar are friendly and somewhat knowledgeable about dentistry, these moderately positively characteristics are easily outweighed by their dishonest business practices, particularly related to payment and insurance. I highly recommend that anyone avoid this dentist at all costs. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Samaddar for the past two years for basic checkups, and I also got some fillings the first time I went. She is a fellow Capitol Hill resident, and a lot of people on the local listservs recommended her. I'd never needed fillings before, and heard they can be painful, but Dr. Samaddar is so gentle that the process didn't hurt at all. She is also incredibly sweet and patient, and does a great job of explaining the options and her recommendations. She's quite personable as well. I am always surprised by the minor personal details of mine that she's able to recall while making small talk. Even though I only see her twice a year I always feel like I'm meeting up with a good friend. The staff at South Capitol Smile Center are excellent as well. The first time I had my teeth cleaned the hygienist spent a long time chiseling away at some cement that had been left on my back teeth after my braces were removed. It's been about 15 years since I had those braces, and have been to dentists since then, so I was shocked that no one had removed it already! She said she sees it all the time. The office is sparkling clean, with up-to-date technology (which is more than I can say about another nearby dentist I tried previously!). And I've never had to wait more than a couple minutes for either the dentist or hygienist. read more

You simply won't find a more capable, conscientious, and caring dentist on the planet then Dr. Shiela Sammadar. The whole team is a bunch of superstars. They go way above and beyond to give personal attention. You can tell they really care about their patients. Feels like the family doctor atmosphere I remember from being a kid. I honestly look forward to going to the dentist, as crazy as that sounds! read more

I am a long-time DC resident and have cycled through a number of dentists but have finally settled on South Capitol Smile Center. I have always hated going to the dentist but with Dr. Samaddar and her staff, I finally feel at ease in the dentist chair. They are both caring and capable. read more

Dr. Samaddar and her staff are phenomenal!! I have been her patient since 2010 and could not imagine going anywhere else for my dental care. I just started Invisalign and am looking forward to the results!! Also, every specialist that Dr. Samaddar has recommended has been top notch. Dr. Samaddar constantly updates the technology in her office and is very adept in the usage. She truly cares about her patients and makes each visit very relaxing with her knowledge, skills, and warm personality. I feel like family every time I'm at South Capitol Smile Center. Thank you for taking excellent care of me! read more

Expert dental care. They do more than usual with checking insurance, but coordination of care could be better.

While the care is generally very good and friendly, their billing is sub-par. They weren't able to provide the paperwork Tricare (my military insurance) required, so now they have taken to billing me, the service member. Poor. read more

While the staff and office were both nice, I was taken advantage of because my insurance did not cover the services I supposedly needed. I recently saw a different dentist and was told that I have zero cavities (SCSM told me I had five). I would not recommend a dentist's office that does not employ a hygienist, nor one that tells you that you need everything under the sun, even if your insurance does not cover it. read more

Absolutely horrible othodentey and service. I got Invisalign through Dr. Samaddar, she poorly managed the trays and treatment. I communicated to her that I was unhappy with the fact that she clearly was not checking in on the trays to see if/that they were providing the movement wanted and intended. Each time she pushed the issue off on Invisalign, saying she also was unhappy with their produce yet she offers it, actually pushes it to her patients. Ultimately I am not continuing Invisalign with her office, that is how bad her services and expertise is. I recently discovered shed been sitting on my set of new aligners, her office simply did not see the need to let me know they had arrived and were available for me. If you value expertise, professionalism, good customer service, and experts who value and take pride in their work my recommendation is to go elsewhere. read more

Dr. Samaddar is one of the best dentists I've ever been to - and I've been to a lot. She is very accommodating, nice person, and a thorough doctor. She always explains all her decisions and recommendations very clearly prior to starting work. They have state of the art equipment. The office is clean and comfortable, it's close to downtown. read more

LOVE this place... well, I hate dentists, but Dr. Samaddar is great. I had quite a bit of dental work to be done with a few fillings, and two crowns. Her assistant who handles all-things insurance was wonderful with walking me through so I thoroughly understood how much I would be paying for what and what my insurance would provide. As someone with a pretty tight budget, I was incredibly impressed by their willingness to go out of their way to ensure I knew exactly what I was paying for and how much it would cost. read more

We have been going to Dr. Shelia ever since we moved into the city about three years ago. She is wonderful and friendly and her staff is nice too! I always enjoy talking to one her dental assistants about the latest Redskins football game (HTTR!). Since she and my husband are from the same area we always talk about stories from home and mutual acquaintances as well. I love the fact that she lives in the area too and therefore supporting our community! She always uses gentle techniques which is really important for someone like me who has bad dental genetics (All inherited I swear! ;) Her office always has a nice selection of magazines to read for when have to wait which isn't too often since the past couple of times I haven't had to wait too long. Lastly, I love getting the swag at the end! She gives you travel packs complete with travel size toothpaste, toothbrush and floss. PS-It's very metro accessible, right across from the ballpark! read more

I have been a long time customer of SCSC and it never failed to amaze how great this team is with their customer service. My little gal cracked her baby molar at camp this summer. I picked her up and saw about 1/4 of the tooth gone. I snapped a picture on my phone and called South Capitol Smile Center. Dr. Sheila was out but her assistant Dr. Sprott called me right back and asked to see the picture. I sent it to her. She consulted my kiddo's XRays and declared that that it was not an emergency since the tooth was coming out on its own anyway, but they could fit her in anyway if she was upset and just wanted to be sure. We popped in that afternoon and calmed a fretful little one and quickly dealt with the tooth, which as she said, was coming out on its own anyway. This team is always friendly and cheerful and remembers our family and history each time we come. We love coming here. read more

Dr Samaddar was great. You can't find anyone better in DC The team was great also. Go see her

My wife does not have very good teeth. It is a combination of bad genes and having poor dental care while growing up. When we moved to D.C., in 2010, we were looking for a dentist and a work colleague suggested South Capitol Smile Center. I was still using my old dentist, who I was able to see on work trips, but my wife went to have a cleaning and initial evaluation done. They did a thorough job pointing out all the issues and work that could/should be done and my wife came home with a treatment plan that outlined quite a number of dental procedures - most being of the crown/inlay variety. She had a fair amount of work done over the next two years. In the fall of 2012 we moved away, back to where I already had the dentist I had used for years. Not soon thereafter my wife starting having issues with the work that she had had done. Starting about 4 years ago she has since had multiple crowns and other work fixed and/or replaced, at additional substantial cost to us. There were even questions regarding whether South Capitol Smile Center had been defining and billing appropriately the work it had done with the insurance company. Our current dentist even wrote a letter to the insurance company on our behalf explaining how the work done prior was misleadingly characterized in order to help us get insurance coverage for one of the new crowns. I called, emailed and spoke with Dr. Sheila Samaddar (my wife's dentist there) multiple times, over several years, regarding how the work they had done was not holding up. All she could say was that my wife has bad teeth and they stand by their work. They were not willing to help us financially with any additional work to fix their work that hadn't lasted. Fine. That's their right. Well, the work our new dentist has done for her (starting a little over 4 years ago) has held up just fine. And, I know should anything not hold up they stand behind their work and will take care of us - I have experienced that myself with some work. So what is the difference? In my mind our current dentist is honest and a good dentist with work that we can trust to last. South Capitol Smile Center took a lot of our money for work that could barely last two years and then were not willing to admit as much. Add to that what appears to have been some shady billing practices. I would highly recommend against going to South Capitol Smile Center. read more

South Capitol Smile Center is fantastic. Dr. Samaddar is highly professional and very knowledgeable. I've never met a more gentle, thorough dentist when getting my teeth cleaned. The office is also conveniently located right off of the metro near the baseball stadium. If you're in search of a dentist, definitely check this place out. read more

Dr. Sammadar is a master at what she does. I call her Dr. Sammy Softpaws because when she's at work I never feel a thing. She's not just my favorite dentist, she's my favorite doctor overall and her front desk is always helpful. If I had the same level of care from my primary doctor I would be thrilled. read more