Been in for two appointments. Came in right on time, but still had to wait 30-40 minutes after I got here and didn't ever receive any updates on when I'll be seen. Staff makes you feel like a burden. Would not recommend going here unless you have to. read more

From setting up an initial appointment through booking follow up visits, everyone in this office were very nice and helpful. My dentist had a friendly relaxed disposition, which made me feel very comfortable. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

So I found this dentist office after the insurance website said it was in-network with my private insurance. I even called to verify. After telling them which insurance I have, I was placed on hold twice, then a different lady answered asking can I help you? Well....you guys placed me on hold...so I figured they would come back to help me schedule my appointment....? No biggie. After being asked again which insurance I have, I was told sternly that "we don't take that." (My insurance verified they indeed do) and didn't offer me any other options. It seems they rather turn away people with cheaper insurance and only take clients with big-name insurance plans to cash in on. If you have HMO or your insurance coverage is even a question, don't even bother. read more

Update: I had to go back to the dentist's office since he never called me back after I had called multiple times. After discussing my concerns about the thoroughness of my dental cleaning 2 weeks prior, this dentist shared that his philosophy is that he only cleans your teeth as much as he thinks you need it. It is just based on his experience, not evidence-based (though not being in the dental field, I am not sure how much evidence there is). All I know is that his cleaning diverged significantly from my prior experiences where the hygienist uses an ultrasonic tool and then manual scalers to get everything in between the teeth. For reference, I get my teeth cleaned every 6 months and have been to both private and academic teaching dental clinics. This impromptu second visit was pretty awkward. He offered to clean my teeth again, which I accepted, but he said I needed to remove my 1-star review from Yelp. Which is peculiar because if he had read the review, he would have known to call me back earlier to resolve this issue. Overall, I appreciate the second cleaning, though the second time around still makes it the least clean my teeth have been after going to the dentist. He both defended his prior cleaning by saying that he thought my teeth were well maintained and did not need a deep cleaning AND to not blame him if my teeth were not clean afterwards because it probably had to do with my own dental care (which he had just praised earlier). So, I have transferred my care to another dentist, which if he reads this review through, might be a relief to him as well. Going to him makes me feel like my in an alternate universe where dental cleanings have very different standards. Also, the dentist said his office thyroid shield for x-rays is lost. Not clear how long that has been. (There was no thyroid shield when I had gotten my x-rays the first time). Initial experience: This was my first visit to Blue Line Dental after moving to Chicago. I regularly get my teeth cleaned twice a year. The dentist does it himself, for the last 30 years, per his claim. He only used the ultrasonic cleaner ( the little tool that squirts water between your teeth) and did not use any manual scalers (those metal hooks things that they use to scrape in between teeth). At the end of the cleaning, I told the dentist that the provider usually flosses to make sure all the tartar is gone, and he said he was "confident" that he got everything, without checking by flossing my teeth. I got home and flossed to check, and the floss was very rough against my teeth. It was pretty clear looking in the mirror that there was still tartar between my teeth (sorry for photo, but I didn't know how else to get it across). I called the office, twice over several hours and was told the dentist would call me back. I have not received a call yet. If you are ever unhappy with your dentist's work you can file a complaint with the Illinois State Dentistry Society for a peer review of your care (meaning another dentist will review the case and mediate for, which is something I learned when trying to figure out what my options currently are for suboptimal dental care. read more

The absolute worst staff I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. I wanted to switch to this office because of the good reviews of work done by the dentists. I have switch providers before and know the process with my Insurance. I call them, change providers, they fax over the verification the same or next day. Done. The woman on the phone first insisted that there is a month waiting period for my insurance. (Never has been before and I double checked with my ins. any changes made before the 15th of the month take effect that month). I called Blue LIne back to clarify this and let them know I had switched. They continued to insist that it was a 2 to 3 week process and thus wouldn't be able to schedual an appointment till April. If your office is booked, OK, I get that. But don't lie to me. They clearly don't want to take on new patients. read more

I have always had success with minority women dentists. Why? I have no idea. I'm not sure if it's their more gentle, understanding nature or their small hands, but my dental visits for the past 10 years have been much less traumatic when a female doctor is involved. Try it for yourself and see. And so it was that I found Dr. Candelaria (not sure if I spelled that right) at Dentistas Hispanos on North Ave. It's right between the shoe store and Sub-Terranean nightclub right at the six corners in Wicker Park. I bet you never noticed it before, but look for the neon tooth in the window. Dr. C is very knowledgeable, the assistant was a sweet, quiet man, and the clinic's rates aren't that high compared to most dentists. I believe that they will also work with you on pricing if you don't have insurance, but don't quote me on that. I had a general cleaning and xrays on my first visit, but then came back to have two wisdom teeth extracted. That's right -- I didn't have to go to an oral surgeon. She just numbed my mouth and pulled them out, and although there was a little trouble with one of the teeth that ended up taking a lot of time, she was very patient with me through my anxiety, fears and tears (yes I'm a big baby and cried!) A few days later I stopped in unannounced so she could look at my socket, which she did with no problem even though she was very busy. It appears that everyone that works here is HIspanic, and although I'm Caucasian, there is no language barrier (in case that is something you might worry about). I give this 4 stars only because I hate going to the dentist, no matter how great she is! read more

You couldn't find a better dentist around this area or the whole city of Chicago! Dr. Marrero is incredibly professional and his bedside manner and everything else is VERY impressive. Not only that, but he makes you feel totally comfortable while working on your teeth.. He explains everything what he's doing in the most simplest ways so anyone can understand from pictures of what he did to x-rays, he's the best! I've had a root canal done and he made the visit faster than our initial consultation where I had virtually no waiting time and was in-n-out in no time! His pricing is very affordable compared to other dentists around the area as well, I couldn't recommend a better dentist to go to. If I could give more than 5+ stars, I would!! Definitely coming back again, if I need anything done. He's the real deal! Thanks everyone at Blue Line Dental for making the process so easy. I actually look forward to going to the dentist now. read more

This place sucks. The doctor who took my tooth out was not welcoming or friendly. It was like he didn't even wanna be there. He was so unprofessional with his assistant, like umm okay if she doesn't know what shes doing then why is she there but also if she doesn't know then help her out until she 100% gets it right. Dont just make her feel bad and mind you, he was going off to her infront of me. I could hear everything he was telling her...like fucking awkward. "If it has to take you all fucking night till midnight to learn how to do this then thats what you'll have to do. This isnt my my job, this is your job." He was telling her all that stuff on how to take the x-ray picture and he just kept throwing shit around like he was annoyed which he was but umm maybe lets not do this when the patient is the room. And you also dont gotta be a prick about it. He never did once ask me if i was doing okay or anything during the procedure, like no reassurance whatsoever. I really honestly thought he was gone break my damn jaw or something. I was genuinely scared and the way he was pulling the wisdom tooth out, like dude...ive seen wisdom tooth extraction videos and i didnt see no damn teeth pulling the way it felt like he was doing. He was not gentle at all. Not welcoming vibes from the moment i made an appointment but i wanted to think positively that things would go well. Yikes, i was wrong. Go at your own risk if you like things rough. And also i dont know what the procedure is with the tooth but like he didnt even let me see my own damn tooth that he took out of my own body. R. A. Marrero thanks for taking my tooth out but if you arent happy working there and dont feel like helping your assistants out then go find another damn passion. Fucking goon and next time put on gloves before you go anywhere near the mouth...even if you aren't putting them in the mouth. read more

So I had an old filling in my molar that fell out a few weeks ago, so me not having insurance, bought a Groupon deal at another dentist in Lincoln Park for exam, cleaning, and x-rays. That dentist told me I would have to get a crown on that tooth and also gave me a list of other stuff that I "needed" in the near future. I felt like I needed to get a second opinion, also I wasn't a huge fan of that dentist and staff, so as soon as I got back to my neighborhood, I stopped into Blue Line Dental and asked for a quote on the work that needed to be done. Right away they gave me a great price that would have saved me a ton of money for the same exact work! So I set up the appointment for the crown. The following week I went in to Blue Line Dental for what I thought was going to be a very expensive appointment for a crown. When I sat down to meet Dr. Marrero, he instantly told me that I only needed a filling replacement and actually did not need the crown! He also found another old filling that he said we should replace in the near future as well. I was so happy to find out that I was only going to be spending a fraction of what I imagined, and also, I felt very happy I could trust Dr. Marrero. The work itself was fast, pain free, and comfortable! Also the girls at the front desk were very nice and personable as well! To say the least, this whole experience was great and I look forward to getting more work done in the future. I am happy to say I found my new dentist and I can't wait to get my smile perfect again! read more

My insurance plan selected this dentist for me. I was a little nervous because it wasn't a fancy waiting room. But the dentist (Dr. Candelaria) was the sweetest. She did my cleaning, too. I left very satisfied and it was easy to get an appointment as well. read more

Blue Line Dental - General Dentistry Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This had to be the least thorough cleaning in my life. I have a dental HMO through work, and I chose to come here due to the good reviews on Yelp. I came after not having my teeth cleaned in over a year. Well, my cleaning here took ten minutes tops. That's the shortest cleaning I've ever had. The dentist (who did the cleaning himself) did not use any type of scraper for plaque - I'm sure there must have been some after a year - or even floss. Just some sort of electric brush and a polisher. I was not even asked about my dental history. I will not be back. read more

Dr. Marrero seems to be very knowledgeable, and use of the tv monitor to show you your x-rays is great. He lets his dog run free in the office though - including right up to me in the exam chair. That might be a plus for some, but it was definitely a minus for me. read more

I discovered Dr. Robert Marrero about 12 years ago. Since then he has placed two bridges in my mouth as well as two crowns. Could not be happier with my dentist! He is a perfectionist who is willing to carefully listen to his patients concerns and explains each step of the process of whatever procedure is being done. Very gentle when administering shots and results of my procedures could not have gone better. I have been to many dentists during my 65 years on this planet but once I found Dr. Marrero I knew he would be my dentist for life. I have been to dental offices that had fancy carpeting and once even a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I realized when it came time to pay the bill that I was probably also paying for the expensive decor. Not so with Blue Line Dental. Dr. Marrero has a decent-looking office and has private parking under the train tracks. You will not find a chandelier in this doctor's office. Modest decor and a decent staff is what you will find, as well as very reasonable fees. Once you get to know Dr. Rob, as I call him, you will immediately feel at ease. His depth of knowledge when it comes to dentistry is quite impressive, but what is even more important to me is his dedication to make sure I receive his utmost care and attention. Once you are in the dental chair and you get to know this particular dentist, I think you will feel as I do and know that you are in very capable and compassionate hands. I don't post reviews very often but I am so happy with my latest results that I had to give Dr. Robb a shout-out. read more

I will never ever go back to this demon again . He was very aggressive in my mouth and tried to make me feel so bad about waiting years to get my teeth cleaned . I literally scared my damn tongue was going to get cut or something . He rushed and didn't make me comfortable at all . I don't care how long it's been since my teeth had been cleaned . You shouldn't be so harsh and aggressive in my mouth read more

Lazy and rude office staff. Never even got to see the dentist. Left voicemails and sent emails, none of which were returned. Finally called during work hours today, was put on hold for several minutes, only to find that the insurance I have, naming the dentist as my primary provider, is one they no longer take. Even if they did take my insurance I would try to find another dentist to avoid the office staff at that location. read more

Let me start by saying that Dr. Marrero was very thorough, answered all my questions and was generally great. The receptionists, however, leave much to be desired. They were rude on the phone, which they obviously don't know how to operate because after putting me on hold for ten minutes, they just hung on me. They were dismissive of my questions and pushy as hell. So I get there for a cleaning and to have a chipped tooth looked at, both of which were to take place during the same visit **as discussed and agreed when the appointment was finally scheduled.** And I'm now told that, "well, you can only have one service performed per visit and if you want both done you'll have to schedule another visit." That would have been nice to know, since I'm leaving the country in a week. So fine, I opted for just the cleaning. The chipped tooth doesn't hurt and frankly I only noticed it after it happened. And they're like, "Well are you sure about that?, have you considered bla bla bla, because bla bla bla bla bla." As if they knew exactly what my concerns and decision points were, as well as exactly what the actual dentist would say to me, like just substituting their opinions for the only relevant opinions in this whole equation, namely mine and Dr. Marrero's. Anyway, I get in to see Dr. Marrero; guess what, he can have a look at my chipped tooth, and take care of a routine cleaning, all in 30 minutes. And he was polite, pleasant, and made me feel very much at ease. He saved the day, really! read more

I'm a big fan of Dr. Marerro- he worked with me when my insurance gave me a hard time. He's thorough & nice & though I haven't had any major work done through him, I'll trust him to do it when I need it. read more

Best Dentist in the City! I totally recommend him. Not only that, the Staff is great!

WORST EVER!!! I made an appointment 2 weeks in advance, gave them insurance info over the phone only to be confronted by a rude, moronic office crew, "we don't take Cigna no more." Couldn't have told me that 2 weeks ago, or at least called to cancel the appointment!!?? Then the dentist, Dr Marrero, comes out with dirty jeans on, looks like he just got done digging a ditch. I wouln't have wanted him to come near my mouth. Thank you for wasting my and my wife's time! read more

I was there yesterday for an extraction. The staff was very professional and friendly. Dr. Marrero was an all around great person with very professional services and the prices are very reasonable. I Will definitely do business with him again and I will highly recommend him. read more

Dr. Candelaria is the best. I used to go to a very overpriced dentist in Lake Forest, but after moving to the city I was referred to Dr. Candelaria by a colleague. The location is very convenient (right off the blue-line Damen stop) and the office has been recently upgraded. Each room has a huge flat screen tv and I've always been impressed with the staff. I usually go in for a cleaning, but had to have three cavities filled the last visit. Dr. Candelaria was very efficient and calming, completed all three and I was out of the office in about an hour. The office takes time to go through your bill and is very reasonable. I have referred as many people as I can to this office because they do such a great job. Thanks again Dr. Candelaria. -Nick read more

By far the worst office staff. Maria, office manager, should not be leading the other ladies. I too work in healthcare, and I am ashamed and concerned how this clinical office is managed. Patient care should come first, always. Patients have a tough time continuing dental treatments. An added worry of customer service and staff-patient relationships is unwarranted. Healthcare is a business, unsatisfied patients/customers=decline in revenue. I hope this office turns things around, starting with leadership. As for me, I'll take my business elsewhere. read more

First of all let me start by saying that i've been to several dentist offices. This was the filthiest office i have ever been to. I sat their in that office by a window and watched thousands of flies inside. Three receptionist at the front desk all talking and whispering made me feel uncomfortable. I had a severe toothache and the doctor did not numb the tooth correctly despite that i had informed him and he disregarded that fact that i told him i could feel alot of pain. When i left the office after having my tooth distracted i was in more pain and it was worse than having a child. I would never go back and i would never recommend anyone....EVER! read more

Love it! Dr. Tony is awesome. Elsie the receptionist is the best. Your not just a patient. Your family.

We've just moved to Chicago & were in search of a good dentist because my son cracked a tooth. One week ago, through word of mouth, I called to make an appointment at this North Ave office. The phone girl took my sons info along w/our insurance info. Before ending the phone call, she says she'll call the insurance group for verification & give me a call back to let me know all was well & also to confirm the appointment. STILL WAITING. Today, I called to confirm the appointment for this afternoon and had such a horrible experience...over the phone. The phone girl answers, says "hello Dr. Marrero's office" and a fax machine goes off. She w/out any word, hangs up. Okay, found that a bit weird but, I figured I'd try again. I call back and let her know that I was just hung up on w/a response of, "Oh." I let her know I was calling to confirm an appointment for my son. She takes his name and then...her phone falls out of her hand crashing to the floor causing me to move the phone away from my ear because the noise was so loud. After 20 seconds of waiting in silence & wondering if she has passed out or something, she comes back on the phone and wants to continue the conversation w/out an "I'm sorry or OOPS!." I mention to her that I felt as if I was rushing her & if she liked, I could call back later. She had no excuse or apology and instead gave MAJOR ATTITUDE!!! OMG!!! We aren't even patients yet and have to go thru that type of customer service? WE'D RATHER NOT & WE'LL TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP ON THE SERVICE because it could've been a living nightmare, so...you saved us office girl:) That's too bad because the customer service reflects on the business. read more

I'm "that" guy who's afraid of dentists and that all changed when I found Blue Line Dental and Dr. Candelaria. She has done work on me from cleaning, fillings and extractions while I get my mouth repaired for a new, beautiful smile. I'm not kidding when I say, she (Dr. Candelaria), is very thoughtful of your comfort, quick as can be even with a tough extraction and overall kind in her approach to my dental needs. Their rates are spectacular, they don't push services and most importantly they don't demean you in the process. read more

Went in for a cleaning. Did not get a cleaning... instead, ended up with a root canal!!! Dr. Candelaria was very professional and very kind. Best of all, she was practical. I went in with horrible pain and she discovered that I needed a root canal, and she was going to refer me, and then had some open time, so said she'd save me some time and just do it herself. Came home and immediately recommended her to my g-friend. (Professional credibility: I'm an ER doc myself.) read more

Dr Marrero is great, he is attentive, professional, helpful and friendly. He never digs into your teeth if he doesn't think that it is necessary, which I always appreciate in dentists. I had a couple teeth cleanings, a few cavities filled and a crown installed by him. It's always easy to get an appointment. The staff is very helpful and knows how to deal with insurance. read more

How refreshing it is to work with a dentist who is available to discuss procedures in person or communicate through email - yep - you can email a question to him. I was a difficult first time patient in that I was recovering from an accident and had to reschedule three times (!) - Dr. Marrero worked with me, fit me in right before I had to attend a trade show. Last minute. He is personable, professional, knowledgeable and communicates without the oh too typical arrogance of some doctors and dentists. In business in Wicker Park for 26 years-you'd think he would be doing it all his way by now and perhaps he is, and should, but you feel he is taking as much time with you as he was when he first opened his business. read more

This dentist is fast and awesome. He doesn't do unnecessary work. He and his staff are so nice.

All of my previous trips for any dental professional have already been full of dread and anxiety, and general worry. First, off the entire staff at Smile in the City was gave, pleasant and confident me a most comfortable feeling. Doctor. Marrero was really compassionate and professional. Their methods had been flawlessly orchestrated as well as the most calming and completely comfortable procedure I needed actually skilled. I don't know why I didn't appear faster. They could anticipate a very long time individual. read more