Sadly, there are some serious downsides to choosing Dr Lin as your dentist that I feel the public should know about. I will relate my experience with him as a new patient so that maybe it can help you decide if he's the right dentist for you to place your trust in. You only have one set of permanent teeth, so of course you need to be able to 100% trust in the dentist's integrity, judgment, and workmanship. First off, let me say Dr Lin, who BTW seems to have a very pleasant chair side manner, may indeed have excellent hand skills--he must have something going for him to be picked as the #1 dentist in Woodland. But I wouldn't know about the quality of his workmanship, because I saw him only for what turned out to be the initial exam (where he told me his assessment of my teeth) and his treatment plan (what he planned to do about my teeth). He said I needed two crowns replaced because of decay, along with a periodontal flap/graft next to one of them--that HE would do (not refer me to a periodontist)--plus filling a not at all noticeable slight chip in a "canine" (that's been there for decades, has never caused me any problems, and which several dentists have since seen it got chipped and never even mentioned). My first appointment to begin the treatment plan with Dr Lin would be 2-1/3 months later--they couldn't fit me in any earlier. HUGE RED FLAG! In the world of dentistry, if you check the internet and the many past experiences of your older friends, you'll know that beginning treatment of tooth decay from the dentist's perspective, if not the patient's, is considered an urgent--sometimes even an emergent--issue. I have never waited longer than 10 days MAX for even a tiny, non-visible to the naked eye, asymptomatic cavity in the busiest dental offices I've ever been to. If treatment is delayed, the patient can risk needing a root canal....so delay with tooth decay doesn't ever happen in a reputable dental practice. If the dentist is so busy that he cannot meet the needs of his patients for timely care, then he needs to either stop taking new patients while he catches up, work more hours per day, or hire an associate. There seems to be only one explanation for not choosing one or more of these three obvious solutions....what do you suppose that could be? Hint: More patients mean more $$$. Fewer associates mean more $$$$$$ for oneself. This is a really unfortunate approach to care coming from a medical professional....very unfortunate for his unwitting patients, that is. Because I was afraid I might end up needing one, or maybe even two, root canals if I waited for 2-1/3 months to receive any care, I decided I needed to look for another dentist. After scouring the internet for dentists in the Sacramento area with decades of experience and with impeccable credentials and reviews, I found one in the Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, who also does peer reviews through the Sacramento Dental Association of other dentists' work, and is much appreciated by her loyal, long-term patients. In other words, an excellent, time-tested, solid dentist. I got an initial appointment in two days for a full exam. She said I needed two crowns replaced, and when I asked about the periodontal flap/graft that Dr Lin said I needed, she looked puzzled and said I had no need for anything like that at all. Also, like the many dentists in the decades before her, she did not mention any need for filling the tiny chip in my canine. Thus I was spared the considerable over-expenditure of money proposed by Dr Lin. I was also spared two potential root canals, as I was given an appointment only 5 days later to begin care on the replacement crowns....not an unheard of 2-1/3 months! Integrity, judgment, and workmanship--all three are needed in a dentist to know you've got a trustworthy one. All the best to you in your search for a great, honest dentists!!! read more
