I can understand the 5 star reviews - if you're going there simply to get a basic checkup and a simple cleaning, you will appreciate this practice. The staff members seem professional, the dentists are friendly, and the space is clean. They also have ample parking, and are situated right next to a high end mall. Plus, the dental equipments they use are also pretty new. However, the 1-2 star reviews are ALSO valid. The way this dental office is run makes it feel more like a business than a medical practice. Like what other reviewers pointed out, there seems to be a frequent tendency for them to emphasize your need for higher level services. This is my second visit and twice, did the hygienist strongly recommend that I go through a 2-3 hour deep cleaning procedure - something that was never, ever suggested by other dentists. They also have a rather strong sales pitch. The way they approach you and communicate the "treatment plan" makes you believe that you are expected to move forward with what they recommend. And unless you really think about what they are selling... you will probably jump right ahead into what they suggest. When I go to a medical professional, I expect to be treated as a patient who is need of essential care. That means receiving only medically necessary interventions and nothing else. I am not a customer, and shouldn't be sold anything that I don't need. read more

Horrible experience. Dr. Wada said I needed to replace 4 fillings. The first one, she nicked the inside of my cheek by accident which caused it to bleed and was swollen for days. The next tooth she filled was in the very back of the top of my mouth and she drilled too deeply to the nerve. I had pain in that tooth for over 3 years. She did another tooth in the very front of my mouth and the filling fell out in a few days. When I went to see my old dentist in Boston, he told me NONE of those fillings needed to be replaced so besides causing me long term pain due to her incompetence, I was also out $4500. I will never go back to this dentist and cannot recommend her to anyone. read more

Most people don't think of a dental visit as an enjoyable experience, well, that's exactly what to expect. from the staff of Candace Wada, DDS. Dr. Robert Wada and his crew provide quality and professional service with friendliness and compassion. This is definitely the beginning of a great doctor-patient relationship with my new dentist family. Mahalo! read more

Excellent service! My prior dentist didn't even clean the way it was here! Omg! I wish I knew about them sooner! Referring my love ones to this practice read more

The last time I went to see Dr Wada was over a year ago. Dr Wada is a great dentist, period. Instead I wanted this review to focus on a recent encounter I had with her receptionist, Jana. The customer service skills and overall care/empathy she expressed to me is extrodinary. Last week I had a tooth emergency that needed immediate care. I called the office and Jana kindly explained to me Dr Wada was out of the office until next week. She was very apologetic and I could tell in her voice she really cared about my emergency. She said that in Dr Wada's absence they had couple of Doctors they could refer me to. She gave their names and numbers but warned me they were probably both closed today. I thought cool, ok end of story. Later in the afternoon, I received another call from Jana asking how I was and if I was able to get in touch with her referals. I told her unfortunately, I wasn't. She said she was sorry about that and asked if there was anything she could do. I said, for now I was ok. She said if I could wait until Monday, she could schedule an appointment with Dr Wada if I still needed. I thanked her for following up with me. Just one minute it took to call and ask about me made me a cliet of Dr Wada forever. You can tell she loves her job and helping people. Dr Wada, if you read this.........GIVE HER A RAISE! read more

I've been a patient for about 6 years. As one of the other folks mentioned: easy parking, nice staff, thorough exams. It really is about as nice a place to go as a dental visit can be. Today, I had a filling done and it seems they were a bit crowded and the appointment took longer than normal. They also asked me to return to the waiting room while the anesthesia set in (so they could use the room). I didn't think this was a big deal at all but they were very apologetic about the slight delay and gave me Starbucks Gift Card for my trouble. I thought this was unnecessary (how many times have you had to wait at doctors offices?) but a very nice gesture. The only thing negative is that sometimes you have to wait a few months for a general checkup appointment. They are usually booked up 1-2 months ahead. read more

the appt i made w/ dr. wada was for my mother. the receptionist was very pleasant & made the new patient process go seamlessly. mother was more than pleased w/ dr. wada & her staff during her appt. read more

Dr. Candace Wada has been by dentist for about ten years now. When I changed employers my former dentist was no longer a preferred provider. I got the names of a couple of dentists from friends & then asked my dentist for his recommendation. He pointed me to Dr. Wada. I was sad to leave him as I had been seeing him for about 30 years & I was happy with his care. However I absolutely love Dr. Wada & her staff. Three generations of my family see Dr. Wada. Last month my three year old granddaughter had her first dental cleaning. The staff was great with her & it was a very positive experience. They allowed my granddaughter to sit in and watch my cleaning, after the office staff kindly juggled the schedule to allow for back to back appointments. When it was her turn, she asked to hold my hand. She did great & the hygienist was super with her, explaining everything in a way a three year old could understand. Afterwards she told me she was "not scared at all". It is very convenient having the whole family under the care of one dentist & I highly recommend Dr. Wada & staff for little ones, even though it is not a pediatric specialty practice. Other reasons to like them: Parking is convenient, the office staff has worked with me to resolve billing/insurance issues, and was understanding when I elected to delay some work due to maxing out on annual insurance coverage after needing a crown earlier in the year. read more

Dr. Wada is very nice, and I really don't want to give her a poor review, but I feel that I have to add my experience to the chorus of 5-star reviews here. I went to Dr. Wada after lapsing in my dental care for several years. The office took a plethora of x-rays (far more than I've ever had done). I got a cleaning, which was fine. Dr. Wada then told me that I had two cavities that needed fillings, so I booked an appointment for that. Those fillings were extremely painful, and she couldn't seem to get me numb. I felt the drill hitting my nerve several times, and it was pretty traumatic. At that same appointment, she told me that I had three more cavities that needed filling. At this point, I was pretty skeptical. My teeth have always been fairly susceptible to cavities, but I've never been told that I have that many. Not only that, but Dr. Wada hadn't even physically examined my teeth; she just looked at my x-rays. In addition, she said that I needed another cleaning in three months. Again, I was skeptical. So, I booked an appointment with another dentist for a second opinion, and guess what? I do NOT have three additional cavities. The staff and Dr. Wada herself were all very nice to deal with, but I feel that she did not adequately inspect my mouth before prescribing drilling that could have negative effects in the future. The fillings are also really expensive! I didn't appreciate that I was being asked to pay hundreds of dollars for work that wasn't necessary. I value medical/dental care that is patient-focused, and I didn't feel that Dr. Wada trusted me enough to explain her decisions and diagnoses. If she had, we might have been able to have a conversation about what work was strictly necessary. read more

I LOVE DR WADA!!!! When I can get past my crazy dental fear, she's the one i go to! She is very thorough in her exams. She makes sure there's a "plan" in effect (if you need it) and takes those steps to get your teeth in tip top shape. If you're the scaredy cat like me, she is so gentle! They make sure you're always comfortable. :) If you have an emergency, she's always there for you! She is so patient and understanding. I took my elderly aunty in to see her and Dr. Wada was so sensitive to my aunty's needs. She did everything to make sure my aunty was comfortable and she followed up with us a few days later. Her staff is the best too! Front office and back! I highly recommend Dr. Wada for your dental needs! read more

Easy parking, cheery staff, professional environment. They even take walk-ins if there is room, and if you have to schedule an appointment ASAP they will fit you in: do or die. Dr. Wada has great bedside manner (if that is an appropriate term for dentists). Her office is clean, inviting, and not at all scary. The staff are all very cheery and helpful- they all know you personally. It is very relaxing when I talk to them about school, work, or family: the entire office is a nice place to be. Dr. Wada tells you all the ways you could improve your dental health even extending into cosmetic options. It could range from just flossing more to a certain product that will help your teeth. She creates an entire regimine for you. For example she has given me one product to promote enamel health and a special toothpaste for sensitivity. She also informed me that whitening options are available, if I wanted- but let me know without my feeling insulted. The only problem I had was when I got a set of fillings. The right bottom molars were sensitive for almost a year before anyone realized it was not actually my tooth causing sensitivity, but the bite of my filling was off. Now that it is fixed, I feel much better. At the time it seemed horrible, but now it is a minor accident and I still highly recommend Dr. Wada. The BEST thing is the cute little dental goodie bags you get every visit. I LOVE them. read more

I am so happy to have finally found a GREAT dentist I can trust. Her staff is great, super helpful, really goes out of their way to help you. God has blessed me with teeth that love to get cavities. Though I use sonic care, floss daily, do a fluoride rinse twice a day, I still get cavities. My last dentist found 6 cavities and one that needed root canal. sigh... I had a horrible experience with the former dentist (i want to yelp how bad she was) and I was so lucky to have been referred by a friend to Dr. Wada. Jana, the receptionist sent me all the forms I needed to quickly transfer dentists, contacted their office to get my dental x rays and files from them. My old dentist charged me for the old film x rays, and still haven't sent them. Jana went out of her way to try to get them not to charge me, but they did anways. Dr. Wada was so kind and understanding. She said that if the film x rays from my horrible former dentist doesn't work out, she'll take care of my digital xrays. Dr. Wada's office is friendly, warm, clean and up to date in technology! I was so relieved to finally go to a dentist office that is not stuck in the 80's! She was very thorough in her explanations and while she was doing the procedure, she would kindly and gently ask how I was feeling or what to expect. She has been the best dentist I've ever had in my life thus far. I feel like other dentists look at my teeth like a gold mine and try to rip me off as much as possible. But, Dr. Wada is warm and kind. I feel like she's one of the few dentists that really care about their patients. I really hope that now that I've found a great dentist, my teeth will calm down and stop decaying! Please go see Dr. Wada! She's awesome! Update: They also give you a $10 gift card if you refer a friend, with a sweet note from Dr. Wada after your first visit, cute goodie bags, and AN AWESOME gift bag tooth brushes, tooth brush holder, floss, and toothpaste after you get your teeth cleaned! She really knows how to treat her patients! I LOVE MY DENTIST! read more

I've been going to Dr. Wada for several years and have zero complaints - only very positive experiences. It's a busy office with several hygienists (only one dentist), but they are very organized and the wait time is minimal. Everyone I've met there has been extremely nice. I go every six months and book whichever hygienist is available (I usually go on Saturdays and I think they take turns rotating that day) - they've all been great. The office is very clean and professional. The front desk staff is great. The one time I had an issue with my bill, Dr. Wada called me back personally and took care of it quickly. Makes going to the dentist a breeze! =) read more

Dr. Wada is so nice and caring. What dentist gets you a lei for your graduation?? Went for my 6 mo. checkup and didn't have to pay anything because I referred someone! Sweet free dentist cleaning!!!! I won't get credit for the referral from Yelp - but hey she deserves your business and is a great caring gentle dentist:) read more

I used to be scared of going to the dentist but now its not that bad! I got my usual cleaning by Jan and she told me I needed to have two cavities filled. They were able go squeeze me in the following week before i left for college which was nice. I had her son do my fillings and it was a great experience. My last filling with my old dentist left me traumatized from the pain, but Dr. Wada made sure I didn't feel a thing which was awesome. I also liked that they took me in promptly at 9am which was my scheduled appt time and not 915-930 like other Drs happen to do. Looking forward to coming back and keeping my teeth clean with the Wadas. read more

I hate to admit it, but I haven't had a cleaning in years - mostly because I hate going to the dentist. My whole experience with Dr. Wada's staff changed my perspective. They were awesome! From the moment I walked through the door, I felt very welcomed by her office clerks. I was so impressed with the way Dr. Wada and her staff took the time to explain everything step-by-step. They really took the time to get to know me and my needs. My hygienist even put some topical numbing cream on my gums to keep me comfortable. I do need extra appointments, probably because it's been so long, but I am actually looking forward to them. Thank you Dr. Wada! read more

Candace Wada, DDS - Care package on your first visit. - General Dentistry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I would not recommend Dr. Wada. They seem nice enough, almost saccharin sweet nice. But they are more focused on making you return over and over again unnecessarily racking up higher dental expenses. Like two other reviews, I was told I had a lot of cavities. I was shocked and take good care of my teeth and was never told I had over 12 cavities. There were many things that made me suspicious. There were only two dentists there, she and her son, but yet they were wanting to expand their already good sized Kahala office. And then I thought it so odd that they had about 12 business cards out in front, for every dental hygienist there, the staff members, and even the receptionist had a card. That's very strange, and I of course thought they must have so much money to spend, even on a business card for just staff. After complying with a few more visits to Dr Wada, I thought I would get a second opinion and go to another reputable dentist. After a throrough examination, x rays and teeth cleaning, this second opinion dentist told me I had one cavity? I said, "Really?" He confirmed it was only one. I said,"That's it?" He said I definitely did not have any more cavities than that. Now why would one dentist say I have over a dozen, and another say I only had one? Now who do you think has more to gain monetarily? And why would another dentist say only one, when he could have made up another number just to make more money? Maybe because that dentist was honest, and the other one was not?, Or maybe one was better educated than the other. I don't really know, but all I know is I do not want unnecessary dental work done, and Dr. Wada was going to gain a huge amount of money were I to trust her opinion. Be wise, and trust your instincts and get a second opinion. It's too bad there are dentists out there like that. That's why we have Yelp. read more

Love love love Candace Wada! Funny story I was at my appointment with them during the False Missile alarm and you're dealing with a very calm, collective and attentive staff! Hahaha I went to school with her niece and let me tell you the whole family is soooo sweet. I also see Dr. Robert Wada as well, an understudy for Candace, and he's amazing. Their front desk staff is a joy and Anne is so cute and really cares about getting you your next appointment at your best convenience. Jessica is my favorite hygienist! I'm not the best glosser in the world but she gives it to me straight and educates me about preserving my smile for as long as possible. They're more on the expensive side for me HOWEVER, a smile is with you forever and the quality it's amazing. Better to keep it bright and healthy with Dr. Candace Wada and her staff :) read more

I've debated a long time about leaving a review, and hate to be the one poor review, but decided to speak up since I used Yelp to first find Dr. Wada. In addition to Yelp, I also asked around quite a bit and had a small handful of people personally recommend her. Dr. Wada and her staff are very friendly and it is a nice facility, but that is really the only good I can say. I had several problems. First, my cleaning was painful, easily the worst I've ever had, and I am not one to usually be bothered by dental visits. The hygienist then told me that I had several deep pockets of recession and needed to be seen 3 times a year instead of two. I opted out of that route since my insurance would only cover two cleanings a year, despite her insistence that I was doing myself great harm. My experience with Dr. Wada was no better. She told me I had several cavities and wanted me to come in many times to have them filled. It isn't uncommon for me to have a cavity, but I was surprised by the number she said she had found. I went back to have the worst one filled. It took a LONG time, and was unreasonably painful, for her to do the work, and I left there with my teeth feeling rough and jagged where she had worked. I hoped things would smooth out, but after several days it was still quite troublesome. I ended up having to go in 2 more times to have it fixed up. It is smooth now, but Dr. Wada changed the whole shape of my tooth and I can still (2 years later) feel the spot she worked on because my tooth is now such an unusual shape. Needless to say, I did not go back. I have been to 2 dentists since then-one to replace Dr. Wada (Dr. Kim, the Tooth Doctor is wonderful) and another because I moved from Hawaii Kai. No one since has said that I have deep pockets of recession in my gums. And despite still having 3 cavities unfilled, according to Dr. Wada, neither dentist has found any sign of a single cavity. The only tooth I have trouble with is the one Dr. Wada worked on. read more

My husband and I have been going to Dr Wada for over 6 years now. We will soon be moving to Maui but love her and her son's dental practice so much we plan to fly back for our scheduled appointments. 5 Stars isn't even enough for them. read more

I went to see Dr. Wada because she was close by and had a very good first visit. She was concerned about some plaque buildup on my bottom teeth and rescheduled an appointment for 4mos later. At the second appointment they cleaned again and the hygienist asked if it was ok if the Dr. Wada didn't see me. I asked if it was ok if they don't bill me as much but she said she had no control over that. They wanted to reschedule me again if four months but I could see where this was heading. I'm 50 and have been seeing a dentist annually with never a need for a followup much less three in six months. Also if I'm going to pay to have the dentist see me I'd rather she actually do that. The staff was great, office clean, service timely but felt they were scheduling more appointments than I actually needed so I've moved on to another dentist. read more

The staff was very professional, the location is convenient, the office spaces are clean, but Dr. Wada is not a very good dentist. Specifically, the problem I had with her was that she wasn't very skilled in repairing a chipped tooth. In fact she was just downright sloppy. I had a very small chip that I wanted to get fixed on the front of my upper left central and having had a tooth repaired for a chip about 15 years ago from a military dentist, I thought this would be routine and easy for any dentist. She ended up scuffing four of my teeth, leaving me with a rough feeling on the surface of those teeth. I had to tell her three times that it didn't feel right. She tried to fix the scuffs but she only made them worse. Now I have this rough feeling on the backs of my two front upper and two front lower teeth, as though the enamel was scraped off. And it wasn't plaque because I just had my teeth cleaned. I am still not sure why she even scuffed up the backs of all those teeth when the chip was only in the front of one tooth. She also jammed what felt like a large toothpick in between the upper right and left tooth prior to the repair without any anesthetics, which was very painful. The repair to this tooth took over an hour and she wanted to give me 4 fillings which I actually did not need. I ended up canceling the fillings mainly because I had lost confidence in her abilities but also because I actually didn't need them. I have only had two cavities all my life and then all of a sudden I have four cavities that need attention? I don't think so. I have seen many dentists for the past 40 years or so, both in the military and civilian, and never had problems with any dentist up to this point. Dr. Wada is indeed very personable but unfortunately I would not ever recommend her to anyone. read more

Dr. Wada is awesome! She's personable, great at what she does and has state-of-the-art technology. Best dentist that I've ever been to!

I've moved around a bit and have had work done by many different dentists, in 3 different countries! I am really happy to report that for those folks who lucky to live Hawaii there is an EXCELLENT dentist office on Oahu. I received great care there by happy and kind people. It's the kind of dental experience where you might look forward to needing to go again so you can check in with these great people. From the front office to the chairs, I was treated with kindness, respect, and a very high level of professionalism. They cared about my comfort, explained everything clearly, and were ON TIME with all 3 of my appointments! Dr Wada is an artist and truly loves what she does. She uses the latest technology and techniques and I felt they were truly concerned about my dental health. I would not hesitate to recommend them and am so relieved to have really good dental work. read more

Dr. Wada and her staff are outstanding. Saw me for the first time for an emergency - on a holiday. My cleaning was painless as have been all of my dental work. Dr. Wada will show you photographs and X Rays of your whole mouth to explain where she needs to do work. Even a non-dentist can see problems when they are presented this clearly. Highly recommend. read more

I am only giving 4 stars for now because I only had my initial check up and will need to go back for my consultation and cleaning. So far I like Dr. Wada and her staff. Very friendly and explains everything that they are going to do. I am looking forward to my next visit. Ashley is awesome! She helped me to transition my teenager to get an appointment with Dr. Wada and was very, very helpful. I hope to eventually get my husband and daughter to switch over too. read more

I am a terrible gagger and feared going to the dentist; so much so that I would go to the dentist only when a problem came up. After chickening out with a dentist hotline referral, I tried Dr. Wada. That was about 8 years ago and my fear is all but gone. Dr. Wada and staff are great and understanding (with smaller hands typical of females). I go often now (primarily for maintenance), no apprehension, and feel that I will have my teeth for a long time as I enjoy eating. Her prices are reasonable; her office is knowledgable and does things right, something I am more than glad to pay for. read more