Update: Carus Dental contacted me immediately after my review. They apologized for my previous experience with billing and informed me that the previous person in charge of billing, whom my initial review was primarily concerned with, is no longer with them. Belinda, the new billing manager, is a very friendly and considerate person. Speaking with her about my bill, she was very courteous and helpful and Carus Dental is much better off with her in charge, imo! Delilah with the central office reached out to me to see what could be done to remedy the situation and promised to email me an estimate of my next visit. She was too very helpful and kind about the situation. Good bushiness practices go a long way. Other dental practices would do well to have people working for them who are as professional and efficient as the people who work at Carus Dental's San Marcos location. ------------------------------------------------------ I asked before the visit for the person in charge of billing, Britney apparently, to let me know about all expenses that I would be charged for before the visit began; what was covered and what wouldn't be. The doctor requested certain x-rays that were not covered by my insurance which the billing failed to inform me about, again even though I'd asked her. Upon collection Brittney wasn't understanding about the situation at all and insisted that she had nothing to do with the fact that I was being left with this bill. She was pretty rude about it in fact and I found her to be very offensive. read more

After being a patient for many years of the San Marcos location and extending professional courtesy for them calling me to change appointments (same day) multiple times, I was surprised by them asking me to sign a 48 hour cancellation form (fee of $75) for me asking them to extend the same professional courtesy in return to cancel an appointment (same day) I was not able to make. I cancelled my future appointments with carus dental I had and will NOT be recommending them to my family, friends or coworkers moving forward. read more

My first time there and they were very friendly and very very good hygeinests and doctor, im glad i went there

Avoid the headache. They are only good to you until it is no longer in their best interest. Long story short, they overbooked and was upset when I showed up for my appointment. Then the tech came up with some funky rule about needing to be on an antibiotic before my normal cleaning was done. This is 6 months after they had done deep cleaning on me, and no mention of an antibiotic needed at that time. Tech said they would contact my dr. Needless to say I did not have anything done that day, and I had missed work for the appointment. Got a call from my dr a month after they had just sent the request about the antibiotc. So much for customer service. DO NOT USE THIS BUSINESS. read more

Brianna answered the phone when I called about a unexpected charge. She said it was due to an exam the doctor did, and I asked her several times if she could tell me what kind of exam it was so I could verify it was done. Instead of telling me what kinda of exam it was she kept saying "it's a exam the doctor did" over and over again with no details. Was being extremely rude for no reason and was acting dumb as hell like she didn't know what the exam was. She could just ask someone what it is if she doesn't instead of saying "it's a exam the doctor did", like why are you so dumb that you can't just do your job and explain the charge? Talked to management and they seemed like they will not do anything about this so do not call them, will just ruin your day and you'll be dealing with Brianna who can't even answer a simple question. read more

I have been customer here since 2018. The doctors know exactly how to do the job but the problem is with the management. First incident was when they assured me that my visit last year was covered by the insurance then After the visit they asked me to pay for scanning. When I discussed it with them they said the scanning is covered by the insurance only once during 3 years. They have the image from last year but they didn't use it and instead they took another one after telling me that my visit is totally covered. I refused to pay at the time so they told me a manager will contact me. No one contacted me. Also whenever I visit them they ask for the payment and I explained the situation to them then they tell me that a manager will contact me to discuss the situation but no one bothered to contact me! The second incident happened few weeks ago when they asked my wife to leave after she was checked in inside the dentist room. The said the reason was that some employee made a mistake with their Covid19 scanning questions. As we were coming from travelling they wouldn't allow her to get the treatment. We agree and support Covid19 restrictions but you don't ask your patient to come after the "questionnaire call" and then ask them to LEAVE & deny service. Above all of that they also didn't bother to call to apologise and that can tell how this practice runs. We would rather travel to Austin or somewhere else where we can be treated with honesty and respect . read more

service is good. However, office manager will never return call. Have asked for a call for 3 months to no avail. I don't think the message is being passed along. My daughter has been a patient for 3 plus years, I have been receiving a bill for a normal cleaning which my insurance covers 100%, but due to a coding error on the office staffs part it was not paid. Debbie billing whatever, is a rude and very nasty person and does nothing to help you. It has been 4 months in dealing with this. We are no longer going to this office. Think twice about dealing with them!!! read more

Most college-town businesses are a scam. Fleecing the college flock. And like most college-town romances, nothing you get there lasts. I'm happy to report that Carus is an exception to this rule. First of all, let me state that I know what a scam dentist is, because I believe my childhood dentist in Dallas, who shall remain nameless as he is an old family friend, was a scam. Why? Because all of his fillings fell out within 2 years. This coupled with my inherent soft enamel made my life Hell for many years. To him, I was a customer, not a patient. The treatment is more profitable than the cure. And so I stopped trusting dentists. Stopped going to the dentist. Was in pain. Got hooked on opiate-based painkillers. Then I came to Carus in horrible shape. I needed seven root canals at a cost of over $15k. Luckily, I had just started my first 'real' job, so I had dental coverage. After going twice a month for a couple years, I got all the work done and it made me about 100 times healthier and happier. That was 6 years ago. No fillings have fallen out, and the crowns are wonderful! These guys are the best. Gave me a great value, allowed me to pay as I went, and restored my faith in dentistry! I'm not gonna say it was completely painless, but they probably saved my life. Heartfelt thanks. read more

Avoid the headache, don't come here. Over priced and not very helpful. Lots of round and round: "you need this done first then this and that and oh no you have to go to a specialist for a consultation then come back here for treatment oh and you need this by and by the way this and that are going to cost extra." Save yourself and your wallet and go somewhere else! read more

I usually don't write reviews on Yelp, but today I just had too. I can honestly say I made the right decision choosing Carus Dental. I am a full time student and I typically work Monday-Friday. The staff made an outstanding approach in accommodating to my busy schedule and ensuring I find the right time to schedule my appointment. I am in the process of getting braces, and my orthodontist recommended I go in for a dental exam and a possible cleaning. Because I am still learning the ins and outs of being an adult, I waited until the week of getting my braces to actually schedule my appointment with a dentist. However, Carus Dental went above and beyond in assisting me and making sure I was prepared to get my braces. Dr. Parekh and Maria are AWESOME! I cannot thank them enough. They made me feel extremely comfortable and were very helpful throughout the entire process. They reviewed the examination with me and ensured that I understood the condition my teeth were in. I decided to proceed with their recommendations, and I was able to go the very next morning. Needless to say, I was extremely overwhelmed not only because I was getting rid of some cavities and cavities are scary but also because this was the first time that I was doing everything on my own. I felt so relieved after my visit. I am so glad I chose Carus Dental and I will definitely be returning. If you are new to the area and are looking for a trustworthy and reliable dentist and team, look no further. YOU WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS! Thank you Carus Dental! (I was also attended by Viviana, who gave me excellent tips on dental hygiene. She definitely prepared me for braces. If you can't tell... they have a great staff all throughout!) read more

I visited for the first time on Oct. 17th. I was very pleased with level of service provided. They were very professional and caring. I believe I have found the right dentist in which to continue my care. read more

If you're looking for a professional dentist office that offers great service, this is your place! I recently moved to the area and had some bad experiences before getting a recommendation to this office. I received a warm welcome from the receptionist named Jessica when I arrived and there was almost no wait time after I completed my paperwork. The office is very clean and modern, offering coffee and water for patients. Once inside, the dental assistant Karri Connelly was extremely caring. She knew about my previous experience and went above and beyond when addressing all my questions and concerns. Once my file was in order (since I was a new patient) the hygienist (Jenny Yi) came in and did a professional and thorough examination of my gums. She dedicated a lot of time to explaining all the processes involved and was very friendly. Afterwards, the general dentist (Dr. Green) did my teeth exam, he was genuine and interested in providing me with the best care. The entire experience was very genuine and I felt extremely comfortable, knowing that I could trust what they had to say because their recommendations for treatment were reasonable and fair. After my first visit was complete the dental assistant gifted me some floss (yay!) and went over the costs of my treatment with me (stating my dental plan would and would not cover). I am extremely grateful for the services that I received at this location. I'm glad that everyone on the team treated me with respect and addressed all my dental concerns seriously and professionally. I recommend this office to anyone who needs dental care in the area. They are really welcoming and just down right AWESOME. read more

From my first phone call with Mary, the front desk receptionist, I was impressed with such kind and helpful customer service. I was Very pleased with my visit at Carus. The entire staff is extremely kind which helped with my dental anxiety. The place is clean and their prices are great! I highly recommend Carus Dental! read more

I am an admitted anti-dentite. I have had mostly awful experiences with dentists and the only people I enjoy visiting pertaining to my mouth is my oral surgeon and my orthodontist. I have had orthognathic surgery due to a car wreck and just didn't want to deal with a dentist thereafter, but my orthodontist and oral surgeon have suggested a couple times that I bite the bullet and go see one. I moved to San Marcos and my husband had been pushing me to find a family dentist for both of us and I came across Carus while walking around. It looked cozy and I decided to give them a try. I am very picky about people who work in my mouth. I went through multiple oral surgeons until I found the perfect one and I don't deal with BS from doctors. I am not stupid and I know when people just want $$, so I figured if I didn't like them, I could keep looking. The wait is short and the front waiting room and staff are kind. The dentists, hygienist, and dental assistants I met were all very polite and gentle. I had made it clear that dentists make me uncomfortable. They listened to my complaint about one of my teeth that had been injured in a car wreck and had a crown on it. They suggested I see a specialist at their office and told me I would need a root canal and that I had an abscess. Now, this is where my bad review starts and it only pertains to the specialist. I went in to see the specialist to discuss the root canal. I explained that a previous dentist said I needed one, but that since I was in the middle of preparing for major orthognathic surgery, I was told to put it off until I was fully healed. The first crown was put on about 15 years ago, a new crown was put on by another dentist in 2010 after I had complained about pain, and the new crown didn't help. The specialist looked in my mouth and repeatedly asked me why I thought I had an abscess. I told him it was because the dentist and dental assistant told him so and that he should probably check my chart. He did multiple pain tests to check if my tooth was cracked or necrotic and pointed out the tooth next to it, saying that both may be cracked, but he didn't know. He also said that my abscess was gone and that he couldn't do anything until it comes back so I was kind of SOL. If he actually read my chart, he would know that the second tooth had a minor cavity and needed a filling, so that's why it was in pain, the tooth he was supposed to concentrate on has hurt me for YEARS, so telling me I was SOL because he didn't know where the abscess was or didn't know if it was cracked was kind of BS. I felt like he was trying to prove I was lying about something or that somehow the abscess diagnosis was made up. My next appointment was to get my filling in - 5 stars for that. The dentist was awesome, as was the assistant. I felt almost no pain or discomfort and they made sure I was comfortable and taken care of. The dentist asked me what the verdict was with the tooth that has been in pain for a while - I told him that the abscess was gone and I was told to wait until it came back and basically told nothing would be done. He told me he would speak to the specialist and seemed kind of confused about why the specialist would opt to not do anything and told me I shouldn't be left in pain. Next, I went to get a cleaning. I had my infant and my toddler and the hygienist was amazing. She rocked my infant's carseat with her foot to sooth her during my cleaning. During other cleanings at other offices, I always requested a numbing agent, but the hygienist was so gentle, I didn't need one, even though it had been a long time since my last one. She made sure, just like the other staff, that I was comfortable and taken care of. She asked me about my tooth that I had complained about and I told her the same thing- there was no decision about it and that I was told nothing would be done at that time. She went and spoke with the specialist and came back and told me there was now a plan for my tooth - they would put a temporary crown on and see if I am still in pain. If so, I will need a root canal. I didn't say anything to her at the time about this, since she didn't know my history, but this is total BS - I am not blaming her, but the specialist. I already told the specialist REPEATEDLY during my appointment with him that the crown had already been replaced due to pain and that it did jack. My tooth has hurt since, so his plan after saying he wasn't going to do anything is to do the same thing over? That's probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I may hate dental procedures, but I have dealt with this for years and know for a fact that I need a root canal based on the info from my previous dentist and the fact that what he is suggesting has already been done and didn't work. So all in all, I love the dentist here and the assistants, I love the hygienist and the front desk staff, the office is very welcoming, but Jesus the specialist needs to learn to f'ing listen. read more

First visit there is what every dentist should model their customer service/services after. Brand new patient and I was basically in and out. Dr. ORTIZ was very knowledgeable and went straight to fixing the problem. read more

Carus Dental is amazing. Staff is so sweet and personable. Love them. They are super concerned with doing everything right and correct. If not, they will fix it with no charge. They do everything to make sure you're comfortable. They even go as far as to put a blanket over you when you're cold. Love them read more

So we come to Carus dental for ortho, and routine cleaning, this only the second time for surgical, and both of the visits were terrible. The wait is over an hour long each visit, and the staff make it seem as that's the normal. If you can find a different Carus dental, other than San Marcos, or anu other office, by all means, it's worth the drive. Aweful, aweful wait times, with less than concerned staff. Won't be back, that's a promise! read more

This was our very first visit to the office, I called this morning with hopes for an appointment today and they got my son in at noon. Dr. Park and his entire staff made both of us feel at ease and very well taken care of. My son does not like dentist at all but was put at ease immediately with Dr. Park and his assistant. He even hugged Dr. Park before we left! I would recommend this practice to everyone. So nice to have true customer service and to feel appreciated as a customer. Dr. park even followed up with us this evening to check on our son. Amazing!! That's one of the many words to describe the practice and the staff. We have now found a practice that our entire family will be seeing. read more

I have had great experiences with my dentist, oral surgeon and hygienist. They are very concerned about your comfort.

Excellent. I am very impressed with the level of care I received. Very professional but also personable. It's makes visiting the dentist somewhat less terrifying, lol. read more

UPDATE June 27th...well I came back at 7:30 am this morning thinking I would be first in line, but one other was there. Receptionist remembered me from last Friday, upon which I asked to see the dentist. Maybe 10-15 minutes later I saw Dr. Eaton and we had a discussion about what happened last week (the woman recommending that I buy some cement and fix the tooth myself) and offered an apology for what had transpired (which I accept Dr. Eaton). There are some half truths here: 1) You can indeed buy some tooth cement at your local pharmacy (something I was not aware of), and you can indeed fix the tooth yourself, if you've a mind to, although it's not really recommended (you should clean the area really well around the tooth before applying cement). 2) My mistake coming in last Friday morning thinking it was such a small procedure, that they could see me immediately. They will indeed see you as soon as possible for things like this, but it is best to call ahead so they can give you a better time to come in, so that you're not waiting in the waiting room till something opens up. Will I continue with Carus Dental San Marcos? Short answer is yes. read more

Dr Eaton is the best! She was kind but clear that our daughters dental hygiene was inadequate and would result in major problems as she aged. We've been telling her that but of course she won't listen to her parents. Dr Eaton delivered the message in a way that got her attention. Thank you Dr Eaton!!! And the staff is very good. We really like and appreciate Carus Dental in SM. read more

Carus Dental is a great place to go! Everyone is professional, respectful, and helpful. From the start, I felt like a person, not a number. I came in for a consultation so that I could schedule a cleaning at some point, but due to some difficulty finding a good time to schedule a cleaning, they arranged the cleaning to take place right after the consultation (again, very helpful). Everyone who worked with me took time to explain things and answer my questions with consideration. As much as going to the dentist is not my particularly favorite thing, I can honestly say it was a pleasant experience. read more

This place used to be the Longhorn Dental. Just curious if they just changed the name or personnel. We went there for a cleaning and they made us gargle a fluoride that over priced without telling us. We were pissed... read more