I am writing this review because I believe prospective patients deserve to know about my experience. I had a crown placed at Cougar Dental in March 2023 while I was temporarily living in Utah. I live on the east coast and have an established dentist there, with regular preventive care and a night guard. Approximately three years after the crown was placed, it fractured into several small pieces and had to be replaced promptly by my regular dentist in Virginia. Because the original crown was less than five years old, my dental insurance denied coverage for the replacement. I was therefore responsible for the full replacement cost of almost $1,300. I contacted Cougar Dental and explained the circumstances. I was not asking them to replace the crown, since returning to Utah was not a realistic option and the tooth had already required treatment. I asked whether they would consider reimbursing me for at least the portion of the replacement cost that my insurance would have covered had the original crown not been subject to the insurer's five-year replacement limitation. I also provided information about my dental care and explained that my regular dentist had previously documented a concern regarding the fit of the crown, specifically an overhanging margin visible on X-rays taken before the crown fractured. Unfortunately, Cougar Dental declined to provide any reimbursement. Their position was that because the crown had already been replaced by another dentist, they could not take responsibility for the outcome and that I had understood the risks associated with the treatment. I understand that dental restorations can fail and that no crown comes with a lifetime guarantee. What disappointed me was the lack of any willingness to help with the significant financial expense I incurred after the crown fractured after approximately three years. I was not seeking reimbursement for the entire replacement; I was simply asking the office to consider helping with a portion of the unexpected cost. My previous crown had lasted more than 20 years, so having to replace this one after approximately three years--and then having to pay the entire $1,272.50 because of the insurance limitation--was extremely disappointing. I am sharing this experience so that others can make an informed decision about where they choose to have major dental work performed. My experience was disappointing both because the crown fractured after approximately three years and because of how my request for assistance was handled afterward. read more

Cougar Dental came through when I was in a tight spot. When flying home from a business trip, I caused my crown to break loose from my tooth. I was going to get home in the evening and had to fly out the morning. The tooth was sensitive and we called to see if they could look at it that night. After making some calls to decide which dentist and which assistant would stay to help, they scheduled me for 6:30 in the evening, right when I would get off of the commuter train from the airport. They anticipated that they would have to do some work and make a whole new crown (2.5 hour procedure), but they were willing to do it for me. When I arrived, they welcomed me in with smiles and it turned out in the end that it we were able to use my previous crown and it took less than an hour! I was off the next morning to Boston for my conference. No pain and a full set of teeth. Thank you, thank you, Cougar Dental!!! read more

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!! My daughter is in college there...and I live in another state. She called me at midnight on a Friday with severe gum pain. As a mom, I felt helpless. The staff and Dr. Matthews helped so much!!! They saw her the very next day on Saturday, as an emergency (she had never been there before). She was given an appointment within the hour of calling, seen on time, diagnosis and treatment thoroughly explained.....AND affordable. Thank you again, Dr Matthews and Staff at Cougar Dental!!!!!!! I wish I could give more stars!!!!!!! read more

They do a good job, they are friendly. And they give you prescriptions even when you dont need them.. TOTALLY KIDDING. They are professional... they do surgeries pretty well. I pray you have insurance!!! Otherwise you will go bankrupt. Wisdom teeth (full sedation) is 980 ish dollars... and cavitites w/o insurance are 60-250 a pop. (yes... size does matter). The pain pills for after wisdom teeth 300 per 15 pills. IF you dont have insurance... YOURE SCREWED!! But i like this place, super close to my house so I can walk there even in bad weather. They also reward you for good dental care... like no cavities heres a lunch on us! so two yelp reviews with one stone! read more

Cougar Dental - One free drink and dog for no cavities a $6 value - General Dentistry Near Me - Provo, Utah

I decided to go to Cougar dental for probably the same reasons as anyone else who goes there: it was fairly cheap, close to campus, and I had heard about getting the gift cards. But after one visit I know I will never go again. I scheduled just a regular cleaning and check-up, then got molds made for a mouth guard to wear at nights. Now, after getting a cleaning at least once a year in a few states and from many different dental practices, I think i have a good idea of what's typical. And the wait here was anything but typical. I was in there for almost 2 hours. Waiting. This was an appointment I had scheduled long in advance, but they were so badly organized/ill-prepared that I spent about and hour and a half of sitting in the patient chair over the course of my 2 hours there waiting for someone to come back, or for the dentist to come, or the hygienist to even start. Then they told me that my mouth guard would be ready in 2 weeks. So, when 2 weeks came and went I called and got no answer, left a couple of messages and got no response, then finally about a week after that I got a call saying it was ready. It ended up being the lab's fault, but they didn't bother notifying me when they found out it was going to be late and refused to give any kind of discount or incentive for the inconvenience and significant extra wait time. With all the dental offices available in Provo, it is simply not worth it to waste your time at Cougar Dental because you will have to do just that--use up way more valuable time waiting than you should need to, and not have reliability of getting things you need in time. read more

Cougar Dental - In the office - General Dentistry Near Me - Provo, Utah

After leaving from a root canal surgery today I feel like I just have to leave a review. Dr. Groesbeck is the most friendly, intelligent, honest dentist I've ever met. He's so transparent about things, and is just an all around good guy. You can really tell he knows what he's talking about and is very skilled at what he does. The staff was so kind and so careful with me, making sure I was as comfortable as possible. Dr. Groesbeck has a lot of experience with root canals and is very confident which rested my mind during the process. I highly recommend this dentist office! read more

During the time I went to cougar dental, they messed up the formation of the cap so it needed to be completely replaced, and I had to go through a 2 hour process all over again because they got it wrong. I also had to pay out of pocket for x-rays and fillings because they make mistakes in making sure it was covered by the insurance. Earlier when i was trying to sort out of the issues with the insurance, it took them over two months to get back to me about details and after i checked with them three times. Horrible customer service and experience, do not go here. read more

I love Dr. Matthews and his staff. I appreciate that they remind you of your appointments with an automated system. I am always able to get an appointment in a timely manner and they keep great notes on patients to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. Plus, you get a treat for not having any cavities! So glad I was able to find an excellent dentist in Provo! read more

My daughter (BYU student) got her wisdom teeth removed at Cougar dental this week. It was a disaster from the beginning. She had an appointment for a few weeks ago. She showed up and found out when she got there that the appointment was cancelled. No phone call and no apology. She was told that the surgeon had been in a car accident the week before. These things happen and we assumed it was an oversight that it wasn't cancelled ahead of time. She lost time at work that could not be made up. She rescheduled for Monday, August 2, 20201. The surgery went reasonably well. The problem was that no pre surgery consultation or post surgery consultation was given. Normally you get a prescription for pain before the surgery so it's available after the surgery when you need it. A couple of days after the surgery she called them to let them know she was in a lot of pain. They told her to just keep rinsing twice a day with the salt solution and take the pain medicine as needed. When she informed them that they never gave her pain medicine or a salt solution they told her to come on in and they would take a look. When she got there they gave her a prescription and the salt solution but she never saw the doctor. Again, no apology or empathy was given. This all could've been prevented with a follow up phone call the night of the surgery or day after which with our other children is standard practice. It could have been avoided with a post surgery consultation. I know they have phones because they were able to call her twice for more money because they had mis-calculated the insurance coverage. If you know how a wisdom teeth extraction is supposed to go this place will probably be okay for you. You will have to do your own follow up and ask for what you need of your own accord. If you do not know how this procedure is supposed to go you will want to avoid this place at all costs. read more

I had a great experience at Cougar Dental! The staff was very professional while still friendly and personable. They didn't waste any time. I got in and out in about an hour for a cleaning. Audrey also let me choose the color of my toothbrush! read more

I just had the best dental appointment EVER at Cougar Dental, and I have had some really great dentists! I didn't wait long at all. All the staff was so friendly. My hygienist did such a great job cleaning my teeth and was very understanding about my sensitive teeth. She showed me some great tricks to help with flossing around my permanent retainer. The dentist came in and showed me all kinds of things about my teeth, skull, sinuses, and bite. I even took pictures of what he showed me because it was so cool! Then, after my appointment, I was given a choice of gift cards since I didn't have any cavities. I'm going to Jdawgs this week and am going to sip on my free drink and eat my free hot dog and reminisce this fun and wonderful experience I had a Cougar Dental. read more

Had a good experience. Hygienist really did a thorough job! Staff was was friendly. Highly recommend!

This is the worst office i've ever been to. the staff was really rude and the dentist kept poking me!! I went in and the staff blew me off for at least a half hour when i was even early for my apointment. they were really neglectful to me and it seemed like the rest of the patients as well. It almost seemed like they were more interested in talking to eachother than helping the patients. I will never recommend this place or go back. read more

I LOVE Cougar Dental. The dentists (particularly Dr. Groesbeck) are phenomenal. I got a filling here and three months later it fell out. They replaced it under warranty so I didn't have to pay a dime. A+++++ read more

I received immediate response for an emergency visit as a brand new patient on a Saturday! They took care of me and were kind and efficient. I didn't have to wait at all in the waiting room to be seen. Dr. Matthews is professional, knowledgeable, and very caring; same goes for the rest of the staff. read more

Love Dr. Matthews and his staff!! Awesome and pain free!

My husband and I began going to Cougar Dental last year. We both had odd experiences with previous dentists, and we were apprehensive. As a student, I had seen Cougar Dental ads on campus, and while I thought it was cool that they always gave away stuff, I did wonder if they did that by pushing for unnecessary work. I could not have been more wrong. My last dentist was big on saying, "Oh, that's going to be a cavity eventually. Might as well fill it now." This was shocking because other dentist had never taken that aggressive approach. I finally stopped getting those future cavity spots filled. Since I did not get all that work done, I was afraid that I would need all kinds of work. At the end of my first visit at Cougar Dental, they gave me coupon for a free lunch - apparently that's standard if you don't have cavities. I was surprised, and said that my old dentist thought I had some potential cavity sites. So, they reviewed my teeth and x-rays again and said my teeth were great. When my husband and I needed some work done, they were not pushy, but explained the options always considering the cost to the patient. My husband needed some extensive work, and they helped him work out a plan to take care of it all over a period of time so it would not be a huge burden. When I had tooth pain, they explained what the 'textbook' answer would be, and what their experience taught them and then let me make the decision. I never feel like they are telling me what to do - but they keep me informed and let me make the final decision. I highly recommend Cougar Dental - they do good work, care about patients and are considerate of your needs. I'm horrible with names, but I've seen two different dentists at the office, and they were both super friendly. I feel like those two bad reviews are unfortunate anomalies. read more

I've been here twice and have had pretty good experiences both times. It's a little immature, but I got really excited when I found out you could watch movies while getting dental work done. I don't know if that's normal now at dentists, but I had definitely not been able to do that before! Everyone is pretty friendly and down to earth. I'll definitely keep going back until my husband graduates and we move away from Provo. read more

Cougar dental is by far the slowest dentist I have been to. I went to get a mold for a retainer this week. I showed up for my appointment on time and it took almost two hours! Slow service. Fail to keep commitments. Completely negligent. read more

BEWARE! THEY WILL LIE TO YOU! I called in prior to my first cleaning to make sure they took my insurance (as a routine cleaning should have been totally free if they were in network) I was told that I was in network, so I scheduled the cleaning. No charge, everything was fine and dandy, so 6 months later I go in for my next cleaning. No charge again, looks good. Well now fast forward another 6 months, so 1 year from my first appointment and they are calling me saying that they actually were not in network for my insurance and I owe them $160 for my cleanings! I tried to push back and say that I was told by their employees that I was covered, or I would not have gone there in the first place, let alone a 2nd time. All they said was that in the end it was always my responsibility to make sure they were in network for my insurance. So even if they say you are covered watch out they are probably LYING to you and will hunt you down for money a year later! read more

Short Review: Stay away from this place, unless you want to get diagnosed by the dental assistant because there is only one doctor working on three other patients at the same time. Full Review: I went in hoping to get dental filling (I was quoted $80 last year) and made an appointment with them beforehand. I showed up on time, had me go in and this is where it gets awful. They had me wait 25 minutes before the dental assistant (who seemed clueless as to what she was doing there) came in and said the Doctor will be right with you. Sure enough, I waited there (bored out of my mind) hoping to get my situation taken care of. Needless is to say that I have noticed Dr. Matthews jumping back and forth between patients. I waited for a total of 40 minutes before he came in, looked at my problem and requested x-rays to be taken (he was in for a total of two minutes) and sure enough they did it TWICE! The first dental assistant was clueless and had me bite their x-ray device in very awkward ways, I knew something was not right and sure enough they had to retake them...I was literally there for a total of one hour and was diagnosed a "root canal therapy". I should have seen this coming, I mean these people are literally salesmen, they keep asking you "Is that tooth keeping you up at night?" over and over, even when you have explained to them that you are FINE! To end this review, I was quoted $1039 when just a couple of months ago I was given a $89 diagnostic, their excuse well more like the dental assistants excuse "Well, you have an infection and you need to take care of that right away." I was charged $30 and was given the excuse that it was fair because I took "the Doctors time" a whooping total of two minutes... (fact is he NEVER came back after asking for the x-rays) TL;DR There are better options out there, please do yourself a favor and stay away from these people. read more

I love Cougar Dental!! Dr. Matthews, Dr. Groesbeck, and Dr. Stapley are all such great dentists and do exceptional dental work! Great location, great office, and great prices for students and family! I promise you won't regret coming here, I will never go anywhere else:) Thank you Cougar Dental! read more

They did a good job, but I felt like I had to fight them almost every step of the way. I got a few fillings and a cap a few months ago. They kind of bullied me into getting a porcelain cap when I wanted a cheap steel one, and they tried to convince me to get another cap on a tooth that didn't really need it. Also, they asked me if I wanted a 360 x-ray, and I asked if my insurance covered it. They said it did, so I agreed to it, but I went on to find out that, according to their estimates, my insurance would NOT cover the x-ray. I called them out on it, and they never billed me for it, so I guess that's that. read more

I needed my permanent retainer glued back on and it broke same day. I called them and told them it had broken and they wouldn't give me another appointment for a week and a half. When they finally fixed their first gluing job they charged me 90 bucks again. Not as cheap as better places in Provo read more

Lessons learned: If you feel pressured to get major work done, get a second opinion. Always call your insurance yourself; don't trust the estimate they give you at all. Also, if your insurance is new, beware of 6 and 12 month waiting periods for things like cavities and root canals. Cougar Dental has a convenient location and performs great work, but in my experience, the office can not be trusted to help you understand and get the best value from your insurance. I was told I needed a root canal and 3 fillings. Cougar Dental gave me an estimate for $803; about half was to be paid by my insurance. Coverage was denied and Cougar Dental mailed me a bill for $1336.00. I went in to ask about it and they told me coverage was denied because there was a 6 month waiting period for the fillings and a 12 month waiting period for the root canal. I asked them if they knew about the waiting periods when they gave me the estimate, and the office manager said it wasn't her responsibility. She never once apologized, but made me feel bad for not understanding my insurance. I got a copy of my patient record from the receptionist and she showed me a section that said "Waiting Period:" and they had written "6 mos basic/ 12 mos major." She told me they got that information a few months earlier when I first became a patient. Based on that information, the estimate I was given was false, because if they looked at my insurance information that they had collected, they knew that ALL the services would be denied coverage. They have never apologized for that. read more

BUYER BEWARE: They'll tell you they're covered by your insurance when you make the appointment, and then they'll claim they're not when you come in and charge you the full price of service. Since my insurance lists them on their website, my suspicion is that they'll bill the insurance, as well, and get paid TWICE for the service. Avoid them! read more

The staff is very welcoming and will really work with you based on your individual circumstances and needs. My teeth never felt so clean afterward! read more

Terrible experience. Started half an hour late, and then had to wait another half an hour because they had signed me up for an unnecessary procedure that I had multiple times explained that I was very not interested in. After an hour and a half of him trying to do this procedure that apparently he didn't know how to do while the assistant endlessly shot water down my throat, he suddenly, without warning gets up and says "My family is expecting me for dinner. Bye." and leaves. This is at the point in the procedure when he knows that I can't close my mouth all the way! And they wouldn't set me up for a finishing appointment for 2 more days! After all of that, I have been going back multiple times to fix this procedure because they still can't get it right! The only reparation for any of this they gave me was a j-dawgs giftcard that "we didn't give to you before because you had cavities." Horrible! Don't go here under any circumstances! read more

I have had some really awesome dentists in the past, but didn't expect Cougar Dental's staff to be this awesome. They were really friendly and I can't wait to go back. I'm getting my wisdom teeth taken out by one of the dentists here. I'm sure it'll go smoothly. I can't recommend them enough. read more

The staff at Cougar Dental has always been very understanding, patient, and helpful with all of my dental work. It's been great finding a dentist that has my best interest at heart and is very focused on saving me money and getting me the most benefit out of my insurance plan. read more

Terrible. We called them three separate times to bill our insurance, and they said they would, but never did. My wife had a cavity filled, but they drilled to far and caused more damage, which we had fixed at another dentist. Receptionist is also very rude. Save yourself and go somewhere else. read more

He supposedly did two root canals and a few fillings. He did two crowns. I didn't have insurance and agreed to bill me one price and billed it for over $1400 more. The first two crowns broke when he put them on so they did two more. Less than two weeks after one came off but didn't go back because it was done so poorly. Within a year the other crown started losing it's integrity. When I finally got insurance and went to another dentist, my insurance wouldn't cover to have the crowns redone because it was still within 5 years of the first crowns. Found out today that one of the teeth that supposedly had a root canal didn't have one but may need one now. They obviously did a very poor job on everything and I payed for it. read more

I went here a month before I turned 26 and lost dental coverage through my parents. I explained to them that I wanted them to be really thorough. My checkup found a few cavities. They recommended not fixing them. Talked me out of getting fillings by claiming that these cavities would probably fix themselves. I listened. Terrible advice and terrible mistake! A few months later I had to pay massively out of pocket to get those massive cavities fixed by another dentist. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more