The first time I went, he showed me 5-7 different cavities (which he filled). The he did retreatement on root canal (he should have referred me to endodontist - HE DID NOT). While filling a cavity, he said the cavity is deeper, so he did a new root canal. I had to go to him for another tooth pain and he did a root canal on it. ALL THREE FAILED. LET ME REPEAT - ALL THREE FAILED. I am going to ENDODONTIST THESE DAYS and they are not sure if they can save 1 teeth. I was 24 and I am 29 now. DO not go to him. If you are filing a case against him, let me know, I will join you. read more

My friend had a horrific experience here, and is too afraid to write a review for fear of retaliation because this office has her address and social security number. She is 27 and was told she needed gum surgery and that she had 2 cavities, and when she got a second opinion she was told she had NO cavities. The dentist was horribly rude and told her that "Millennials don't know how to brush their teeth". The hygienist kept leaving her cleaning to answer the phone, and her gums were sore for days. We have contacted a lawyer because we truly believe this office is running an insurance scam and telling people to have major surgery to make money. DO NOT risk your health by seeing this dentist. read more

This was honestly the worst experience I have ever had at a dental office. Dr. Armstrong is an extremely rude person. I have been to a dentist at least yearly and most years I get cleanings twice a year. In the past 10 years I have always had a good report. I haven't had any cavities my gums are always in good shape and all of my dentists have told me I take great care of my teeth and they are beautiful. Dr. Armstrong told me that I don't brush my teeth (I brush 2-3 times daily) and I have a genetic gum disease. He told me I will need oral surgery to take gum from my upper and graph it to my bottom gums. He told me my parents have the same disease. (My parents are in their upper 60's and go to the dentist twice a year and have NEVER been told this). I believe he is trying to sell unnecessary treatments. Especially since he continually brought up my insurance coverage. The cleaning I received was by far the worst I have ever received. He scraped my teeth only. No floss no polish. Apparently I didn't need it because my teeth are so very white (even though he told me I don't brush). I have never been so humiliated in a dentist office. I have never been told anything Dr. Armstrong has said. I wish I was able to read the other Yelp reviews but somehow every review was filtered! How does that happen yelp? read more

Dr. Armstrong is very straightforward and seems to tell his patients exactly how he sees the situation, without sugar-coating it. I didn't mind and appreciated the candidness. His equipment is aging, he is still taking x-rays on film (which I do recognize the benefit of - they are indeed better resolution and easier to read), but... Nothing is dirty or unsanitary though and the office is quite pleasant. The cleaning was rather rough, but not overly. If felt thorough. He said he does not polish teeth as it's been proven to have negative effects. read more

I experienced the same thing that many others have - incredibly rude/abrasive behavior from Dr. Armstrong and very rough/painful dental cleaning procedures. Like Savanna D. mentioned, I was also told I needed a "gum graft" procedure that would cost thousands of dollars. I went to several other dentists for a second opinion and none of them saw any need for such a procedure. My friend also recently went there and was told to get this same procedure. This guy is a CROOK - don't waste your time and save yourself the pain and suffering. read more

I've posted this review in several different places because I think it's important for everybody to read and to learn from my experience. It was only until I found a different dentist that I realized how awful and suspicious Dr. Armstrong is as a dentist. A few reasons why I say this. First, the technology that he uses is at least 30-40 years old. The reviews which say "I've been going to him for decades and love it" say that because I'm not sure they've been to a modern dentist with modern equipment. I'm not that old, but I know dentist equipment far before my time when I see it. This often leads to inefficient and pain-inducing procedures. He drilled into my tooth for a root canal and had to leave it open because he overbooked himself, and when I went to a new dentist they found the metal tip of his instrument within the hole he drilled. Seriously -- the metal tip -- DEEP in my tooth. Secondly, he seems to push for procedures which are ultimately unnecessary. Read his other reviews on here, yelp, and google. You'll find a similar complaint over and over again: Dr Armstrong fabricates urgency for a "necessary" and "dire" procedure which are neither necessary nor dire. The next dentist I went to was genuinely confused when I told them that my previous dentist said I needed a gum tissue graft, or an emergency root canal (that just happened to be a filling). Third, because his office is just him and his assistant (who is very nice), he does ALL of the procedures. Cleanings (which a hygienist should do), fillings (which he should do), root canals (which are better meant for endodontists), and wisdom teeth (orthodontist or oral surgeon) are literally all done by him. After going to my new dentist, who had a separate endodontist do my root canal versus my hygienist who did my cleaning, I realized how insane it actually is for Dr. Armstrong to do all of those things. There is a reason why these jobs are broken up into distinct disciplines and for one person to do them leads to poor dental work. Do not trust him to do anything more than a filling! Lastly, the man is extremely rude. Look at the other reviews and they're going to say the same thing: Dr. Armstrong has little to no bedside manner. I made it very clear both when I arrived and in my initial call with his assistant that I have severe dental anxiety. He was condescending while making awful comments while his fingers were in my mouth. He has an air of superiority and narcissism which cannot be more obvious. And when he wants you to move the direction of your face while in procedure he literally grabs your chin and jerks you in the direction he wants you in. I was so dazed and so scared during the whole thing that right when i stepped into my car I burst into tears. Compared to my new dentist who attentively listened to my concerns and talked me through everything that was going to happen. They were direct yet polite, and ALWAYS checked in to make sure I was emotionally okay. When I called in to cancel all of my future appointments with Dr. Armstrong I was asked why, I told them that I thought Dr. Armstrong was extremely rude. Their response was "I understand that his directness and perfectionism can be off-putting, but he does want what's best for his patients." This is not true. Listen to me when I say there are many dentists in Denver who are both direct and perfectionist but are still polite. I've never been a fan of going to the dentist but I understand its importance. After I found my new place I could not be happier. PLEASE -- take the extra few minutes and find a dentist with better reviews. I would not write this review if I didn't know if my experience was just an outlier, but it clearly is not. I wish you all the best in your search for a dentist who respects you and will give you the treatment you deserve. read more

Hands down the best, straight forward, and professional dental experience for an invasive and awkward procedure. I had a front tooth in need of an implant which, when sitting with Dr. Armstrong, was straight forward and concise in his evaluation of the steps needed to completion. I wouldn't recommend another DDS to, not only walk me through the 90 day procedure of this, but also he personally and promptly returned calls for additional questions. A true professional in his field. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Armstrong's for over 15 years. I can truly sat he is one of the best dentists I have ever had. His skills as a dental surgeon are beyond compare. I am a person who has a very keen intuition that has guided me through the years in choosing professional services that are beyond compare. Sure maybe Dr. Armstrong has not always had the greatest bedside manners. Never the less his integrity and expert ranking is at the highest level. Lighten up people! Sincerely, a devoted patient. read more

Very similar experience to Josh G above me in June '10. Things began to go south right after I sat in the chair. His assistant/receptionist was nice but unfortunately doesn't make up for his own lack of professionalism. I'm an avid flosser (2x daily, in depth) and have always been complimented by past dentists (2 in 22 years - every 6 months) for my habits and good hygiene. He asked me rudely if I flossed and when I explained, I was told that I was a liar and to take better care of my teeth. From then on, my cleaning was a disaster. He picked at my teeth like I had no feelings. I immediately began to tear up, as he continued on. At this point, I should've simply gotten up and left but I didn't. The visit resulted in more tears on my part and the single most rough cleaning I've had in my entire life. After my experience there I'm appalled that he is even still in practice. There is no way that this man has a solid base of clients, and if they do they've never been to a dentist that treats you with kindness and respect. Fast forward to today, as I'm calling to get my records transferred to a new dentist - Dr. Armstrong answers the phone laughing, makes me repeat myself and spoke down to me. When I told him that I was moving to another dentist, his attitude was evident. That's no way to treat any client, past or present. Please do not go to this man. Like Josh G, I hope that the addition of my review keeps people away. read more

I'm just writing to confirm everything that has been stated above. I moved to this dentist office because I got new health insurance. I walked away from this appointment crying. I've never been so belittled or condescended at a dentist before. To top things off the cleaning was one of the worst dental experiences of my life. Like stated before, it was all scraping. My mouth was raw for days and I was left bleeding and in tears. Don't trust these people in your mouth, period. read more

I went to this dentist a couple of years ago. Absolutly nothing good to say about him except that he had a very nice receptionist. It started off bad right out of the gates as I was filling out my new patient paperwork (including asking for SS#) he was having his computer repaired. The technician was amazed there was no virus protection installed and at the sheer number if viruses and trojans they found. I didn't give my SS but if you are patient of his, you might want to get a free credit report. Now to the cleaning. As he was getting ready to clean my teeth, he actually sharpened one of his pics on a shapening stone. I couldnt make this stuff up. I gave him the sterility benefit of the doubt but later in the cleaning he did it again. Who does this and I bet that stone didn't go in the autoclave. I have never had a cavity in my life and he kept telling me how bad my teeth were and how I had poor brushing habbits. He proceded to give me the roughest cleaning I have ever had in my life. My whole mouth hurt for a week after. Obviously I never went back and I hope this review saves someone else from suffering the same treatment I got. read more

Armstrong has a very pompous attitude and condescending tone when speaking and even walking. I did not feel the slightest bit comfortable or safe in his office. I was told to arrive early prior to my appointment to fill out paper work as I was a new patient. Both Jack and Sheila arrived late to unlock the doors to the office. All of the equipments first generation from the 1950s. Sheila stops to answer the phone while working on your mouth so prepare to have tools stabbing you and causing pain while she takes phone calls. While filling out my "first time patient" form I stated that I am anxious and nervous about the appointment in general but also my wisdom teeth extraction in the future. You'd think since expressing my nervous feelings, they would mention that I would not be put under for the procedure right away. No. Instead, they scheduled a surgery date, went through pre-op and post-op procedures and even wrote a prescription and then when all said and done as I'm walking out of the door I am told I wouldn't be put under because his office isn't a surgery center. I firmly believe this man is a business man and just trying to make money. He doesn't care about you dental health. Maybe if his equipment wasn't from dinosaur ages and his attitude wasn't as if he's a king and I'm a peasant, then I would've considered. I can't imagine a lot of first time patients returning to this man. read more

I am regretting EVER setting foot in J. Craig Armstrong's office. I left his office with the corners of my mouth CUT OPEN. And just today a $400 bill for "post op" visit that lasted all of 10 minutes (where my raw mouth wounds were re-opened). I would not trust my dog's teeth to his care. read more

Dr. Armstrong is very knowledgeable and caring. I haven't had any bad experiences with him in the seven years I have received care from him and I don't understand the bad reviews. He has been able to pinpoint my dental problems and fix them at a reasonable cost. I have serious dental issues that can cause me to lose my teeth and knowing that he is there for me to save those teeth gives me peace of mind. He cares about the way I take care of my teeth and if he sees I haven't been he will call me on it. He has been a dentist for decades, does everything in his office, and has never ripped me off. He has diagnosed problems that other dentists wouldn't or didn't. I can trust him and afford him. This is what I love about Dr. Armstrong. read more

Approximately 10 years ago, I saw Dr. Armstrong very briefly. I had a cleaning/checkup and later a root canal. I stopped going after two appointments for the much the same reasons as have been listed - abrasiveness and rude behavior. Why am I writing now? I just came from my current, wonderful dentist. Had to go in because a crown came off while I was eating last week. The tooth is full of decay and rot and cannot be saved. Dr. Armstrong drilled through a crown to do the root canal and filled it with TEMPORARY filling material! Of course it didn't keep decay out of the tooth! Plus I couldn't tell anything was going wrong because of the root canal deadening the pain and x-rays can't see through the crown to see an issue. Now facing an implant situation that will likely cost upwards of $4000. Stay away! read more

I went to see Dr. Armstrong a little over a year ago. The treatment I received was terrible. His assistant was very pleasant and polite; Armstrong was abusive and unprofessional. My experience in the chair was very similar to the two listed above. He railed continuously as he cleaned my teeth, and even made a particularly bizarre comment about how burnt out dentists get! It was the worst and most unusual experience I have ever had with a health care professional! Later, when discussing my experience with a friend, she was shocked and explained that she had also made the mistake of visiting him and received the same treatment! I imagine only ascetics and masochists would remain patients of his. If you do not fall into one these categories, you will probably be happier with treatment anywhere else. Lisa W read more

I was tortured by this dentist! He spoke down to me, refused to prescribe antibiotics, and his work was questionable. I have to be fair and explain that I came to him in extreme pain, on a Friday, with an obvious infection which showed up on the x-rays and was told i needed a root canal. He seemed like he was having a bad day, and I must have come along to make it worse! Tears streamed down my face because i was so embarrassed. He just went on and on about how people don't take care of their teeth anymore and it isn't his fault he had to give so many root canals lately. His receptionist Trisha was an angel, helping me to breathe, and she even held my hand for a while. But he was absolutely awful, grumpy, and uncaring. My root canal apparently 'upset the teeth' on the other side of my mouth, so I had to have an emergency root canal 2 days later on that side, too. I had to ask my family doctor to write a prescription for antibiotics because my whole face swelled up and i was in such pain, I cried and cried and scared my family half to death. Dr. Armstrong had refused my second request for antibiotics on the grounds that it won't make a difference and we just had to let that infection make its way out. This was over the weekend, so i think it was just a hassle for him, really. I shouldn't have gone back, but I am so embarrassed of my teeth I thought it wouldn't be as bad as starting over with some other dentist. I hoped maybe he would be civil. Nope, that Monday he was curt and he admonished me. My teeth were so bad i must have really neglected them and now look what is happening. I wanted to tell him that bad teeth just run in my family but i just couldn't do it. I did work up the courage to tell him that I had a lot of obligations, with 2 children, and that life just happens and my teeth came last but we finally had insurance so i was glad I could get my teeth fixed. I told him that when I went in to get my crown the next week. I could only afford one crown. He put a temporary filling in my other root canal. Anyway, he did apologize for not giving me antibiotics. I think he only said it because my husband told the receptionist that he got me some from our family practitioner. So I heard him laughing at his patient when I was in the waiting room. I thought he'd be nice and in a better mood.When it was my turn (pure agony) he made fun of his previous patient, explaining that the patient swore he flossed every day, but the dentist knew, the teeth don't lie.Then, as he was fitting the crown, he became agitated with me because it wasn't fitting in there and I just really felt like he hated his job, or hated me. He was grumbling and just very unprofessional. The receptionist saw me crying and whispered to me "He just really cares" . i think that was sweet of her, but I tell you what....who needs that?? read more

I am a dentist, but not a patient of Dr. Armstrong. The comments by Josh are a little unreasonable. First he is upset that the doctor was having his computer repaired? So what? This has nothing to do with dentistry. Next he is upset that the doctor used a sharpening stone. How else do you propose one sharpens instruments? Would you prefer he works with a blunt, non-effective curette? The fact that he takes time to sharpen his instruments is a good thing. And to enlighten Josh's ignorance, sharpening stones can be sterilized in an autoclave. So to answer who does this - every dental office that is any good. To address if the stone went in the autoclave, I bet it did. Because you do not know if it did or did not, this is an uninformed comment. By the way, pics and habbits are spelled wrong. The little red line that appears under the word when you type it is called "spell checker." It is designed to point out the fact that you do not know how to spell the word correctly. The fact that you never had a cavity in your life does not mean that you are immune from any dental problems in the future. Unless you give your dental history and inform us of your regularity of care, and flossing frequency, there is no way of telling if you have avoided the dentist for years, and accumulated massive amounts of calculus. If you had inflamed gums, you probably needed a thorough cleaning, and some tenderness afterwards can occur. read more

Dr. Armstrong is a great professional. Ive read a lot of other people's comments about him being rude, and that simply isn't true. He'a been my dentist for more than five years. And while he is direct and to the point, like most people from the East Coast, it is because of his expertise that he emphasizes to a patient where they need to pay more attention to their mouth - like brushing or flossing Some people in Denver might find that rude, but it simply isn't. read more

I normally don't share my experiences on these types of sites, but I believe it would be a disservice to the community to not explain how good Dr. Armstrong is. His skill, personality, and staff are beyond professional. The office is fun and his genuine care for his patients is evident. As I read some of these reviews, I can't help but assume that the bad reviews are from Generation Y. Get off the phone, put down the video controller, think about someone other than yourself, move out of your parents' house, and quit whining. It is the Dentist's office. If it doesn't hurt (a little) then you are not getting the proper care. I highly recommend Dr. Armstrong as a Dentist! read more

I can't believe I didn't read the reviews before seeing this dentist. I went to Dr. Armstrong for three appointments, all of which he made me cry. I've always been complimented by dentist on my teeth, gums and smile. I usually just have a cavity every three years or so. Dr. Armstrong said I had 10 cavities and need major gum grafting, $11K worth (that's with my coverage). I'm 27 years old. He filled five "cavities" on one side which now I'm questioning if they were even five. I definitely had one and it still hurts. The doctor lost my x-rays from my first appointment and went rogue when he filled FIVE of them on one side, with NO REFERENCE to x-rays. My one filling fell out the next day so I called in and told them. When I told the receptionist my filling fell out, her response was "no it didn't." I told hey my filling was in my hand and I was looking at it and I had a huge hole in my mouth. Her response was it was "highly unlikely" for the filling to fall out. She apologized when I came in to have it fixed. read more