Good work, fishy practices. My husband has had a lot of experience with dentists as he didn't get the proper preventative care as a child. That said, we're in the dentist's office a lot. Well when we moved fro Miami to Chicago, I turned to trusty Yelp reviewers to point us in right direction to a good dentist (I'm super finicky about my own dentist and won't go to just anyone). Downtown Dental definitely seemed to fit the bill. We made an appointment for hubby's loose crown. Our first red flag should have been the office's flagrant disregard for what was necessary vs. lining their pockets with insurance money. Hubs had xrays and a full cleaning not three months before our move and change in insurance coverage, xrays our previous dentist would have gladly supplied our new dentist. DD didn't even bother, even after we clearly mentioned it and offered to facilitate the transfer of records. DD said with our new insurance it's coveted so they might as well just do it. Not cool to have needless stuff billed just for their convenience. From that appointment, essentially just a cleaning, they scheduled his next appointment for another crown to replace the loose one. One positive point is that they can make it in office and have a periodontist also in office. Next appointment comes around and we're asked to prepay our portion of that day's bill. The payment wasn't the issue though. Never have we been asked before the work was done to pay. Moreover, the office would not provide us with a detailed statement of what our payment covered, only the credit card receipt. Their excuse was the doctor, who was out of town, has to approve the wording that appears on the statement. I told them I would be discussing it with the insurance company so they would know the terminology and it did not need to be translated into layman's terms. Still, she said, office policy prohibited her from giving me a statement breaking down the services which they were happy to bill for, now paid in full and had yet to even perform! I can't help but feel like we were bullied by an office policy that has a complete disregard for the patient's ability to make informed and educated decisions in regards to their own medical care. I don't appreciate being treated like I'm am idiot, wasting your time, asking something unreasonable. We'll be looking for a new dentist... read more

This practice is a poor choice for parents/caregivers. My baby was sick so I had to stay home from work with her. I called to reschedule my dental appointment because I had to take care of my daughter. I was told there would be a $50 cancellation fee or bring your sick baby into the office and an assistant will take care of her during your appointment. So my choice was a $50 fee to reschedule or drag my sick baby to their office. I brought my baby downtown to the appointment and was told "Sorry for this misunderstanding but no one is available to babysit while you get a filling. Please reschedule your appointment- we won't charge a cancellation fee." Empathy or common sense during my initial attempt to reschedule would have made a huge difference in this situation. I will not be going back and will advise others to choose a different dental practice. read more

I've been a patient for 5 years now. My old dentist, who took great care of me, quit after her maternity leave and she was replaced with a male dentist. He spent too little on patients and is always in a rush. I typically have dental cleaning done annually. When I called to schedule one this year, the receptionist told me that I had owed them money for the services from last year. We're talking about ONE YEAR LATER. They had all these times to notify me of the outstanding balance but ignored it. Frankly, this doesn't sound right! NOTE: I'm still giving them 3 stars for my old dentist Dr. Funderburk. read more

I feel silly leaving another 5 star review, but if you're a skeptic like I am, you always need tons of reassurance. Let me just start by saying I think the vast majority of dentists are pretty shifty. Cynical, I know, but I've had way too many experiences with some dentists saying I need certain work, and then getting a second opinion which gives a MUCH less expensive option. So maybe not always active scamming, but just incompetence? Anyway, Downtown Dental is as far from those shady practices as possible. Dr. Funderburk told me exactly how much any procedure would cost and didn't pressure me at all to have any of them. Moreover, when my insurance wouldn't cover a set of full x-rays, Dr. Funderburk said they would only bill what was covered. Also, I was ready and willing to shell out major $$ for a custom mouth guard for my night grinding, but Dr. Funderburk told me the [much] cheaper ones at the drug store work just as well. Great actual dentistry, wonderful personalities, and overall respect and honesty...what more can you ask for from a dentist? Wheelchair Accessibility review: Totally accessible from the front door (downstairs has push button and elevator, office door has no push button, but opens inward easily). I transfer from my chair to the dental chair and leave my chair in the hallway out the open door of the procedure room. Easy! I'm unsure if there are any different accommodations for those who couldn't transfer easily. read more

Absolutely love downtown dental! I've seen Dr. Borga, Dr. Kim, a handful of different hygienist and dental assistants. Everyone is fantastic! Very friendly staff, including the staff at the front desk. The txt function to remind me of appointments and do small things like update insurance is really convenient. Overall, I'd highly recommend Downtown Dental to anyone that asked. read more

Downtown Dental is conveniently located in the Chicago Loop. The office is currently under construction, however the temporary check-in process was seamless. I have lived in Chicago for 7 years and have gone to DD every year. I have never had a bad experience at this office and I have recommended this dental office to 4-5 of my friends who have moved to the city. The staff is professional and friendly, punctual, and informative. Meghan O has been my hygienist as long as I can remember and she is very personable, knowledgeable, and efficient. I was in and out of their offices in 30 minutes for my last appointment. Thank you, Meghan! The office has a number of dentists which makes their calendar flexible for the patients. I have been seeing Dr. Petitjhon and he is great. I would recommend Dr. Petitjhon and Downtown Dental if you are looking for a dentist in Chicago! read more

I left Chicago over a year ago and was remiss in not posting a review of Downtown Dental sooner. While in the windy city, I was a patient at this dental office for a number of years. Regarding the friendliness and professionalism of Dr. Patel and all the doctors at the practice, I have nothing but compliments for this office. Just a few of the reasons to visit Downtown Dental: - convenient downtown office. - ease of making appointments. - minimal wait in the office for your appointment. - friendly and professional staff and hygienists. - the office provides a wide variety of dental services, so you don't need to go to another office for more advanced treatment. - They use digital x-rays. This both improves the quality of the image and greatly reduces the amount of radiation exposure to the patient. - if you need a dental implant, the periodontist Dr. Kim is awesome and makes it virtually pain-free. - knowledge of insurance and flex-spending accounts. My two complaints about the practice are, 1) The level of the care spoils you, and when you move to the east coast you are disappointed that your new dentist office isn't as good, and 2) Downtown Dental's website does not reflect the quality of the office. Please Dr. Patel, update your site to match the caliber of your dental services. read more

I've been going to Downtown Dental for a couple years now and I noticed a particularly negative review that I wholeheartedly disagree with, so I wanted to chime in. A reviewer made some comments that Dr. Patel is "shady" and that Dr. Patel gave him dental advice with a goal of only making the office more money. I couldn't possibly disagree more and have had quite the opposite experience. I went to Dr. Patel with a lot of dental issues due to a particular condition that I had. My mouth was in seriously bad shape. Dr. Patel worked with me slowly, explaining each option I had for the next step in getting me to a stable place. He would explain what cost more, how much insurance would or wouldn't assist with each option and if he believed the more expensive option was worth it and why or why not. I always felt fully informed. I also have a problem grinding my teeth and so I assumed I needed Dr. Patel to order a night guard for me. Instead of taking advantage of this opportunity to "pad his pockets" as the other reviewer stated, he encouraged me to try buying one from my drugstore to see if that option works for me ($20) rather than spending the money on buying one through him (a couple hundred dollars). I also want to say that my husband tried a different dentist when we first moved to Chicago and on his first visit was told he needed a lot of work done - a root canal, and quite a few fillings. I was skeptical and asked my husband to see Dr. Patel. Dr. Patel did the x-rays and exam and found nothing of the sort. Anyway, it upset me to see that kind of review as Dr. Patel and his office have always been so kind to me. For example, I needed a wisdom tooth removed and Dr. Patel referred me to a specialist. There were some complications during the procedure and when I got home I felt a little scared. I called Dr. Patel as I felt more comfortable talking to him and he immediately called the specialist, got all my details and called me back to go over everything. He called me again that evening personally to check on me. He was very caring. I refer everyone who asks me to Downtown Dental and I think you'll find they are really nice and talented people. Thanks. read more

I am usually too lazy to write a review but I had to inform you all. This office is amazing. #1-3 (customer service ) #4-5 (Prices-Dr. Shoening ) 1. There is no waiting time. You are promptly to your service 2. I observed that everyone that was getting work done or everyone that was in the waiting room were not newcomers and their office were pretty full and everyone was happy. With that much traffic and services to complete?. Time is not wasted here! and bad customer service is not accepted. Office is Thorough and efficient 3. The views?!?!!! Yes views, lol the Office is immaculate and whoever the owner is is extremely customer oriented. You can tell he thought about you in the chair getting drilled on :) just look out the window and relax 4. Dr. Shoening. Awesome bedside manners! VERY informative AND!!!!!! Their prices are reasonable for a downtown office. Quality Dr's giving quality care. 5. My dentist before he gave me some out rages estimates about work that I needed done. dr. Shoeing looked at my x-rays and gave me a complete different perspective. He said Unnecessary procedures are unnecessary treatments. the most that we need to do at bare minimum is XY and Z. He wasn't interested in digging in my coin purse. He gave me an informed and detailed cost list of everything that I needed done . made sure I understood everything that I was paying for as listed . I hate that I didn't find him sooner. I'm definitely coming back and you should try him out! read more

I have been a patient for over 7 years and used to receive high quality care. Although the hygienists and doctors are still incredibly competent, the office in the loop itself is run very poorly. On more than one occasion in the last month I received phone calls from Downtown Dental about my insurance being an HMO (I have a PPO), it not being accepted, and my estimated charges being completely incorrect or changing drastically. My insurance provider has not changed in the last 5 years. I asked them to bill my insurance or provide me with a print out, and the office manager was incredibly condescending and rude. She stated that "you wouldn't go to a hairdresser and not pay up front." Although, in healthcare, one bills the insurance and the patient covers the remaining portion, which I have done over the last 7 years. So we are just supposed to trust their "estimates" and pay up front when they have continuously made billing mistakes? I would not recommend this office to anyone. read more

I just got back from these guys, which just so happens to be very conveniently located by my place of employment. This was one of the least painful, efficient and comfortable dentist visits I've ever had in Chicago. I'm definitely going to be using these guys moving forward. The staff was very courteous and professional. The office is massive with a really good layout to facilitate easy entry, checkout and departure. My hygienist was very conversational and explained everything clearly. Dr. Patel was extremely thorough and clear on what he was doing every step of the way. I recommend doing the paper work on the website before coming in if you're a first timer like myself; It really expedites the process. read more

Actually long over due review since the service was last year. I just remembered to write a review since I was writing for another place so here goes. This is for Dr. Kim. I remembered researching for a surgeon and it has been overwhelming especially with the costs. I am glad I came across downtown dental because their mission isn't to overcharge the patient, but to provide a reasonable cost especially when I fall in a low income patient category. Surgeries are expensive, but at least Downtown Dental was reasonable compared to other greedy places. I was worried beginning and after process of the bone graft surgery especially hearing possible failures from research. After my 6 month follow-up, it turned out it was a successful surgery. Dr. Kim is a smart and talented surgeon. Thank you read more

Terrible customer service. Extremely difficult to get appointments. They now charge 50buck if you miss one and refuse to reschedule if you dont pay it over the phone but have no problem letting you wait in the office for 45 minutes when they are running behind. I very sadly have an estimated 5 grand bill of work to do and after part one of the procedure which cost about 500 out of pocket they would not let me pay in 2 equal montly installments with out leaving full credit card on file. I have been going there for three years and have always paid my bills. Needless to say I am taking the rest of my 4K business elsewhere. read more

Sorry, Downtown Dental - I went back to my former dentist in San Diego and realized that they are much more thorough with the cleanings than DD is. Everyone is always pleasant here, but the quality just isn't the best in comparison to other dentists. Dr. Patel was indeed right about my needing a crown on one of my teeth, however, so I don't doubt his skills as a dentist at all, it's just that the cleanings could be more thorough. read more

If loving my dentist is wrong, I don't wanna be right. I've had problem teeth since childhood and I always have cavities. Downtown Dental is quickly fixing that and right now I'm cavity free! I can go on my lunch hour, I never ever have to sit and wait and the dentists and hygienist are the best, I don't know who's screening their staff but they're doing a bang up job. Let me tell ya about my last appointment: Root canal: 35 minutes (including our 5 minute catch-up chat) Crown: 1.25 hrs, but most of that was waiting for the machine to make my crown and the material to cool off enough to put the crown in my mouth. People, seriously, who gets a root canal and perfectly matched crown in 1 appointment that lasts 2hrs, while mostly reading a magazine and chit chatting? Only possible at downtown dental. Not to mention they majorly invest in their equipment and everything is state of the art. I don't care how much i switch my dental insurance, I'm never leaving this dentist. p.s. And you never walk away without knowing exactly what procedures you need and how much they costs. read more

Hello, I am so excited about my experience at Downtown Dental with Dr. Patel that I decided to take the time out to write about this place. Firstly, I am a busy sales rep & never have taken the time to do anything like this before for any company. My case was different than many but I had a large gap in the front of my mouth and another space on the right side that I most desperately needed to close. I am a singer & musician as well and there was no way I could take my promo pictures with my teeth spaced so largely. Dr. Patel consulted me and took his time to insure that I understood all details on what my case would be like. He showed me pictures of similar cases like mine. I begin to become confident that he was the right Dentist to do a cosmetic make over such as this and do it well. He advised that I would have to have a few shots of novacaine to numb me. I immediately begin to tune out because I do not like needles..but I wanted this so bad I went through it. To my surprise there was no pain and handled it like a pro....they had to do surgery to my gumbs which was unexpected and give me dissolvable stitches as well. After all this was done, Dr. Patel was concerned so he scheduled me to come back the next week..everything healed perfectly!! after 2 appointments I now have a perfect smile and there was no pain. Literally I couldnt feel anything during the procedure. He was funny and hilarious! He cracks you up so much by the time you realize it he is done!! I recommend Dr. Patel for anyone who does not like pain because he is very caution and calculating and he consults upfront! Dr. Patel is awesome!!! If you have questions let me know....Oh by the way I had never been to a Dentist prior to Dr. Patel so you can imagine how nervous I was initially....You cant go wrong with the staff here, everyone is truly caring!! read more

I absolutely hate the dentist, but these guys have definitely redeemed their profession! I had a dental emergency in the middle of studying for my board exams and I needed to get my broken filling fixed quickly. I called this place at 8am and luckily I was able to get an appointment the day of! The service here is excellent, the ladies at the front are kind. There is literally a 5 minute wait time when you arrive. Not to mention, the views of downtown Chicago from the dental chair are pretty given that you're expecting to be tortured soon... The best part about this place is that they'll explain to you how much they'll be charging you and your insurance before you do any work, unlike other shady-@$$ dentists (cough my old ones in CA). Dr. Tosiou explained all my options to me before we proceeded which I very much appreciated. My only problem was that she seemed rushed and didn't really want to answer my follow up questions after we finished. Hey, I understand you're running a busy practice but you gotta reassure your patients! Great place, am considering transferring my regular dental check-ups here! read more

Well, despite all the 5 star reviews.... Kidding, this place is awesome. I don't even want to spoil the surprise, but I will - there will be an AWESOME view from your dental chair. Like skylines? Like clean teeth? Go here. I can't say much that everyone hasn't already said -- I had Dr. Patel, and he is just the man. I filled him in on my concerns, and he addressed them in a totally non-consdescding way. We got everything taken care of, and I had no cavities, which was a sweet bonus. Stop drinking pop, people. I guess it was a while since my last visit, but they've essentially got this power washer for your teeth now. It happens before they use the scary scrapey tool. I enjoyed this bad boy. I'd like to start going every 3 months. read more

So I'm pretty much a huge Yelp lurker. I've never written a review but feel my great experience with Dr. Patel was worthy of my very first ever Yelp review. I was enjoying a Trader Joe's mini mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich and bit into one ready to enjoy the minty chocolately goodness when. . CRUNCH! I heard something give out in the back of my jaw. I think I felt a hole in the back of one of my molars. . just like the back chunk of it was missing. I'm a med student and work 80 hour weeks sometimes in the hospital and literally no time. When I called in, his secretary let me speak to Dr. Patel personally and Dr. Patel told me he could fit me in on Friday even though is usually closed for paperwork on Fridays. I showed up and Dr. Patel just gave me a really good vibe from the very beginning being extremely friendly and just like the Yelp reviews said, he cracked jokes the whole time. He started using a tooth video camera device that I heard about on Yelp to show me the tooth that was damaged and explained to me that this was not that big of a problem - like a "crack in a car windshield" that I could take care of this weekend or in several months. Not pushy. Explaining everything carefully. And what blew me away as a med student - is the evidence based patient education that he was engaging in. He showed me an actual picture of my tooth that showed what was damaged and carefully explained the anatomy of the tooth to me and what part had broken off. All of my previous dentists have always been "you have a cavity in a tooth - you need a filling" and sure I probably did need a filling, but seeing an actual picture and knowing exactly what was going on was very comforting to me. I scheduled an appointment for my next day off and he was very up front of what I would owe. And as I left, I asked if I owed him anything for this appointment. He said "Nope. Just a professional courtesy." The cleaning was one of the most intense and thorough cleanings I've ever had. Every past cleaning I've had in the past has been no more than 30 minutes - some being as short as 15 minutes. I was booked with the dental hygienist for a full hour and she worked on my teeth for a good 50 minutes and my teeth felt SO CLEAN. I was impressed by about how she had a college degree in Biology and then she went back for a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene at SIU. I had no idea such a degree existed but the extra education and training she had received were pretty evident. When I complimented Dr. Patel later on the cleaning, he told me he hires dental hygienists by having them clean his own teeth. So with the fixing of the teeth, there was a pretty big hiccup. The x-ray actually showed that the tooth had broken off much deeper than Dr. Patel had originally thought and he gave me some scary news - I may need a root canal but he wouldn't be able to tell until he had started drilling. He was very straightforward with the news and clearly laid out all of the potential scenarios w/ financial costs. Again, he was very good at educating me through the x-rays and about the drilling he would do and why I may need the root canal. I went ahead with it. Alot of people on Yelp mentioned in their reviews I think that they had minimal pain when Dr. Patel administrated the anesthesia. This again was very true. He uses this Lidocaine spray that is MONEY. It basically numbs up the inside of your cheek where the anesthesia needle will be penetrating so you can't really feel the needle. I felt a pinch but it was totally tolerable with the lidocaine spray. I was pretty nervous I was going to need a root canal but at the end of the day, everything worked out - I needed just a filling. Dr. Patel figured out in the middle of the drilling that the reason my tooth had chipped off with part of a filling was because my teeth were misaligned and a sharp corner of a top molar was bearing down on a single point of the bottom molar. He used his drill to even shave down the top molar and part of the bottom molar so that stress point would no longer exist. The neat thing after this whole thing was he showed me a picture of my tooth after it was fixed and also compared it to when it was broken. I asked him to send me these pics over email because I think it's neat to see the difference in the work Dr. Patel did with my tooth and what my past dentist has done. You can notice that the whole center of this molar is this yellow color with a filling material that Dr. Patel told me was acceptable but was not cosmetically appealing as evident from the pic. If you notice the repair on the back of the tooth, it is completely white like a normal tooth. He explained to me that his filling device uses some kind of wavelength technology that can measure the color of your surrounding tooth and adapt the filling color to the hue of your tooth. Blew me away. Anyway, I encourage everybody to check him out - he seriously is the best! read more

What a wonderful break from a bad day! Making a long story short, I searched on yelp for a wonderful dentist, and they seemed to meet my expectations. As a new resident of Chicago, I got a little lost on my way down there. Ended up getting of the bus to hop in a cab, only to realize it was 2 blocks down from where I'd been walking. But was it worth it! The staff here has amazing, no, AMAZEBALLS service! The lady at the front desk stopped me in the middle of my explanation for being late, telling me it was no problem. Before I could even grab a magazine to read in the waiting room, my name was being called to come on back. As I stepped to the side of my room to hang my purse up, I turned around to the outstreched hand of the dentist. At this point, I was honestly thinking maybe I accidently stepped into a Jimmy Johns. Like, they take the phrase "freaky fast" to a WHOLE new level. My teeth are what you would show to group of three year olds to teach them what happenes if you don't treat your teeth great. Seriously. I'm 24 years old and have had more root canals then birthdays. So usually I'm a tad bit apprehensive around dentist. But Dr. Ken (I think thats his name) was so effin cool! And not in a condescending way. He explained what was causing my pain, and what needed to be done. Ok, here comes the best part: After submitting my information, I was informed by Dr. Ken that my insurance only covered cleanings and xrays. Which stunned me because it's always covered everything under the sun. But instead of speaking in dentist language and shoving me papers to sign for a payment plan, he told me the upfront cost to just cover the tooth that was causing the pain, and told me to feel free to reschedule whenever worked for me. When I said that their hours may conflict with my schedule, he offered to come in a bit before opening and work with me! (Maybe I should omit that??) I LOVE YOU DOWNTOWN DENTAL! After leaving, I got lost on the bus again, and had to deal with the MEAN bus drivers u guys have in this city! But my experience with DD really made it worth it. read more

I don't usually write reviews, but this time I believe that I should. I had a problem with a tooth, and I was desperately looking for a dentist. I'm really scared of going to any kind of doctor and I was very annoyed that I didn't have any other choice. One of my friends encouraged me to try Downtown Dental, and I am very glad I listened to him. The doctor was incredibly gentile, and I felt no pain whatsoever. He explained me every procedure without losing his patience and I didn't even realize when the whole thing was over.  Even though I haven't been to the dentist for about two years, the doctor didn't try to make me feel bad or mock me. On the contrary, he told me that a lot of people are afraid to go to the dentist, and it is nothing to be ashamed about. While sitting on the chair, you can enjoy a mesmerizing view of the skyline. The office is very spacious and features state-of-the-art equipment. The staff is so warm and friendly, that you feel like everybody there is determined to make you have a great experience, even though you are at the dentist. read more

I am rewriting the 5-star review I posted two years ago because unfortunately my experience has changed at Downtown Dental. I used to think Downtown Dental was not just a profit center like many other dentist offices. I felt like they were honest and caring about their patients, it seemed as though the dentists didn't have revenue quotas to hit each month and in general I felt safe and secure with them. Unfortunately, after four years at Downtown Dental, I watched everything change over the past year. They went through a large office renovation, but with that came a whole new approach to doing business and I could feel it almost instantly. The dentist said I had a cavity and then when he went to fill it a few weeks later, he had a hard time finding the tooth with the "cavity." My favorite hygienist left and I'm quite sure she was being pressured to sell and wasn't happy with the way Downtown Dental was now running their business. I really believed this place was different but it recently changed into a place where I no longer feel comfortable taking my business. Beware of Downtown Dental, I no longer believe they have your best of intentions in mind. read more

Please note that payment is due up front! Once you are quoted a price, after the insurance breakdown, you are expected to pay that sum at that time. I am not sure if there is a payment plan in place. Call beforehand, to see if there is one, just in case you need some serious work done (e.g. a bridge, filling, crown etc). read more

Say Cheese (and die! ...) because Downtown Dental is awesome! Boys and girls, don't be like me and wait an entire year between visits just because you don't like your current dental hygienist. Find a new one! I went through my insurance and looked for a bunch of dentists in my Delta Dental PPO network. Downtown Dental seemed to have a lot of positive yelp reviews, so that's the one I went with. The way this particular office is set up is for maximum efficiency. Being a dental office located in the loop, I guess they figured most of their clientele would be workin' folk, getting check ups and cleanings during their lunch breaks. There were about 5 dentists chairs, all lined up in a narrow hall with little dividers separating each patient. It was like some sort of crazy dentist assembly line, But each person got their own assistant and dentist, so it wasn't totally impersonal. I got x-rays, a check up/cleaning, and a fluoride treatment in under 50 minutes! No waiting, no hassle ... just wham! bam! thank you ma'am! I'm totally coming back here again in 6 months :D read more

I've been going to Dr. Patel at DD for almost ten years and can't believe I'm just doing this, because the Doc and his staff are the best! I found Dr. Patel through a friend after being taken to the cleaners by another practice (that shall go nameless, but only because they are no longer in business). I had a number of unnecessary procedures and paid a lot of money for nothing and was pretty down on dentists, but a friend steered me to DD and I've been more than happy ever since. Dr. Patel always explains everything in plain language, suggests the procedure that get you the results you want and need. I just completed treatment for some overcrowding and gaps with Invisalign and I couldn't (yet again) be happier. I've had a number of friends who have done Invisalign with other dentists and walked away unhappy because they didn't get the results they were verbally promised yet paid a lot of money for. FYI people, if the dentist doesn't show you the final Invisalign video with the results they promise and you want and your braces don't have the Invisalign logo on them get up and get out. They are taking you to the cleaners. Not my experience, of course, with the good Dr. Patel at DD. He is hands down the best dentist ever and I now have a smile I'm very happy to show off around town. If you need to see a dentist, he and Downtown Dental is the place to go. Make your appointment NOW! read more

OK, this may be a jerk move - but I can't justify giving a dentist 5 stars. I mean, it's the dentist. As awesome as they may be, they are still drilling, poking and yanking where you might not want it. So I'm a fan, but nothing about the dentist is as good as it gets. Am I wrong? :) But Dr. Patel and Dr. Funderburk at Downtown Dental have been as fantastic as I could ask for. Shout-out to my friend Beth M. and her husband for the recommendation. 2009 was an ugly year for my teeth - like most anyone else going to the dentist regularly for me was like pulling teeth..uhh huhuhuh - and by last year it showed. So it was time to get back on the horse and get stuff taken care of. Dr. Patel seems to know what he's doing and he's not afraid to put a little swagger behind his work. ("wow, that's the best crown I've ever done....look at this thing Sean...*pulls out the mirror*...isn't that amazing?") But he can back it up. Then with some fillings came Dr. Funderburk. She is super nice and not so bad on the eyes either. I think she's married though guys, sorry. I'm probably being redundant here amongst all the other reviews, but in addition to the chair-side manner, the fact that they are upfront about costs and what your insurance will and won't take care of is something I just don't remember other dentists doing. So a big thumbs up for that. Cause some days you can only afford one filling instead of 2. Now my mouth is happy and I will go here regularly. I promise. read more

In the past week I've had a root canal done on two teeth, had them capped with crowns, and I can easily say it's been a better experience than even the smallest fillings at other dentists. Downtown Dental is just full of quality employees and somehow they always find the time to have their customers in within the week, even for the more complex procedures. The office is incredibly clean with an excellent view to boot and the dentists know how to keep you comfortable, I've experienced no pain whatsoever with them so far and don't expect this to change. read more

The worse. Subpar cleaning...the office needs a makeover. Staff states when I came back after feeling like my filling was extremely sensitive and I quote, "most people don't come back". 2 stars because the filling turned out to be okay after three months of pain however, the dentist were nice but not honest about your oral health and pushed in the direction of 5,000 dollar Invisaligns. Negating the fact that the sensitizing fluoride toothpaste prescribed was causing my teeth to change in color and that I needed to floss more and use a certain mouthwash... But hey?! What are dentist for right?? Needless to say, save your insurance and go to Dentology. read more

Best dentist office in Chicago- or one of the best since I haven't tried any other but conveniently located in the Loop next to Jeweler's Row in the 25 E Washington Building- it's easy to get to. They pick up your phone calls, get back to you with information regarding your insurance and estimate costs or other questions quickly and via email, and are HONEST- which is what I am always looking for when it comes to our health. Also, I have never waited more than a minute or two for my name to be called in and to get started on and I've been there three times. I have been in twice for cleaning. I had the same hygienist twice which I thought was great and she was friendly, took her time, and gave great suggestions as my teeth are sensitive. I also consulted with the doctor about a cosmetic procedure I was interested in and he wrote back a detailed email advising why I shouldn't go through with it putting in his knowledge and care. I appreciated that they listen there and they don't push you for procedures even if they suggest them. As long as I'm living in Chicago I'm going to be a patient at Downtown Dental. read more

Like everyone, I have some weird fears. Among them, clowns, sitting on something nasty on the Blue Line, being chased in the woods and of course, being served an old vinegar-tasting class of Cabernet. I also used to fear visiting the dentist, but that was before I started going to Downtown Dental. I'm not going to lie ... it IS as good as the reviews say. I've never had to wait for an appointment. The staff is incredibly friendly and educational. I walk out of there with lovely clean teeth and look forward to my next cleaning. If you are looking for a great dentist in the loop, I highly recommend you to go Downtown Dental! read more

Long story short, Dr Patel at Downtown Dental turned a horrible experience into a great one. I went to another practice and had the root canal from hell and literally showed up DD in tears. Dr Patel took me at a time they normally don't take patients and searched around to find an endodontist that could complete the root canal on the spot. I would not have gotten through such a horrible experience without Dr Patel. Highly recommended! read more

I'm scared of going to the dentist. Petrified. I'd rather go anywhere but the dentist. And for this reason, I hadn't gone in 2 years. Since I was having some sensitivity on one of my teeth, I decided I'd better buck up and find a new dentist. Based on all the positive Yelp reviews (and the fact that he was in my network), I made an appointment with Dr. Patel. I arrived to my first appointment 5 minutes early and sat in the waiting room prepared to be reprimanded for not going to the dentist for 2 years and told that I need some ridiculously expensive procedure to make my tooth sensitivity to go away. I got neither. The dentist, Jamie, was super friendly (in a very genuine way), and throughout my cleaning, she kept asking if I was comfortable and if I had any questions. Dr. Patel was really nice and took time to explain things and answer my questions. He told me that my tooth sensitivity was minor and they would just keep an eye on it. I'm not scared of the dentist anymore, and I plan on recommending Dr. Patel to anyone who's shopping for a dentist. read more

I was wondering to myself what Downtown Dental can do to make themselves any better. The only thing I can think of is to invent a drill that doesn't sound like a drill. I mean, wouldn't that be awesome? It had been YEARS since I had gone to the dentist. I had been going every 6 months, then all of a sudden I just started putting it off, and putting it off. When I finally went in for a cleaning, Barb fixed me right up. She was so quick and gentle and the cleaning wasn't even uncomfortable! Not even the flossing! The bad news is that I needed a root canal. I was so sad and scared. The staff eased my mind and the doctor provided me with a breakdown of all the costs with my insurance and what to expect from the procedure. Dr Kunath performed my root canal. NOTHING hurt! The only thing I felt was the third numbing shot which took place on the roof of my mouth. And by "felt," I mean it was a tiny pinch. He was so gentle and caring and made the experience as pleasant as it could have been! Again, just invent a silent drill and I'd be asking to get root canals on all of my teeth :) He must have done such an amazing job because I had no pain or discomfort once the numbing wore off. Crown goes on next week and then I get to move on with my life...but with regular cleanings of course. If you're looking for a dentist, look no further. Great location, friendly staff, and amazing hygienists/doctors ! read more

It's tough to explain how much I've been through with dentists without cursing or getting really upset. With Dr. Patel and his crew, you get none of that. He's honest and very, very, thorough plus it's not just him; it's his entire staff. They always start your appointments on time, the office remolded just looks awesome and they always explain what they're going to do to you and are very caring while you're going through it. I needed a lot of work done (over 10G's) and at the time I really couldn't afford it, instead of talking to him about it because I was kind of embarrassed I decided to go to someone I knew and thought was good in another state; big mistake, HUGE! Less than 3 months after getting my work done from her I was in Dr. P's office getting it corrected. He wasn't judgmental or anything. As a matter of fact, I think he felt bad for me. He told me what needed to be done and I left the office. I called the family friend and went crazy because I needed more work done and my insurance was already maxed out for the year. She told me I didn't need all that Dr. P said, do one procedure, come back to her in a few weeks and she would fix the rest. I decided to keep my appointment with Dr. P and told him what the other doctor said. Again, he took the time to explain to me what he thought was right. I didn't know what to do, I was getting fed one thing from a "family friend" who I a, supposed to trust and another from him. If I were him I would have thrown me out of his office, I was so conflicted. Then while sitting in his chair, I took a look in the mirror, saw how terrible I looked and realized I was going with Dr. P because you really can't get much better than him and look what happened the last time I listened to someone else. If you can't afford it, talk to him. I'm sure he and the fine ladies at the front desk will figure something out for you. You need your teeth and it's not worth going through hell, time and time again if you get it done right the first time. I am sorry I was a pain Dr. P and it will never happen again. I am your loyal patient from now on and I pray others will be as well after reading this! read more

Things I expect from a dentist office: -Dentist to be knowledgeable and friendly -Hygienists to be happy and competent -Dentist & hygienists to inform me when my insurance will not cover something -Convenient location -Office to call me when it is time for me to make an appointment Is this demanding of me? Perhaps. Is this impossible? No, especially after finding Downtown Dental. This was my first time there and everything went smoothly--my search for a good dentist in Chicago has come to an end. I was all over them about whether my insurance covered certain things and they could answer me with exact prices, which were reasonable. Fluoride, for example, is around $25 here, which seems to be cheaper than other offices. Monica, my hygienist, was wonderful as was Dr. Patel. My teeth feel so clean today and I am a happy patient. read more

Not a fan of the surprise $10 COVID PPE fee that's not incorporated into what's paid by insurance. PPE does not cost $10 per person.

Kudos to Downtown Dental for it's friendly staff, clean atmosphere, and throrough exams. Dr. Patel's personality goes a long way, his assessments are genuine, and he doesn't try to force feed you suggestions or recommendations. He tells you like it is, what you need to do, and leaves it up to you. That's a refreshing contrast compared to other dentists I used to visit. One of his assistants, (whose name i shall refrain from mentioning) was fake as hell when it came to her small talk. As she was cleaning my teeth and giving me x-rays n whatnot, she was asking all sorts of small talk questions: what do i do? am i single? what area do i live in? my favorite restaurants? this, that, & the other. me being who i am, started asking her the same questions, and one of the answers she gave me was, "That's personal...." um, excuse me?? YOU JUST ASKED ME THAT SAME QUESTION 2MINS AGO... How rude... Makes one think the so-called "friendly personalities" here are staged... My teeth look AMAZING in the mirror tho.........wow, look at that glow... *squeaky-squeaky* read more

I've had my crowns in for a while now, and they look and feel just like my real teeth (except not broken and unable to feel pain, of course). In fact, Dr. Tosiou pointed out to me that she could order the crowns for my fractured upper incisors without the gap between them that had always been a source of frustration when eating corn on the cob, and that this would incur no extra cost. So now my teeth are even better than they were before their unscheduled introduction to the surface of the Lakefront Trail. These folks continue to be thorough, professional, and skilled. read more

I'm only giving 4 because I want to save the other for after I get the rest of my work done :-) They deserve 5 though. I have only gone to the dentist three times in my life, at 12, 29 and 30. The first time was so traumatic that it made me scared of dentists. I got fillings that time and the anesthesia didn't work... yeah. So imagine getting fillings in like 8 teeth with no anesthesia. So, after 17 years I went to a dentist (not Downtown Dental) and found that of course I needed some work done. Aside from the teeth cleaning I needed to get a root canal and 4 wisdom teeth pulled out. I went to Downtown Dental because of the reviews here on Yelp and I am very impressed with how quickly they did the work and most importantly for me, that there was NO PAIN! I got a teeth cleaning and Barb was great and very gentle. I didn't even want to eat for the longest not to mess up her work. Dr. Ami Vaidya was also very candid and patient with my fear of pain. She helped me set up the follow up appointment for my root canal the next day. Dr. Eric Kunath may have single-handedly dispelled my fear of pain when at the dentist, because the root canal did not hurt one bit. After my horrid experience at 12 and all the bad stories one hears about root canals I was really expecting the worse. NO freakin' PAIN! (besides the needle for the anesthesia). Everyone there is so freakin' friendly and make the going-to-the-dentist experience so much less stressful. I even thought they probably pop pills because I think it is strange to be so friendly all the time :-) From the receptionist to the...well whoever is the big shot there :-) Thank you! I highly recommend this place and only gave 4 stars cos I don't want them to get spoiled :-) read more

This is a great location, professional atmosphere, close to the El, very friendly staff and honest/personable dentists. I went here for a second opinion on a crown and possible root canal. My last dentist said that there was a cavity near a nerve and they were pushing me to get the work done. I brought my X-Rays from there and they took additional X-Rays here. Dr. Patel looked at all of them and straight up said he did not see any cavities and that even if he had, a good dentist will try to save the tooth first by trying to fill the cavity and then going from there, not going right to a crown and possibly a root canal. Yikes! Needless to say my tooth (which is perfectly fine) is intact and I'll be going here for my future dental needs. read more