The best dentist I ever had. Sensitive to my fear of needles and warm. Very knowledgeable. Love her!

Not going to lie it has been some years since I've been to see a dentist And because of that I expected a visit to the dentist to be full of recommended procedures that would cost me thousands of dollars. The assistant dentist and Hala herself were both very friendly and honest. I didn't feel lied to or pressured to do anything I didn't want to do. With a thorough exam and cleaning I was surprised to hear that my teeth were in overall healthy condition with improvement in basic cleaning suggested. I have Cigna and it covered my cost after filling out my new patient paperwork and was entered to win a monthly prize, awesome! I was living in China so I use that as my excuse for not seeing a dentist . After moving back home I have found my preferred dentist! The area was relatively small with only about 3 seats for patients which I loved! Because you have more attention and then again I was the first patient of the day at 8:00am so that was nice! read more

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Excellent dentist, ethical. She even fought for my horrible crown and fillings from a quack dentist and got money back for me so we can redo the work. She never charges more than she needs to and makes sure you get the quality work. read more

There is no dentist, in my mind, better than Dr. Hala. I had a poor dentist as a child in the 40s and self care not heavily stressed. Since my early 20s I have on the east coast, gone to Tufts graduates, and on the west coast, which is really my home, SC graduates. Unfortunately, i have been in the dentist's chair a lot, because of many conditions, i.e., car accidents, cavities, normal stuff, and not normal stuff. Dr. Hala is the very best. She is first of all sterling, and beyond excellence in knowledge and education to the patient of their conditions. Secondly, she is caring beyond measure and highly ethical and she goes to the nth degree to solve dental issues. I love her very much. She is a light in my often times tunnel! and she is infinitely patient and kind. What more could one want? read more

Hala Al-Tarifi, DDS - I smile well because of Dr. Hala! - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Dr. Hala Al-Tarifi is an incredibly kind and compassionate dentist who really cares about her patients. When I went in, I had her undivided attention from start to finish; she carried out the entire dental visit herself from the dental x-rays to the cleaning. My dental cleaning experience was so pleasant I can't recommend Dr. Hala Al-Tarifi enough!! read more

I ran into Dr Hala at an event on a Friday evening. I just happened to chip my front tooth earlier that day while eating almonds. She insisted that I come into her office the next morning - a Saturday - to have my tooth fixed. While there, in addition to miraculously repairing my tooth, she noticed that that my bite was off due to grinding my teeth at night. She had me fitted for a retainer. After a short time, my grinding halted, my teeth aligned, and I am enjoying life now more than ever. I now see her for my regular cleanings. Thank you, Dr. Hala, for all you do. read more

All the other 5 star reviews here are accurate! Dr. Hala is kind, gentle, considerate, and extremely knowledgeable. She took a clear and genuine interest in not only my dental health but in my overall well being. Highly recommended. read more

Dr. Al-Tarifi is a TERRIFIC person. It was my first time with her, and I knew right away she's special. She's an artist and a dental care provider. She's swift and precise with her tools, and she applies a lot of artistry in her work. I came away from office having a significantly better smile. I know I don't have a lot of reviews; so you may not want to listen to this review. But see for yourself, and try her out, I don't think you'd be disappointed. read more

Dr. Hala is pretty terrific. She has always been there when we needed her. My daughter fell face first into a curb at Disneyland as we were leaving. It was way after 8 pm, I was just trying to leave her a message to call me in the morning, and she ANSWERED her phone. She told us to come in first thing the next morning. This type of personal attention is not common. At least not for me. I even had a problem recently and she had me come in on a Sunday, so I would not be in pain for my trip, we were leaving Monday morning. Who does that nowadays?? Dr. Hala, that's who. Heidi and Isabel, have always been AMAZING too! read more

Dr. Hala is very sweet and gentle, it's clear she cares deeply about her patients and prioritizes their comfort above all else. Went in for a cleaning and came out feeling refreshed! read more

Dr. Hala Al-Tarifi is the most thorough dentist I've ever been to. The initial office visit was about an hour and a half. All of that time was spent with Dr. Al-Tarifi, except for the taking of x-rays and the usual teeth polishing, which was done by her dental hygienist. Because of her thoroughness and time spent closely examining me, she made some astounding conclusions. She correctly deduced which side of my teeth I brush first, and which side I sleep on. Dr. Al-Tarifi cleaned every tooth, front and back, checked the gum around every tooth, checked the roof of my mouth and tongue, went over what she noticed in every single x-ray with me (I probably grind/clench my teeth at night) and took some normal photographs of my teeth to point various things out to me. Having every tooth cleaned with the metal pick wasn't comfortable, but it speaks to her thoroughness. I like thoroughness because it seems like the best prevention to me. She also spends a lot of time keeping you informed of what she's doing and why she's doing it. She wants to educate you about what's going on in your mouth. For example, using a mirror, she and her hygienist showed me how to floss and brush properly. It sounds ridiculous, but I've been brushing and flossing wrong for my whole life. Don't get me wrong, I've gone to a dentist every 6 months for my whole life and never had a cavity, but no one has ever showed me the proper technique before. read more

Dr. Hala is the best dentist I have ever had. Today's visit was another example of how thoughtful of a dentist she is. First of all, her office is now open with careful COVID-19 precautions in place. She tries to see only one patient at a time to minimize exposure. You will fill out a screening questionnaire and have your temperature checked. The office is very clean, everyone uses PPE (she even gives you a mask to cover your nose and eyes while your teeth are being cleaned), and the sanitation wipes/hand sanitizers are all medical grade. I went to see her today for my general cleaning as well as to treat a problem tooth that has had some complications after I had a root canal many years ago. That tooth is beginning to yellow significantly, look unhealthy, and even chip away due to my teeth grinding issues. She immediately assessed it with xrays and did an in-office veneer/filling that looks incredible. I am now able to smile normally without feeling a pang of self-consciousness. She was able to recite what my expected copay will be based on my insurance. She then proceeded to do my entire dental cleaning herself. Other than her obvious competence in dental work, it's the personal touches that also keep me coming back to her. When she picks up the phone, she always knows immediately who I am, inquires about my work/health, and can already guess what my main concerns are about my teeth. She gives a goodie bag of useful dental tools every time (toothbrush, floss, chapstick, tongue scraper, toothpaste in a waterproof bag) and today even gifted me a fabric face mask. Her office's ancillary staff and dental hygienists are always friendly and thorough. Thank you, Dr. Hala! read more

4 years after my first review and I cannot express how great Dr. Hala is, she is so knowledgeable and gentle. She kept checking in with me to make sure I wasn't feeling any discomfort. If you know anyone with fears of going to the dentist, send them to Dr. Hala, she is magic! read more

I've been seeing Dr Hala for about 2 years. It started out pretty good. I like her staff and I like the proximity to my house. That's why I decided to leave my old dentist. But Dr Hala talks to me like an obnoxious Jewish mother. Ironic, since she's Palestinian. If you want to feel belittled and inadequate, like you can never do anything right--and not just teeth-wise--go to this Dr. I'm fed up with her. I want everyone to know. On my last visit, her first comment was on the size of my belly. Thanks. Then, I was told (again) that I didn't know how to brush properly. Or scrape my tongue properly. Or floss properly. Okay. I get it. I'm a worthless, incompetent, disgusting middle aged man with a fat stomach and no personal hygiene skills. Thanks. It went on from there. The coup de grace was her comment that I was a "mouth breather." Thank you very much. My nasal passages are blocked right now from allergies, for God's sake! This from a woman who seems to be wedded to so many crazy theories about nutrition and health that I've lost count. I think she's a lifelong member of the Weston Price institute. On my last visit, she suggested I do surgery to have my gum line moved up. Along with an insult about my smile and size of my teeth, of course. I've been to dozens of dentists in my life. No other dentist has suggested I need this procedure. It's merely cosmetic. But she tried to sell it as also preventative. I've never felt so consistently insulted by a dentist. Never. And I've lost any confidence I had in the reliability of her dental advice because of a number of bizarre theories and claims she'd made which I don't have the time to catalog here. Trust me. I can only imagine how she treats her poor staff. Who are very nice. read more

If you are looking for a high quality dentist that cares about your smile and overall health, then this is the place for you. Dr. Hala has been amazing, caring, thorough, and most importantly transparent with me. She is really good at what she does, and the staff are AWESOME! Heidi and Isabel have always taken care of me. They send me reminders through text to confirm my appointment (which is amazing!) because I am usually at work or at school. They work with my schedule! The cleanings are thorough. I got clear braces and I get compliments because you can't tell I have them. ( I've had them since October and I am almost done!) The location is so pretty and the office is welcoming. I recommend this place in a heart beat! Specially if your looking for consistency :) Procedures Done: Braces Retainer Cleaning Teeth whitening + plus more read more

I've been through several dentists. Some have fancy offices with inflated prices to pay off their offices, others tell you that you need services that you don't really need, others just care about their money and not so much about their patients. Dr. Al-Tarifi was referred to me by a friend. I am very glad I gave her a try. I drive an hour just to see her. She's very caring, no fanfare, no exaggerated services, very reasonable fares. She treats her patients' overall health, not just dental needs. She asks about your general health and gives you tons of natural remedies for your ailments. read more

Dr. Al-Tarifi has been our family dentist for quite a few years. What I like the best is that my kids have no issues with going to the dentist. They actually enjoy it. They are open on Saturdays about once a month and their last appointment during the week is at 5 which is great for me since I work so much. She has a nice clean and comfortable office. The equipment is modern and the staff are aways very nice. If you are looking for a dentist in the South Pasadena area give her a try. I previously took my son to another dentist and he could not recognize the limits of what my son could endure and made him cry by trying to do to much and taking so long. Dr. Al-Tarifi has a keen sense about her patients and cares about them. She has even had me come back because she could see my eyes were red and I looked exhausted from work. She was right, I really did not want to be at the dentist that day. Highly recommend. read more

If you're looking for genuine people with a passion in their profession, then this place is the best! Dr. Hala and her assistant Alexis are very kind hearted young ladies that make me feel like I'm in the comfort of my own home with every visit. I hope you consider making Dr. Hala your primary Dentist like I did because I look forward to seeing what my new smile will bring going into a new year! read more

Last week was my first visit at Dr. Hala Al- Tarifi's office and I was amazed at how kind and comforting she and her staff are. The Dentist isn't everyone's favorite place to visit but the overall welcoming and warmness this office provides is outstanding. Dr Tarifi was sitting at the front counter when I walked in and introduced herself to me. Her staff was just as welcoming and each introduced them selves to me before starting any procedures. They are all very knowledgeable and very approachable. I'm glad I found this office! read more

I've had a lot of bad experiences with my previous dentist . So I just chose not to go at all . Eventually, I needed work done on my teeth so I came into the office of Dr Hala. I was pretty nervous about going to the dentist , I used to get anxiety just thinking about it because of my past experiences . When I walked in , Dr Hala and the staff were very welcoming . I had my X Rays and Dr Hala and the staff explained what they found and what they wanted to do moving forward . 2 years later , my teeth have definitely improved in so many ways . I've had a lot of work done and it was actually very pleasant . I enjoy going to the dentist now and I will continue to go here because I feel comfortable and I really enjoy the staff . I'm very pleased by the services provided and I really appropriate the generosity and the care that they show to their patients . Thank you guys for all the work you do . Thank you for making me feel comfortable and for making a huge difference . read more

Dr. Hala and her female staff are friendly and professional. They were welcoming to me and anyone can tell they work well together. I don't enjoy going to the dentist but tomorrow will mark my third visit at the office in the past three weeks. There are two patient rooms, each with windows and so that eases off the nerves. In my first visit, I had my x-rays done, cleaning, and wisdom tooth extraction. After I left, Dr. Hala contacted me if the gum of my extraction was healing ok. It was pretty nice of her to check in. My insurance covered 90% of the wisdom extraction so it came out to be around $10. In my second visit, I had 3 fillings that needed repairing and another wisdom extraction. Dr. Hala would warn me each time when pain might occur so I could be prepared and would ask me if I was alright. Some of what she did didn't hurt me at all, but maybe it's different for people. My fillings have a good thick layer and so I doubt they will be chipped anymore. I was in very good hands. The staff broke down the costs before each dental work. I like how they made me feel that it's my decision to choose what to work on first. I reccommend anyone to make an appointment to see Dr. Hala. read more

I went and saw Dr. Al-Tarifi a few years ago when I first moved to the area. The staff was very nice and I also felt at ease in the small office. But during my exam the dentist reported I had 7 or 8 cavities and my wife was told she also had 6. We felt this was a little odd since we both had only 1 or 2 cavities between us the few years prior. We got a second opinion at another dentist nearby and I was told I merely had some indentations from grinding my teeth while sleeping. My wife's cavities also miraculously disappeared. I would not recommend this dentist unless you wouldn't mind a few extra holes in your mouth! read more

It's always a treat visiting Dr. Hala's office. She a superb and an intelligent dentist. She's also my husband and my kids dentist. We all drive over an hour to see her and it's worth it. We appreciate her honesty and integrity. Her office staff are always friendly and I love the fact she's always on time. Thank you Dr. Hala for all you do! read more

Dr. Hala and her assistant Isabel are the best! I am so afraid of dentist as I had a really terrorizing experience in the past but they made everything so pleasant and the least painful experience possible that I am never going anywhere else. They put numbing cream before anesthetic and talked me through every step. It's very cozy and nice there. They are honest and even gave me an Advil before I left to keep me from feeling pain. I felt very taken care of and at home with a crew of amazing women who took care of me. Thank you Dr. Hala for the hug and Isabel for loving me back :) read more

Dr. Hala is a wonderful dentist and full of up-to-date knowledge on dentistry. Beyond just being knowledgeable, it's obvious how much she cares about her patients' well-being. She makes you feel welcomed and cared for and is never in a rush. Her staff is extremely warm and friendly as well. I highly recommend Dr. Hala and her team if you have any dentistry needs. read more

Dr. Hala and her staff are very friendly and kind. She is very conscientious about giving you the best results. Every time I come she's excited about the progress of my braces and shows me how much progress has happened. They are very accommodating when I have a need to come in due to my own error of eating something that caused a bracket to break. These last 6 months have been a great experience wth these lovely ladies. read more

I forgot to fill out paperwork online but it wasn't a problem at all when i showed up to do it in person. Dr Hala and her two lovely staff are professional in rendering services. I did like 3 fillings and it only took 30 min ish. What differentiates this office is that it was very quiet and nearly empty when I visited at 430. More importantly the real point is that she spent time showing me before and after pics using a camera into my mouth. Most places don't take extra time explaining why I had pain here or thereor why my teeth are the way they were. She discovered other issues that I did not initially know. This doc is highly thorough with her examination and evaluation prior to engaging in any interventions. Highly recommend a visit. They have a automated texting thing for your appointment and a raffle thing too :) merry Christmas yall :) read more

If you're looking for a new dentist, look no further. Seriously! I put a summary at the top, but if you want to know why I feel this way, please read my story. It may be long winded but I feel its necessary to properly convey just how amazing my experiences with Dr. Hala and her staff have been. Dr. Hala and her staff are courteous, friendly and professional. She is the only dentist in the office, and knows all of her patients very well. I've never had to wait more than 1 minute in the lobby. They give ample appointment notifications (text and calls). Dr. Hala, explains every step and why, so you fully understand what is going on. And most importantly, she puts your best care before anything else. So my story... Having had some horrendous experiences with dentists, I just stopped going and figured I would if ever had an issue. One morning I awoke at 6am with the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. She was suggested to me by a friend who said she's been his family's dentist his entire life and that he would never go to anyone else. So I decided I gave her office a call as soon as they opened. After explaining the situation, they took me immediately. It turns out I had a pretty wicked infection under a shoddy crown molding from one of the formerly mentioned horrendous experiences. She was able to relieve the pressure, clean it, take a cast for a new crown molding, put a temp filling in, and get me a prescription for antibiotics very quickly. Our work wasn't done there though, because I needed a root canal on the tooth. We set an appointment for the next week because it was Friday and I was an unscheduled appt. I felt much better and happily obliged. The next week I came in and we began the procedure, but for some reason I couldn't get numb. I mean I was drooling on myself, but when she went into the canal there was a very sharp pain. She tried giving me some additional anesthesia but the pain was still there. This is when she stopped and said I need to see an Endodontist to complete the procedure. I mention this because I was thoroughly impressed. Instead of pushing on and putting me through misery, she recognized a specialist was needed, called someone she new was great and got me an immediate appointment, and didn't charge me a thing for the visit. This was amazing because she put me first and not trying to make money like some of the dentists I've seen in the past. My endodontist appt went quickly and smoothly and my next visit with Dr Hala, was to put on my new crown molding. Side note, her office with call and text you with appointment reminders which is incredibly helpful if you have a crazy schedule like me. Crown went on perfectly, looks and feels way better than the previous one, and I couldn't be more pleased. Our time together did not end here though because she discovered in my xrays that I had some pretty bad cavities under some other terribly placed fillings, thanks again to the awful dentists of my past. She needed to replace them all (4 in total) otherwise i would end up in there needing a root canal like the previous tooth. We addressed 1 tooth about every other week until all was complete. Everything went great, the fillings aren't trapping food underneath them like they used to and everything was good. My last appointment was for a cleaning, but a few days before my appt, I started having pains in one of the recent fillings. I started freaking out because that cavity was so deep that a root canal was a very real possibility. I called the office to see if they could look at this instead of the cleaning and they said they would do both. It turns out my bite was just hitting a little high, she fixed it in seconds and began the cleaning. The cleaning was even impressive. She took a lot of time to explain and educate me on things I had never known, and even checked my throat, mouth and next for tumors. I've never had a dentist do this. After it was all said and I left, incredibly grateful for everything they've done for me and feeling great. I look forward to coming back 6 months for a routine check up. So in summary, her and her staff are courteous, friendly and professional. She is the only dentist in the office, and knows all of her patients very well. I've never had to wait more than 1 minute in the lobby. They give ample appointment notifications (text and calls). Dr. Hala, explains every step and why, so you fully understand what is going on. And most importantly, she puts your best care before anything else. read more

Dr. Al-Tarifi is not only very knowledgeable but she is also very sweet and generous with her time. On each occasion that I have gone to visit her she has taken the time to not only discuss my oral health but also diet and how the workings of my mouth and jaw play into my general health. I am a competitive cyclist and I was very impressed when she talked to me about how clenching in my sleep affects my posture on my bicycle and thus my performance when racing. Dr. Al-Tarifi is the only dentist that I have ever had that has stood me up out of the dental chair and examined not only my jaw but also my neck, shoulders, and back. I laughed thinking of how I was paying for a dental cleaning and as a bouns getting sports training and a physical for free! She is also the first dentist that has spoken to me at length about diet outside of the normal, "don't eat candy and always brush after eating sugar." We discussed which foods are not only good for your oral health but also those that help improve it. After my first cleaning Dr. A-T and her assistant also took the time to go over the most ideal ways to brush and floss. It was sweet of them to do so despite the fact that I am a grown adult! and show probably have already known better! HAHAHA I realized that after all of these years I really wasn't doing these simple things correctly and that they were contributing to some of the issues that I came into fix. She struck me as not only thorough and precise but also very wise in approaching a person's mouth not just as a thing in and of itself but rather as an integral part of a larger body. Thank you Dr. Al-Tarifi, I don't know if you read these things but I hope your ears are burning. -Esteban read more

Wanted to give an update why I love Dr Al-Tarifi so much. Today I needed to have a root canal, yuck. No one likes to have to go through a root canal procedure but it was painless. The doctor is so compassionate & caring that she makes sure you are comfortable. She uses numbing cream before she give you the shot to numb the area so there is no discomfort. After that I put my headphones on (with my music) and before I knew it I was done. She turned a potentially miserable experience into a painless one. Thank you! read more

Dr Hala and her staff take great care of me and make it simple. It's easy to see that she takes pride in her work and is patient but expertly fast. She and her staff are also very accommodating. I know my review is short, but that's because I have nothing to criticize, you're in good hands here. read more

I had not been to the dentist in quite a while until I finally found Dr. Hala. She is the most amazing dentist! Her staff is so friendly. I had a very difficult time getting to my initial appointment and Dr. Hala accommodated me after I was late. She is very thorough and very knowledgeable. She took her time explaining everything to me. I had never felt so comfortable with a dentist before. I would highly recommend her services to anyone. I can't wait for next appointment. read more

I was having very bad pain on the left side of my mouth, and dr hala was on my insurance list, I called on a Friday and she was able to see me on Saturday which was great! I got there and didn't wait at all. the dental assistant was super nice, she took some ex Rays and even showed me how to properly floss and brush to get my problem areas. Then dr Hala came in and was very knowledgeable, she explained my wisdom tooth needed to come out and other work I need. She made me feel very comfortable!!! Explained everything I possibly needed to know, and then she talked met brought the whole process. I didn't feel any pain! She will definitely be my dentist from now on. Very happy with the whole experience, especially since I try to avoid dentists at all costs. read more

Truly the best dentist I've ever been to. Dr. Hala, Heidi, and Isabel are a great and friendly team, and always easy to talk to.

She is the best!! I highly recommend her!!! she is the best dentist ever!!! She makes you feel very comfortable, I always used to get nervous about going to the dentist, not any more!!! She works great and her whole team is very polite. read more

The entire visit from start to finish was easy and enjoyable. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and went out of their to way to make sure I had a beneficial visit. On top of that, the quality of work was great! They made me feel comfortable the moment I walked through the door til the end of my appointment, despite that being my first time in their office. Overall, this place will provide you with personable, friendly and professional service. read more

I'm a bit of a dentalphobe and Dr. Hala made me feel right at ease from the beginning. The staff is great as well.

I love my dentist! She is knowledgeable, thorough, caring. I actually conquered my fear of dental work (well maybe ). I took my daughter who lives in New York to see her for a problamatic wisdom tooth her dentist was unable to treat (coming in sideways). She was so impressed with her that she will be seeing Dr Hala for dental care fron now on when she comes into town. read more

My dad used to go to dr hala , but recently he cracked one of his tooth while eating . So he decided to go to here. So he goes in and the dentist checks him out and tells him he needs a crown and something related to root canal and the total will cost up to $1500 . And they charged him $75 for inspecting him without even telling him that the first thing . And when he told her oh my I can't afford that she replies with " well you're wasting my time ..... " Are you kidding me .. ? Knowing he can't afford that he returned home disappointed and I told him to try out a different dentist that I've been to , and he did .... Come to find out the dentist I referred him to was surprised to hear he needs a crown and a root canal job he said that's just nonsense and fixed him up for just $30!!! This dentist is crazy ! She gives you that white bright smile and screws you over while you look away . Be very careful ! I just noticed one of the first reviews for this place is 1 star claiming she had told a husband and wife they had over 5 cavities and come to find out they had none . I was surprised myself to find out how this experience went read more

I love the work ethics of Dr Hala and her staff. They take good care of me with every appointment. She takes the time to explain the procedures and the benefits. I don't think I've ever had a dentist that was as personable as this office. I would recommend this dental practice for anyone in this area. read more