This will be a long review because Dr. Lai is honestly the best. I've been going to Dr. Lai's ever since I can remember so maybe I'm biased or just the luckiest 21-year-old ever. Seriously, some people have horror stories about going to the dentist, or they dread it. My entire family actually ENJOYS going to the dentist. This is through fillings, braces, root canals, tooth implants, and more....we all still love going to the dentist.
Since I've known Dr. Lai my entire life, he's overseen the development of my baby teeth and adult teeth. Though I've been lucky to never need braces, I've had a TON of cavities. I have a sweet tooth and can be a little lazy when it comes to the flossing. He recommended ACT rinse to help harden the "soft spots" in my teeth that lead to cavities, and while I use it on and off, Dr. Lai can definitely tell the difference when I consistently use it....and the X-rays prove that the recommendation works. On the note of fillings though, all my fillings have been top-notch. Dr. Lai said himself that some fillings might need to be re-done down the road but he's not giving himself enough credit. I had a friend who freaked out because a one-year old filling fell out and since she had Invisaligns, the whole fit of her braces was off. She was a wreck. I've had fillings (not just the metal ones, but the ones that blend into your teeth) that are at least a decade old and still holding strong.
I've always had a sensitive gag reflex, which Dr. Lai and all the dental hygienists know so X-rays are always really speedy, with the assistant usually apologizing to ME, which they definitely don't need to at all. Fillings are also speedy but the quality is so obviously there. Dr. Lai usually flips the mirror up when he cleans my teeth or does fillings to calm me down so I can see that nothing is going down my throat. He also taught me that breathing through my nose also helps when I feel like I'm going to gag.
Dr. Lai always seems happy, and it's clear he enjoys what he does. I've seen him patiently explain things to people who haven't had a dentist appointment in like 7 years, and he is always willing to explain things to me. Sometimes he repeats things, but I don't mind. He's always willing to work on his patient's timetable, or the insurance's timetable actually. When my parents came to him, they had no previous dental experience but he's taught them all they need to know about taking care of their teeth.
Everyone who works with Dr. Lai is great as well. I've had both assistants floss and polish my teeth when Dr. Lai has been busy, but Dr. Lai always makes sure to personally inspect everyone's teeth very thoroughly before they leave. Julie is always very efficient too, I've had to send her paperwork to get my wisdom teeth taken out while in Southern California and she handled everything within a few hours. I've left messages on their answering machine overnight and gotten responses at 9am the next morning.
The waiting room is always very clean and tidy. The kids have Highlights magazine of course, and some other childrens books. The adults get a wider selection, like People, Sacramento Magazine, and others. They also have some clownfish (which they've had before Finding Nemo, actually). Once I met this woman in the waiting room who had Dr. Lai when she was a child, and had been struggling to find a good dentist in Roseville for her husband and children. She thought Dr. Lai had moved away a long time ago but as soon as she heard that he was still in Sac, she made appointments. She said that she still had fillings from Dr. Lai that have held up, so it's a real testament to how awesome Dr. Lai is. read more
