My first cleaning went fine. However, it seems like their system is based around making it as difficult as possible to have followup cleanings. They don't let you book your six month appointment as you leave, despite the fact that they book up three months in advance. God forbid you have to change it around or anything. Long story short, it has been a year since my last cleaning and I'm still waiting. read more

I went in for a visit yesterday and Dr. Jihye Lee was my dentist. She was friendly, fast, and painless. It was a very positive experience all around. My only concern is that their calendar seems to be booked up pretty far in advance, but they managed to stick me in during a cancellation, so I can't complain. read more

My student insurance requires clients to choose a dentist from a list without having had any prior appointments. So in a sense, I'm a bit stuck with Lakeside Dentistry. It takes months to get in the office, but once I'm there I'm usually able to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time. My only complaint (and it's kind of a big one) is that I don't think the dentists are thorough and very patient oriented. Their exam/review of x-rays seems superficial and no one ever takes the time to adequately address my concerns/answer my questions. At times, I feel more like I'm being schemed for my money rather than respected as a client. read more

This was my first experience outside of my original dentist since 5 years old. I was extremely nervous. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Dr. Johnson made feel me extremely comfortable. I had a great experience and very pleased. Conventially located across from the Davis purple line. read more

Lakeside Dentistry - General Dentistry Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'm just clearing off my desk at work and came across my old paperwork from Lakeside Dentistry. Don't pretend like you don't wind up with year-old crap on your desk too. Anyway, here's what they wanted from me: Treatment phase 1: Inlay, Insurance: $191.40, Patient: $328.60 Treatment phase 2: Insurance: $79.40, Patient: $73.60 Treatment phase 3: Insurance: $79.40, Patient: $73.60 Treatment phase 4: Insurance: $385.00, Patient: $385.00 Total for me: $860.80. They were also going to get me into a mouth guard. $400 more. I've now had three every-six-months cleanings and check-ups with my new dentist and new x-rays taken. No cavities, no problems, just healthy clean teeth. The teeth that Lakeside wanted to drill cleary did not need it. Of course, it irritates me that Lakeside tried to rip me off financially. But what I still can't get over is that they were happy to damage my teeth to do it. One of the other reviews mentioned getting an infection after unnecessary work was done. When you do inlays, you have less natural tooth, and the tooth is less likely to last as long. The way these guys do business is incredibly unethical. Anybody want to get a case of beer and picket their entrance? read more

I just called Lakeside, my dental office of, oh, just seven and half years plus, and told them I have a painful and swollen tooth/gum thing happening, and could I please see anyone when I get back into town five days from now. No, they said, they are fully booked! Pain, I reminded them. Sorry, call your insurance company and switch to a new dentist, they replied. Hmmm. I've been a loyal repeat patient for close to a decade, and they tell me to find a new place dentist? Alright, I will. read more

I went to this dentist office growing up, and recently went back this spring after graduating from college sans insurance. I made an appointment on the phone for xrays and a cleaning. I got there, and the receptionist acted like I wasn't in the calendar. I saw a different doctor than scheduled for five minutes, and was charged $85. When the receptionist saw the shock on my face, she told me she would take off $10. I can't believe I payed $75 and took off a half day of work (wich took FOREVER to get approved by my boss) just so that they could waste my time and take my money. When I was growing up, I always hated coming here because I would have to wait at least an hour because they were always behind schedule. So I figure, if they're crooks too, why go back? I never rescheduled, and I'm still looking for the right dentist. read more

Our family has been going to Lakeside dentistry for over 10 years and have had multiple cleanings, crowns, and fillings. We have been extremely happy with Dr Johnson and the rest of the staff. It is a busy practice so you need to be organized about scheduling cleanings well in advance because they book up, but when you have a true emergency they are super accommodating. Also they take pretty much any insurance plan. Great location in downtown Evanston next to the L and Metra stops. read more

My family has been going to lakeside dentistry for years now. When it came to a dental emergency they accommodated the request immediately. This place is friendly and very understanding. The staff is very nice too. I will be going there again soon!!! read more

Extremely happy, great location, good staff, friendly and understanding doctors. I highly. Reccomend this facility.

Due to the 41 filtered reviews, I'm assuming they pay Yelp to hide most of the honest reviews. This place is extremely unprofessional. I have left several messages and have not received any response back. How can they stay in business? read more

I wish I could give zero stars.. I completely agree with C A. I went there first for a cleaning and it ended up being a massacre. The hygienist ended up stabbing my gums and didn't do a good job cleaning my teeth. My teeth didn't have the clean feel one normally gets after a cleaning. But I figured I'd give them another chance --- big mistake. I went back again because Dr Johnson told me that my fillings were getting old and I had to replace them. fine, I thought.. but then, while I was sitting in the chair under anesthesia, he told me my tooth needed a crown. This costs $1200 and he did not give me a chance to think about it. He pressured me into getting it done right there and he proceeded with the tooth prep and temporary crown without letting me consider my options.. These are clearly unethical tactics, but it gets worse from here. I asked if he thinks the tooth is bad enough to need a root canal and he said no. Shortly after leaving the dentist, that tooth and the the one next to it, neither of which had any problem before, started hurting very badly. I went back and the doctor wasn't in but they gave me some Vicodin for the pain and referred me to their buddies down at Lincoln Park Periodontists. In the course of the tooth prep, Dr. Johnson clearly hadn't been very careful and had allowed the gums to get infected. This required 2 root canals, almost $1000 and led to 3 weeks of incapacitation. Plus, they had to crown the other tooth as well costing an additional $1200. These people are incompetent, don't care and unethical. They were unhelpful when they created these problems for me and essentially stole over $2000 of my money to unnecessarily put in new crowns. Avoid them at all costs. read more

I think in this case, it is worth the time an energy to share my OPINION......if you are thinking about becoming a patient here.......I would suggest finding another dentist on your dental plan. Obviously, I am not the only one who feels t his way........there used to be dozens of reviews on this place.......now only 5! Seeming more like a factory than a dental practice, this place churns more patients per hour than any dental office I have ever been to! A lot of the patients HAVE to come here because this place seems to participate in every dental HMO offered by local employers. For your sake, I pray you aren't paying this all "our of pocket." This place will try to sell you additional services whether you need them or not. They tried to sell my wife a a mouthguard to stop teeth grinding ( a la $400). They tried to sell me "veneers" for a few teeth that seemed "weak"---they must have forgotten they told me this because when I asked about the same teeth 6 months later, the dentist said they looked fine.!!!! What a wicked web we weave when.............. The hygenists, while nice, are not the best-------be prepared to rinse and spit a lot and don't be shocked to see blood from the rough treatment (practice make perfect? wish they would practice on someone else!) Getting an appointment is "like pulling teeth" and it is common to wait a few months to get a simple cleaning......Staff turnover seems ununusually high...even among the dentists that practice there. I wish you luck and hope your experience is not what we have found. read more

my experience here was also very nice: staff was very nice, my appointment started on time and Dr. Johnson gave me the most theral cleaning i can remember (it's been few years since my last dentist visit :) read more

I guess it's hard to see how mediocre a dentist is until you go to a really good one. After seeing my new dentist, I realized that Lakeside was not so great. They aren't thorough in cleanings or checkups, and I had to have a filling that they put in replaced after just a few years. Additionally, appointments with Lakeside were always difficult to schedule (usually routine cleanings had to be scheduled 4 months in advance) and often, the dentist himself was not present for appointments. The location is convenient, and the staff was always friendly, but that's about it for the positives. read more

Not sure why this place gets bad reviews. Dr. K is fantastic. Incredibly friendly, extremely fast and efficient, and upbeat. I hadn't been to a dentist in a long time, and she didn't make me feel stupid or scold me. I had several cavities over several appointments, and despite my fear of needles, etc., I got to the point where I was completely chilled out, thanks to her professionalism and friendliness. They have modern equipment and I feel totally confident. By FAR the best dentist experience I've ever had. I've also not had any troubles with the staff. I always get a reminder phone call and haven't had a problem with scheduling. read more

I have been a patient of michael johnson for quite some time. Everyone on the staff are awesome. I had a temporary crown pop off and all the staff are fabulous. they make you feel like one of the family. michael johnson is a great dentist and good with fearful patients. read more

Dr. Patty is awesome! Friendly environment. Was very nervous at first. I'm happy. Didn't feel anything and I was very comfortable.

I have had two great experiences with Dr. Lisa Beaudette-Nguyen. She's incredibly gentle, friendly, and even FUN to see. I had a basic check-up and cleaning, and the dentist did the entire thing (I never even saw a hygienist.) And then today I had a cavity filled, and again I only saw Dr. Beaudette and I never had any pain at all. She's very good. The receptionists are really nice in person, but the phone system they have is terrible. I can never hear them. There are LOOOONG delays for appointments, so call really early. Four stars for the long wait and bad phones. Five stars for Dr. Beaudette, for everything being on time (no wait!) and for the convenient location. read more

Dr. Johnson and his staff have been wonderful. I have had a fear of dentists since I was a kid. I neglected myself and am now getting help. I feel there is a lot of shame surrounding your dental care. But when you are ready, folks should never make you feel bad. No one knows your situation! Since seeing Dr. Johnson I have begun my journey to repair and Lakeside could not be more supportive. Randi and D at the front are beautiful to work with. Thank you. read more

DON'T GO HERE - VERY RUDE STAFF I went there because they were covered by my plan. They were EXTREMELY difficult about an urgent appointment for my husband who was added to the HMO plan at the beginning of the month. Refused to give him care because they couldn't find him on the roster - even though Guardian could and we had an insurance card with their practice name on it. They wouldn't even schedule after the INSURANCE company called them to verify he was on the plan. Two prior check up visits for myself were ok - they require separate appts for checkup and cleaning (which they didn't mention on the phone). Have switched to a better dentist with helpful staff in Skokie. read more

Dr. Kachikaran has been our family's dentist since we moved to Evanston in 2006. She's great - friendly, competent, and responsive to what we need. Two years ago we moved about 45 minutes away from Evanston, but we still make the trek to Lakeside to see Dr. Kachikaran. read more

Have to say that I was very impressed with my dentist and the front office staff. Logostics of the insurance end for dental can be very complex. The work that the front staff put into helping me understand the insurance was time consuming and appreciated. The manager was very kind and understanding. Im not a fan of any dentist since its not my favorite thing to do. Yet, I look forward to going now because I feel like I'm in good hands! read more

My family and I have been going here for about 4 years. Dr. K is awesome with kids and adults too. The actual appointments are quick, about as painless as they can be, and a pleasant experience. She never tries to sell us on things we don't need (unlike other dentists I have been to). The office staff is friendly, I get a reminder call before each appointment, and recently I had written my appointment down on the wrong day, but when I showed up they actually accommodated me anyway (even after I offered to leave and come back when I was supposed to). I highly recommend this office, and Dr. Kochikaran in particular. read more

I just want to give a shoutout to Dr. Johnson for taking me in for an emergency procedure. I was in so much pain, agony and distress from a tooth decay that had to get a temporary cap, and for some reason in the past 2 weeks it started to ache a lot. Dr. Johnson was able to take me right away and help me tremendously. Also, Randi was very attentive and made sure I was getting the service I needed. Shout out to Franki for breaking down the insurance codes for me. I would highly recommend Dr. Johnson. read more

Dr. Johnson is nice and probably competent. Fortunately I haven't needed any work done. The office staff is rude, slow, and the practice takes more patients than they can serve well. I can't get a cleaning for 3 months. Absurd. read more

The dental assistants are inexperienced. I have never been in so much pain during an x-ray as I was in this office. I am not sure what bite-wings she gave me, but they were not sized for a woman's mouth. Expect that it will take 3 months to schedule a checkup. They will not do a cleaning at the same time as the checkup. It will take another 3 months to schedule the cleaning. If you are not on their "roster," regardless of your actual coverage status, forget it - you will move away before they see you. read more

I went in because an old filling fell out, and these guys gave me a $4,000 treatment plan AND a referral to an orthodontist for a root canal Dr. Lee said she couldn't do herself. The treatment plan included a pair of inlays and a note at the bottom saying that inlays are fillings that are "specially crafted, like fine jewelry," and that dental insurance often doesn't pay for them. I kind of freaked out, because I don't even have dental insurance and I sure don't have $4,000, but I didn't get any sympathy. I called around for second opinions, and ended up having getting great treatment (for only $1600, including the root canal) with Dr. Gamalinda, from Today's Dentistry in Chicago. The inlays were definitely not necessary. I saw on iKarma.com that other people were also pressured into paying for unecessary inlays and onlays (which insurance doesn't cover), and custom $400 night-grinding guards. They're pretty nice and probably competent for cleanings, X-rays, etc, but if they recommend expensive work to you, get a second opinion. (Or just go to Dr. Gamalinda. He's great.) read more

I like Dr. Kochikaran, which is why I'll come to this office a second time. But the office is dingy and yucky, the people who answer the phone are unfriendly, and the dental hygienist I had was borderline hostile. Their calendar is booked far in advance, so a lot of people must be stuck with this place because of their insurance. If you have a PPO, I'd stay away - you can find something better. read more

I have read all the bad reviews but went anyway. They are lovely. Very nice receptionists who even put a movie on for my children. Even though i have been referred to a kids dentist when i thought they could do the work there. They have agreed to give me my other kids xrays to move them all to another dentist office. Lovely staff an friendly. read more

The equipment in the examination area was so corroded with filth that it must not have been cleaned years. As soon as I walked in I could smell the nitric oxcide gas so strongly that I was dizzy. The staff were mean, not just unfriendly, mean. The x-ray area consisted of a chair in a corner with no protection from radiation for the other patients. The receptionist lied on the phone about what my insurance would cover. There was someone in the waiting room who was there because the cap she had had put in there had fallen off right after she had it done. I left for my own safety before I was even examined and I was still charged. read more

This place is AWEFUL!!!! I went in for a teeth cleaning, and they did everything to my teeth BUT a teeth cleening. I kept asking when they were going to do the floride part and they said oh, "that's not necessary" it wasn't until AFTER they finished looking at my teeth (and gave me a bill) that they told me I did not get a cleaning. They said that I would have to schedule a whole other appointment if I wanted a cleaning done. There is no way I'm giving them abother dime, they really do scam you. Patients beware!!! read more

I went to this place twice for my appointments with Dr.Johnson. The average waiting time is about 1 hours after original scheduled time has passed. I don't know what Dr.Johnson did to my tooth because the tooth is not getting any better after my treatment. For other concerns, Of course, he recommended "ROOT CANAL" to me lol. And this place charges you more than other dentistry for the same work. JUST SIMPLY AVOID THIS PLACE. If not, Stay away from Dr. Johnson. STAY AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! read more

This place is a sham. I was told that I needed a bunch of work that I did not end up needing. I actually heard my dentist give the same sales pitch to another guy. Totally dishonest. read more

Dr. Johnson was great! He was very friendly. However, the staff was terrible. The older lady at the front desk was trying to boss everyone around, and didn't know anything herself. She seemed to get flustered with the smallest tasks, and was unable to multi-task. After my visit, Dr. Johnson told me to head to the desk to schedule a cleaning. However, she was unable to do two things at once, and advised that she would call me to schedule the appointment for the cleaning. She never called. Two weeks later, I called the office in another attempt to schedule my cleaning. However, I was dismissed, and advised that someone would call me back before the end of the business day. I never received a call. Dr. Johnson and the other dentists in the office need to hire new staff to assist them. The staff is the reason for the poor review. read more

I wish I could rate Dr. K as a dentist (five stars) separately from the office staff and administrative processes (zero stars). As it is, I guess I just have to give the overall business a middle of the road rating. I think Dr. K is knowledgeable, polite, competent, friendly, etc. I feel confident in her hands (regular cleaning, fillings - and recently a crown - ugh - though she made it a better experience than I could have thought possible). But the office staff and administrative folks are terrible. It takes months to get an appointment, they aren't friendly or knowledgeable. Some are downright surly. Don't make eye contact or smile, make you feel like they are doing you a favor to prepare your bill. Not flexible, creative, or able to solve problems. And did I mention that it takes months to get in to see Dr. K? read more

If you want to have a good, positive experience scheduling appointments and visiting the dentist, don't come here. If you're like me and expect the dentist to be a stressful and unpleasant experience, this is the office for you. The doctors themselves are nice and perfectly adequate. The reception staff and hygienists are rude and appointments are nearly impossible to schedule. If you don't specify that you want BOTH cleaning and a checkup you will not receive both at your appointment. They will call and ask change your appointment 24 hrs in advance but if you need to change it there is a $30 fee and 3 month wait. Awful. They should not be in business. read more

Dr. Johnson is pretty fantastic. Don't be turned off by the building or the office. The important thing is the care that you receive. They're only open 4 days a week, but they're caring and compassionate. Dr. Johnson has a great way with patients and the staff doesn't judge. Dr. Johnson went out of his way to get me a referral with a specialist and carefully walked me through my own treatment plan. I hadn't been to a dentist in a long while and never felt judged or belittled. I spent 3 hours (yikes!) with Dr. Johnson today getting two crowns and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who was nervous about dental work or needed advanced care. I've never even had a cavity before so to need so much work was a surprise to me, but I'm glad that Lakeside was the place that I got work done. read more

In my opinion, most dentists now adays are total shysters, that was why I was glad to find a dentist that did not try to rip me off at every turn. Even though it's not convenient to where I work and live, I still trek up to Evanston to go to Dr. Kotchikaran at Lakeside Dentistry. She is always polite, very quick, does the cleanings herself usually, and does not try to upsell me on services I don't need. They lose at least one star (possible more) because the office staff are awful. They tell you to come back in 6 months but don't let you make an appointment unless it's around 4 months in advance (due to my insurance being tied to my work) but they usually have a 3 month waiting list. The result is that I don't go as often as I would like (and pay for with my insurance) to go. They also don't call for reminders and have a general surly attitude. Still, the dental services are worth it. read more

this might not be fair as I did not actually go to this practice however my pre appointment service experience was bad enough for me to want to warn others. I have an HMO for my dental needs so you have to preselect a dentist to go to. I selected this office because of convenience to my work. I recently tried to make an appointment for myself and my husband and have a few complaints. 1. I was kept on hold for a very long time - I know that this can happen at busy times, but it just felt TOO long. 2. I wanted to make an appointment for both my husband and myself at the same time so we could be in and out together without waiting for each other during the work week. This practice likes to keep family members with the same dentist so that we would have to have consecutive appointments which doesn't seem productive in the middle of a work day. I ended up changing my insurance so I now have a different dentist, but I thought my experience was worth putting out there in case anyone is thinking of choosing their services. read more