Began going to Dr McElroy about 2 years ago after feeling that my then current dentist was just not doing good work. That DDST was nice enough but did not feel comfortable that the work done nor that my family was getting the best care. The first thing I noticed about Dr McElroy was his office. It is one of the neatest and cleanest Dr's office I have been in, immaculate. Then the equiptment. Alwasy the most up to date and modern equipment. The purpose of writing this review....a culmination of 2 years of experience for me and my family and a recent event. The other night half of my tooth cracked and broke off. And yes, that was a tooth that the PREVIOUS dentist put a crown on 3 years ago, the crown always felt funny. So I was right about the poor quality of care I was receiving prior to Dr McElroy & this was the proof. Dr McElroy saw me immediately and took care of the problem the next morning at 8am. Fixed the broken crown (no pain what so ever) and even made a new one in his state of the art lab - right there where I waited - no temporary, no return visit necessary. Went straight to my lunch appointment. Then later in the day - Dr McElroy contacted me to check on how I was feeling (whens the last time a Dr did that?) to make sure all was in order and I was comfortable....which I was. I was amaized that by lunch time my mouth felt normal and was 100%. Great DDST that I would recommend to all. By the way: 1. This is my first recomendation for anything 2. At the same time as the new crown, the Dr McElroy also took out a tooth fragment left over by another Dentists's removal of a tooth. Thank you Dr McElroy. read more

I am your typical patient - one that has had more bad experiences than pleasant when it comes to my past dental experiences. On my first visit Dr. McElroy did a thorough examination. He spent time to explain and describe to me what I could expect from the dental procedures. I didn't feel pressured or rushed to make any decisions on my future treatments. I had a tooth that had been bothering me for quite sometime - each time I chewed something on that side or had something cold, the tooth would bother me. As I sat in the dental chair, Dr.McElroy showed me a digital photograph of that tooth which clearly showed the tooth was cracked. At this same appt. I elected to have Dr. McElroy make me a crown for the tooth. The fantastic part is that I was able to have this completed in one appt. Dr.McElroy has his own crown machine on site. Therefore, unlike crowns that I have needed in the past where I had a temporary one first and then having to schedule a second appointment for the permanent one to be placed which caused me to have to take off yet more time from my job, I was able to get this done the very same day. I have to say, this crown fits better and matches the color of my teeth much nicer than previous ones. I have not had any sensitivity with the tooth since. I feel comfortable knowing that if I have any future dental needs, that Dr. McElroy and his staff will be there to help me. read more

Can't say enough good things about this office! Dr. McElroy has done 2 crowns on me, as well as an inlay. He has done 4 crowns on my husband. His work is exceptional and I love his "bedside" manner. He actually truly cares about his patients and takes the time to discuss and explain the treatment needed! He is gentle and thorough, and very concerned about patient comfort. The office is state of the art. Very clean and modern. The Dr. uses intra oral photographs to explain and show the treatment needed. I am a visual person, so that is very important to me. To understand WHY I need the treatment matters to me. The staff is pleasant and professional. They have handled all of the insurance billings with no problems, and I appreciate not having to deal with any of that. The best thing about having crowns done is that the crowns are done in office! That is the best part! ONE appointment, and no yucky impressions. You go in with a broken tooth and leave with a whole one - no waiting for "the lab" to make your crown. Dr. McElroy custom designs it right there in his office. LOVE IT! read more

We found Dr. McElroy's office after doing research to find the best possible care for our twin daughters. They needed wisdom teeth out, some fillings and general care leading up to "Invisline" braces. (which we haven't started yet) I have to say, I could not be more pleased at the care, the facilities, the overall professionalism that has been demonstrated by the staff and the Dr. Himself. As you might imagine, having TWINs have to have their wisdom teeth removed (at the same time) the anxiety level in our home was at an all time high. The folks at Smiles by Design made them (and us) feel as comfortable as possible, as cared for as family, and the follow up was superb. Was it painless for the girls? Of course not, but the trauma was eased by the depth of experience and genuine caring of everyone involved, and up to date technology. We will never go anywhere else for any dental care at all. read more

I go to school at the University of San Diego and did not have a primary dentist to go to until I accidentally broke my tooth. I was very worried about scheduling an appointment since my schedule is always busy with classes, work, and extracurriculars. To my surprise I was able to schedule an appointment the very next day! The office was very warm and welcoming and communicating with the Smiles by Design staff was beyond easy. Dr. McElroy was able to fix my tooth the same day! Primary examinations, x-rays, and the actual procedure were all done in house, and all the staff was very attentive to all my needs. He did such a good job there was no need to schedule a follow up appointment and I was able to return to my studies without having to worry about the pain in my tooth anymore. I would highly recommend Dr. McElroy and Smiles By Design to anyone looking for the perfect dentist! read more

Dr. McElroy's office Smiles by Design has been the BEST experience I've ever had at a dental office especially in Encinitas/North County San Diego. I grew up and played baseball with his identical twins (Sean and Tyler) and always heard our baseball coach speak about Dr. McElroy as a bad ass dentist that's been practicing for over 25 years. I had not seen his sons for a few years, however, I was lucky enough to run into his son Sean at the gym last week during a time I needed professional dental care the most. Sean quickly calmed me down when I explained the pain and issues I was having with my teeth. He happened to have a promotional card on him that included a free consultation/exam with X rays and a discounted rate for a teeth cleaning! I am very happy with my decision to visit Dr. McElroys office Smiles by Design and look forward to my next visit. read more

I moved to the North San Diego area recently, and was referred to Dr. McElroy by a co-worker who'd been seeing him for years. I grew up in a small town in Vermont, and had only seen one dentist my whole life, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was warmly greeted by reception, and given a tour of the facility, which resembles a hall of fame for dental achievements. The hygienist Brooke is very friendly, and went out of her way to ensure my comfort as she carefully explained each step of the procedure she performed. I'm glad she did because their equipment is so state-of-the-art, I didn't even recognize the x-ray machine. The whole procedure was quick and painless. Dr. McElroy's experience shines through his professionalism, and I was reassured by his kind, straight forward demeanor. Smiles By Design comes with my highest recommendation. read more

Beautiful office with friendly staff! Dr. McElroy was recommended by family and sitting in that chair, I finally understood why. Very knowledgeable, great chairside manner, straight to the point and absolutely no upselling! Last but not least, my cleaning I got was one of the best. It was done by Brooke and she is a top notch hygienist. She is very professional, friendly, addresses any concerns you have and knows what she is doing! Brooke is an asset to the office and I know I will be going back in 3 months to have another cleaning from her! Thank you Dr. "Mac", Brooke and Kimberly for the great experience and patient care that is way above standard of care. My entire family will now be patients!!! read more

BEST DENTAL OFFICE IN ENCINITAS! From the moment I arrived at Smiles by Design, I was made to feel at home. I have nothing but positive things to say about Dr. McElroy and his staff. He has a vast knowledge in dentistry and his work is phenomenal. Everything is spotless and clean, inviting and most importantly, everyone I dealt with is extremely professional and provided the best care I could have possibly received. I recommend Dr. McElroy to all my family and friends and anyone looking for a new dentist! They will help you get whatever treatment you need and they will work with you financially. My best experience at a dental office by far! read more

I've hated going to the dentist pretty much my entire life... until I started coming here! Everyone is so kind, patient, and genuinely takes the time to make you feel comfortable. They are also super punctual, I am never left waiting. Every person I've had has been amazing, but most recently I've had Ezzy and Sean as my dental hygienists and they've both been incredible. They're gentle and always take the time to educate me on my teeth and simple ways I can take better care of them at home. I truly can't recommend this office enough, especially if you're someone who has always dreaded going to the dentist, you won't anymore! read more

Super clean and friendly office. Like most people I enjoy a few cups of coffee everyday... what has become increasingly obvious is the coffee stains on my teeth.. not a big fan of those. so I ventured out on the internet to see what options I had. I heard through the grape vine that teeth can become very sensitive post whitening (I have very sensitive teeth so wanted to avoid this). I discovered Smiles by design who offers KOR. After a quick rundown I received my trays, whitening product and WOW! the results are outstanding and I'm only half way into my treatment. Shoutout to Charisse and Dr.McElroy for sorting me out. read more

My experience with Dr, Mac, Charisse, Christina, and the rest of th office staff has been amazing. They are professional, kind, and caring. The compassion I received from them has been so comforting. They truly care about the patient. In additional to that, the work on my teeth has been exceptional! He is fast, efficient, and my teeth look and feel great. It has taken me some time to trust a dentist again given my very bad experiences, but just after 2 visits, I trust Dr. Mac and his staff. I am filled with deep appreciation for the care they have given me. I would very much recommend Smiles By Design. read more

Smiles by Design always provides me with great service from the second I walk into the room until the second I walk out. The staff is so caring and they strive to make sure I am comfortable and happy throughout the entire appointment. I suggest this doctor and dental office to anyone and everyone because of how well rounded the experience is and how much they excel in every aspect as a dental office. From having the latest updates in technology to knowing all of the health facts necessary to provide the patient with advice needed to help them with their dental hygiene. Dr.McElroy outshines as a dentist. read more

I had a dental emergency this weekend. I was grinding my teeth and wasn't wearing my Night Guard, this resulted in two chipped front teeth. I immediately called Dr. McElroy Smiles by Design and was seen that same day. I was seen by Dr. Austin, he was amazing. He had such a gentle touch that I did not even need anesthetic. My teeth look fabulous! I was so excited that I made an appointment for an exam. They even asked me to bring my Night Guard in for needed adjustments. The Staff was very friendly, professional and courteous. I would recommend this office to anyone that wants a great experience. read more

I have been going to Dr. McElroy for years, and he is the only Dentist I trust to work on my teeth. I have had him do crowns, fillings, general maintenance and root canals and have always been extremely happy. He is a highly detailed, very gentle and extremely thorough dentist who is dedicated to you and your dentistry needs. For those of you who are looking for a great caring doctor, excellent staff, I invite you to come and visit my doctor. Dr. McElroy is one of the most caring individual I know. He takes his time to ensure that I understand and is comfortable with the dental procedures read more

I had a great dental experience / appointment at Smiles by design. I was nervous (have always been) when going to see a dentist. They provided ear plugs, Gave me a blanket and offered "laughing gas". They talked me through the entire process and I was able to calm down. I was so impressed by the few things they did that really helped me as a nervous patient! I finally got my teeth fixed after a long time of neglect and I could not be more happy for everything. Highly recommend Dr.McElroy and his wonderful staff. They really look out for their patients and they only want the best for them. read more

Excellent team with super friendly and honest service! Smiles By Design dental office has everything you are looking for, they have advanced technology, great visiting hours and a super knowledgeable staff! From the front desk girls to my hygienist, Sean. I have been a patient for many years and I don't plan to go elsewhere. I have referred many friends and family members! 5/5 Dental office in San Diego! With everything that is going on, I decided to shelter in place and reschedule my cleaning... they were very accommodating and helped me with all my future appointments. read more

Dr.Mcelroy and his team are hands down the best dental office in town. From the moment you walk in your greeted by Daniela with a great big smile which makes you feel very welcoming and a lot less anxious about being at the dentist. I don't even have time to sit down when I'm being called back by Charisse who is very pretty if I might add them I get to sit down in a room and was offer a comfort menu which I thought was pretty awesome since I've never seen that before in any other dental office. The whole experience at Dr.Mcelroys was so great he has a patient for life. read more

I have been a patient here since early this year, 2019, and I've had a wonderful experience thus far. From the front desk staff to my dental hygienist, Sean, to Dr. McElroy himself, everyone is clearly dedicated to providing a 5-star patient experience. I love how personable the staff is; they really make it a point to get to know you and your preferences/priorities when it comes to dental care. I have never been this well taken care of by a dental office before, and it makes me really look forward to my future visits with McElroy Smiles by Design! read more