The doctors and staff that are in office are amazing, really sweet. I loved the care we received for our appointments, they're very understanding over dental anxiety. However, when you try to call them it seems like it gets sent to a call center. The call center has failed to cancel, reschedule, or get in touch with the office. I've tried calling numerous times and it's the same person with the same outcome, I really wish they had a direct line. read more

Pathway is kind of a joke Dental place that Delta Hmo and other low end dental insurance plan people get stuck with. You can't schedule in advance more than a few weeks out for a some reason, they never answer the phone, and there's some hard sell procedure on every visit to try to extract more money from you. They are aggressive on billing, they actually brought the credit card machine into the room during my treatment to pay *during* my filling. Other times they call and email over and over to collect bills I already paid. They won't do a cleaning and exam on the same visit, you have to do 2 separate appointments and they won't do a cleaning unless you sit through the hard sell and agree to the procedures they want to do. They got annoyed when I asked a question about what they wanted to do to my mouth and said I shouldn't ask questions because it "affects the quality of care they can provide" . Um no, answering patients' questions is exactly how you DO provide quality care, not the other way round. No one ever answers the phone so you have to ask questions during the appointment but they just want to crank your teeth into dollars and keep quiet I guess. Had to go back 2 more times to get a filling smoothed out because they were so rushed the filling was lumpy and rough and I couldn't get floss around it. They were annoyed with me that they did crappy work to begin with. I stopped going here after that. It's a drill-mill, good luck. read more

Dentist and office staff were great however the accounting department was not so much. I was originally quoted around $600 for a crown replacement. They submitted my claim to the insurance company and found that the crown did not need to be replaced and they did not get preapproval for the procedure before starting. Therefore, the insurance did not cover a huge majority of the cost. I was then build another $700 prior to the procedure and prior to knowing that the insurance was not gonna cover this. I had asked for some assistance from the dental office to help my claim with the insurance company and they could not provide me the documentation. The back-and-forth of over 20 emails for two months literally got me nowhere. I have filed a grievance and we will see where it goes from there. It's unfortunate, but all I needed was a couple pieces of documentation that they cannot easily provide. read more

I've had a great experiences at Pathway in the past but the last time I went for a routine cleaning and they didn't have a dental hygienist. They took some X-rays and sent me on my way. I would've liked to know prior to coming in about that. The dentist and receptionist we're both really nice and professional, but it's concerning that they can't seem to staff a dental hygienist. read more

Apparently, the scam that these guys pull is not unique. There are dentists that book you for a cleaning and tell you the exam comes first. But once you're done with the exam they tell you they can't clean your teeth until they do all the dental work they can imagine in your mouth. The dentists who choose this deceptive practice lose all their patients because people don't like to be lied to and taken advantage of. You'll notice in all their bad reviews they claim "false information"?? How can 20 people who don't know each other all put false info in their review?? Unfortunately there is a shortage of hygienists and we have to wait months to get into a reputable dentist. Whether you're my friend, acquaintance or foe I would tell you not to go to Pathway. They sent me a treatment plan for $4000 one day then updated it to $6000 the next. And it's all for elective work! I just want my teeth cleaned!! read more

Just as bad as it gets in terms of communication. Nothing like using Artificial Intelligence to answer your calls. Atrocious communication. Don't waste your time read more

People are always asking about my movie star bright smile, and I tell them that my awesome dental hygienist, Leslie Jackson, is my secret! She's just amazing!!! Simply the best... read more

Pathway Dental Group - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Used to be a good spot but has gone downhill. It has taken close to a year to get a cleaning appt. I show up as scheduled and they tell me they messed up and don't have availability. Full clown show now! read more

Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Answered all of my questions, and my appointment started right on time.

My first introduction to Pathway came when i showed up for an appointment with the previous owner, and no one would tell me why he was not in the office and why I couldn't just reschedule with him. And as ridiculous as it sounds, they actually lied about the change in ownership and couldn't just simply say he was no longer working there. That right there should have been all I needed to know. But no, I stuck around and told them I had pain in a recently treated area of my mouth yet they refused to do an X-ray and tried to sell me a night guard instead. It's been a couple years since this happened but only recently did I find out about the shoddy work that was done, which could have easily been detected with an X-ray at the time. Instead, I had to have extensive dental surgery and lost a molar (and gained an expensive implant)... trust the reviews here. Go elsewhere. read more

Terrible - stay away from this office! I had been living in Santa Barbara and seemingly thought this office was good from some reviews (maybe they were fake?) not sure. It seemed like a good office but I had a crown created and it fell off 3 times - 3 TIMES!!!! What a joke. They re-attached it each time but two weeks later was off. They didn't handle my insurance correctly and said I owed money when they were the ones that didn't do the process correctly, so my insurance wasn't available once they followed up for payment. I am in New York now and my cap fell off again (surprise) and this office said they would not reimburse or discount anything off my bill from the crappy job they did. Newbie dentists? Not sure. Go anywhere else. read more

I am surprised this place doesn't have more stars. I went for an initial appointment at the Santa Barbara, location and everything about the Care, outstanding! The staff were friendly and warm and excellent education, the doctor was thorough in his exam and gave me a good feed. He spent a good amount of time with me, they even answered questions anticipation before I ask them. The employees not only seemed happy but the one who took my told me that she really likes her job. usually a sign of a healthy culture, and it seemed to me like this office ran smoothly provided quality care and maintained excellency and interpersonal communication. read more

Would not do a simple cleaning without X-rays and pricy 2-minute "Doctor exam" which recommended 3 costly procedures. After going for a 2nd opinion I was told there is no evidence to support any of their so-called findings and recommendations. They also promised free X-Rays and then tried charging me over $200 for them. Beware! read more

I can't say enough good things about my experience at this office. I called at 7:30 on a Friday morning after losing a crown. Despite the fact that I wasn't a regular patient they got me in at 8:30 and replaced the crown. The office staff was helpful and friendly . The dental assistants were efficient and caring. Dr Carmody was very gentle and understanding of my individual concerns ..and is now my new dentist. The practice has all of the latest technology that makes dental visits much less stressful. I highly recommend them! read more

Friendly staff, top dental equipment and great care given to make sure X-rays and pictures were perfect. Doctor reviewed X-rays and asked for more views. Dr. Vitez was very nice and professional. Exam was very thorough and plan for my care discussed. Happy to find a new dentist. read more

It's been quite enraging dealing with Pathway Dental. TL;DR: I booked a teeth cleaning, yet upon arrival they insisted on taking x-rays. I did not want x-rays, and protested. They said the x-rays were covered by my insurance. They were wrong, and are now unapologietically hounding me for payment. As a first time patient, I called and scheduled an apt for a cleaning. When I arrived, they told me that all they had me booked for that day was x-rays, and that i would have to come another day for cleaning. I did not want x-rays having recently done some. I asked them to please not give me x-rays, and please proceed with the cleaning that I had explicitly scheduled. After much back and forth, they said it was their policy to do x-rays, and that I could not get the cleaning without the x-rays first. Given that ultimatum, I asked them to confirm my insurance covered the x-rays, and they confirmed it did. Begrudgingly I did the x-rays, and then they allowed us to proceed with the cleaning I had come for. A few months after this apt Pathway Dental began sending me a bill for the x-rays, saying they actually weren't covered by my insurance. I've connected with them several times explainign the above, asking them to remove the $45 x-ray charge as there are several concerning aspects about their engagement. They are refusing to remove the charge, now claiming that "Pre-authorizations are not required for dental treatment and we don't do pre-authorizations". It is not ok to tell patients confidently a service will be covered by their insurance, and then later bill the client and say they (Pathway Dental) cannot say if an item is covered or not by insurance. read more

Warning! Preditorial practices! Do not use this provider! THIEVES Dear Pathways, I recently had an experience at one of your offices that I feel deserves some accountability. On Aug 17 2023 I made an appointment at the Pathway Dental Group at 1919 State Street, Suite 102 Santa Barbara. Being that I am 66 years old I always ask for a 24 hr phone or text reminder from any of the medical providers I use, which I have never had a problem receiving from any medical provider. It's only fair, especially with today's costs to customers and providers. I did not get a reminder for my appointment whatsoever, I did however have a missed call 15 minutes prior to my appointment asking me when I would be there and then a call that I received 15 min after the time of my appointment asking how soon I could be there. So I rushed over there but in the confusion forgot to bring my credit card. By the time staff and I realized this was an issue as the policy is that I pay for the work first, it was to late and they told me I would have to reschedule my appointment and that I would have to pay a $300 dollar fee for missing my appointment which I paid because I realise that even though I never received the requested help I felt I needed to keep the appointment and that ultimately it was my own fault I missed the appointment. Last but not least and this is where I am really angry is that I in good faith had been paying $20 per month for a Pathway discount plan and when your staff initially quoted me for a root canal and a crown the amount was $4,160. I asked if that included my Pathway Dental Plan and they said that no it did not. So the clerk told me she would refigure it with the discount. She returned a few minutes later and informed me that with my discount it would bring the cost down to $3,160, a substantial savings indeed. Wait a minute not so fast. After the first appointment failed (paid $300 fee) and subsequent reschedule I decided to go to another local dentist who, by the way, was happy to notify me by phone, text, and email of my upcoming appointment, They quoted me a price of $3,130 without any discount plan! That's right, this is the going rate at the new dentist!!!. Quote high then make you feel like you are getting a discount! WHAT A RIP OFF. So I basically paid into a discount plan for over two years that did nothing for me except take my money and give me nothing in return. This combined with what I consider a predatory business practice of not helping me with any reminders and an exorbitant missed appointment fee has led me to part ways with Pathways Dental Group for good. Yours Truly Paul Sancedo Member ID# 41434616 (canceled 09/18/2023) PS, The work from the new provider was excellent as well as the fact that they were happy to provide me with all the reminders I needed. THANK YOU "See Me Smile Dental" read more

Their process of contacting them by phone may be the worst I have ever seen, except for the IRS during tax season. Unless you have no alternative, boycott this dental group like you would avoid the plague. read more

Such a shame. The office has changed models and providers and sadly, the quality of service both from the front office and the doctors is not as good. I have been with Ericson Dental for years, specifically coming in to see Dr. Ericson who did great work and was always a pleasure to work with. I had extensive work done with him. The last couple years have been quite different of an experience since he transitioned to Pathway and just surgeries and left the patients with another doctor for general care. Specifically, earlier this year I went in to get a cleaning. The new Dr found my crown cracked so he removed it and replaced it with a new one. I felt pain for weeks and weeks, coming in every two weeks to get it polished down because "I didn't need a root canal," and "I must be grinding my teeth or clenching my jaw." Finally, we removed it and I saw an endodontist who told me I badly needed a root canal. This was after 4 months of visits to Pathway saying I didn't need one. After having the root canal, it took me an entire month of requests to get a new appt for the permanent crown to be put back on. At that appointment I got the vibe that the doctor was frustrated with me, took no ownership about misguidance they provided, and he even stabbed me in the gums (accidentally) without apology. I went home and the first meal I ate I realized the tooth was way too tall on one side and needs further adjustment. I'm scared to go back there because of this experience, including the way I felt at the last appointment. I'm going to find a new dentist to adjust the ill-fitting new crown. I'd rather deal with it for a while than go back there. read more

I couldn't wait to report my outstanding visit with my favorite hygienist Leslie today! She cleaned my teeth so beautifully. She is top notch~Kind, gentle, thorough, professional, considerate and dialed in to patient CARE. She reassured and instructed me every step of the way. I also really appreciate the whole team spirit and my greeting at the front desk was so bright and welcoming. Great job! read more

Very frustrating. I used to go here back when they answered their phones! I tried to go back but wanted to speak to someone over the phone first. I asked multiple times in my emails to speak to someone over the phone rather then email, as I prefer to do all my medical communication through phone and I was repeatedly told 'email is our first form of communication'. What if I don't want to communicate through email? Why wouldn't you accommodate your patients request for phone communication? Do the Dr's know you are losing patients because of your form of communication? I was hoping to use a Dr that I had used in the past but I guess I'll be going somewhere that accommodates my preferred way of communication. read more

Best dental practice ever! Great staff and wonderful doctors! One stop place for all of your dental work.

The wait time is getting more than an hour before the any work began. I hear the doc is discussing other patients problems in length but he is very brisk with me and doesn't explain well what he's going to do. I feel neglected in this practice. read more

My rating is NEGATATIVE 10! Due to covid, I have not been to a dentist for a long time and desperately needed to have my teeth cleaned. I do not have an established dentist in the area, since I came from Seattle. I called the office to schedule an appointment. I told them upfront I am moving out of the area within the next 5-8 week. I told them I needed a cleaning. They said I needed to schedule an exam and x-rays first, then I could schedule a cleaning. Ok, no problem. I went for my appointment. It was an old looking, very unprofessional office. I was leary as soon as I entered. The x-ray equipment looked to be out of the 1950's. The dentist, Dr.Kent Tubbs was a little too nice, kind of like a used car salesman, slippery...He did an exam and told me I could use 2 crowns. Not an emergency, but soon, which I already knew. I told him I would think about it. I scheduled a cleaning for the next day. I was called within an hour to be informed that there would be no cleaning unless I had my crowns done first, at the price of roughly $4,000. I was livid! It felt like extortion! What angered me most was that I was upfront from the beginning. All I wanted was a cleaning before I moved. I should have been told then of a policy that required treatments to be done first. Do not go there! It is the MOST UNPROFFESIONAL Dental clinic I have ever seen. They were trying to take advantage of me because I am older. It was so wrong. I have never heard of such a policy. What has happened to integrity? They should be shut down. read more

Told me I had 10 cavities, went for a second opinion and I had 0. That should sum it up

This practice "diagnoses" unnecessary problems with my teeth and then refuses to give me routine cleanings, if I don't complete the questionable treatments FIRST! The unnecessary treatments include fillings and crowns. I have gotten second opinions from outside dentists, who have confirmed that there is no rush, or even any need at all for these treatments. In my experience, other dentists might recommend treatments, but leave the decision up to the patient, rather than twisting their arm by refusing to clean their teeth! I complained to Delta Dental and was told that my primary dentist has a right to determine my "treatment plan", even if I disagree with it. In addition, communication with this practice is hopeless. The only thing effective is physically going into the office during office hours for face time with the front desk. Pathway = deceit, pressure and frustration. read more

Very disappointed with the practice. I had a crown put on a few months ago and there was an infection that Dr. Vitez ignored... even after I brought up the discomfort and pain I was experiencing. Unfortunately, the crown broke in two and fell out. I called for an appointment and it's been over a week and I have not received another appointment. I went to another dentist and found out I can't put another crown on as the tooth now has to be pulled. Very disappointed by the unprofessionalism and quality of work. Be cautious. read more

I don't often leave reviews, but I just have to for Pathway. :( RUN AWAY from this place! They will attempt to have you complete dental work which is NOT needed! I went in for a routine cleaning and exam with Pathway Dental. Unfortunately, this is one of the few dentists in my husband's insurance. If you look at their website, they look like they have some good Dentists working there. I tried to schedule an appointment with one of them. They cancelled my appointment multiple times, saying I could see another dentist at the office or drive to Lompoc. I finally gave in to see a female dentist at the office. After arriving for my appointment, I was given excessive x-rays. The dentist then came in and gave me an exam. She proceeded to tell me that I needed 3 Crowns and 3 Cavities. They brought the estimate in for the work - over $5,200! After insurance, I would be responsible for $4,000. After the dentist left, they gave me my estimate and began to escort me out. I asked about my cleaning, and they refused to do it, saying that it would be done AFTER I got all this work done. But that isn't even the worst of it! I left and immediately called my former dentist, who is one of the best in SB, to schedule a second opinion appointment. I requested that Pathway forward my x-rays to him. I just went in for a cleaning and exam with my former dentist. NONE of this work is necessary. I have ZERO cavities and do not need ANY crowns. After reading reviews of Pathway, this seems to be a regular outcome with many of their patients. Read them and see for yourself! This practice should not be in business and I would recommend seeking another dentist. I'll just pay out of pocket for mine, because I know he's good and honest. ***And as for the Reply from the Dr (which, by the way, was almost immediate - worried about reviews???), my dentist is NOT "new". He's been our family dentist for over 10 years and is rated 5 stars. He is considered one of the best in Santa Barbara. He is honest and would never do unnecessary work or skip work if needed. What a joke! read more

Several issues with billing in the past year, after 10 years of no issues. 1st time, they performed more X-rays than my insurance covers so I was charged out of pocket $25. I've been a customer for a long time so I forgave mistake and covered the costs. 2nd time they scheduled a cleaning inside my 6 month window so my insurance didn't cover it. $80 in charges. I spoke with them numerous times via email (billing is impossible to reach by phone, straight to voicemail) and they demonstrated no willingness to work with me or my insurance. I convinced my insurance to cover the cleaning, they gave me a 'one time pass', and the bill was paid. HOWEVER, it was paid late so now Pathway is demanding a $20 finance charge. They refused to cancel the charge. Well, all of this left me feeling like you're only interested in my money. No willingness to work with me. You just lost a customer of 10 years over a $20 finance charge. Besides the billing saga the work was fine. I did feel like they were always trying to upswell me on extra services, and I never saw the same dentist, which made the whole operation feel impersonal. Billing saga was the last straw read more

Huge mistake! I am just happy that it is open enrollment time, because that means that I will not have to deal with the headaches of "communicating" with the front office, this is the Lompoc office, not sure if the Santa Barbara office is any different. I initially selected Ericson Dental because of the stellar reviews. I did see a couple of negative reviews, but figured that it must have been a few people that did not have a great experience. Here is why I do not plan on returning to Ericson Dental: 1. Scheduling: It took ages to schedule my initial appointment. And when I did schedule it they changed it on the day of my appointment pushing it back. I commute and had to make arrangements to get to the Lompoc office leaving work early, which if they would have notified me, I would have not had to use PTO. So I get there and they tell me that the reason that it wouldn't be an issue that they pushed my appointment is because I have to fill out all the intake forms, which are digital on an iPad. Why they don't email the pdf beforehand I just don't understand. Anyhow, I fill out the forms and still sit in the lobby for another 40 minutes!! So I was in the lobby for a whole hour before I was seen for my appointment! On a different occasion I showed up for an appointment, and when I got there they said I was not scheduled for the appointment on that day. The thing is that I had been corresponding with the Front Desk staff via email and by phone about that appointment because of the treatment plan estimated invoice, and they never bothered to tell me I wasn't scheduled. Which brings me to my second point. 2. Billing: It's the worst! I kept receiving different rates and information and when I asked for information to be clarified they would just stop corresponding (via email) or would say they would call me back and never call. As of right now I have no idea where I stand on a bill from July. Per my insurance I overpaid, per the Santa Barbara office I have a credit, per the Lompoc office everything balanced out as my overpayment was applied to something else. But have I received any sort of verification? No. Have they been able to explain where there extra money I paid went? No. I mean they can't even verify if in fact I did overpay, that is how confused I am. I cannot say with certainty that I know what services I paid for. 3. Attitude: When I have called or corresponded they have been short and unhelpful, almost to the point where it feels like I am a bothering them. I have tried to be understanding as it appears that they have a lot of turnover, and on-boarding new employees takes time. But honestly just basic customer service skills would go a long way to end most of this frustration. Take this review as your wish, it might be that I just was unlucky. I will say I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but honestly it's been a year. Lesson learned. read more

Excellent service from Dr. Tubbs and his assistant Nicole today! I highly recommend their office.

When I recently went in for a cleaning, I was told by office staff I had a $90 credit coming to me from my insurance company. They could have said nothing and pocketed the money, but didn't. What that tells me is they were honest with me. read more

Don't even try to book an appointment here if you have a history of dental anxiety, because they simply do not care and will string you along for two weeks and never call you back. On Tuesday (1st) , I booked two new patient appointments for my husband and myself the following Monday (7th). I asked if we could do the cleanings the same day after our intake appointment (X-rays &etc.) because I've had a traumatic dental experience in the past. I feared if I didn't do the cleaning the same day and had a bad experience, I may not come back after the intake appointment for the actual cleaning. The receptionist said a manager would call me to schedule the cleanings but I have intake appointments scheduled. The next day I get an EMAIL from an unnamed "manager" saying my appointments for Monday are no longer available and I can come in tomorrow (3rd). With no explanation why my already booked appointments were cancelled or if these "new" appointments were for cleanings as well. It also wasn't signed by a name so I couldn't call and ask to speak to whoever sent it. After another vague email not answering my question about cleanings the same day, I called again. I was told AGAIN a manager would CALL me. Would ya know it, I got ANOTHER email not answering my question and now saying I never had appointments scheduled so they couldn't help me and they wouldn't help me even if I did? So I called AGAIN and got Zana on the phone. Who explained there are new people in the office and that she understood that I've had a very traumatizing experience at the last dental office. She guaranteed a manager would CALL ME and help me get my teeth cleaned the same day as my intake. With tears in my eyes, I explicitly said "if I you can't help me then I need to be done trying". It's been a week and a half. No one is going to call me. So I'm done, Pathway Dental. Don't go here if you are needing any assistance or even MINOR accommodations. And absolutely don't tell them you have autism because they will deny your requests completely. Very professional to ghost disabled patients :) read more

I'm very happy to have found a great dental office, from Dr Ericson, to the staff to the cleanliness! I got an apt the day I called with an issue and couldn't be happier with them. read more

Everyone at Pathway is super nice and willing to help with any questions I have. The front office staff is always welcoming and friendly. The dental assistants always make sure I'm comfortable and doing well before, during, and after my appointments. The hygienists are very sweet and thorough while still being very gentle. The doctors explain everything really well and I like that they can show me up-close pictures of my teeth so I can also see what is going on in my mouth! read more

If I could give Ericson Dental of Santa Barbara a "0", I would. Their billing practices are inexcusable, inaccurate and the harassing calls, bills and collection agency mailings are appalling. Our household stopped going to this office 3 years ago and that's when their reasons as to why we owed them money began. First, they said the insurance never paid them, then they said the insurance paid us (the patients) but we failed to in turn give it to Ericson dental and the third excuse given was that we saw a dentist from their office that wasn't covered under our insurance. What?? Are you kidding me? Their behavior is unacceptable. Shame on them. I'm surprised they're still in business, with half their yelp reviews sharing my sentiment. read more

When I went in as a new patient I doctor and the assistant were very nice and asking me a lot of questions which I liked and will recommend you guys to my friends thanks you Pathway Dental read more

Over priced and using sub par portable equipment. Five months after a crown replacement and I'm still having discomfort. They don't seem to care much expect gouging your bank account. read more

The billing issues are the worst I have ever encountered with any business. They continue to harass with emails, calls and bills when you have already paid. When I have called back to discuss my bill my voicemail goes in answered. They can't keep their records straight. They have told me the records were switched over to a different system and several accounts were not accurate so they would look into the issue. I didn't hear anything for over a year. Then out of the blue they decided to start calling and asking for payment. I would not recommend going to this dentist based on billing alone; it's a nightmare. Update: No need to provide you with any of my personal information. My advice to you as the business owner: you need to clean house in your billing department. You claim to be on a recorded line during every phone call, so you can start there. Start my listening to all the voicemails and phone conversations I have left/had with your employees regarding your error in all the billing issues from several years ago. read more

I had a good experience up until the billing aspect. I wish I would have seen these reviews prior to going here. I was quoted a bill that was basically then re-billed by almost a 100% margin! This was after I corrected them on their original bill, which was off by more than $100. I am new to going to the dentist by myself, so I am disappointed in the whole experience and now feel even less desire to go. I don't enjoy being ripped off and I don't enjoy having to go through a whole ordeal to get things sorted. I will be more wary when choosing where I get treated. read more