It has been a difficult decision for me to write this review as Dr Puno seemed very friendly and sweet. She had a pleasant manner that put me as ease when I was with her. Her office was modern and impressive with new technology advanced equipments. Her staff is often friendly, attentive and smiley. But that is when the positives end. And I think it's unfair not to mention her lack of expertise which has caused me thousand of dollars to fix a work that was done improperly by her. I had a crown that was done by Dr Puno in early 2014. It came off after a week ( I should have known then). I came back to redo it . And in June 2017, it came off again. By this time, Dr Puno suggested me to have crown lengthening and a new crown which would have cost me $3000+. The other option was to have a tooth implant ($5000+) which would have been better for the longterm as a crown would come off again after some years, she advised me. So a little more than 3 years was the lifespan of my poor, unfortunate crown. Not to mention in the mean time, food was keep getting deeply stuck between this crown and the tooth next to it causing me so much trouble flossing it. Weighting these two expensive options, I have then realized that I had other 3 crowns that were done by other dentists (before I moved to SF) many years before and still have had no problems, nothing has come off or need extra work after 15 years. AND, my husband, who I had introduced her to, also has had problems with his crown that was done by her. Though his was broken after 3 years instead of coming off. And food also got stuck the exact same way. I finally decided to get a tooth implant from somewhere else. But I think it is so unfair for me and my husband to have to pay for all of this because of Dr Puno's lack of expertise. If she had at least acknowledged her limitedness and offered me a partial replacement crown, OR just put a new crown in instead of telling me that my only options were either $3000 or $5000 which obviously have not been the case with my other crowns from other dentists. Not to mention that I also had a teeth whitening done in her office (2016?) that didn't provide a good outcome. I could barely tell the difference before and after. ( I had had this done few years back somewhere else that yielded much better results). read more

This practice is the most shady and underhanded dental office you'll ever find They'll tell you you're in network until after they work on you and then say you're out of network and charge you top dollar. They'll perform a bunch of expensive proceedures on you and then stick you with an out of network bill DO NOT COME HERE!!! read more

DR. Puno and her staff are wonderful! I've been looking for a dentist since I moved to San Francisco and i've found it at cosmetic dentistry associates. The hygienists Kristine and Jollie have been a delight. They are very professional and make the cleanings pleasant. Dr. Pun is gentle when working on teeth, but is efficient gives great results! I care about prevention and Dr.Puno is always up to date on a variety of topics including orthodontics, TMJ, whitening, etc. She is a perfectionist and concentrates on the details of your smile. I am going through invisalign with Dr. Puno and I am excited to see the end result! read more

I've been seeing Dr. Puno for 17 years. She is a gentle perfectionist with a smart sense of humor. I look forward to seeing her, which is funny to say about your dentist but it's true. I would recommend her to anyone! read more

By far the friendliest and most professional dental office I have been to. Dr. Puno and team are all amazing and compassionate and caring team. My husband and I have been coming here countless of years. We were sad to hear that our previous hygienist no longer works there but we were introduced to Kristine who is absolutely a great replacement to Our previous hygienist. Angel never misses a beat when it comes to my insurance concerns and also super transparent with all their charges. I have been having some jaw pain since early 2020 but due to COVID I'm too paranoid to even step out of my house but now that we are fully vaccinated I decided is time to address my jaw issue. Dr. Puno introduced me to VIVOS appliance which helps correct my bite and also helps with my sleep apnea issue. I have been wearing it for about a month and already noticed improvement already. Great job ladies!!! read more

This office is nothing but amazing. I had a broken tooth over the weekend and hopefully they will get back to be first thing on Monday but nope they responded to me few minutes after I emailed, this is unbelievable. I was fitted in first thing Monday morning and got my tooth fix. Dr. Puno did an amazing job to get me off pain. I also learnt that the reason why I kept breaking teeth is due to clenching. I thank Dr. Puno, Angel and her team for begin so helpful and educational. read more

I have been a patient here for a long time and plan to keep coming for my regular check ups. Dr. Puno explains thoroughly and makes sure to answer questions that I have. My cleanings with Jolly have also been pleasant. She always makes the cleanings as comfortable as possible. My two front teeth are veneers made by Dr. Puno and I am very much happy with the way they look! I highly recommend Dr. Puno if you're looking for a new dentist in the area. read more

I've been looking for a new dentist because I haven't been able to see my regular dentist. A friend recommended this place. I made an appointment but I was a little late. Eisele, the dental assistant was very accommodating and helped me through the check in process. Dr Amy cleaned my teeth after a quick check up. I was very pleased with the results. read more

Today was my first time visiting a dentist in a couple of years. I had a traumatic experience the last time I visited an office and knew it was time for me to find another Dentist. Luckily I found Dr Puno! She was so nice and personable throughout my cleaning, I was relieved. Furthermore, her dental assistant Eisele made me comfortable as well. What an AMAZING team. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I will definitely be coming back :) read more

Dr. Puno and the office in which she works is quite simply the best health care experience I have ever had. These are the facts: I came to Dr. Puno with a broken molar from an old amalgam filling. The first visit was pretty standard with x-rays and a cleaning. During my consultation with Dr. Puno she asked questions and listened to the answers. Here's the editorial: When was the last time that you dealt with a health professional whom you felt really listened to you? Dr. Puno showed me the x-rays and talked to me about what she felt needed to be done in the short term. Then we talked about some of the long-term options for replacing my old amalgam fillings with a composite material that doesn't contain mercury. She answered all of my questions and then told me she would work with Bernadette at the front desk to draw up a treatment plan that would include all costs not covered by my insurance. I was amazed when Bernadette presented me with the treatment plan. It was just a simple list that included each procedure with its cost, the amount my insurance would cover and the amount I would need to pay. The list was ranked according to which procedures Dr. Puno thought were most immediately necessary. No other dentist has ever been so straightforward and transparent with their pricing. This enabled me to plan each treatment around my insurance caps and change my flexible spending options to help cover the costs. If I remember correctly, I had two crowns and replaced several very old amalgam fillings. We had a bit of trouble adjusting one crown, mostly because I was numb and couldn't feel if the bite was quite right. Dr. Puno actually gave me a cell number that I could use to contact her if I had any after hours problems. I didn't and a quick adjustment a day or two later and I was good as new. I don't have any anxiety around going to the dentist, but if I did, I think that I would want a dentist just like Dr. Puno. She is very warm and caring and really seems to cultivate a sense of empathy so that she doesn't forget what it's like to be on the other side of the chair. Besides the excellent chair-side manner, I would go to this office just for the great service Bernadette provides in the front office. read more

I went in for an appointment for the very first time and was instantly greeted by an employee by the name of Eisele. She was extremely sweet and knowledgable when it came to answering all of my stupid questions. She never once made me feel dumb which I really appreciated. I came in because I had to have a filling done for a cavity that was causing excruciating pain! Dr. Amy was able to make the procedure quick and painless! It was a delight working with them both and can't imagine ever working with anyone else. They just have this kind and calm demeanor that makes you feel like you are in great hands. I couldn't imagine working with anyone else. Thank you Eisele and Dr. Amy! :D read more

I've always loved going to the dentist. Probably because I've had 2 awesome dentists in my life, Dr. Puno being one of them. Her office is great with appointments and can always fit me in at lunchtime. Cleaning + xrays + new retainer fitting took under an hour! She is very prompt and I have never had to wait. read more

After a horrible, painful experience with a new dentist randomly chosen from my dental plan, I refused to set foot in any office with DDS on the sign for a full year. Dental visits are never a good time, but this one was a real life version of the Steve Martin dentist scene from Little Shop of Horrors, only without the singing. Yowch!! Luckily I gave the dental plan another shot and found Dr. Puno. Her gentle hand and warm chairside manner make dental visits as easy breezy as they can be. She is very attentive and concerned with your comfort during procedures like fillings, and asks frequently how you are doing. I'm so glad to have found a dentist that actually sees the person and not just another mouth. The Embarcadero Center office is in a really convenient location for anyone working in the Financial District. read more

Love this place! I got a cleaning and an exam with Dr. Puno it was such a great experience. I learnt that I might be clenching or grinding at night from the wear and tear of my teeth which I recently also notice my jaw is making the clicking and popping noise. After that I had a consultation with Dr. Puno and did take home bite and sleep test. The result from the tests is that I have sleep apnea due to joint and airway issue. Dr. Puno recommended several treatment options and I opted out on the ortho since I really don't want to go through ortho again even though Dr. Puno told me that's the best option. The next option is an appliance called Vivos and I have been wearing it for few months now and I'm feeling great. I noticed I have been sleeping better. Everyone in the office is so helpful. I requested for a treatment estimate and Angel emailed me right away with the cost. I had more questions regarding the appliance and she was super nice, patience and helpful. Everyone here is super knowledgeable and nice. This is a great place that you should definitely go to! read more

Dr. Puno is a true artist, her work should be in the Louvre! She and Marissa were an absolute delight and they fixed my chipped tooth in no time. It's a recurring problem from a bike accident I had over 20 years ago and I've had several dentists repair it. She listened to my concerns and ultimately was able to make my teeth look better than they did before! I was also able to get an appointment within 24 hours. I will never go anywhere else! read more

This review is from a real patient and not a competing business but a patient who has genuinely been harmed by the Dr. Mary Puno. **************************************************************************************** This review strangely keeps disappearing even though it's completely true and protected by California Civil Statute 425.16, for the purpose of consumer protection! This doctor deserves negative 5 stars! YELP'S ALGORITHMS WORK BY MOVING ALL THE REAL REVIEWS AT THE VERY BOTTOM AND ARE OFTEN INCORRECTLY PLACED IN THE NOT RECOMMENDED FIELDS. THIS IS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE REAL REVIEWS AND ARE THE MOST READ. :-) **************************************************­************************************** http://www.casp.net **************************************************­************************************** The unbelievably traumatic and life altering experience I've had at this disgusting place has to be told to everyone. I was given shady diagnosis by Mary Pauline Tanedo Puno Valdez and had cavities identified for existing fillings that one month prior was not detected by another dentists. In addition, she took a 100% healthy tooth and destroyed it by causing irreparable damage and long term loss of tooth. It was fishy because these diagnoses were made without x-rays and through her own magnifying glass. The damage had already been done, and I switched dentists immediately before you could crown a tooth which later was determined by other dentists that were not necessary. It infuriated me when I found out she identified a gross number of cavities for this particular couple in which she didn't know they were related. But they discovered that her diagnosis of massive amounts of cavities were fake through a second opinion!!! I have to live with severe physical, emotional, and financial losses because of the work of this person, and not surprisingly dentists make their money not by conservative proven techniques but by fillings and crowns, disgusting how lives can be destroyed. These positive reviews you need to be very careful about who writes them, Ms. Puno and her husband in the past had posted 5 star reviews for this business before Yelp deleted them. I am glad for the presence of Yelp if I would have known prior my life would not have turned out for the worse, hopefully someone else can be helped. This is a public website used for public consumption and all comments by users regardless of which business is protected by the First Amendment and by California's legislation on "anti-slapp" in protection of users' rights. No exceptions Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Friendly staff, timely appointments, state of the art machinery, and a relaxing atmosphere make this one of two dentists offices I've ever been in that have not given me a panic attack. The staff itemizes your estimate for dental work and the dentist doesn't push you to get things done that aren't urgent. The hygienists are thorough and personable. Dr. Puno is very friendly and EXTREMELY gentle. I love that she explains everything she is doing - she really put me at ease when I had to get a few fillings done - she even showed them to me with her high tech camera. She explained to me all of the things I might notice the next few days post filling - what to worry about and when to call her. The only thing that is sore is my cheek from being stretched a lot (I have a tiny mouth). I really appreciated that. Five stars! read more

Excellent, excellent, in every respect. I've been going to Dr. Puno's office for 10+ years. She is a caring, expert, professional, sweet doctor with a friendly, efficient staff. I have never had even the hint of a bad experience there. By all means, trust them to take care of you. I've seen every hygienist and assistant as well as every other doctor in the practice and the endodontist who they refer to. All are superb. read more

I am sooo glad I found Dr. Puno and her office! I came to her with my Invisalign case and have been seeing her every two weeks. She is awesome. Here's why (in a random order): * no unnecessary procedures and reasonable prices * close to my office in downtown SF * friendly staff and very relaxing atmosphere * timely appointments and very flexible with changes in my schedule * great cleaning appointments with personal recommendations * Dr. Puno is very professional and attentive ... she'll be patient with you and will answer any questions you might have read more

I was going to to a dentist before that could not get my crown in properly. She tried and failed 3 times! A crown is just uncomfortable but by the 3rd time you are a nervous wreck. Then I luckily found Dr. Puno who was in my plan. She not only did the crown the first time but in one visit because they make the crowns there. Usually, you don't need a temporary. Dr. Puno is very gentle and very caring. She's no longer in my plan, but I just can't switch to another dentist. I also had Dr. Puno straighten my teeth. She's so nice that you don't mind going to see her every 2 weeks. She really seems to love her work. Kudos to Bernadette too. She does a great job with the appointments and the insurance. read more

Dr. Puno is really nice and competent. She explains everything in detail and is very welcoming. I never felt like I was going to suffer during a procedure, she managed to take care of me really well. The hygienists are also great and front desk is really helpful and nice. read more

Dr. Pauline Puno, in my opinion, does not merit the 5 star ratings she has received. Although I have been going to her practice for several years, she had only done evaluations of my mouth. I kept returning because I liked the exceptional work done by one of their hygienist, Vanessa, who sadly is no longer there. On June 2017, I finally agreed to have the crown work done to a tooth Dr. Puno had been recommending needed one because it had a crack and that it could get infected over time making it necessary to maybe have a root canal. I told her I was not experiencing any pain or problem whatsoever with this tooth but that a root canal is not something I would like to go through, so gave the go ahead to do the crown. Well, after the temporary crown was put in, it was one problem after another. I had to return for adjustments 6 times for pain that was so unbearable I had to take 2 Advil every 8-10 hours every single day (not good for my kidneys). The adjustments consisted of her continued grinding of the tooth while it was cemented in my mouth in order to get the right fit for the bite. I not only had to endure the injections to anesthetist the tooth which on several occasions she had to do over because it wasn't working, 2 hour sessions on the friggin chair, a tooth so traumatized by the grinding, but as well the long drive from Vallejo to SF and back sitting in at least 1 hour traffic on the way back, paying toll for 3 bridges. You can imagine I was very upset! On the last day of adjustment which would make it the 7th time, after continued grinding to adjust the bite, she told me that there was a problem with the porcelain crown, that it had a bubble which could lead to bacteria possibly sipping into the tooth and that we will need to remove it and do the work all over again. She apologized and said that the crown could be made at their office at no extra charge. OMG, I said there was no way I would have this do over and not especially under her care and requested she stop everything. She offered a free teeth whitening for all the pain and suffering I had experienced. I told her I did not want to come back and would try and find another dentist to fix this issue and wanted a refund of my money. This journey took over 4 months to fix. I finally found a dentist I used to go to who had moved to Pleasanton and she had no problem with replacing the crown in one sitting. So although Dr. Puno's bedside mannerism is well liked, I do not believe she is a competent dentist and I don't wish my nightmare on anyone. The irony is their practice is called "Cosmetic Dentistry" which would tell you that this is a practice with skilled cosmetic dentists and my experience was not a good one with Dr. Puno. I will no longer be returning as a patient of hers or anyone else at that practice. read more

Dr. Puno is great. She is kind, her manners are great and her skills are superior. Her staff is very talented and friendly.

The BEST support staff....the BEST dentists! I wouldn't think of going anywhere else.

I have a tough time going to the dentist. I can't breath correctly through my nose, I always have a cough from my medication, and I am uncomfortable being contrained and tilted back. I basically "white knuckle " grip the chair arms to get through the appointment. I'm suprised any dentist would want me. Dr Puno is a perfect fit for me, very patient and considerate. Great hygenist at this office, too. Bernadette at the front desk is extremely helpful, read more

I am deathly afraid of the dentist, but Dr. Puno is very gentle and super nice. She put a crown on one of my teeth and there was no pain at all. The hygenist is really nice too. She does a very thorough job in cleaning and even cleaned areas that my old dental hygenist missed when I got some root planing done. I think she is as gentle as she could have been considering that root planing is pretty uncomfortable. read more

My coworker referred me to Dr. Puno. I was going to another dentist for years and little did I know that my former dentist was not in my network. Ugh, I could I have been so foolish! So my buddy/coworker referred me to go see Dr. Puno. Even better for me she is in my network. I've seen Dr. Puno numerous times due to my first time meeting her when getting my 6 month teeth cleaning to having a crown replaced and then having two fillings replaced. She is awesome! She is thorough, passionate with her work and really cares about her patients. I have never had a dentist call me a couple days later to ask me how I am doing and if everything is okay. She's a super star in my book. read more

Always hated going to the dentist. Dr. Puno is awesome. Her kind staff is amazing with phenomenal bedside manner. As a person with a mild phobia of instruments being stuck in my mouth and on your teeth I have virtually felt no pain in some of the procedures that I have had done here. Her office is equipped with THE MOST state-of-the-art equipment that guarantees you the best the market has to offer which means a lot because there are plenty of places that don't bother to invest in those sorts of things which you will be eventually paying more for in time in the long run. This is literally the best dentist I have ever been to in my life. read more

Love Dr. Puno and her staff! I've been going to her for 5 plus years! They do a good job with reminding you prior to the appointment or there is a hefty charge if you missed it. read more

Now that I live in the bay area, Dr. Puno is my new dentist. I could not be happier with her. She is so wonderful. I have been going to her for the past 7 years. Here's my breakdown of my experiences with her. Pros: 1) Dr. Puno's dental work is amazing. I had a tooth that had a horrible silver filling in it. She removed that ugly thing and did a partial porcelain crown. It looks and feels great. I have model teeth now. 2) The bedside manner of Dr. Puno, her dental assistant (her name escapes me now), and her hygienist Vanessa are impeccable. Front desk staff is great too! They always greet me by my first name. We always have great conversations about normal stuff. It takes my mind off of my anxiety, which is a huge relief. Dr. Puno walks me through everything that she is going to do. There are no surprises. 3) She takes insurance, which is great! She provides estimates of what your portion of the bill will be prior to get major work done. She is amazing for even doing this, god knows I would never fool with insurance! 4) No wait. They usually take me as soon as I come in the door. 4) Nice waiting room. Never a crowd and lots of entertaining magazines to look at. Cons: 1) Everybody loves Dr. Puno - so getting an appointment can be tricky sometimes. Everybody also loves Vanessa - her hygienist (who also only works part-time). Sometimes, I will have to get the cleaning and dental exams on a different day because of the scheduling. But I love this office so much I am willing to make the sacrifice. 2) it can get chilly in the Embacadero center, and can get chilly in the waiting room. Be mindful of that and bring layers, especially if you are having work done! Bottom line: I would highly recommend Dr. Puno to any and every one. She is the best dentist and has the best staff period. read more

This was my first time visiting Cosmetic Dentistry Associates. I committed the unforgivable sin of arriving 20 minutes late. I got there and the receptionist I spoke to 20 minutes earlier about my delay recognized me and welcomed me to the office. I filled out the usual forms and waited about 5 minutes before I was ushered in to the exam room. Once x-rays were done, Dr. Puno came in and examined my teeth. She is one of the nicest people (let alone dentists) I have ever met. She wasn't annoyed with my tardiness (which I knew was a general inconvenience to the staff) and she did not seem to be in any kind of rush. She took time explaining the different things going on with my teeth and didn't hesitate to answer my 10,000 questions. She was very thorough. Then came Dina, the dental hygienist. I was to have a deep cleaning on my lower right "quadrant." Anyone whose had a deep cleaning knows that they can be very painful because they really dig around your gums. It was painful, but an absolute pleasure because Dina was extremely personable and was constantly making sure I wasn't in too much pain. She asked if I wanted to be numbed for the procedure, and when I decided against it she didn't push it on me at all. She was very patient with my slobbering and constant suction. It took about an hour, but it really didn't feel that long. I have another appointment coming up soon, and I am really glad that I found a great dental office close to my job. I strongly recommend Dr. Puno and Dina for all your cosmetic dentistry needs. read more