Dr.Pontikas really is amazing! gentle care and kind. I was recommended to him by a friend and I'm so glad I listened to her. he walked me through everything before and day Of surgery. And Everyone in office is so nice. read more

I was scheduled for gum replacement surgery with Dr. Pontikas, with anesthesia provided by Dr. Khan. Leading up to my procedure, I was quoted an anesthesiologist fee of $800 per hour with an expected 1.5-hour surgery, totaling $1,600. However, when I spoke with Dr. Khan three days before my surgery, I pointed out a $400 discrepancy in the quote. He stated that this was a mistake and that his flat rate was $1,600, regardless of time. I calmly explained that I was simply trying to clarify the cost, as I had saved for this procedure based on the information provided. I also mentioned that after the surgery, I planned to leave a review about my experience. At no point did I say I would report anything to the dental or medical board--only that I would share my honest experience online. Shortly after, Dr. Pontikas called me, stating that Dr. Khan told him I planned to file a complaint with the medical board--which was completely false. I reiterated exactly what I had said, but Dr. Pontikas insisted that he had "no reason not to believe" Dr. Khan. He then stated that because of this, he no longer felt comfortable moving forward with my procedure. To be clear, I never threatened to file a complaint with any board, nor was I aggressive or unreasonable. I was simply advocating for financial transparency. Instead of resolving the discrepancy professionally, my words were twisted into something I never said, and I was denied medical care as a result. Patients deserve clarity in pricing and the ability to express concerns without fear of retaliation. I am leaving this review because transparency matters, and I believe future patients should be aware of how this practice handles concerns. read more

Pontikas Implants & Periodontics - Quoted Invoice From Office - Periodontists Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Dr. Pontikas did a gum graft procedure for me and I was very pleased with the results. The work met all of my expectations and I was very happy with the value and quality of care. The procedure was completed in one visit and follow up visits at 2 wks, 6 wks and four months concluded all the work. The work was required to address a dangerously exposed lower incisor tooth root. I had waited many years until my Dentist strongly recommended the issue be addressed and they referred me to Dr. Pontikas. I was 60 yrs old when the procedure was done. I'm a cash customer and the Pontikas office was very accomodating, minimal grief. I felt the cost of the work was a very good value. read more

My son and I came to see Dr. Pontikas after being referred to him from our dentist. My son is 20 now and he was born without a tooth next to his 2 front teeth (#10). He was having issues his gums thinning. Dr. Pontikas did a gum graft which allowed the gum to regenerate. A few months later after frustration with the implant that was put in with another dentist, we saw Dr. Pontikas for a consultation. He reviewed my son's case thoroughly and consulted with an orthodontist as well as a prosthodontist to see what needed to be done to fix an implant that was not done correctly. After much consideration, we decided to go with Dr. Pontikas' recommendation to remove his implant. It is hard to explain how he made us feel like we were more than just another patient. His staff was very thorough and told us the cost up front so that there were not any surprises. Dr. Pontikas removed the implant and very willingly gave me his personal cell phone if we had any issues afterward. We were happy there were not any issues and soon after my son was put into braces for about 6 months. This is not an easy decision for an older teenager to have to do but we knew we were in good hands. After the root and his teeth were aligned properly, he was given the green light to have the new implant put in. I am pleased to say that the procedure was successful and my son will have a crown put on so he can have a beautiful smile once again. At our last visit, my son wanted to thank Dr. Pontikas and staff, so he wrote him a thank you card that was very heartfelt. It shows how much his care meant to my son (as well as myself). I am sharing this so if anyone is not sure about the kind of service you will be getting that this review will hopefully ease your mind. You will be in great hands with Dr. Pontikas and his amazing staff! read more

Pontikas Implants & Periodontics - Note from me to Dr. Pontikas - Periodontists Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Beyond exceptional, not just as a Doctor but as a person who truly strives to understand the patient first hand. Extremely knowledgable in his field and grasps the human element of interaction with his patients. Grateful to have individuals such as Dr. Pontikas and his staff carry on values important to so many in this field. read more

Just wanted to say that if you need an implant or any periodontics work done look no further. Dr Pontikas and his staff are all very professional and put the patient at ease with gentle words of encouragement and a caring touch. He did an implant on me previously and now I had some skin grafts to fix receding gums. I was very nervous prior to my appointment and with the great explanation of all he was going to do and the constant words of encouragement during the procedure made it seem like no big deal at all... I can't thank Dr Pontikas and Leanna his assistant enough. You were both stellar. But it really starts when you walk in the front door. I don't know where he finds such awesome employees but they all make you feel welcome and seem to love their jobs and taking care of all of us. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart read more

I cannot put into words, the amount of respect and appreciation i have for this man, and his staff. Im sad to see that his page does not have more reviews, as he is a true genius and master at what he does. The power of Yelp is proven time and time again, when I find businesses like his, strictly off of reviews. His is NO exception. I found myself unfortunately in need of a Periodontist, after significant bone/gum loss on my inner lower center gum line. What makes it even worse, is that my choice to have a metal tongue ring for 10 years was the main cause of damage. I was VERY upset with myself, the semi irreversible damage I caused all those years without even knowing it. To start from the beginning, I was made aware of these issues, after having veneers done on my top teeth. My amazing dentist (who i also have reviewed on here), pointed out that we would not be able to do veneers on the bottom 4 teeth until i saw a periodontist and had work done. I was not only scared to find out the damage, but the costs to have things fixed, if they were even fixable. Now, i trust my dentist. It took me a LONG time to find him, and i respect his work and referrals. HOWEVER, after looking up the specialist he referred me to, and seeing not so nice reviews on here, i decided to take things into my own hands, and start the search on my own, on here. I found Dr. Pontikas's page, and even though he didnt have the MOST reviews, they were strong ones, and he had a location convenient to me. I was anxious to get in, and get things over with. I thought the work needed would be thousands of dollars, and painful. I was pleased right away with the welcoming feel of the place. Coincidentally, the receptionist's husband is best friends with my Uncle who lives in Michigan (she recognized my last name). So of course her and I hit it off right away. Upon meeting Dr Pontikas, i realized he had my sons name which is a unique uncommon name, so i of course HAD to ask him the meaning, so i could finally relay to my son what his name stood for. 20 minutes of chatting later, found out it means the great one, or first in line. LOVE IT. Totally off topic, i know. But, what a great intro to a new doctor, a personal side, a fun side, not a money hungry cold side. I instantly loved him, and knew i made the right choice. I never once felt like he was rushing the consult. He thoroughly explained the surgery, the reason my damage occurred, and the long term goal of the work he wanted to do. He also made it clear that the lower center gum grafting is one of the hardest mouth areas to do, and that the surgery is not a guaranteed success. I felt i had no choice but to risk it and find out its success. I also am pleased to say the cost was WAY less than i expected, even with my insurance not covering all of the surgery. I booked for a few weeks out, and now am fully recovered, with 2 check ups down. I will warn you, it is pretty painful when the numbing wears off. The pain meds help, but you really need to baby the area for quite a while. It was hard to give up pizza, let me tell you. The results both the doctor and i are pleased with, and i think i healed beautifully and better than i expected. its not as good as what my gums would have been had i not had the tongue ring for 10 years, but its sooooo much better than what i came in with. The area is now strong enough for me to have veneers or bonding done to it, and i will only need to come back for a yearly check up. I HIGHLY recommend anyone in need of a Periodontist. He is personal, professional, honest, and centrally located. You wont be disappointed i promise! read more

I had a gum graft done by Dr. Pontikas on 8/12/19 , and I highly recommend him! Dr. Pontikas explained to me the whole process before he began, and made sure I was comfortable. The whole procedure lasted about 40 minutes, and I didn't feel any discomfort or pain. Once I got home, and the anesthesia wore off I felt some pain, but nothing that I couldn't tolerate. Dr. Pontikas even called me later that day to check in on me. Overall Dr. Pontikas, and his whole staff are super friendly, and professional. read more

The team at Pontikas is amazing! From the initial meeting where they explain everything in detail to the walk into the surgery, they all make you feel comfortable and supported. I am a huge baby when it comes to dentistry and I would recommend them to anyone who has to have something serious done to your teeth. read more

It's hard to put into words how wonderful Dr. Pontikas and his staff are. Before coming to Dr. Pontikas, my dentist referred me to see a different periodontist regarding my bottom gum recession. The periodontist said I needed a gum graft and we scheduled it for last Decemeber. The day before surgery, the office cancelled my appointment saying the doctor was out of town. It was very frustrating. HOWEVER...I am so grateful for this happening because this is was what led me to find Dr. Pontikas. I found his business on yelp and scheduled a consultation right away. My first visit was much more thorough than my previous visit to the other periodontist. Dr. Pontikas took the time to examine my entire mouth and then explained in detail what gum recession is, the different types, and what procedures would be a good match for my case of recession. I came back a few weeks later to have my gum graft done. I was very nervous going into it because I had heard the procedure and recovery could be painful. Dr. Pontikas and the staff member assisting him were so kind and gentle throughout the entire procedure. They truly made me feel comfortable and ook amazing care of me. When the procedure was complete, Dr. Pontikas made sure to go over healing instructions with me again and even gave me his personal cell phone number should I need anything once I got home. Later that evening, Dr. Pontikas called me to check up on how I was feeling and I thought that was so wonderful of him to do. It is now about 3 months since my surgery and my gums have healed beautifully. There truly is nothing negative to say about Dr. Pontikas and his staff. From the moment you walk into their office, they will make you feel as though you have been friends for years. If you are looking for a periodontist, I would highly recommend Dr. Pontikas. He has a tremendous amount of experience and he is a genuinely kind person as well. Thank you to the staff for always being so kind and thank you Dr. Pontikas for taking such great care of me. read more

It is not in my DNA to write thank you letters to doctors under my care when a mutual and friendly understanding already exist between patient and doctor. However, when I do write a thank you note to a doctor, it's gotta be something that is unique with a point of difference and needs to be shared with others Dr. Pontika listens to your concerns and takes a genuine personal interest in all endeavors of his unselfish disiplince to help all of his patients. This is where Dr. Pontikas shines the most! He lays out and maps his surgical procedures and optlions in lay terminology with such delicacy of mannerisms and understanding that simply puts the patient in a calm like confidence that the entire sit-down-with-the-doc a most pleasant experience. A doctor can be a good doctor, but not a good surgeon. A surgeon can be a good surgeon, but not a good doctor. Dr. Pontikas is BOTH a good surgeon and a good doctor. Hands down! He goes out of his way to always smile and treats you like he really cares. I am 86 years old and have had many dental health care dentist in mny life, and I can personally evaluate just how extraordinary and talented Dr. Pontikas is an what he does best: Being a good doctor and being a good surgeon! read more

Because my review is so over-the-top positive, you may be thinking I'm one of those people who likes everything and everyone. The reality is that I'm a grumpy, picky, 55 year old man who's a bit of a perfectionist. I NEVER give false compliments. Dr. Pontikas and his entire staff are really as good as I'm about to relate. No one enjoys having dental work done, especially me. I broke a tooth while traveling (biting into an after-dinner peppermint!) and unfortunately, I damaged it to the point it had to be replaced. My dentist recommended Dr. Pontikas for the extraction/implant. Three years ago, I had an implant done with another Dr. and the overall experience was very good, so I was reluctant to try someone new, but my dentist seemed really confident that I'd be satisfied. A few minutes into my consult visit with Dr. Pontikas, I knew I'd made a good choice. To be candid, I've never had a professional service experience, of any kind, that impressed me so much. The office isn't just clean, it's obviously sanitary and incredibly uncluttered. It shows great care on the part of the office staff. For example, I noticed there was plastic wrap on the handles of the lighting over the chair. It's the type used when new products are shipped and people often forget to take it off. I asked about it, wondering if the equipment was new. It turns out they change it every day - anything that gets touched is cleaned and/or covered on a very regular basis. Dr. Pontikas himself is the type of person who would excel at anything he did. If he had a restaurant, it would be the best you've ever been to. If we was a trash collector, he'd be the best darn trash collector that ever was. His confidence, patience, and willingness to explain everything in whatever detail I wanted made a huge difference in my comfort level. I'm very anxious when it comes to dental work and have always used general anesthesia for everything but the most minor procedures. He felt that I wouldn't need it, so I went without. The surgical procedure itself went very smoothly and I had ZERO discomfort. His entire staff was amazing, helpful, and friendly. His assistant during the procedure, Pam, was highly professional and gave me lots of great advice. The receptionist made me feel like I was visiting friends. Even the person who helped walk me through the financial/insurance details was incredibly friendly and helpful. In fact, even staff who I didn't work with directly went out of their way to say hello and acknowledge me when visiting. The recovery has gone faster than expected, certainly faster that the last time I had an implant with a different Dr.. I even got a call from Dr. Pontikas himself later the same day, from his home, to check on me and make sure everything was going well. Additionally, when I left the office after the procedure, he made sure I had his personal cell number in case I needed anything or had any questions. In summary, this office is simply as good as it gets when it comes to professional dental care. Dr. Pontikas has set a new standard for professionalism, and it shows in every aspect of the patient experience. read more

No one likes to have their teeth worked on but if you have to do it - this is your Doctor. He is kind and gentle and very good at explaining the process. I highly recommend Dr Pontikas and his staff. read more

This office is absolutely incredible. They are the most compassionate staff. I have a lot of jaw issues and was so worried I wouldn't be able to get a gum graft and this doctor made it happen. He is so calming and kind during my visits and on surgery day him and his staff made me feel at home. I couldn't say enough great things about this office. I highly highly recommend them. read more

I had gone to another periodontist and decided to make the switch to Dr. Pontikas. He and the entire staff were extremely professional. Everything was carefully explained. I would highly recommend this periodontist for any work. read more

I am driven to let the world know of a doctor and staff second to none. I was referred to Dr. Pontikas by my primary dentist for numerous advanced procedures. As a person who does not particularly like dentists or doctors in general, I was a little skeptical about the whole thing. When I walked into his office, I noticed how clean (immaculate) everything was and then I was greeted by the friendliest staff I have ever met. They were concerned, helpful, encouraging and offered periodic comic relief. I have found myself occasionally dropping in to say hello and to connect with them without an appointment. They make you want to be there. When I met Dr. Pontikas, I was nervous and not sure how I was going to feel about what he had to say or if I would even have the courage to complete the procedures that were recommended to me. He was so gentle, knowledgeable, kind, and thorough when he gave me the specifics of each procedure, I truly wanted to get started that day. I had no doubt he was being honest with me and would take good care of me. It is a 18 months later and he has completed almost all of the procedures I am needing. I feel I would be remiss if I didn't let others know that such great care and service is available for anyone needing Dr. Pontikas' services. He is professional, kind, courteous, extremely knowledgeable and educated, and truly cares about his patients. Every procedure I had, he made at least 2 follow-up phone calls to check how I was doing. Just recently, I stopped by the office to set up an appointment. He saw me at the front desk and invited me to his office. After a heart to heart chat, he took me to a dental chair and completed the examination right then and there. I felt important, cared about and ecstatic I didn't have to make an appointment. Last night at approximately 8 PM, I received an unexpected call from Dr. Pontikas. He said he was calling to congratulate me on the Kansas City Royals World Series win. I was surprised and amazed. First, that he remembered my passion for the Royals, and second that he would take the time to call me. I was deeply touched and validated to the depth of this man. I couldn't respect and appreciate him anymore than I currently do. P.S. Thanks to the office staff, especially Sonny and JoAnn, who were stellar and supportive. Your sense of humor and depth of caring does not go unnoticed. Sonny- thanks for the calls supporting my Royals:) read more

WOW! I was treated with such care my 1st visit. The staff was very personable and friendly. Each person I had contact with acknowledged me and engaged in conversation. Dr. Pontikas has a GREAT personality. We made an awesome connection, we both love to cook. read more

I recently needed a dental procedure that required a high level of expertise, involving my sinus cavity as well as my mouth. I thoroughly researched all available periodontists in the area & found the costs similar, so with such complexity, why not use the best ? Dr. Pontikas is not only a periodontist, but teaches at a dental college as well. I really dragged my feet on having this procedure done, as my life was filled with a litany of bad dental experiences. I met with Dr. Pontikas prior to the surgery, so I could get a feel for him as a person, & sense his trustworthiness. On the eve preceding the surgery, I was extremely apprehensive, & looked him up again online. When I saw his photo, all worry left me, as I knew I was looking at the face of an honest man. My trust was well placed. He & his staff are very professional, he does a thorough followup for months after the actual procedure. Thank you Dr. Pontikas ! read more

In order to appreciate this review, you (reader) need to know a couple of things about (me) the reviewer. 1) I generally do not write reviews; I adhere to the old school philosophy: "opinions are like behinds, everybody has one." That philosophy holds that since opinions are so common, yet vary so much, sharing opinions generally is a waste of everyone's time. Therefore I don't condemn or praise unless the situation is extraordinary. I'm happy to share my positive and negative experiences with my friends when asked but I'm reticent to share them with a wider audience unless the circumstances are extraordinary. In short, it is highly unlikely that you will find a single comment by me anywhere about anything. 2) I wasn't careful with my oral health growing up; the result is that I have had a need for implants for four of my teeth. 3) I'm a big baby when it comes to pain. I suspect that most people over 30 years old have experienced or know someone who has experienced real pain at the hands of a dentist. Why would I take the time to write a review of Pontikas Implants & Periodontics, a dental office? My first dental implant was one of the most painful physical experiences of my life. When I complained about the pain, the dentist responded that he had recommended that I have general anesthesia. The implication was that I deserved the pain because I didn't choose to be unconscious when he performed the surgery. As you can imagine, I'd never go back to that office under any circumstances. However, my oral health demanded that I do something to improve it. My general dentist, Dr Jorgensen who is very good dentist by the way, recommended three dental practices that specialize in implants. I thank God that I chose Pontikas Implants & Periodontics. At my initial consultation the entire Pontikas Implants & Periodontics office staff (Joan the receptionist, Pam (the dental assistant), Tristan (who coordinated my care) and Sunny (the office manager) seemed to be dedicated to ensuring that I knew that they were happy to serve me. Then I met Dr. Pontikas who is an unassuming, caring and inquisitive man. Below, is the text of an email that I shared with friends within a week of my surgery (more than a year ago). After about four visits to monitor the two implants that he performed I visited him again today (October 15, 2015) to consult about the last of the four implants that I needed. I can tell you that my esteem for Dr. Pontikas and his staff has only increased: Here is the text of the email in quotation marks: "I'm sending this email (mail merge) to several of my friends because I think you might find it useful. I just had two dental implants. I hope your teeth are such that you never have need of the service but should the need ever arise I highly recommend the periodontist, Dr. Pontikas, who did mine. I readily confess to being a "big baby" when it comes to pain and I didn't experience any. I think I have the best dental team available in Dr. Jorgensen ("Dr. J" of Squaw Peak Dental) and Dr. Pontikas. I had the implants on Thursday evening and 24-Hours later Dr. Pontikas called from his home to check up on me. I'm sure he was home because his 22-month old son was jealous of his dads attention. The entire implant process was no more painful than a dental cleaning and my dental hygienist, Elena, is very good; she has never caused me a moment's pain. Some of my friends are particular about the credentials of their doctors. If you are, then note he is always at-the-head-of-the-class ... meaning he teaches at the dental school. As you are aware, I rarely boast about anything but in this instance, I think the info may be of value to you so I'm sharing. He has no idea that I'm sharing this with my friends and I obviously will get nothing for sharing it. Again, I hope you never have need of the service but should the need arise then I don't think you can go wrong using him. He was great! I plan or replacing a bridge win an implant and you can bet that I go to him for the implant. His office is at 301 East Bethany Home Road " I just read the 5 star review by Ron C. dated 5/7/2014; I concur with his evaluation. I love the line from the movie Road House, "Opinions vary" because it is generally true and it is a convenient way of avoiding a fruitless debate. I have observed that the line doesn't hold true when it comes to Pontikas Implants & Periodontics. Everyone who has had dealings with the practice, that I'm aware of, agree. Pontikas Implants & Periodontics IS OUTSTANDING! read more

Dr Pontikas took me under his care a few years ago when an orthodontists cracked the base of my tooth during a failed root canal attempt. Since the damage was extensive the only remedy was an implant. He explained the procedure thoroughly using plain English with no Latin mumbo jumbo which many other medical professionals use to cover up their inadequacies. During the procedure and the follow up care I could not help but be impressed by the professional thoroughness of his work and that of his staff. The members of his staff were friendly, courteous and very helpful all the time. Now I gladly go back to him every year to check and follow up on the implant as well as to get second opinions every time my regular dentist suggests a procedure I am either unfamiliar or uncomfortable with. I have come to trust Dr. Pontikas to give me an honest thorough and up to date recommendation which I always follow even when the issue does not involve his particular specific specialty. He is well read and is knowledgeable in all aspects of dentistry. He is polite, respectful and totally appropriate in his dealings with patients. I like it very much that he spends time teaching at the dental school to pass on his knowledge to future generation of dentists. I do recommend him for family and friends with no reservations. I have the highest respect for him. I also liked his classy personal touch of sending fresh cut flowers with me to take home to my wife. read more

I can't praise Dr. Pontikas and the staff at his office enough, I'm so glad I found him here on Yelp. He is so kind and in my initial consultation took nearly an hour to explain every detail about gum grafts, why gums recede, and more... he really made it a personal experience and took the time to answer all of my questions so I really felt comfortable. I had 5 teeth that needed grafts, and he walked through what options were best for me. I then worked with Sunny, his office manager, to figure out a treatment plan (I did one half of my mouth last year and the other half this year to maximize on using my insurance money because the insurance cost per tooth is nearly $900, and never felt pressured to have all of the work sooner...Dr. Pontikas actually assured me that it would be fine to delay the other half of my mouth to the following year). Dr. Pontikas is skilled and the procedure was over before I knew it (literally took less than 30 minutes both times) and I got excellent results. He really went above and beyond by calling me directly outside of office hours after both surgeries to check on how I was doing. Everyone at the office is helpful and sweet, from giving all of the patients roses in February to sending a new patient welcome card to appointment reminder calls and emails. Overall this office and Dr. Pontikas are truly excellent! read more

My regular dentist put in a 4 unit anterior bridge for me in 2011. As part of the new dental work, he referred me to Dr. Pontikas to have an implant on either side of this bridge. My dentist could have done the implants, but he referred me to Dr. Pontikas because he is superb with implants. I am really glad that he did because Dr. Pontikas is a kind and caring gentleman, as well as a really excellent periodontist. I just went in for my fourth annual checkup, and everything is fine. There are many things that can go wrong with implants, and we, the general public, have little knowledge of this. I would not want just any dentist who believed he or she could do implants to do mine. I am glad that my own dentist sent me to the most highly qualified specialist he could. Everything has worked out fine, and I know that Dr. Pontikas would take care of any problems that might arise in the future. Few people deserve 5 star ratings. Dr. Pontikas does! read more