I had a deep cleaning done in two parts this week. The first part was done on Monday and the second part was done today. The first part on Monday was traumatic for me, because the dentist that was doing the deep cleaning had trouble numbing me. He repeatedly walked out of the room to ask for help because I was in a lot of pain and could feel everything. To his credit, he was trying, and I appreciated his bedside manner, and his transparency throughout my entire visit. I overheard him talking to Dr. Yajima ( i saw her and recognized her voice) He must've left the room at least a good three times to ask her for help and yet she still didn't come into the room and numb me. I wish I was exaggerating when I say that he probably gave me more than 20 injections to try and keep me numb. I don't know why it wasn't working as well, but it would wear off after 15 to 20 minutes (his words, not mine). Today, when I went in for the left side of my mouth deep cleaning, I had Dr. Yajima Doing it. I tried to explain to her what was going on on Monday she ignored me and said she is trained. She's very good at her job. She knows what she's doing and she's going to numb me well. That didn't sit well with me because she just dismissed my concerns. Although she did a good job of numbing me, she had to repeatedly numb me. It wasn't as many shots like i had on Monday but She did have to numb me several times throughout the procedure. During the procedure, she told me I needed some Xanax to calm down and continued to chastise me for being nervous and anxious when she had to numb me. I did not like that at all that is not how you treat your patients. I am a nurse, and I would never treat my patience like that. Also, during my deep cleaning, she stopped twice to berate her staff, one being her dental assistant, and the other being the office manager Kellen over documenting something. She really stopped my deep cleaning to yell at two staff members over documenting something! She had this I am right you are wrong attitude and scowl on her face the entire time. It was incredibly unprofessional, and I did not like the toxicity in that environment. I do feel sorry for the staff having to deal with a bully for a boss. You can see on their faces that they are all afraid that she will fly off the handle and they will lose their jobs. She is very toxic and I didn't appreciate the Lack of bedside manner, unprofessionalism, and lack of compassion that I saw in that woman's eyes. Not only that but they charged me $28 for her to write a prescription for mouthwash. I kid you not. The office manager is great. Kellen has the professionalism, compassion and empathy that I wish Dr. Yajima had. I truly was not a fan of how she treated her staff and how she treated me. And if she was so good at her job then she should've assisted the other dentist on Monday when she saw that he was struggling. read more

I wish zero stars was an option. This was one of the only nearby dental practices that took my insurance so I wound up going there quite a few times, but every single time there was some sort of issue. I had appointments at 2 PM where I sat in an exam room until 6, was numbed up multiple times with the gel they generally use before Novocain, only to have the dentist come in, give Novocain, and start to do dental work and then tell me some reason why it couldn't be done that day. I still have a drilled crack in the back of one tooth where she started working but it was too sensitive so she wanted me to take antibiotics. Which would have been fine if I hadn't already been there 4 hours waiting. Just stay away from here. Dentist double and triple books herself and your appointment will be many hours of waiting with potentially no work done. read more

I've been looking for a new dentist ever since my old dentist is no longer in my network. Smile solutions came up highly recommended from my insurance provider so I figured I would give them a try. Getting an appointment was a bit of a hassle, I had to wait about a month and a half from when I booked it. On the day of my appointment they called to ask if could come in earlier. Unfortunately I could not and they had to push my appointment back another 20 days.... So it took me about a total of 2 months to finally get to my appointment. Checking in at my appointment they seemed more interested in me answering the Covid-19 questionnaire than any dental history or info from my old dentist. They do make you wear a mask still so be prepared with one when you arrive. The x-rays were by far the most annoying and uncomfortable I've ever had at a dental office. It was so bad I almost got up and just walked out. The technician seemed to be very inexperienced as they shoved the mouthpiece down my throat to the point that I could barely bite down to hold it steady. For the record I'm really good with keeping still at the dentist. They kept screwing up and having to do redo x-rays. It must have taken a least 45 minutes just to get x-rays done. I had so many taken I wouldn't be surprised if I got superpowers. The hygienist cleaning my teeth was a little too gentle and the teeth cleaning didn't seem thorough. Then I finally got to meet Dr. Yajima. She was nice and rather quick and to the point for me. She was rougher than what I've been used to on the scraping and poking around my gums that I was bleeding quite a bit. Was actually surprised how much when she showed me the pictures she took of my teeth while discussing treatment options. She recommended a deep cleaning, gum treatment, and a night guard. I know my teeth aren't the best but I still take care of them daily. So I declined on those services. Overall I wasn't really satisfied. I didn't feel welcomed as a new patient and I felt like I was trying to be sold all these services. I guess I'll keep my search going for a new dentist. read more

Visited the Dentist today. Routine cleaning took two hours. The hygienist took her time and cleaned the teeth well which is not fun but I drink lot of coffee but do not smoke. They have video camera and showed me the pictures while discussing post cleaning. The office is conveniently located and plenty of parking. the office is like three years old and looks and fell clean The place is like Beverly Hills; upscale, dressed up with upscale staff. read more

Dr. Kana Yajima has been my dentist since I was 6 years old, I am now 21 years old. I to this day refuse to go to any other dentist because she watched me grow up and I trust she will make sure I leave the chair with a great smile. read more

I called the other day to schedule a regular cleaning, only to find out that because I have HMO, that the only time slots available for HMO patients is between 1-2 pm. That doesn't work for me, since I have full time job. It's not easy to be discriminated against just because I don't have PPO. read more

Great overall service, a lot of good walk through information and follow-up. Checking in is easy, and the team is great about giving information. read more

Horrible. Staff is not friendly, office is not clean, dentist is rough with your teeth. I was also told that I had no cavities after X-rays and a cleaning, only to find out a few months later from a different dentist that I had 3 cavities. I've also called at least three times to get my X-rays sent to me and nothing has been sent. read more

I brought my client Ed in for a routine check up. They're so fast and thorough. I would definitely recommend to others.

I was on a road trip with my family a few weeks ago and had a filling fall out. I had to see someone immediately to get it filled. I called the office and the front desk staff was so nice and understanding of my situation and was able to get me in right away. Dr Yajima saw me and fixed me up. I must say, she has been the most genuine, gentle Doctor I have ever come to meet. This office is a true gem and recommend her for your dental needs as she had met mine beyond expectations. I'd like to thank the entire team at Smile Solutions Dental Center!, keep up the wonderful work! I also wanted to comment on the other negative reviews, I'd like to add that everyone has their own opinion and perception based off their personal experience. However, if you never step foot in the office to experience what i have for yourself, you are truly missing out! Very thankful for Dr Yajima and her team! read more

I am a young adult, brush and floss 2x a day, every single day. I had to switch providers because of insurance so this reviews my first appointment. The hygienist was not experienced and I think I was actually scammed by the dentist. I noticed she poked my gums really hard compared to other dentists. I never had bleeding at previous appointments (I go every 6 months) and no bleeding at home, but at smile solutions there was a TON of blood. A TON. Then the dentist recommended arrestin and scared me into getting it. It was 300$ for one tooth. I looked up the medicine online and it's a red flag for a scammer. This link is exactly what I think happened to me https://www.dentalbuzz.com/2014/09/05/arestinredflag/ Now I'm scared she caused damage to my otherwise healthy gums just to get the extra money. Like for real. I never had pain in that gum before and now it's several days later and the pain is still there. I will be going back to my previous dentist and paying out of pocket because this place sucks. read more

Great visit! The whole team was very professional and the dentist was very kind! Will totally recommend this office

Dr Yajima is very friendly, cares about her patients and always goes the extra mile to make sure you get the best dental care possible. She also stays up to date on the latest techniques and technologies so you know you're getting cutting edge care. I've been going to her for years and highly recommend. read more

I've been going to Smile Solutions for several years and enjoy myself every time (if anyone ever equated fun and dental work a thing besides dental professionals...LOL!). I used lived a few blocks away before moving, but still make that trip to come see everyone at Smile Solutions. My teeth and gums have never been healthier . read more

I absolutely enjoy going to Smile Solutions. The staff is very kind & professional, the Dentist extremely thorough, caring, & wants to see everyones teeth/gums in the very best shape they can be. I tuly appreciated everyone caring to ensure I had no pain during my root canal & have been coming back a handful of times since. Thank You to ALL the staff for being the best I have found read more

Dr. YaJima is great. Her staff cares as much as she does. Always looking out for you and your teeth. I recommend her to everyone looking for a dentist!! read more

I had a great experience, the doctor and assistants are very nice and provide all the information you need. I will gladly recommend!

Dr. Yajima should be jailed. I had never been before but I was suspicious when her assistant polished my teeth without having had my cleaning yet. I thought, "I wonder if Dr. Yajima is going to try to sell me this antibiotic treatment she advertises on big posters all over her office. Sure, enough, she comes in, looks in my mouth (doesn't clean my teeth) and says, "You need antibiotic treatment." Then she calls down the hall, "Bring a treatment plan." So, I guess everyone needs the "treatment." I walked out and changed dentists. My new dentist says my teeth and gums look great and I have no issues (and he did a proper cleaning). I hope the licensing people catch up with Dr. Yajima. read more

Truly horrific experience! I am convinced that this practice is very money hungry. Everything felt like a sales pitch. I felt so attacked by all of the COSTLY items listed on "the treatment plan", that I was not sure if I was truly being cared for, or if I was just being scammed. The woman at the front desk has made multiple billing errors, and is so belittling. She made very uncomfortable comments to me to guilt me into getting more work done. When I declined, a hygienist was sent in to also sell me on the treatment. An average time spent at this office=3 hours, most of it just sitting in the chair, waiting for treatment to be done. In the month span, I had to come back multiple times to fix how uncomfortable the ONE treatment I've received. For these reasons, I did not continue with my "treatment plan" and have continued on to another office who completed my dental work at a lower cost and in a very professional manner. read more

Still loving Dr. Y! She is the best! Go check out her new office. It's so modern and welcoming. The new location is perfectly located in downtown Mount Prospect. The staff is all wonderful and helpful. She offers a variety of different services so you can stay in one place for everything!! read more

Awful dentist. They were charge me fictitious claim over $600. You have to double, triple-check your bill statement. Old style and poor treatments, never stop chatting with assistants, dark and not clean office, late reply, yes! HORRIBLE. read more

Dr. Yajima is very knowledgeable, and experienced in many dental specializations. Anyone needing dental work done in the effective manner please keep this in mind above all.Yes, I'm aware that cases of delays, stalling, and especially no reasonable amount of time to learn a patient's medical history do happen anywhere before treatment plans are created. However, that's not the case with Dr. Yajima, and her entire health staff as accomenations are given to match the specific healthcare needs of each individual type of patient.There's a clear, ongoing, and speedy flow of communication established between not only towards the patient, but the patient's own healthcare team to ensure safety. I cannot stress enough how valuable this is to find within the healthcare world as it's not as common as assumed. To have this is one of the most respectable traits a health provider can have. I say this because this shows pride, and in general attention to detail which is another reason for longer office visits, and that's exactly what one should want when it comes to having thorough health examinations.These professional factors show the level of respect the doctor has for her patients by the extra investment of their particular health situation. As someone with a 29 year permanent chronic medical history/condition (now 31) on a continuous academic medical studies path I've experienced both sides of the spectrum.Due to this I can sympathize greatly with the financial, and insurance strain medical issues do bring. But also please understand conflict is also placed on the physician as well, ESPECIALLY regarding dental issues. Although a patient is in need of treatment, often the true effective treatment method needed for a patient's specific healthcare needs is most likely viewed by insurance as a "one size fits all" rejection. When this occurs a block interferes in being able to give certain treatment. Unfortunately, it turns into deciding whether to still continue with the true effective steps, or offer the most often "more than likely patient needs to return constantly treatment" approach. At times this will most likely be less costly, however it might also be less effective. In the long run more out of pocket costs begin due to the increased needed visits based on insurance by not allowing the work to be done the first time in the way it needed to be done. Insurance paying less in covering, saves them the need to pay the higher costs they would lose on financially gaining. This has,and does happen, and can also occur anywhere in general, even if detailed claims are sent in from a healthcare provider. Also, it's mindful to take in the possibilities of add on treatments being suggested to the original treatment plan.This is especially to be mindful of if pre-conditions exist, and/or if a history of taking required medication that conflicts in general is present. If excessive bleeding gums suddenly is forming, and/or one has/had a past history of this whether provoked by past medical work/past providers, self, and/or combination of other factors; then of course extra attention will be needed. If one dismisses factors addressed by a provider on the spot this places a disadvantage for oneself by lack of awareness of any other problems not identified in their past medical history. In a situation of excessive bloody gums it might have not been explained from other providers that the excessive bloody gums are due to the pockets being 5mm or deeper for quite some time, and it never being acknowledged from either a patient's own research, and/or their past medical providers. Take into consideration situations of bleeding gums that unknowingly had 5mm or deeper pockets in which an infection came out of it that ended up spreading throughout the body via the bloodstream into the organs. In a situation of systemic infections, there will be a need for a stronger additional antibiotic that can focus in the deep tissues such as Arestin to treat that type of severely. Please note that this is usually reserved if, and/or when the medical issue truly calls for it. Also If any delaying in between wait time periods from past providers, self, and/or other combinations have occurred, that too will contribute to worsening the issue especially if it's months at a time. Leaving unfinished work from time to time increases risks of an open site becoming more damaged, and this is why Dr. Yajima places much importance in rapid treatment process. Yes, I understand financially it's extremely overwhelming especially if services are needed for both the adult(s), and/or children/child. This i've seen greatly with my parents experiences with me as a growing child with a long term medical condition always considering if the pros to certain things would greatly outweigh the cons especially in the long run. Try explaining the situation in a clear civil matter with the doctor beforehand as it helps all be on the same page, and chances to work around concerns. read more

Dentist Dr Yajima does not have bedside manor and her and her attendant were quite rough! I left there with a very numb face. Not very surprising for dental visit, but after I came to I ended up with multiple canker sores and a sore jaw. At one point in the visit I was hit in the face with the sucker thingy(on accident I sure), but no apology or anything! I will say that they finished my fillings quickly, but I did not feel the love or any sort of compassion for the uncomfortable position a dental chair puts one in. Also quite expensive! Time to find a new dentist!! read more

I'd give 0 stars if yelp would let me. I don't know why my husband and l tolerated this place for years. We just assumed dentist visits are something unpleasant and that's the nature of the business. The final straw was the overcharging. They make you pay upfront even before the insurance claim is made. We never paid attention but one time we compared what they charged vs what the insurance said we should pay, they overcharge by hundreds of $$. When we brought this up, they said we need to contact their claims people. It took months and multiple attempts to finally get our money back. In addition, they are never on time. We never know how long an appointment would take. The doctor recommends unnecessary, expensive procedures and scares you to do them (otherwise something bad will happen). She does not care about your teeth, only cares to make money. I found a different dentist now and know that dentist visits can be actually pleasant and enjoyable! read more

Dr. Yajima lacks any real chair side etiquette, is not very empathetic and doesn't care about what your needs actually are. Doesn't care to answer questions related to procedures and leaves it to her assistants. Not very affordable either. The work plan was done by her dental assistants who clearly don't have the proper education to be making such decisions and it contained two mistakes where the cost was not adjusted for my dental plan. When asked why exactly a root canal was needed before fillings were done she threw her hands in the air while walking out of the room snidely telling her assistants to show me my x-rays. They could not give a meaningful answer and just pointed to the x-rays. When asked what the risks are associated with a root canal they answered "none". Supposedly, a root canal and restoration is always successful, never fails, and lasts forever which clearly is not true. Sorry, there are risks associated with any medical procedure. The exam rooms were not very hygienic and could even be described as dirty. The first one I was led into had an assistant eating her lunch in it. Also, I prefer watching a dentist and their helpers wash their hands and put on gloves instead of entering the room with them already on. I want to know my mouth was the only one they have been in. Altogether a horrible experience. A real hack that is all about profit if you ask me. Would not recommend her to my worst enemy! Have since found an older, very experienced yet affordable, compassionate and empathetic professional with a spotless office who does all the the x-rays, planning, and explaining himself. The only thing his assistant does is assist him during the procedures. He makes sure to clearly explain every procedure, the reasoning for doing them, and the risks associated with them. And to my delight washes his hands and puts on a new pair of gloves right in front of me. Someone who picked his career to actually help people smile not just to bring home a high salary. read more

I wish I could give this dentist 0 stars. I called this dentist because I was in need of a root canal. I had a really bad infection and was in a lot of pain, they did get me in right away. I was given antibiotics for the infection, I wasn't able to take too many before the appointment which concerned me, I made sure I told them right away, in case we needed to reschedule. First off they made me pay in full before any work was even done, that should've been a red flag, shame on me. So I paid for the entire procedure $1785.00 which I know now is extremely high for a root canal. So I went in for the procedure and she gave me novocaine and began to drill. I was experiencing pain so she said to go home, take more antibiotics, and come back in a few days. She stopped drilling put in a temporary filling and called it a day. The day before my appointment I called to say the infection felt worse, they proceeded to tell me that I had to wait 3 weeks for my root canal because of a medical emergency. Things happen, I don't fault them for that, I proceeded to find someone else to do my root canal. Ultimately saw an endodontist who was amazing. When I called to get my money back from a procedure that wasn't performed, the receptionist told me no problem but they did a pulpectomy and would have to charge me for that so they were to refund my everything but $524.50. The endodontist who did my root canal said that was not done. So I called back to ask why I was being charged over $500 dollars for a procedure that wasn't done. They called back to inform me that the receptionist made a mistake and they were charging me for a crown lengthening. After researching what that was (it involves surgery of the gum, where they cut it back to fit crown) and after speaking to my endodontist, it was determined this was not done!!!! There was no way they cut in my gums, especially with the level of the infection I had at the time. So essentially, I was charged $524 for them to drill a bit and put a temporary filling. I called back to inform them that I know this was not done, they told me it was and that was it. They are scam artist and this is unethical, I will be reporting this to anyone that will listen. This place should be shut down. Buyer beware, please don't ever go here. Horrible, I should've known based on other reviews of them being money hungry. I'm a single mom and $500 dollars does not come easy to me. I'm appalled read more

This review is long over due -- but necessary. I came across Smile Solutions while looking for a new provider, as I recently moved to the area. Best decision ever. I have had a lot of work done and needed more. The front desk staff is very friendly and knows their billing etc. The hygenist was very professional, nice and told me things about my gums, teeth etc that my prior dentist, hadn't. Unfortunately, I did not have the care, or expertise w/ my prior dentist, that I now have here. I received my care plan and details of what insurance covered, what I owed etc. I have not had a long wait time @ appts either. Dr Yajima has a great bed side manner and clearly knows what she is doing. I am glad I found this dental office and I plan on staying here for the duration. read more

Highly recommended! Dr. Yajima extracted my wisdom tooth and it was painless, no swelling and recovery was Fast.

As a senior citizen, I have seen wide variety of dentists over the years, but never one more competent than Dr. Yajima. Her goal initially was to save my teeth while others thought it easier to just extract. Four years later, I am still enjoying corn on the cob. read more

Dr. Yajima and her staff are awesome. They communicate about everything. Very friendly. Dr. is so down to earth. When she converses with me it's like I've known her for years. I am very pleased with how attentive Dr. is. The staff knows all about insurance like what's covered and what isn't. All my questions are answered. I feel like I matter and am not just a number. read more

Going to the dentist is rarely a pleasure, but it was much better getting my 4 crowns and root canals here because they were very friendly, patient and professional. I had been going for many months to get all my deferred dental work done but never feared going to this office. Pain was minimal considering all the work that I had done. I read some of the negative reviews and could not believe they were talking about this office! read more

Dr. Yajima is very unprofessional. I went there for simple filling and she charged me for Imaging, Nitro and medicines. I have got this filling done several times with other doctors, nobody did all the things above. She never informed me about the charges before doing the procedure. This is a kind of fraud...charging customers for the things they do not require. Easy way of making more money for herself. read more

My family and I have been going to her for quite some time now and today I had to see if they can squeeze me in for a last minute appointment because my wisdom tooth was growing in so painfully and I'm getting headaches and just not feeling so good. They squeezed me in at 1240 so my father and I went on our way. Mind you, I live an hour or so away from their office.. I was right down their street at 1245 and I get a call from their newer dentist assistant. Her exact words were," Hi this is Susanne from smiles solution dental center.. hi... so wherever you are right now, you need to turn around because we won't take you anymore. You're 5 minutes late for your appointment and we have a full book so we can't take you." I said," ok but I'm down the street?" She said" well you're five minutes late so we can't take you, BYE." And hung up on me. I was shocked that she did that to me because even if I was 10 minutes late, they would still take me. My dad went inside to talk to them and there was no one in the waiting room, completely empty. While he was telling the front desk she shouldn't be talking that way to me and to act professional, she closed the glass window on him and walked away. He knocked on it and waited for him to leave. Rude, just rude. Regardless if the dentist told her to do that or not, that is NO WAY to talk to your clients. So disappointed. Time for a new dentist.. now THAT is long overdue! :) read more

For 20 yrs i had been going to a dentist in Naperville, where the hygientist did all of cleanings. The dentist would just do a quick 3 minute check before i left. I never had cavities, and they made me feel good about how i took care of my teeth. They never addressed my developing gum problems. When i moved and starting going to Smile Solutions Dental, she pointed this out and put a plan together to work with me on. She also showed me how one side of my molars were completely ground down from grinding at night - something the previous dentist/hygientist never even mentioned. She got me into a night guard to address this. I wonder if some of these other negatives reviews about unneeded treatments are people looking for a dentist that will tell them what they want to hear. read more

Dr. was very kind and made me feel very comfortable for my wisdom tooth extraction. It was a great experience which is why Ｉ always come back here for all my dental necessities. read more

I went for to Dr. Yajima when my insurance changed and my old dentist did not take the new insurance. Dr. Yajima's assistants took lot of x-rays at first, I was wondering why they need all those x-rays (more oral x-rays that I had in the last 5 years). Dr. Yajima's assistant started the cleaning \and Dr. Yajima finished the cleaning. She recommended deep cleaning, redoing the crown and recommended I use a mouth guard- none of these covered by my insurance and would cost me $1000 or more. I had my doubts about her recommendations since none of those were recommend to be my old dentist. My husband went to Dr. Yajima 2 weeks later she told him he needed a deep cleaning , and mouth guard. Without thinking much he agreed to the deep cleaning and Dr. Yajima did it the same day and he paid for it out of pocket since insurance did not cover for it. When I told him this is exactly what Dr. Yajima recommended he was upset- he was questioning whether he really needed the deep cleaning. The worst experience was when I took my two daughters who are 7 and 11 years old. The assistant came to take the girls for x-ray's. I told her I don't want them getting the x-ray since I was worried about the amount of x-ray's I had . She reassured me they are only going to take 3 x-rays for my 11 year old and 2 x-rays for my 7 year old. She would not let me go in with them since I would be exposed to x-ray ( not sure if it was okay for my girls to get that many x-rays) but agreed to let me go in with them later for the treatment. But when they took my 7 year old for x-ray when she did not come out right away but came out after the routine visit and cleaning and they immediately took my 11 year old without me. When both girls were done the receptionist came out to meet me at the waiting room with an envelop, he handed the envelop and tells me "your children have lot of cavities and Dr. Yajima recommends your children see a pediatric specialist". I said why didn't they let me go in with them when they were getting their treatments and how come I didn't talk to Dr. Yajima. I was used to be with my children while they go into see a medical doctor or dentist in the past . So another employee behind the desk tells me it is their policy that they don't allow parents to go in with children because children can cry when they see the parents. Then I told them I like to talk to Dr. Yajima and the receptionist goes in to talk to Dr. Yajima and returns telling me Dr. Yajima cannot talk to me then since she is in surgery ( I doubt it). I was not ready to leave until I talk to the dental assistant who was with Dr. Yajima when she was treating my daughters. So the dental assistant comes out and tells me the girls were not cooperating ( I dout it, I never heard that from my ;previous dentist) so Yajima couldn't do much - so I asked her I wanted and requested to be with my girls during their treatments and I could have helped. So anyone going to Dr. Yajima's office watch out - you will get a recommendation for deep cleaning ( $ 275) and mouth guard ( $ 350) and I don't recommend you take your children there because you don't get to be with children and you don't know what they actually do for the children.. read more

Never use this facility! My whole family saw the dentist July 11 as first time patients. They informed us that our son needed to see a specialist for follow up work and that my wife needed some special treatments in the office. Other than that, everything was fine. Two days later they called to say my wife's follow up appointment was double booked and needed to be rescheduled; but they would not reschedule it during that phone call. My wife tried calling back a few times but they never answered the phone. On July 18 I got a letter from the insurance company saying the office asked for my family to be removed from their facility. No explanation from the dentist...horribly unprofessional. We now understand they lied to my wife about her appointment and were then screening her calls. Everything about the original appointment was friendly and fine. This office is incredibly unprofessional. I hope you read this before thinking about using this dentist. They lie to your face with no remorse. read more