I went to this dentist over 10 yrs ago bcz my molar was due for a crown. This is pre-Yelp or any other online resources to see how other patients experience were at their place of treatment. My best friend had her mouth done there. I can't remember exactly what she had done but she has nice white teeth but she takes good care of her appearance as well. She said he was the last dentist she went to for minimum work needed on her tooth & her teeth is good. So I decided to give him a try since I was pleased with her teeth. My first visit to Dr.Lockwood I praise him for what I seen (on the surface ) of my gf teeth. He just nodded. I kind of caught on that he thinks highly of himself. Which is fine as long as he's good at what he does. Half way through him drilling my molar( back tooth) his assistant( an older white lady)came him to tell him he has a phone call. He left me for a long while then came back & was distracted. He then rushed the job & left me with a crown that was TOO BIG for me. I couldn't bite down since that crown stood higher than the rest of my teeth. I had to schedule another visit to fix the problem to which he seems annoyed bcz he's a busy man. I been meaning to write this review but lost his info. He left me with a tooth that looks like a little pebble. Looks nothing like a tooth. Besides being white becz I paid extra for porcelain. I have been to several dentist to fix the tooth he messed up on & every dentist who looked at it had said, the dentist who worked on you did a lousy job. I ask my gf what was his name but she didn't remember since she had stopped seeing him for yrs. I stumbled on a receipt with my payment & found his name. Dentist work is Expensive & not a pleasant experience. No one should come in worst than what they started with. Don't waste your time/money on something that will leave u miserable. read more

Worst dental experience ever. Do not come here. I arrived for my 3 PM appointment, which was to get a minor chip on my tooth fixed, 5 minutes early and was taken to the dental chair a few minutes later. I then waited while Dr Lockwood had a 35 minute conversation about his mortgage with the patient scheduled before me (I know he was not working on the other patient bc the patient was talking to Dr. Lockwood and I could see them). After another 10 minutes (I have been sitting in the chair for 45 minutes now and someone only came to check on me once) Dr. Lockwood came over and started to work on my chipped tooth. After working on me teeth for about ten minutes he left to take a personal call, which lasted about 10 minutes and was about whether he was eating at home tonight or going out for dinner. I have been sitting in the chair now for well over an hour now (on a weekday when I should be at work) and little dental work had been completed. In the process of fixing my chipped tooth Dr. Lockwood accidentally chipped the tooth next to it. When I noticed the additional chip after he was done and asked him to fix that tooth as well and he replied: "It is already after 4:30, would it be possible for you to come back another time to get it fixed?". I came with a chipped tooth, sat for over an hour while the Dr discussed his mortgage and dinner plans for the evening, left with a different tooth chipped (bc the dr chipped it!) and Dr Lockwood had the audacity to ask me to miss work again and come back another day. Save yourself the headache and go to another dentist. read more

I love this place and I love the people in there. I have been going to Dr. Lockwood since I was 12 years old and they have watched me grow up and love to hear stories and see pictures of different experiences we had. At the same time I love hearing stories about Sharon and Rox's kids and how they are doing and what they are up to. There is nothing better when entering into a dentists office than seeing and hear a smiling and energetic Jenny. Dr. Lockwood is very amiable and has great skill with the drill, ask for some laughing gas and he will have some with you, have a grand ole' time! No he wont, but he will make sure that you are taken care of and that you are getting the best treatment. I am never afraid of the dentist because I look forward to going and interacting with everybody as they clean and repair my teeth. Thanks Doc! read more

How often does this happen? While tucking my ten year old daughter into bed, I asked her what she was grateful for...a nightly ritual we share. She replied, "going to the dentist." How often is a child grateful for that? Probably quite often if Dr. Stephen Lockwood is the dentist. Once it was clear she need orthodontics, we knew where to go. As an adult, my husband had braces under the care of Dr. Lockwood, who practices general dentistry and orthodontics. In this dental office, patients become like family. He is doctor with a soul. His goal is help make everyone healthy and as beautiful on the outside as he knows they are on the inside. His words, not mine. There is no turnover in the office because the culture of treating everyone like family is obviously carried out with the staff as well as the patients. And the professional care is unmatched. Dr. Lockwood is experienced and takes utmost care in treating patients to ensure everything is done right. But when you treat your patients as family, would you expect anything else? read more

This is the most professional dentist practice that I've ever been to. Dr Lockwood and his team are extremely friendly, fair, and sincerely care about their patients. His novacaine shots are relatively painless and he only recommends procedures if he truly believes that you would benefit from them. I appreciate a good dentist who will go out of his way to be conservative in order to preserve a patients' natural tooth. Furthermore, his team will explain the costs to you before the procedure which is helpful for the budget conscious. Dr. Lockwood has years of experience and if you're looking for a trustworthy dentist with a steady hand, come here! read more

This dentist has taken fantastic care of my teeth since the early 90's, which was when I was in my early 30's. This was when I started going to the dentist regularly. Dr. Lockwood extracted my wisdom teeth, and my teeth care went on from there to fixing a couple of chipped teeth, and installing a crown and a couple of fillings. This dentist LISTENS to your grunts and provides the pace you need. He asks you questions throughout all the more difficult procedures to be sure you are ok. The assistants are very intelligent and also attentive. Sharon, the hygienist, is a pro and does her job quickly and thoroughly. She has been with Doc L for a decade or more. The receptionist Gennie is a sweetheart. Chatting with her and listening to one of her stories is a real treat. The effect is to make you feel like one of the family. Gennie has that magic touch. So do Doctor Lockwood and Sharon, as well. I am made to feel that way by everyone there. Doctor Lockwood works hard to keep his skills up to date. read more

My kids(Matt and Vincent) and I have been going to Dr. Lockwood for more than 8 years now and we could not be happier. Matt has serious crooked teeth and Dr. Lockwood has worked magic to correct it to make it beautiful and strong. Dr. Lockwood and his staff provide our family with such stellar care that we actually look forward for the visit. To us, Dr. Lockwood's team is like a family to us, because they take the time to know you and to know your needs and concerns. At the chair, I can trust Dr. Lockwood and his team to give me not just their best, but THE BEST. This review is not complete without a recount of my most recent visit. I was having problem with pain and got an appointment scheduled two days later, on a early morning when Dr. Lockwood comes in extra early to make sure he can take care of my problem via root canal. The whole procedure went smoothly, and with minimal discomfort, I was out in less than two hours. I feel so great after the surgery that I even ran Chalsea's Run the next morning! If you are looking for a dentist or unhappy with yours, look no further, give Dr. Lockwood and his team a try and experience the superb help and care of this fantastic team! read more

I've been going to Dr. Lockwood's office for just about 20 years now. His eye for detail is amazing -- I took my fiance to his office after she had gone to her own dentist for years, and Dr. Lockwood was able to find a problem that she had complained about for years, but that her previous dentist was unable to find. The experience in the office is incomparable: little to no wait time and the service is efficient, spot-on, and quick. I had a wisdom tooth and two fillings replaced in about an hour. When I changed insurance providers I went to another dentist, but it simply wasn't the same, so I ended up going back to Dr. Lockwood, even if I have to pay out of pocket. It's definitely worth it. read more

One star is way too many. I had a terrible experience with this dentist. It was the first dentist I saw after moving to California. I went in for a cleaning and exam and he encouraged me to tell him anything I didn't love about my teeth and then encouraged me to get orthodontics. I was young and naive and didn't know that you didn't have to be an orthodontist to provide orthodontics. He promised that I only needed them for 9 months so he could get them off before my wedding. Long story short, at my last adjustment he pulled or pushed or tweaked something so hard that I had the most incredible pain. Later that day my front tooth became extremely sensitive to cold and heat and slowly began to turn grey. I called him in a bit of a panic and he had me come in and bleached my teeth. It did nothing. He said it would just take some time to work. I went to a different dentist the day before my wedding who told me that he had actually damaged my nerve and killed my tooth, hence the discomfort and darkening. I had to have a root canal and the tooth is still dark after all these years. I met with Dr. Lockwood after this and told him how upset I was and he was so disrespectful and patronizing and just told me not to waste time being upset when this is such a special time in my life. This happened many years ago and I am still so upset every time I look in the mirror. He is very incompetent and should stick to cleaning and minor dental work if anything. I have never had such a terrible experience with any other professional in my life. I wish I had reviewed him sooner before he ruined other peoples teeth. read more

My brother had an accident and needed an urgent dental procedure. Dr. Lockwood opened his office at 9:30pm on a Saturday night to treat him. His selfless and caring effort, saved my brother a lot of pain. Dr. Lockwood and his staff did a great job and my brother is recovering. Thank you very much! read more

Dr. Lockwood and his dental staff are the best in the business. I had a troublesome eye tooth since I was a kid. This tooth had 2 root canals performed on it in the last 40 years. Recently, when a 3rd infection developed above the tooth, I decided to go forward with a dental titanium implant to replace the tooth. This is where science meets creative artistry and Dr' Lockwood has those special gifts to make it all work out. Because of insurance delays, I opted to take the process slowly. It's usually a 4 month process, but I took 6 months to complete the entire procedure. Today, I received my crown over the titanium post and it is so natural looking that it looked my old original eye tooth. Color, spacing, etc were perfect. Dr. Lockwood is a wonderful professional and so personable. It just feel like family when you walk thru the door. *I was afraid of dentists before I was referred to Dr. Lockwood. Absolutely hate Novocaine injections, but he made it all comfortable for me. He accepts Tricare insurance and is on network. Thanks Doc! read more

Recently I had a very delicate dental job done at Dr. Lockwood dental practice in regards to my front teeth with awesome results. He is a perfectionist and his staff is most experienced, professional and courteous. Dr. Lockwood is one of the best DMD's in San Diego and I cant say enough about his bedside manners as well as the great customer service experience. He's just the best. read more

About 20 years ago, after my front teeth dental filling collapsed 3 or 4 times, my dentist at the time finally said "Why don't you go see Dr. Lockwood...". Dr. Lockwood did the filling and it stayed together quite well. Of course, I've been a patient ever since. Over the years, I've witnessed Dr. Lockwood and his group of assistants & hygienists developed into a nice family who treat their patients like family too. I've been seeing Dr. Lockwood prior to such a thing as Yelp so it didn't occur to me to write a review... until my mom came to visit a couple of months ago and had a dental emergency. Dr. Lockwood's staff helped to squeeze her in on the same day! Not only that, Dr. Lockwood's office is familiar with Medicare benefits and helped process my mom's paperwork. It was a tremendous help!! In short, Dr. Lockwood is extremely competent, compassionate, and takes the time to keep up with the latest technology in dentistry. I would highly recommend Dr. Lockwood for orthodontics and general dentistry for everyone - and especially for seniors like my mom due to the compassionate staff and their familiarity with Medicare. :) read more

After receiving two valpak new patient-cleaning discount vouchers in the mail, I decided to review them on yelp. Dr. Lockwood's reviews were much more positive and I booked an appointment. The office manager was very courteous and helpful on the phone, giving me specific directions on where to park to ensure parking validation. Once I arrived I signed some paperwork and she politely explained where I could use the restrooms while I waited. As I entered for my appointment she apologized for the delay, which was only about 20 minutes past the scheduled time. One of the CDA(certified dental assistant who is also a certified dental hygienist) began with xrays and then starting cleaning. She was very thorough and informed me of her movements so I new what was going on every step of the way. She answered all my questions and filed off old cement that I had from a permanent lower retainer that had came loose. Afterwards, Dr. Lockwood came in and touched up the two filed spots and did the final examination(which included a camera probe I had not seen used before). He explained what needed to be addressed in a pleasant and professional manner and politely excused himself. Another CDA? further prioritized my issues and walked me to the computer. There was no pressure whatsoever to schedule an appointment to start the recommended dental work(est. at $1360), even though I will return for the "urgent" suggestion. Overall the experience was very positive and I would highly recommend thier services to anyone! The four stars instead of five is in part due to discontent with my lack of hygiene, which led to the recommendation of a thorough cleaning totaling about $900. The other part due to wishing I had a better understanding of dentistry and having to take their word for all recommendations. read more

Dr. Lockwood and his staff are super professional and friendly. This place is busy but why is that a bad thing? It's a good thing in my opinion, a lot of people come here because you get quality care and great service. Have no problem waiting an extra 5 or 10 minutes for that. I went in for a crown and build up and left a happy customer. If you live in La Jolla / UTC area and you are unhappy with your current dentist, give them a try. They have been in business and the same location for 30 years says a lot to me. read more

Please do yourself a favor and find another dentist. People here are nice, but the dental work is terrible. I have terrible sensitivity in my fillings months after they were completed. I think proper technique is critical when it comes to getting the fillings prepared, and the lack of will make you suffer in the long run. Improper curing technique or packing of the composite probably is the source of the pain, where air bubbles or other artifacts are in the filling. Cost is not cheap here either, so because I am paying a lot and still unhappy with the work, I feel it is not worth it and highly do not recommend here. I don't mind paying for something that will make me feel better, but I am so frustrated with how every filling done has retained sensitivity for months without improvement. read more

Dr. Lockwood is great ,but the people working there is annoying. Gennie is very pushing and should read the client's info before calling and gave the wrong info. read more

Dr. Lockwood is an amazing dentist. I have pretty bad dental anxiety and he and his staff were always so patient with me. I always felt comforted and safe getting work done here. The work he does is also amazing. I had everything from regular cleaning to root canals. I moved out of state a couple years ago and have yet to go see a dentist (don't tell Dr Lockwood!) because I am afraid no one will care for my teeth or me the way I was cared for here. The staff, including office staff, are super personable and kind. If it was covered by my insurance, I would come back to San Diego to get my dental work done with Dr. Lockwood. read more

Had a bad experience in Dr. Lockwood's chair. During a procedure, he unknowingly used leverage on my two front teeth and ended up loosening both teeth. I now am $8000.00 in debt repairing his mistake. Please beware when choosing your dentist! read more

I actually look forward to my dental appointments with Dr. Lockwood from the moment I walk in the door and am treated with respect and caring until I see the beautiful results of Dr. Lockwood's work. My caps on my teeth are works of art! They even are partially translucent just like my other teeth. He genuinely cares about his patients and the results of his work. I also like that when I needed a root canal, I didn't have to be referred out to a different doctor and that when I needed braces, he could do those as well. His bedside manner is excellent. I feel that I can talk with him about any of my concerns. He is skilled, compassionate, open minded, and very professional. I feel I can trust him to only do procedures I really need. His staff make me feel like I want to come back to see them again soon, and I will see them, because they are still there year after year. As others have stated, you will feel like family. read more

Dr. Lockwood is an exceptionally superb dentist with an outstanding staff-- so very, very caring, super high tech with state of the art equipment that seems to allow most procedures to be done with one visit. About one year ago I changed to him from my old dentist of 35 years, who was also excellent and past president of the dental society but retiring. Cynthia, in Dr. Lockwood, has done my teeth cleaning is also superb-- very thorough and so very gentle and cautious and again uses the latest technology. Their pricing is about the same as my other dentist and seemingly similar to other dentists, but he also gives many discounts. However, their quality and caring is so, so much better-- simply exceptional!!! I've been able to observe lots of dental offices as I'm a long time insurance agent that does dental insurance. Dr. Lockwood and his staff are THE best!!!! Plus, he does so much for the community and has been recognized for it. My wife, Julie, who changed over when I did, is also extremely pleased with Dr. Lockwood and his longtime staff. by WAW read more