9/20/2010 UPDATE
I took in my old magazines. Guys, there's now some Popular Mechanics, Mens Health & American Rifleman -- enjoy.
Reading the previous review, I felt compelled to put in my $0.02 as I was very surprised with what was stated. I personally am VERY happy with Sunrise Dental, & now realize that Service providers also deserve a positive yelp review when earned (as up until now, I only yelp about restaurants... with the exception of bad experiences at Best Buy).
Anyway, a little background about me before I review my experience with Sunrise Dental:
I've had my share of TERRIBLE experiences with dentists over the years. I've once had a dentist who injected & numbed up the wrong side of my mouth... I figured he was just numbing my whole mouth until he started to push & prod my tooth & asking if I could feel anything. My response, "... uhh... no, but I think that's the wrong tooth." I also had a cavity filled where the dentist forgot to put some kind of barrier to prevent contact with the nerves or something. As I then went overseas, I lived with major tooth sensitivity for over a year. I don't know what was worse... forgetting the barrier thingy because he was busy asking me about computers, or the fact that he admitted to me later that he forgot. I appreciate honesty... but was absolutely convinced that despite being a DDS, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Anyway, my wife & myself have been going to Sunrise Dental for many years -- at least 7 yrs. We had come to try Sunrise Dental as a result of a referral from my wife's really good friend (who is also a dentist in the San Jose area). On a visit to see her, she looked at my wife's teeth & gums & recommended that she find a new dentist (as my wife has underlying issues that was not being properly cared for by her dentist at the time). Unfortunately we could not use our friend -- as she is out of our insurance plan... & we didn't want to take advantage of her with free services. Ironically we also have 2 other relatives that are dentists... all who live too far away though to be my wife's regular dentist (she needs to go every 3 months).
On a couple occasions when our dentist cousins visit us, they have gone with us to Sunrise Dental. Of course with our bad luck with dentists in the past, we do not disclose that we have a dentist on our side watching & evaluating everything they do. My cousins don't say much, so I doubt anyone knows they're dentists (honestly, they look like hoodlums when vacationing away from home -- where they have to worry about professional appearances in the community) Call me a skeptic or call me jaded... but with our track record with bad dentists, I think our covert ops is justified. Anyway, according to both of my cousins (on many separate visits), explanations & 5 of the witnessed procedures that Dr. Ly conducted was done spot-on. And trust me, I doubt Dr. Ly acts any differently just because there's an observer in the dental area. Other patients of Dr. Ly (who have been regular patients) know what I'm talking about... he's a rather unfazed & eccentric Doc (in a funny & good way!). Thus, a fellow dentist referral; no complaints from my dentist cousins; the 7-years of great service & the vast improvements in my wife's oral issues... GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!
As for the accusations of shady biz practices... that's SCARY if it's true. Though I do not have backstage access, I have not seen anything shady personally. In fact, I think Sunrise Dental is a very clean office. All in all, I'm inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to Sunrise Dental as I have been very happy with Dr. Ly for many years. In fact, so impressed, that we continue to do the drive from Sacramento every 3 months. We have also referred many of our friends & relatives who live around the Sacramento & SJ area which says a lot.
If I HAD to find a complaint, it would be:
The waiting room reading material is poor... geared mostly to females. Guys bring your own magazine unless you're into cosmo, reader's digest, us, people, etc.
On a side note, I just realized:
Being such regulars, I believe there are only 3 employees (2 girls & 1 guy) that work at Sunrise Dental besides Dr. Ly & his wife. The guy & one of the girls has been there for a long time, & the other girl was new -- or she could be the intern -- as I didn't recognize her at last weeks appointment. If that's the case... the informant is pretty ballsy (as I'd easily make a guess to who "spilled the beans" based on deductive reasoning)... if word got out, she'd be committing employment suicide :p Of course I could be wrong. Plus, you've always got to consider the possibility of flat-out rumors circulating! I'm not pointing any fingers here... just stating possibilities.
Anywho... until I see something personally, I am not swayed... Maybe I'll work up the nerve to ask Dr. Ly at our next appointment... of course after my wife's appointment is done... lol jk read more