Let me start by saying my review is not based on some first impression from a check-up. I had a number of issues built up over the years, and needed almost $10k in dental work. Needless to say, I checked prices around town FIRST.. Dr. Wu's prices are competitive, and their friendly receptionists, the presence of a milling machine, as well as their accommodating scheduling were the initial deciding factors for me.
I've traveled a good deal, and due to some bad dental work as a teen, have seen dentists in a healthy portion of the US states. That being said, Sutra Dental Spa is bar none the most pleasant, friendly, skilled, thorough dentist I have encountered thus far. (And I think I'll return to San Diego for any future dental work from now on)
With the milling machine in the office, you can be in and out in a bit over an hour (There is the inevitable 15 minute wait in the comfy lobby with the scented oxygen bar to factor in) with a full crown placed! No temporaries here, once you get out of that chair, that tooth is solid. (Dr Wu is good with the machine IMO, which from what I've read is an important factor.)
There are more LCD monitors in this office than in Bill Gates' home (ok, maybe not; I haven't toured recently), and one is positioned on a swivel in front of your dental chair. Whenever showing X-rays, or the video of your teeth (Part of the full mouth examination), you get to see on screen what he's talking about. They have a really neat polarization effect for the X-rays which makes it really obvious where cavities are.. no more second guessing whether the dentist is fabricating work!
Dr. Wu is by far the most effective dentist I have encountered with regard to numbing the work area. Not only can I never feel the work he's doing (I think I may be resistant to the medicine, because usually I'm in excruciating pain.. high pain threshold though, so I just bear it), but you can not feel him use the needle... at all. I've honestly never experienced that in my 20+ previous dental visits where major work was performed.
While they work on you, they go to a good deal of effort to ensure you're comfortable. They use a rubber block you bite down on so you don't have to hold your mouth open (sounds basic, but no other dentist has offered this), have glasses so you can watch a movie (these hurt my nose, so I've never done it.. but it's a cool idea), and offer scented, heated neck pillows. For any real work, they also have a complimentary masseuse who will work your hands and/or feet while you get your dental work done. I've fallen asleep more than once in the chair.
The staff at Sutra Dental Spa is incredible in my experience. A collection of genuine and friendly people, even Dr. Wu comes across as friendly, rather than the impartial Dr attitude which 75% of Drs seem to exhibit. While in the waiting room, they even bring you coffee tea or btld water!
I went in for a broken crown, and upon a full mouth examination, learned I had 4 other crowns which needed work, as well as replacing some amalgam inlays (something on my to-do list, but I haven't had time), and they scheduled all this work for two appointments! One for the left side of my mouth, second for the right, then a follow up/cleaning after those. Wow.. finding time for the dentist has always been my biggest problem with them.. when they asked which two days would work for me, I was really impressed.
Finally, the main reason I first went to Sutra Dental Spa, their prices are directly competitive with other dental offices. $1000 for a crown without insurance (maybe it was $1100)... that's the same cost as anywhere else I called, whether the crown be done the same day, or a typical temporary be placed, then you return. I was actually discussing this with the staff, and they told me their accountant sets the prices based on the average for the area. Above and beyond service for the same price as any other dentist.. and they do it right! (If you haven't had any serious work done, this is a HUGE factor.. I've had much of my work re-done because the initial dentist did not perform his work with enough skill or care to make the work last. Each time you have to revisit for work, your tooth decays further, and of course, you pay more)
My review is off the hook glowing.. because that's how I feel about this office. Check my other reviews, and you'll see I tend to be pretty even handed. (I actually had a sales guy at Mazda beg me to change my review because even though it was overall positive, he got reamed by his manager over it) I usually only review when I find a service I'm impressed with, or which really disappoints me (and most are on yelp)
The one star reviews on here really surprise me.. my mom just went in for additional dental work.. so all in all, 6 crowns, and a ton of other work later.. 100% very clean, cosmetically appealing crowns out of this office, and friendly accommodating staff every single ti read more