Island Smiles — Attraction in Maui

When I first started going to Island Dental they were smaller and the staff was professional and friendly. It was easy to get appointments in an emergency and they even had 24 hour on call service. Then they expanded, lost their office manager, took on more dentists, and everything changed. 24 hour emergency is long gone. I never used it, but it made me comfortable to know it had been available. I began having trouble with the hygienists. None of them stayed very long after the expansion. I was going every 6 months and might get the same hygienist twice and then they were gone. I scheduled to see my usual hygienist by request and when I arrived she wasn't there and another hygienist ushered me inside without introducing herself. I still don't know her name. No one called me to say my hygienist was unable to keep her appointment with me, so I was not asked if I wanted to see someone else. I didn't. The first thing she did was start denigrating my teeth and oral hygiene, clearly not having read my chart to learn about my saliva gland that doesn't work and open mouth breathing that causes excess plaque to build up quickly. I guess it's just easier to blame how the patient brushes their teeth and deny they do it right. I tried to explain and she went on and on disregarding me. I shouldn't even have to explain what should be in my chart every single time I have my teeth cleaned. I should be able to come in, sit down, and relax while my teeth are cleaned. I don't pay them to be 'educated' and/or 'convinced' I don't brush my teeth when I do. I pay them to clean my teeth. I was going in frequently for professional cleaning to "take care" of my teeth, though the service was far from professional. I still don't know the hygienist's name. She reminded me of an automaton. A recording and robot could have provided the same so-called "service". To make matters worse, she was trying to twist my arm into using a product that I was allergic too. The dentist and I had come up with a solution, but in her mind it was better to make a "recommendation" I use a product that has been well documented to cause an allergic reaction before and was not what the dentist recommended that had been working better than anything else ever did in the past. She clearly imparted that she didn't believe me. Everyone probably gets the same lame educational speech and same treatment without regard for their individuality. Patient's aren't all the same. Health conditions can change things up. Good care comes in tailoring the recommendation to the patient and, most important, LISTENING to the patient in order to make the best recommendation. A year or two ago Dr. Dugan used a cement I am allergic to that was also very well documented on a lab report and made me very ill. It took 2 months for the lining of my stomach to heal after it dripped down my throat for 3 days burning my insides. When I returned to their office to have it removed, I found out something I was allergic to was used even though it was right on the lab report in my patient file. I let that one go as a mistake, they happen. Now it's gone too far trying to coerce me to use something that is damaging to my health. They're supposed to be helping people, not harming them. I don't feel I should have to defend myself to protect my health every time I go in. I often felt like they thought I just had an anxiety disorder, which I don't. In fact, my GAF score is 99, much higher than the vast majority of normal people and at the high end of the optimal range (91 - 100). Exercising due diligence in the face of their gross errors and coercion does not make me an anxious, it makes me a responsible person looking out for and balancing my overall health. Allergies should be in the chart and be automatically addressed and, most important, taken seriously with respect for the patient's "overall" health. I am very, extremely disappointed in...

My husband Chris had an aching wisdom tooth that was getting increasingly sensitive to cold, heat, and especially pressure. Facing this three-day Memorial weekend, he was concerned about not being able to get it taken care of. But a call on Thursday morning to Island Dental got him an 11 am appointment on Friday with Dr. Hoke. An x-ray revealed the tooth had an abscess at its root. Three shots of Lidocaine numbed him up, and Dr. Hoke pulled the tooth despite its curved roots. It's now the next day (Saturday), and Chris says he feels great. There was no swelling and, surprisingly, no pain after the Lidocaine wore off. Today he's taking it easy, eating soft foods, and enjoying the wonderful view of Ma'alaea Bay from our condo in Kihei.

Chris says both Dr. Hoke and his assistant Donna were friendly, informative, and professional. My husband especially likes knowing what's going on during a procedure like this, and Dr. Hoke told him everything to expect and made sure he was comfortable throughout it. So a big MAHALO to the folks at Island Dental for making the rest of our 5-week stay in Maui what we'd hoped it would be – one of fun, rest,...

I never post negative reviews but I feel like I need to. I saw so many positive reviews and was hopeful but I had a terrible experience. Getting my wisdom teeth removed it was impacted and they just numbed it. I was worked on for several hours and then the numbing wore off and I felt it so they numbed again. I have Tmj and having my mouth open like that for hours made it bleed and crack. It was really painful. The recovery took a month (as in I couldn’t work or do anything) for just a Wisdom tooth. I had to go to the er. When the dentist saw it was impacted he should have referred me to a surgeon and not done it himself. When I had my follow up the assistant told me she was sorry and they learn from their mistakes. I appreciate the acknowledgment but this should be learned before working on a patient. It took me years to write this review because honestly I was traumatized with the experience and have not gone to a dentist since. Maybe they are great with routine care but if you are getting wisdom teeth removed and your tooth is impacted consider getting a...