San Diego Smile Center — Attraction in San Diego

I have an extreme fear of dentists. As a child I had very traumatic experiences with my dentist that would leave a lifelong impression with me. Because of that I rarely went to the dentist. In May of 2022 I had the most debilitating tooth ache I have ever experienced, I had to go to the dentist. My sister, who also has a strong fear of dentists recommended Dr Cortes. She had been to him the previous year and really liked him. On my very first visit. I was shaking and crying, gripped with fear and I was unable to open my mouth for an X-ray. The office staff and Dr Cortes were so kind and patient and didn’t push me to do more than I was capable of. I needed extensive work done, I had to have teeth extracted, fillings filled, and I was fitted for upper and lower dentures. Everyone in the office went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and felt no pain. They gave me weighted blankets, they paused when I was overwhelmed, they let me have someone there to hold my hand, he even offered me headphones and asked what kind of music I would like to listen to! They were very good at communicating the cost of each visit and provided me with print outs of everything so I was not surprised with any additional costs. I have never experienced any dr medical or dental that took such good care of me. They are so amazing I referred my friends and family. I now have my smile back and it feels good to know I have a dentist...

I starting going to Dr. Cortes a year ago when I had a concern with my molar. I used to avoid the dentist for my life, but meeting Dr. Cortes completely changed that around for me. He explains the concerns with my dental health clearly and suggests a treatment path professionally while addressing any personal concerns I have. What I enjoy the most with my interactions and appointments with Dr. Cortes is his passion towards his line of work and his dedication to the betterment of his patients' dental health. I started taking my mom to address her dental concerns, and she raves about Dr. Cortes' attention to detail and the high standards he holds for the crown fitting. I was unaware of the pain my mom was dealing with regarding her dental health, but with Dr. Cortes' treatment she's let me know she's able to eat once again! Dr. Cortes knew exactly what she was feeling as he's had his share of subpar dentistry, and he makes sure that his work is superb. And it most definitely is! My crown fit perfectly and looks amazing (by amazing I mean it looks like the rest of my teeth!). The staff that works there are superb too! Highly friendly, understanding, supportive and helpful! First interactions with Dr. Cortes' wife, Anaissa, put me at ease for my treatment as she was able to address my concerns (especially around dental insurance) which set the course to where we are now with my mom. This place is really the...

I had an extremely disappointing experience at this dental office. First, their appointment policy is ridiculous — they require a deposit just to book a visit, plus if you don’t confirm appointments (which you took way in advance) through their text messages, they automatically cancel your appointment. When I expressed that I was uncomfortable with this, the receptionist called me and very unprofessionally accused me of just “having a bad day” — completely dismissive and rude.

The actual dental care wasn’t any better. During my deep cleaning, the dental hygienist clearly did not know what she was doing. The chair was positioned so badly that my backrest was more than 180 degrees, and my headrest was completely backward, leaving me basically upside down. I was gagging through the entire appointment. I repeatedly asked her to adjust the headrest, but she barely made any effort to fix it. On top of that, she was rough and kept jabbing at my gums, making the whole experience painful and miserable. After the treatment, the receptionist said I am a difficult patient and I have a gagging problem, and I need extra sittings for cleaning all my teeth. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Between the unprofessional receptionist and the poor quality of dental care, it was a complete nightmare from...