Smiles By Design - Lali Minocha DDS

Dr. Minocha is very knowledgeable and explains procedures thoroughly. The staff is also very kind and compassionate during procedures.

Disclaimer: I don't ever leave negative reviews but am doing so to help warn others.
While I like all the new technology Dr. Minocha employs, I am weary of their attempts to up-sell me on everything from toothpaste to electric toothbrushes to nighttime mouth gaurds. They try to sell you $40 toothpaste that retails for $11 on Amazon and the lady at the front desk will tell you they don't make any money on it! If I can't trust you with small things, like toothpaste, then how can I trust you when you insist I "need" a $300 mouth guard?!? At some point the moral integrity of the practice is called into question....
I went to Smiles By Design for several years and the office staff is like a revolving door. There are always different people working there with no consistency from visit to visit. This is a sign of a bad place. I witnessed Dr Minocha routinely belittling her staff in front of patients and creating a toxic environment for all.
PS All the positive reviews sound fake

TERRIBLE...BEWARE!!! Dr. Minocha is a crook. Both she and her staff strong arm ALL patients into products that they don't need. Not everyone needs a special toothbrush, toothpaste and a night guard! When you're in the office, you'll hear this being pushed on everyone. I feel for it, don't let it happen to you. If that wasn't bad enough, Dr. Minocha over charges for her services...charging her patients the difference in the negotiated rate with insurance so that she can further line her pockets. This was well-hidden due to her lack of billing....you're forced to leave a credit card at the time of service! I was charged a $1,000 for a crown and after being overcharged it turned out the crown was put on incorrectly! Needless to say I had already left her service for a much better dentist and not surprisingly, given her lack of ethics, she refused to correct her mistake. Dr. Minocha told my new dentist that the crown went bad because I wasn't wearing my night guard! REALLY!!!! Stay FAR, FAR away from Smiles By Design!

I agree this was the worst dental experience ever. I understood that I needed some work done also. They claimed they didn't have the capability of making a quote on the bill. Yet they would be able to finance a plan, if I wanted to get a loan. They tried to sell a $300 tooth brush. Anyway I went elsewhere and got great treatment for about 75% of the price. The dentist I went to were world class. I would be leery.

This was by far the WORST dental experience I've ever had. I thought it would be simple. After all, I knew I had some work that needed to be done.



First impressions from the team were friendly and helpful. They were obviously just desperate for patients.



Once I was in the chair, I was basically tortured with scare tactics of worst-case scenarios if I didn't fork over so much money for their toothpaste, mouthwash, and the electric toothbrush that they get $$$ from selling to patients. Not to mention the months of dental care and elaborate plans Dr. Minocha had to fix my mouth.



I had a few cavities, it had been a few years. She made it seem like my teeth were going to fall out. Within moments, if I didn't go use her special products immediately.



I got a second opinion. Thank goodness my teeth aren't going to fall out. I don't have full-blown Periodontal Disease like she said. The new dentist said my gums are completely healthy-no bleeding whatsoever when he did his exam. No wonder I felt ZERO discomfort during Minocha's exam (physically, that is).



Also, she told me that I grind my teeth. I don't know what that looks like, but the new dentist says I don't have that problem. Apparently I don't need to shell out $300 for a mouth guard; I just have a little bit of wear and tear from having braces as a kid. I also don't need all new fillings from all of my previous work.



What this place does is unethical. It's immoral. I don't know if I'm more disgusted that I left partially terrified that I'd be 25 and in need of dentures for a lifetime or that I'd just wasted about $300 for their stupid 'insurance' and 'services.'



Go anywhere else. Flag down the next moving vehicle that passes you. The driver will likely be more honest, more pleasant, and more helpful in dental recommendations.



Plus, the aftermath is not worth it. In comparison to the 20 minutes it took to set up my first appointment, it's been 3 days and I'm still having to play tug o' war to get my dental records. All-in-all, a huge waste of time and a great disappointment.