James Sy, DDS

My wife got quotation for my daughter’s orthodontics at the first time visit. After compare the other 2 dentist price, decide go to Dr. Sy. At the end of first check up for orthodontics, the lady (his wife) gives my wife a totally different number with the previous quotation. I went to discuss the price issue today. Dr. Sy just ask me go to other doctor. Very inpatient attitude. Feel so bad.

I’ve known Dr. Sy for a very long time. He was my orthodontist in high school and 11 years later I went back to him when my teeth shifted. If I had to describe his practice in 3 words, it would be: professional, thoughtful, and dedicated. I always admired how he truly took the time to evaluate my situation and gave me an overview of the time this process would take. Each appointment, he would tell me what he was going to do and explain how this would advance the process. At times, an adjustment would need more time but he only decides this if it’s your best interest. Word to the wise, do exactly what he says and your process will be great! Dr. Sy is thoughtful in that the 2^nd time I came to him, I was a kindergarten teacher. He was sympathetic to my situation and together we planned when would be the best opportunity to put braces back on me and when we could get them off by. Lastly, Dr. Sy is dedicated. Having known him for a huge part of my life, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know him. Both of his sons are working on their professional life so now when he has free time (including holidays), he spends it in the office setting up or bettering his practice. Dr. Sy truly takes pride in his work. Also, for you working people, he is open for appointments on SUNDAY. Now who does this?! Braces are not a walk in the park. You put them on and you want to get them off. In my honest opinion, if you need an orthodontist (for all ages), go to Dr. Sy. I could have gone anywhere for my second time around but, hands down, I will always go back/​recommend Dr. Sy… he is dedicated and straight forward. What more would you want?

You might think he’s mean and very serious, but he’s actually just committed to his job. I disagree with all the other bad reviews because they don’t see how efficient Dr. Sy is compared to other orthodontists. I’ve had other friends who had terrible orthodontists and it takes a lot longer for them to take their braces off. He’s very professional and really cares for his mostly young patients.
I’ve seen amazing results from getting braces over there. My friends went to him, my brother went there, I also went there.
It’s pretty great. I would really recommend.

Dr. Sy has been my family’s orthodontist for around 4 years and over that time I’ve found him to be very professional.
Some of these posts mention him treating patients with a sexist attitude; I find this to be completely untrue. My cousins, one male and one female, and I (a male) have been treated by Dr. Sy and have experienced the same amount of respect. In fact, I find him to be a fun and charismatic orthodontist, someone who makes my visits enjoyable.

I had braces twice with Dr. Sy. I supposedly grew up too fast and needed them again.
With that said, I’ve been coming to see him for about a decade.
He cares for his patients, and I know he’s been through a lot with his personal life over the years. Even with that, he still delivered to his profession 100% if not more.
I will always remain grateful toward him. He sympathized with the fact that my family had no money, but worked with us anyways because deep inside he wanted to help. Thank you for not judging us for being poor.
His hard work shows with the amount of patients he’s amassed over the years.
Thank you Dr. Sy!

I really can’t believe all the horrible reviews there are right now for Dr. Sy! I came across this Unilocal page when I Googled his name earlier this week to make sure I had the right phone number for him so I could call for a followup appointment… and was shocked that he didn’t have the five stars he deserves!
I came to Dr. Sy when I was a wee middle schooler (maybe early high schooler? I try to block those years out), when everyone had braces and I thought, like the smart, self-​confident child I was, «I want to be cool and get braces too!» The first orthodontist my mom brought me to told me that I had to get four of my teeth removed. No. Way. So we ran along to Dr. Sy, and he told me that my teeth were in fact not bad at all – and I would definitely not need to get any of them removed!
I stayed with Dr. Sy for the two years that he told me it would take for my teeth to get fixed with braces. I think in my distant memory the price for the two years was $ 2k, but i can’t quite remember. it was definitely at least that because my dad was ANGRY. Haha.
Every month, I’d go with a little feeling of trepidation – not because of Dr. Sy himself, but because of the soreness and pain I knew I’d have to go through the next few days. Lo and behold though, it was worth it, and now my original small underbite is indetectable and my teeth are all lined up in a nice pearly row :)
I still go in for 3-​month, 6-​month, and 1-​year checkups on my teeth and retainers (depending on the state of my teeth at the time apparently) that are normally free of charge! When I grow out of my retainers, Dr. Sy makes sure to let me know that I need new ones. I’ve definitely never felt cheated out of my money by him!
I never had any problems with his being a creeper. If anything, I thought he was more of a father figure to all of his younger patients than anything else. When I went in earlier today for my 1-​year appointment, he clapped his hand on my back and led me to a chair… if I were a hyper-​paranoid maniac, maybe that’d be creepy, but it came off more fatherly than anything else.
A few years ago, he moved to a nice new office on Valley and Mission with a window view, and it’s way more sanitary and pretty than his old one! To the other reviewers: I’ve never seen him not wash his hands before touching my mouth, and today there was actually a male assistant!
Finally, as the cherry on top, even my mom enjoyed going to Dr. Sy’s appointments with me! She would come inside the patient area so that he could carry on a good light conversation with her as he checked my teeth out. She also diligently read his articles on some Chinese newspaper that he occasionally writes! That’s what I call versatility.
Five stars for the great tooth care and for endearing even my hard-​to-​please mom, Dr. Sy :)

I decided to get braces 2 years ago and my family picked James as our orthodontist. Let me tell you, he know’s what he is doing, unlike many orthodontists out there and he is very VERY efficient. If you follow the instructions he gives you, your teeth will be perfect in no time. Recently I just got my braces off, right on schedule for senior photos.
As for James, I can tell that he enjoys his job. He has a nice and diligent personality that really attracts patients who want the best orthodontist.
Despite many negative reviews about his sanitation, for me, he respected a clean facility, washing and cleaning his hands thoroughly after each patient. Though I haven’t really talked to him that much through the two years in which he has been my ortho, but he seems like a very decent man. He’s cracked up jokes with me a couple of times, he is a really nice guy. I recommend definitely.

OMG. I can’t believe the reviews here for Dr. Sy. I LOVE THIS GUY! He is SOOO passionate about his job. I mean come on! This guy works 7 days a week!!! EVERY SINGLE FRICKING DAY! I agree that he does not look friendly and approachable but that is just the way he is. He rarely smiles and he’s all business. But trust me, he does occasionally smile and crack jokes here and there. He’s just really professional, that’s all!
This is my second time getting braces because my previous ortho was a money grubber and did a horrible job (I needed to pull out four teeth but he didn’t even tell me to do it!!). I came to Dr. Sy because I just wasn’t happy with my smile. He recommended having my teeth pulled. And instead of pulling the typical four teeth (the ones by your canine), he actually wanted me to pull out one of my crappy molar (which was 85% filling and cracking) because he «rather get rid of a crappy teeth than a healthy teeth» even though it’ll be more work for HIM to close the molar gap. Also, he tries to book me as often as possible because he says I’m too old for braces and «someone my age should be out dating.» LOL! so sweet of him :)
I’ve already had my braces for almost two years. I supposed to be getting them off in two years, but I’m already an adult so my teeth is harder to move. I should probably be getting it off end of the year and so far I already like what I see. I can’t wait till it is PERFECT!
It was a total of $ 3000 for me (again, cause I’m an adult). But so worth it!!! 2ish years for to have a perfect smile for the rest of my life! Can’t wait!
I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM!!!

He is quite rude. Went to him in my early preteen years to high school. I vividly recall him yelling «DON’T TOUCH ME!» because I was trying to move that thing that sucks the fluid from inside the mouth from sucking on the inside of my mouth. I know I know… I shouldn’t have done that but he could have just told me instead of yelling for the whole room to hear. Argh
I second the reviews about him being a perv. All his assistants have only been females I recall most of them being young and attractive. Every month when I went for my check up he would’ve fired all the assistants from the previous months, since I almost never see the same ones again. Except for one assistant, whom was quite pretty, what was up with that?
There was a patient that had perfectly straight teeth I thought he just got his braces taken off but he came in to get his braces put on for the first time. Perhaps he had an underlying jaw condition but he didn’t need braces for any straighter teeth.
You would be paying the same money for braces go to one that will treat you better.

I had Dr. Sy a few years back and he was a great orthodontist! I got my braces off very quickly and he has always been friendly, funny, and nice to me! Highly recommended!

my homemaker mom had to hide a couple of bucks here & there from her weekly carniceria allowance from my dad in order to pay for my braces. thanks dr sy, for accomodating my mom’s payment plans for my braces for $ 50 a month.
dr sy suggested i get neon colored bands for my brackets
dr sy suggested i pick my brackets clean w/​a safety pin
dr sy was always professional & cordial & his office was sparkly clean.
my bi sat 11am appts never had me there for over an hour.
thanks dr sy

If i could give him a rating of lower than one star I would. He is the worst orthodontist I have ever encountered and should have his license revoked if he even has one.
The first time I met him, he gave me a slap on the rear end which was completely innappropriate seeing as we had just met a few minutes before. He treats his patients as objects, not people. He tosses your head around very violently, works withOUT gloves, and asks you each time how he treated you the last visit. He has no set plan for any of his patients. In August, he told me that I would be finished by Christmas, which was a lie. He then told me that I would be finished by May. Lie. He then told me that I would be finished by the summer. Lie Again. And after my visit today, he informed me that I wouldn’t be done until after September.
He is unprofessional, disrespectful, and is women-​obssesed. He treats his female patients with somewhat better care, because he’s a pervert. But there is a bright side. If you have an attractive mom, or you yourself are an attractive woman, he’ll give you a discount on his, mediocre at best, treatment. I have now had my braces on for almost 3 years. Thanks Dr. Sy! Your the best!

The guy was rude, unprofessional, didn’t talk to me in a respectful manner and as for the staff, especially his wife which deals with money, she is even worse! I witnessed the Doctor, Dr. Sy, even yelled at his staff right in front of me numerous times! Those two are worse in service, especially. All they want is your money.

Whoa, here I go … my orthodontisto! But his name is actually James Sy, and he’s a «let’s get down to business» DDS. He rarely smiles and his wife works the counter … as in, she schedules his appointments, not like Gina from that one diner … you know, that one where she works all day.
I give James a bonified 4 stars because he got my braces off after 1.5 years instead of 2, even though I should dock him for slapping them on while I was in high school, rather than in elementary. I guess pre-​metal head era, me teeth weren’t THAT snaggled.
But –1 because Dr. Sy was working his magic on me during one visit and then I spotted something levitating in his right nostril. It’s a bird, it’s a lint … no it’s … a booger! Dr. Sy musta felt it too because while tightening my braces, he kept touching his nose as if something was stuck in it (good guess doctor.)
After numerous touches and fiddling with his nose, the booger was still stuck. But now, it was hanging on for dear life … dangling off the side of his nostril, as I howled and prayed that the desperate yellow sucker wouldn’t drop into my mouth.
Then … WHAP! In a split second, the booger disappeared. Where did it go? I didn’t taste anything salty in my mouth, nor did I choke on some hard yellow goo-​ball. Alas, I was relieved to see that it landed safely on Dr. Sy’s white coat lapel. That ol’ booger found himself a good home.