Center For Dental Health

Doctor Hegde, Sheila, Carlos and everyone at Center for Dental Health are the best at what they do. My husband gets compliments on his smile every where we go and we owe it to Dr. Hegde. I’m one of those people that are terrified of going to the dentist but they’re so caring here and take such good care of you, that removing my wisdom teeth was a breeze. I truly feel like family when I come here and not just another patient.

I wholehartedly recommend Dr. Hegde and her team. I’ve been their patient since 2011 when I moved to San Diego from Europe. I was a real «case» when I walked into their office for the first time and they got me fixed up to SoCal standards in four years. They always worked with me to schedule the urgent things when they were needed and to plan the rest so as to make the best use of my insurance and FSA budget.
Dr. Hegde just installed an implant to replace an eye-​tooth I lost about 6 years back. It was a completely painless and smooth procedure, I didn’t even have to take a single pain killer after the procedure! Trust me, I had an implant surgery screwed up on me while I was living in France … the whole thing fell out about a month after the crown was placed and I ended up going to Switzerland to get it installed right the second time.
I never had a dentist whom I trusted and appreciated more than Dr. Hegde.

This place should be shut down.
My wife and I have been patients for the last 2 – 3 years (main dentist Dr. Hegde), and finally made the overdue decision to switch dentists (and what a great move!).
The issues:
1) At first I thought they were just perfectionists when the first appointment they tried to convince me to get braces again (I wear my retainer and no dentist has ever mentioned that) and mentioned this and that (night guard, etc.). Despite never having a cavity in my life (I am 32), for the first time they said I had a cavity (during my 2^nd or 3^rd appointment). I naively and reluctantly trusted the dentist and got my first filling. Meanwhile, my wife got more fillings than she ever had and always was coming home having paid the dentist for another product for her teeth.
The last straw was my last appointment when I was told I had 2 cavities that I should get filled. I decided to ignore the advice to schedule another appointment for the fillings, and 6 months later I switched dentists. The new dentist only said great things about my teeth and did not see any need for a filling, validating my growing distrust of this dentist.
While I cannot prove it (and if I could I would sue), I strong believe this dentist is out to make a buck at the expense of the patients. My trust was betrayed as apparently an acceptable tooth of mine was chiseled away and filled in with synthetic material (that doesn’t last as long as a natural tooth). I have learned my lesson to trust my instincts and get a second opinion (and more carefully choose a dentist, such as with Unilocal reviews). I am sick to my stomach knowing I will never get my tooth back and I was taken advantage of. Criminal.
2) Since I care about my overall health and not just my oral health, I presented the dentist with my concern about taking x-​rays more than necessary, due to growing research about it increasing cancer rates, especially of the brain. I did my research, and even presented new guidelines by the FDA & ADA that states that x-​rays are only needed every 2 – 3 years, especially for someone with good oral health. Nevertheless, their response was defensive, and I was repeatedly pressured to take x-​rays sooner than the guidelines (I eventually even gave in). I was told I would have to sign something to release them from liability and they never made it seem that my concerns were valid. It was never clearly explained why they were not following the new FDA/​ADA guidelines, either. Again, money over quality patient care.
3) As mentioned in others’ reviews, the front office is subpar. They’ve gotten appointment dates wrong, incorrectly billed, and send too many reminder calls and e-​mails. Quite fittingly, when I switched dentists, they sent the wrong x-​rays, which caused a headache with my new dentist.
I do NOT recommend.

The dental work here is ok — no particular horror stories, but you should be aware of the following:
They up sell you at every possible opportunity
The front office have no idea to process insurance documents, and even refused to give me an explanation of benefits. They essentially guess what you should be charged.
They charged my wife for procedures that she didn’t have
They gave me 2 fillings that I didn’t need
They keep sending me needless emails and texts.
Not going back — they have had far too much of my money
AVOID!

I have been going to Dr. Hegde for over 10 years. For the first 8 years, I would have rated them as 5 out of 5, but in the last two years things have gone downhill significantly.
In the last two years I have run into numerous problems with the front office:
1) In my last four appointments, I have been left waiting in the waiting room for an average of 2 hours after my designated appointment time, even though I always arrive 30 minutes early to my appointment.
2) I appreciate they would email me, text me and call me several times two weeks prior to my appointment, 1 week to my appointment and 1 day to my appointment. However, even if you respond and say that you received it and confirm that you will be at the appointment (as prompted by email/​text and call), they still keep sending it to you.
3) I was asked on numerous occasions, if I could move up my appointment time, which I was more than willing to do. However, when I arrived my appointment I was forced to waiting for an average of 2 hours (see #1).
4) I was trying to have a procedure done, but it took two years for the proper paperwork to be given to the insurance company. In fact, the new person in the office who finally fixed it, stated that she did not know what the heck the previous person did and that the codes, etc were all incorrect.
5) I finally had my procedure scheduled and confirmed for a Monday with the specialist, who is only in their office once a month. My wife and I both took time off of work so I could have the procedure done. The Friday before I received a call telling me that I had to go to their other office 30+ miles away, but I had to call the other office. I asked her why they couldn’t work it out and let me know, and I was repeatedly told I had to call the other office. When I called the other office, I was told they had no record of the specialist coming in that Monday and that she only came in on one Wednesday per month and I had to call back the La Jolla Office to tell them that the other office had no idea why I was asked to call the other office. This repeated for awhile until finally I was told that the specialist was not available on Monday anymore because she was no longer going to be coming to the La Jolla office and would only be working once a month in the other office, but she wasn’t scheduled in the other office for another month.
6) After every appointment, they send you a link with a survey, and I notified them of all the problems I experienced but the problems were never corrected.
7) After #5, I notified Dr. Hegde that I will no longer be her patient, because of the front office antics and I also notified her that I had repeatedly notified them of problems but the problems were never corrected. She did try to make it better, but I was done with the antics. If the front office was run the way it had been for the first 8 years, I would still be their patient.
8) After finding a new specialist, the new specialist contacted the La Jolla Office to request my x-​rays. After a week, the new specialist contacted me to tell me that Michelle from the front office still hadn’t sent it out even after talking to her on a daily basis. When I contacted Michelle, she told me that she needed authorization and that she had called me (which never happened). I told her to please send the x-​rays at which point she hung up on me. If this is their method of retaining patients then I may never go back.
If you can get deal with the inexperienced and unprofessional front office and the long waits, then I would highly recommend Dr. Hegde. If not, I would suggest you look elsewhere until they fix their issues.

This review is well over due. I have been going to do Dr. Hegde’s office for my dental care for 12 years now. I have moved away from La Jolla area and I still drive the 45 minutes drive as I find her to be the best dentist in town. Her staff at the front is professional. Her hygienist Sheila is very friendly and knowledgable. She is caring and spends great deal of time with you if needed to make sure your teeth are sparkling clean before she lets you go. In addition Dr. Hegde’s work is excellent if you need dental work such as fillings; she is very meticulous and makes sure your bite is perfect after fillings. As a whole the entire staff seems to always focus on quality and not quantity. They provide each patient with outstanding personal care and don’t rush through patients. Lastly and I think this very important is that during my 12 year experience with this office I was never offered or pressured into unnecessary dental works, which I have seen often with other dentists; they are very honest and don’t try to run up your bill.

Very impressed with the staff here! I cannot say enough good about Dr Sandhya Hedge and her team of assistants. Everyone was very knowledgeable and compassionate; not something that is commonly experienced when dealing with almost any medical practice. I honestly felt as though I was benign treated as a close friend, not just another patient. 5 STARS AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Dr. Hegde is truly a world class Dentist. I have been a patient of hers for over 10 years and I REFUSE to see anyone else. She has the combined qualities that you just wont find anywhere else. First, she is a perfectionist so you can be confident that you are in excellent hands. Secondly, she genuinely cares about her patients. Every time I see her she asks how my family is doing, she remembers the minor things about my history where most dentists would need to review a chart, and she is always interested how I am doing in general. This kind of authenticity is hard to find! Third, she is passionate about being a leader in her industry and always seeks to stay ahead of the game with new technologies and new methods. She is constantly learning new things and I fully appreciate someone who pushes to become better in every aspect of her work. Her dedication is clear among her staff as well. From her hygienists, to assistants, to admin staff. Everyone is extremely professional, smart, and friendly. I highly recommend Dr. Hegde and her staff to anyone. My family and my whole office are now patients of hers.

Let me begin with I have an abnormal dental anxiety. The day prior, and evening are totally anxiety filled. My husband and myself have been patients for about 10 years. Dr. Hedge is caring, professional, and is continually educating herself to ensure she is the best she can be, and she is exactly that, and more. I have recently been a patient of several «re-​fillings» and a crown. The crown I was not so happy about. After being gone for over a month due to family business I returned, and voiced my concerns. Trust me when I say, my concerns become her concerns, and she TRULY wants to know, so she can try to make it better. Do not be afraid to voice concerns to her. Yes, to a previous reviewer, some that work within the office are better than others. And the there is MIKA, MIKA, MIKA… she is a gem! Listening to her and Dr. Hegde work together is quite the experience. Together they are an unstoppable team, positive, caring, totally professional, wanting to ensure not only the best in quality of work, but also understanding and an explanation of the procedure, before, during, and after. They are a symphony together!
Do I like to go to the dentist? Heck no. Do I fear it? Heck yeah, that is never going to change, but if I want the best, and the best for me, Dr. Hegde is it!

Dr. Edge is excellent, she is professional and knowledgeable; however, her staff is not to par. If you go here make sure you do not meet with any other dentist. They will make you believe you have problems/​cavities or something else you do not have and you have to pay for it. Sorry, but this is the sad truth. Too bad that what the insurances already pay this people for is not enough for them. Make sure you know what you are doing here, do not buy what they suggest you to do.

Dr. Hedge and Sheila are great! I went in with several cavities and they’re friendliness and skill made for a quick and dare I say pleasant experience.

Best dentist in town! I started looking for a new dentist a couple of years ago, found Dr. Hegde, and have been happy since. Sheila does a great job as the hygienist. She’s thorough and makes sure you’re informed on your dental health. I also like the fact that they email you if slot opens up for an appointment.

I am so grateful for Center for Dental Health! I was in San Diego on vacation and chipped my tooth (it was bad!) and need to get in somewhere immediately to get it fixed. I saw all the amazing reviews on Unilocal so called and they receptionist was so nice and accomodating. She managed to fit me in and even asked for my insurance information on the phone so that she could get started on the paperwork and make sure I was covered. When I got there, I was immediately taken to the room to get prepped. They were extremely professional yet efficient. They also let me know exactly how much it would cost (out of pocket) before they started which I really appreciated. The best part is that they did a great job. The chip was in my front tooth– so as you can imagine, it made me nervous to go to a dentist that I wasn’t familar with, but they did great! 5 stars all the way. THANK YOU!

I called the day of to get my chipped tooth fixed. I had been wanting to fix that tooth for quite some time, but every dentist I saw kept telling me they wouldn’t touch it because of my bite. The Center set an appointment at 4:30 that very day, and Dr. Ng took the absolute best care of me. She did such an amazing job on one tooth that I set up an appointment two days later to get another one fixed, as well as get a teeth cleaning (which was also phenomenal). She did my bonding perfectly and I have absolutely no problem with my bite. I was so impressed with this office. Dr. Ng is absolutely wonderful and great at what she does. Her staff (especially the front desk girl) are pretty awesome too. Highly, highly recommend this place. Tell them I sent you. :)

Dr. Hegde is simply amazing! She is without a doubt excellent with her work and an absolutely brilliant person. Most people hate going to a dentist cause of the pain factor, but Hegde makes you feel comfortable and at home in the dental chair! She explains what she is doing as she works and is so easy to talk to even when your mouth is propped open like a jar.
I have zero complaints about this place — besides Dr. Hegde, the other staff is spot on, especially Jenny in the front office.
I have found the perfect dentist finally!

I pay out of pocket for my Dental work so I’m very picky when it comes to Dentists. My wife had been going here for years with good results so I finally decided to give them a try. I’m glad I did. The entire staff is courteous, knowledgeable, and their work is excellent. Dr. Hegde has both the technical skills and bedside manners that are required for a good Dentist. Assistant Betty (I think that’s her name) is very good too; it’s interesting watching them work. I also like that the practice uses the newest technology like digital X-​rays; so much more convenient than the old film crap. All in all a great experience; I highly recommend Dr. Hegde and her practice.

This review is for Dr. Ng and staff who were as professional as they come during my visit for x-​rays, evaluation, and cleaning. The office makes intelligent and efficient use of technology including inner mouth pics that are immediately displayed for point of reference when they are dispensing analysis and advice. Every question I had during my time there was explained well beyond my satisfaction. More importantly, they asked me several times over as to my comfort level to ensure I was not suffering. All charges, co-​pays, etc, are all presented in an easy to understand format. Clean contemporary office, right off the 5, free underground parking. Straight up impossible not to smile when you stroll out of their offices.

The good doctor did a great job! I had some cosmetic work done on my front teeth, and they put a great deal of time into ensuring that I was well taken care of. I come in every 4 – 6 months for cleaning as well.
Ask for Andrew if you get the chance. Dude’s got jokes!

I’ve known Dr. Hegde personally for several years and this past year I switched to her practice at the Center for Dental Health La Jolla. I’ve found all of my experiences with dentists in San Diego to be very frustrating except for Dr Hegde.
She is obviously a true professional, cares about her patients and their comfort and health, and is exceptionally knowledgable so your get the highest quality treatment and advice.
Bottom line for me is that I have finally found a dentist that I can trust and work with. The rest of her staff is also warm and very qualified and service oriented.
If you’re looking for a better dental experience and a dentist you can relate to, go see her!

The fact that I ever get compliments on my teeth and smile is all due to Dr. Hegde! She has been my dentist for over 5 years and I cannot sing her praises enough. She is incredibly skilled in all aspects of dentistry and she is also extremely kind and sensitive. I always dreaded going to the dentist before I started seeing her and now I don’t mind at all.
I even take my toddler there instead of to a traditional children’s dentistry ofice. Her staff is very good with kids and I trust them to take excellent care of my teeth. If you aren’t completely happy with your current dentist, I encourage you to give Dr. Hegde a call. She is wonderful!
Dr. Hegde’s office is very conveniently located in the UTC area of San Diego. She does everything from routine exams, to root canals, and cosmetic procedures so all of your bases are covered (she does invisalign, traditional braces, and teeth whitening as well).