Gateway Dental Centre of Seattle

I felt SOOO comfortable today. I LOVE Dr. Lucy Scantlebury. I LOVE her! My hygienist was AWESOME. I love all of the staff there. I was so scared when I got there, but everything went extremely well. I LOVE YOU Gateway! I feel privileged to have you working on my teeth. HUGS. — MIKO

Unethical, upsell unnecessary services like a root canal. I told Dr. Buchanan I’d be seeking a 2^nd opinion before I’d agree to the root canal. I request the proposed treatment plan in writing be sent to me. Suddenly, the root canal recommendation disappears from the proposed treatment plan.
Do not trust this snake oil salesman. He’s here to make money from you first, and provide treatment second. Do not expect him to care about your dental health. Whatever happened to the doctor’s oath «FIRST, DO NO HARM»???

A bit sketchy, but everyone was nice and professional. My main complaint is that they charge $ 250 for amalgam fillings. Even after insurance, that’s $ 100 in cash. At most places, these are around $ 125. I should have asked for an estimate before, of course, but that’s an amazing amount of money to charge for a filling. They wanted me to get a crown there for like $ 1500. If you can go somewhere else, I would.

I’ve been going here for about five years now. Overall, I like the place and have been very satisfied with the service.
Front office: They can be hit or miss. I’ve dealt with a couple people who seemed a little angry like they were having a bad day or something, but the vast majority of my interactions with them have been great. I just had a phone call with someone to add on to my next appointment. She was super helpful and friendly.
Hygienists: This is who you spend most of your time with. I have been seeing the same hygienist the entire time I’ve been going there. It’s nice to have the continuity of knowing the person you’re working with in a large office. I know what to expect and I know that he has been following my care plan. He’s chill and friendly and remembers me. Twice I saw a different person simply because my regular guy was out sick. She was also excellent.
Dentists: I have had work done by both Dr. Buchanan and Dr. Kim. They do quick work and it’s good work too. I appreciated the way they replaced cracked fillings for me. They use procedures to make extra sure that the area is clean and dry so the filling won’t leak. They gave me a thing to keep my mouth open so I didn’t have to try to keep it pried open for the hour it took to remove and replace them all. For the most recent filling I had replaced, I barely even felt the needle when they gave me the numbing shot in my gums. That’s huge! It bears mentioning that they don’t use the laughing gas though, if that’s your bag.
That being said, during normal appointments, you don’t see them for very long, but that has been my experience at every dentist I have ever seen. They are trying to see a lot of patients in a day, just like other healthcare providers. The key is to be assertive and don’t let them run off if you have questions they didn’t answer. Or ask your hygienist to bring them back. I have always been satisfied in getting clarification when needed.
The view and the atmosphere: What’s better than looking out at the mountains and the water from the 16^th floor while someone is pushing your mouth in directions you’d rather it not go? You are separated from other patients by a partial wall of the hygienist’s station. You can see their feet and hear them talking a little bit, but it’s not bad. It’s still quiet and I don’t see what the big deal is about having an open space like that. It allows more patients to get the sweet views.
Appointments: I’ve never had trouble getting appointments, whether it’s a week out or six months out, early AM or mid-​day. I especially love the 7:30AM appointments and highly recommend that time slot. It’s so early that by the time I’m fully waking up for the day, the cleaning just feels like a bad dream that I barely remember until I look in my purse and see my souvenir toothbrush and dental floss.

To say this place has offered me the best overall dental services in my life is an understatement. Not only had Dr Buchanan explained things perfectly, regarding my options with a failed tooth and a separate crown I needed, but the crown itself is of superior quality somehow over other crowns I have. It feels like a real tooth. The Dr found an infection I had under an apparent failed root canal, and that’s scheduled to be fixed by Dr Wang, and all options were explained excellently.
And on top of all that, Monica in the billing department is my hero, giving me information (due to recent changed coverage) that has literally saved me over $ 2000.00. I love these guys!
A ³⁄₁₅ update: By the way, I am not dating Monica, nor is she a friend I hang out with or know personally. But I have to say she just once AGAIN saved me a lot of money. My insurance company KEPT charging me over and over and over for in excess of $ 900, which should have been covered. Monica pestered them for 3 months, and finally they payed. I can’t recommend Gateway enough.

I felt like going here was like going to used car lot, told one thing and got completely different answer, apparently I was told my ins (through Boeing) would not even cover a filling! Nor did I have any other options given to me. So sad, I purposely switched to a dentist in Seattle thinking I was better off. What a joke!

This place is always pretty easy get appointments. They do tend to move patients at a very high rate. Because of this, you get very little time with the actual dentist but they do have very thorough cleanings. I have had several fillings done here and I am happy with the results.
Update: I had a crown performed here and it was not fun. The temporary crown they gave me came off after 2 days (it is supposed to last for 2 WEEKS). I went in multiple times to try and get it re-​cemented, but it would come off in a matter of hours. I ended up using denture adhesive to stick it on, which would maybe last for a day. Then, right before I went to get the permanent crown, I wake up to find I have swallowed the temporary one. The dentist then made fun of me when I went to get the permanent one on. To top it all off, the permanent crown doesn’t even fit right, but I don’t want to get it fixed by them. :(

This has been my regular dentist for many years now, and theyre always really good with scheduling appointments. If I have an emaergency they get me in quickly and the staff is gentle and kind.

After one really bad experience with other dentist my husband ask for some recommendations and they told us about Dr. Glenn Buchanan
In my experience he is the best dentist that I know. The staff was helpful when I needed answers.
After a surgery and a crown I would recommend Dr. Buchanan.

Monica (business office and insurance issues). In the future, it’s advisable to get «predetermination» that a procedure will be paid for, if it’s going to cost $ 1,500. Also, when you make the claim, please submit backup paperwork so that the claim isn’t automatically denied. I called WA Dental, and they told me that the reason for denial was because you did not send supporting documentation in with the HUGE claim.
You’ve been doing this a long time. This isn’t rocket science. It would also help if you would «own your mistakes,» instead of denying them. It would go a long way.
Because you are not always available to talk to and your office demands on-​the-​spot payment for services rendered, have you considered accepting Email? This is 2013 and you do operate and manage the fiscal office of Gateway Dental.
Your office calling me and demanding credit card information over the phone, because you neglected to take payment at time of service, and also your refusing to bill patients, isn’t appreciated. I don’t normally pay bills over the phone, giving out credit card information. That environment comes across as disorganized chaos, and your front office staff, for the most part, are miserable employees, clearly. Maybe you could pay them more or something. Talk about performing at minimum standards. They are dealing with the public and your customers (patients).

Nice views, clean.

When you have a place with many different dentists, opinions will vary. My experience over the years has been very positive with Gateway Dental. I have a lot of options with my dental plan so I don’t have to go there, I choose to go there.
I work a few blocks away and lost my dentist because she decided to stop participating in my dental plan. I had hundreds to choose from and wasn’t having any luck finding a replacement. I asked around my office to see what was up and some said they went to Gateway Dental and saw Dr. John Kim. I decided to give it a try and if I didn’t like it, no harm, no foul, just a few x-​rays.
Scheduling: Gateway Dental offers early morning and late evening appointments. That is always a plus for me. Personally, I prefer at 7:30 AM appointment before I really get going with my day. Office staff has been easy to work with in terms of finding the right date. In the years I’ve been going there, there have only been two emergencies in my family. My child was injured at school and had to be seen the same day by Dr. Kim. No problem. We were in a few hours after I called. The other emergency was with me — for some reason, my tooth decided it would explode for no apparent reason. Since I wasn’t in pain, I made an appointment for the next day but I feel fortunate that was possible and know they would have seen me the same day if necessary.
Location: As I’ve said, I work nearby and it’s convenient for me. However, if you drive, you have to deal with parking, particularly near Seattle Municipal Tower, Columbia Center, Bank of America Tower, etc.
Office Space: It’s everything I would expect to see in a dentist’s office. The one nice thing is having a view of Puget Sound while you get work done. Even from the 16^th floor, it’s a nice way to ease anxiety.
Dentists: Dr. Kim is my regular dentist and serves my entire family. Prior to that, another dentist at Gateway served my child. Dr. Kim is respectful of our time, listens to our issues, and comes up with a tangible plan quickly. He is non-​judgmental while being clear about the consequences of not doing what he tells you (I’ve been NOT getting my wisdom teeth out for over a year because I’m terrified). I’ve also seen Dr. Kuo and experienced a high level of service.
Staff: I’ve already mentioned my experience with scheduling, which is done by the front desk staff. In terms of dental assistants, they all do a good job but I have my favorites. They seem to work well with Dr. Kim which goes a long way to everyone’s hand being on and around my mouth. Everything seems to be well organized and run smoothly. Often, the assistants are doing the prep and closing work and the dentist comes in for the middle. In a lot of ways, I think their jobs are extremely important.
Referrals: The one downside (which isn’t a downside for me but may be for others) is that depending on the kind of surgery you need to have, they may need to refer you out.
Overall, I look forward to continuing with Gateway Dental for many years to come.

I’ve been going here for about two years, mostly because they are one of few places that will take my insurance. I haven’t had any problems with them yet. But I haven’t had any major work done, just cleanings and x-​rays.

The only good thing about this place to me is that I never have to go back there.
Here’s a summary of why this place doesn’t have great reviews is as follows:
1. The exam/​procedure chairs are separated by curtains and you can see/​hear other patients and they can see/​hear you.
2. They seem to be rather expensive compared to other places. There’s multiple reviews complaining about how they drain your insurance and charge a lot (Which is surprising given #1 on my list, you think for what they charge, they’d be able to afford proper exam rooms)
3. The staff is hit or miss. One hygenist was very nice, courteous and helpful, but the rest of the staff I met was rude, insulting, and unhelpful.
4. It seems that they’re not clear on their procedures in some cases. Myself and other people on Unilocal have been told they simply need something without be given other options and not being explained to why they need to do things or even what they are doing.
Also, one thing individual to my experience that I didn’t see on the other reviews, but I feel is worth mentioning is poor pain managment I experienced. When I was getting a root canal done, I had a nerve drilled on without being properly blocked and just about jumped out of the chair. Another time, I had my gums torn apart without being given any topical lidocaine and then when complaining about it, I was told that I should have said something earlier even though I had and they said it wouldn’t be necessary.
I learned the hard way and am definitely reading Unilocal reviews before picking a dentist in the future.

I came here because my husband at the time worked in Bank of America and it was just next door. Delta insurance sucks and they are one of the only ones who took it.
The office looks professional and the staff appeared to be unorganized. You never knew who was going to do what. You just end up standing there like a dummy.
The Dr. Kuo is good. He is talkative and keeps the mood light while he examines your teeth. I noticed that here they do the exam and cleaning separately. I came the first time expecting the exam, xrays and cleaning. Well turned out it was the consultation and X ray then I had to reschedule the cleaning. What a waste of time! I made time out of my day to come here and then now I have to go through this again? Sheesh?
When I finally got my teeth cleaned the second appointment, the hygenist was nice as well.
I checked out and they charged me $ 5.00 to rinse my mouth out with water! Huh?!
What a way to nickel and dime me to death. Overall I would ask what everything costs upfront but the service was decent. I’ve had better.
Two things to remember:
Ask about pricing of everything!
There are two appointments for a cleaning.

Dr. Kuo: He’s very professional, period. Only one thing I would like to point out is that he would unintentionally press against your jaw when he treats you. So if you have plastic surgery you better tell him before the treatment.
Dr. Buchanan: He came in for 5 minutes and say hey we gonna do root canals on your tooth and leave. I was not happy with him cause he didn’t seem to give me any CHOICES. He could use his time to explain better and answer my questions so I feel alright but he didn’t. He just determined what he wants to do on you and boom! that’s it! I thought of using another dental office but I really stay for Dr. Kuo and the advance equipments.
Facility: Clean with the most advanced Equipment! It’s my first time seeing dentists using microscope when treating my tooth. The root canal procedure is first enough. and the endodontist Dr. Duo took X-​ray after the treatment to make sure it looks right. They have something to bite and something to keep you mouth open unvoluntarily so it’s an ease on your face muscle. Never run into this legendary lady Monica, and never have problem with bills.
Hygenists: I used to go to dentists and the hygenist put a suction tube in my mouth for the whole procedures to keep my saliva low, but they don’t do it here so I was nearly choke for a couple of time. Although they called me and move me to an earlier appointment when other people canceled theirs, it’s usually SUPER DIFFICULT to get the appointment (so another star down).

I was recommended to Gateway through a co worker since we literally worked next door to Gateway. I was really nervous the first time going only bc I dread going to the dentist and getting my gums all tore up by the hygenist. But I’ll admit I’ve been going to Gateway for a good 5+ years.
I enjoy having Dr Kim as my dentist and Anh-​Thu as my hygenist. Shes pretty gentle around the gums and Dr Kim is very laid back and chill who seems very passionate in what he does.
The few problems I’ve had with Gateway have always been resolved in a timely manner. When I had an insurance issue/​billing problem Monica was always on top of things and getting it resolved but also when I had a hygenist who was really aggresive when I went in for a cleaning I noticed he wasnt there on my next visit which shows that they do look out for their patients.

Wasted my time… twice!
The office manager and staff aren’t very good with customer service, or taking information correctly.
If this is how you run your business, I don’t want you touching my teeth.
The first time I got there at the crack of dawn just before the end of last year. I waited a good 20 minutes before I was called up to the desk and the woman said– «oh by the way, your insurance for this year is run out, do you just want to pay out of pocket or wait until next year?»…Umm excuse me, I’ve had this appointment for 2 weeks, could you have told me that BEFORE I woke up at the crack of dawn? Perhaps at least when you did the reminder call 2 days ago?
So I waited until my insurance re-​upped the next year. I requested an extra long appointment to do cleaning, x-​rays and fix a cracked tooth. I took a full afternoon away from my busy job to get this taken care of.
When I got there dental assistants were literally running from room to room, and things seemed disorganized. I waited another 15 mins before I was helped.
The dental assistant took pictures of my cracked tooth because she said I only had a 30 minute appointment… whhhaaaat? Once again poor business management and poor customer service.

I was totally nervous when I came here after reading the reviews. I didn’t know much about my dental insurance and was a little scared off by the horror stories. However, I was referred here by my dentist and due to the urgency of my root canal, I didn’t have much time to go elsewhere.
I had such a good experience though and really don’t have any complaints! The communication regarding the insurance was PHENOMENAL. Monica really went out of her way to help me out — she was very good at letting me know how much I was going to owe… and to my surprise, I got a call back from her an hour after I left telling me that my insurance was going to cover everything. Definitely did not expect that but was very, very happy to have an extra few hundred dollars in my pocket. Woohoo! She was very sweet and easy to deal with. Double score!
The procedure itself was painless. I had heard horror stories from coworkers telling me how horrible root canals were and I was really nervous. I wish that the dentist had been a little better about communicating what was going on (he was friendly but a man of very few words) but when he told me that I was going to be in pain the next few days… and I wasn’t…again, I was pleasantly surprised.
All in all, I found this experience «pleasantly surprising.» Always a good thing when going to the doctor when you hate going to the dentist to begin with.
I would definitely recommend!

Went to have my maryland bridge repaired and had a very good experience. I was a bit worried after reading some reviews but Dr. Kim was great as were the people in the front office. Price was another concern for me and the whole thing ended up costing about half of what they estimated on the phone.
Can’t speak to the quality of the work yet, we’ll see how long it stays put, but the experience was terrific.