Beaverly Grace Catalan, DMD

I have always had excellent dental health. In fact, I’ve never had a cavity in my life. This is why I was highly suspect when Dr. Catalan informed me that I had eight on my first visit. I decided to seek a second opinion with another dentist. After thoroughly inspecting both my x-​rays, and teeth in person he concluded that my oral health was good; my gums were healthy, my teeth were strong, I have zero cavities– a diagnosis later confirmed by yet another dentist (I wanted to be through). There is ample research about misdiagnosing cavities, as can be read in this article:
. Had I not trusted my instincts and followed through with Dr. Catalan’s suggested fillings, I would have done serious and irreparable damage to my teeth. The biggest lesson I got out of this experience is to always seek a second opinion, especially as it comes to something as important as healthcare. I obviously would not recommend Dr. Catalan.

Total nightmare! This woman is the reason why sedation dentistry is making a fortune! I am scarred for life and will never go back. I should have left the minute I saw the words ‘Lady Dentist’ on the window. Why the heck is that even written there? Who cares?
She’s very nice to you for your first visit but turns into a monster after that. The office is very hole in the wall and her name isn’t spelled the same on her diploma as it is on all of her paperwork. There is only one sink and ALL of the patients have to use it to rinse. Gross!!! The ceiling is covered in water stains from various leaks.
My first visit she couldn’t get me numb and stuck me with the needle more than 7 times. Every time was complete agony like she was sticking the needle into my brain. Eventually I broke down and begged her to please stop with all the fracking needles.
So I went home and did my research on why this lady was having such a hard time figuring out how to get me numb when she was supposed to be a professional. I learned about the effects of anxiety on numbing agents.
On my return visit to complete the porcelain cap, she took it personally when I explained that Novocaine doesn’t work on me due to my anxiety. It’s an actual medical thing that is proven. Some folks with severe anxiety can’t be numbed no matter what. I thought that she should know that since it isn’t exactly new information according the articles that I was able to google within 5 minutes.
She then proceeds to say, ‘Well if you can’t be numbed then I’m not going to bother.’ And proceeds to rip at the inside of my mouth with various sharp objects causing the assistant to tell her to ‘take it easy’ because I was ‘bleeding everywhere’. Eventually I couldn’t take the pain anymore and started to cry a little. I felt like I was being held hostage by a maniac and didn’t want to try to escape while somebody had sharp things in my mouth.
Then she picked up the needle and said, ‘If it hurts you so much, I can give you some shots!’ at which point I begged her again just to hurry and finish. While she was working on me, she told me that she was going to do some extra work without my consent and proceeds to start lazering the heck out of the inside of my mouth. Holy cow that hurt so bad!
She tacked an extra $ 500 on to my bill which was already running almost $ 2000 due to the cap that I got on my molar. The cap which feels like an abomination in my mouth. She couldn’t get it fit properly so she drilled down the molar directly over it so that her shoddy dental work would fit. Now that top molar is more sensitive and no longer functions as a tooth. She spilled the cement ALL OVER my gums and had to rip part of my gums off.
So don’t let my sacrifice be in vain. I am now going to have to pay a fortune to undo all the damage that she did. And I will now only be going to a sedation dentist so I don’t have to sit in a chair screaming in pain because my dentist is a sociopath.
Honestly she is lucky that I don’t take her to court. I believe that the lesson I learned here is more valuable than anything a court could give me. Plus she probably wouldn’t be able to pay the money back anyway.

The staff here is friendly, office is clean and the dentist, she’s rough around the edges but nice enough. My experience was much like a roller coaster ride. I naturally have a hard time going to the dentist (discussed this with them from the get-​go). I felt some coldness at times from the dentist and even some frustration or irritation. Anyhow I let it slide until… my last visit. I had made an appointment for a filling. The assistant did some X-​rays and left, that was 10 minutes max. A bit later the dentist came, looked at the X-​rays, looked at my teeth then LEFT!!! No one said a word to me, so I waited… In total I waited ONE HOUR and FORTY-​THREE MINUTES, meanwhile agonizing anxiety has gone into overdrive!!! I had enough and walked out. The lack of communication was upsetting. I picked up my X-​rays and I wont ever return.

I have insurance and was charged $ 125 for a deep cleaning and mouth wash. Not sure I needed all that but it’s too hard to get a second opinion while they’re in your mouth telling you what you need.

My first and second visit with Mrs. Catalan were great, she came across very nice and caring.
However by around my 3^rd visit I met the real Dr. Catalan. She soon began instructing me I had to switch my insurance from HMO to PPO because she didn’t make any money seeing me. She would harass me about it to the point that I quit seeing her and reported her to my insurance company. They did an investigation and they said they informed her that signing up to accept HMO patients was optional & something that she did on her own & could stop doing if she wanted to.
She would insult me about how she doesn’t get paid enough for working on my teeth as she had sharp objects in my mouth– it felt like I was in a nightmare! If I asked for a break she would sign loudly and yell in Tagalog to her office secretary (little did she know I speak Tagalog).
My insurance company found me an amazing new dental group (Torrance Dental Associates in North Torrance) that HAPPILY accepts HMO patients and does not treat you like a poor second class patient.
There is one benefit to going to her, she has an angel working the front desk! Salamat Ate, kaw ay kaya uri!

I take my daughter here because Dr. Catalan knows how to work with kids. My daughter tends to freak out when she’s in any office that involves a Dr. Dr. Catalan got her to calm down and we got through the procedure with less tears. I am glad I found her because I have brought my daughter to other Dr’s and they were either trying to charge us for every procedure they could think of, or they didn’t know how to handle kids.

There are located in a good size plaza. Tons of parking and easy to find.
Waiting area is very welcoming with 2 comfy coaches and lots of magazines.
Went here after going to West-​coast dental to get an second opinion and plus is was closer to work.
Lady at the front desk was really nice and helpful. I needed to fill out some paper work for new patients. As I filled that out another young lady that was a dental assistant came over and asked me to follow her.
She took my X-​rays and was sweet and quick. Shortly after Dr. Catalan came over and asked me a few questions.
We spoke a little about my teeth and she let me know that I did need a deep cleaning cause I was not flossing everyday which I admitted.
We also talked about removing a baby tooth that I still have and etc… She really took the time to explain every detail about that and the process of the deep cleaning, etc…
I asked her if everything would be covered by my insurance and she had someone check. and YES it was!!! Only thing I needed to pay for was the mouth wash which was about $ 35.00.
I asked her if I had any cavity’s as West Coast dental stated I had a few. She said «No» everything looked good. My teeth were in good shape but I needed to floss everyday and she took the time to educate me on the correct way to floss.
So I can not believed that that other dentist lied to me and told me I had cavity’s!!! I was pissed. But again, I glad that I did not have any.
My insurance covered everything and West Coast dental said the deep cleaning would be $ 200– what liars!
I knew something was up with West Coast dental because I knew they were a scam and this now proves it!!!