Arlington Center For Dentistry

Dr. Andy Ma was extremely informative during my first visit. As a patient with a lot of cavities, I’m always skeptical that I’m being forced into fillings that aren’t always necessary. He took the time to address my tooth sensitivity and showed me the cavities he’s worried about both on an x-​ray and in the mirror.
He was friendly, courteous, and prompt. I have no complaints! They even offer after-​work hours, which is so helpful! Very clean, bright office.
Accepts Delta Dental Insurance.

Probably the worst dental experience I’ve ever had. I got x-​rays done during my first cleaning here and they told me I needed six fillings. I brush and floss my teeth religiously so I was very confused by this, but went with the fillings anyways. The dentist decided to do three fillings at one time. He filled two of my teeth and on the third one, he stopped midway telling me this one needed to be a root canal. I was taken aback, but at this point, I had no option BUT to have the root canal done. I payed $ 1800 for the root canal and crown WITH insurance. Following the root canal, I was in excruciating pain and called to make an emergency appointment with the dentist. The dentist who did my root canal was not available so i saw another who just prescribed me Percocet AND ibuprofen 800 and told me to come back if the pain didn’t go away. The pain didn’t go away, so I returned again and they told me I had to wait it out. The pain finally went away after a full week of pain and sleepless nights due to the pain. I’ve had jaw surgery where my jaw has been broken and put back into place, having my mouth wired shut for a month following that and this pain was by far, much worse that that.
But that’s not the worst part of all this. I finally decided to go to another dentist for a second opinion and after doing an x-​ray there, the dentist said I needed no fillings and no work done (according to Arlington Center for Dentistry, I still had three fillings I needed done.) He also told me I probably didn’t need that crown either. He couldn’t confirm because the root canal was done and nothing would show in the x-​ray, but he thought it was ridiculous that it was stated that I still needed three more fillings. Since then, I’ve gone back to my new dentist and have had another set of x-​rays that once again have proved that I need no work done.
Moral of the story, I lost a tooth and a lot of money because of this place.

Visiting the dentist is not something you willingly want to do. Arlington Center for Dentistry staff and dentists with their calm, organized, and convenient services made my dental experience a familial comforting one. I underwent 2 root canals and crowns, using the Endodontics services of Dr. Lee, DDS without pain or discomfort. Also a tooth cleaning as well as an annual check up by Dr. Duong. Just look at their vast list of procedures all in one place. The entire visit is well organized, you barely wait, you have tech staff with you all along. At the end administrative staff go over fees, insurance and questions. The fees are reasonable they work with all insurances and do not rob you. Appointments are easily made and convenient with reminders. The staff is very diverse, which is what I like the most about ACD. It is truly representative of what Arlington, VA has always been; A community of talented multiethnic professionals, who open their doors and make you feel at home. I highly recommend their services. It is worth the quick metro or drive from DC. Parking is weird the first day then you appreciate that it’s free and convenient.

I went there in May 2014 to have a crown put in. I paid around 2k out of pocket for a porcelain metal infused crown of low quality that came out after 6 months and was always sensitive. The dentist, didn’t seem to care about the pain. Now I am having it replaced with a real porcelain crown. A fancy office does not make up for subpar service. Do not get crowns done here.

Don’t go here! I went to the office to have a veneer fixed, I was charged $ 48 then within a couple hours the veneer came off again. The office manager, Helen, refused to work with me. Suggested that I come back again for future dental work, and refused to issue me a refund for the poor quality work done in the office. The office décor also looks cheap and a bad attempt at a contemporary design. They give you a restaurant hand buzzer after you get checked in to be called by the dentist. Who does that?

Alas, there is no option to give no stars.
I only can say one nice thing about the Arlington Center for Dentistry– they have a nice office. But Arlington Center for Dentistry lied to me, tried to get me to pay for service that I clearly did not need and charged too much for their lies.
When I went there in November to get my teeth cleaned, they insisted on taking x-​rays and doing a full new patient workup for a minimum charge of $ 200. Although the technician assured me that my teeth looked fine, as I prepared to leave, a dentist sat me down to discuss «the plan of care» I’d need for the FOUR CAVITIES he claimed to have found in my mouth. Arlington Center for Dentistry wanted to charge me nearly 2k to take care of all of these alleged cavities and, unlike most dentists, did not need me to schedule another appointment… they recommended that I have the cavities filled right then and there, since it was an «urgent» situation.
As my regular dentist had never found a problem with my teeth, I was quite skeptical. This was my first experience seeing a dentist without paying via dental insurance, too, so I had to wait for a while to have enough extra cash to see another provider.
When I did see another dentist yesterday, the x-​rays showed NO CAVITIES AT ALL. Did the four cavities that the Arlington Center for Dentistry wanted to fill back in November magically vanish? I sincerely doubt it. Simply put, those cavities were fictional, much like the ethics and standard of care of this dental practice.
I had no idea that dentists acted like unscrupulous car mechanics, but that is exactly the scam the Arlington Center for Dentistry tried to play on me. There are way better dentists out there.

I have been a patient of ACD for years. I only went for regular cleaning and check up. The dentistry is very strict about confirming and canceling the appointment with limited flexibility. They usually send out appointment confirmation to the patient a head of time and require at least 48 hrs advance notice to change your appointment otherwise you will be charged a penalty. (trust me they will fine you with no mercy) However, the dentistry does not apply the same standard the other way around.
Today I went to the dentistry for my 9:30 AM appointment. I was lying on the dental chair for 40 minutes until I couldn’t wait any longer and had to check with the dentist assistance. Turned out the doctor had an emergency surgery and had to take care of that. They asked me to wait for another 10 minutes and said the doctor is almost done. I understand that there is always uncontrollable situation and I really don’t mind rescheduling my appointment. However, instead of having the decency to communicate with me in advance trying to reschedule the appointment, they just let me wait on the dental chair for 40 minutes with zero communication. If I didn’t reach out trying to figure out what’s going on, I might end up waiting for an hour (the doctor might not even show up at the end). My friend had her orthodontist at ACD before and had encountered the same situation. She was on time for her appointment but waited for a very long time on the dental chair without knowing what’s going on until she had to reach out and found out the doctor had an emergency to take care of and they need to reschedule her appointment.
This dentistry is very clean with modern decoration. But definitely need to improve their management.

You can see other Dentist around the area have 4 – 5 stars, this dentist only has less than 3.
Yes, indeed, Awful Choice!!!
We tried to get our child to get rid of one cavity.
When we called the front desk, they told us it would be around $ 300 – 400.
The Female Black Dentist gives us $ 5000 estimates for persuading us to put our son in coma, getting rid of 5 cavities at once.
Ignoring all our requests.
We were able to cure his cavities with $ 300– in other dentist near Ballstone Metro Station with much better treatments.
They will give you most unsatisfying selfish experiences except the well covered interior.
BTW, they have Panorama XRay in uncovered access free area, I think it is radioactively contaminated, too.

This is a beautifully designed office with lavish look, however people are not here to enjoy their designs. There are number of dentist in the center and the one I tried was nice. They handle pain well. They have a clear problem when it comes to money. They do take much more than any dentist I have been into before. I have a fully covered dental insurance and they make me pay more because they charge more than regular set prices. Also if you walk-​in on Saturday they don’t take insurance and you will have to pay out of buckets because ??? I can’t understand why but what they say is that they can’t verify insurance on Saturday, which is just plain stupid I thought.

I just recently started going here and I have been very impressed. The dentist (Dr. P) is very detailed oriented and you can tell he really takes his time. The reception desk help is always smiling and friendly. Additionally, the billing and scheduling department always follows up with you on your questions.

This is the best dental office I have been to. I have been going there for 4 years now. The space is amazing, staff is friendly and helpful, and the dentists are professional and efficient. I highly recommend them.

For three years I had excellent dental service from all of the dentists and oral surgeons I saw at this office. I’m a little surprised to see all of the negative reviews that seem awfully similar in their complaints, as if one person was writing them.
I never had a problem getting an appointment when I needed it, had bi-​yearly cleanings, one cavity filled, a root canal and a crown done in the 3 years I lived in the area All good work with no issues. Email and text appointment reminders. When I return to the DC area next year, I will return to this office for my dental care.

Hands down the best experience I’ve ever had at getting numbed up for a cavity. I’m a very nervous patient when it comes to shots, but after my first time here for a few fillings, I seriously didn’t feel a thing! (my dentist is Dr. P)
Environment is awesome, staff is friendly, shots somehow magically don’t hurt. I highly recommend it!

I used to think that ACD was a great place for dental work. Then they started work that they never finished and some of they did now needs to be redone. On top of that, they are trying to bill me $ 500.00 for something I never received, asked for, or approved and have threatened to send me to collections after I literally spent thousands of dollars with them.
I was wrong about this place… COMPLETELY WRONG. They charge extraordinary prices for what is apparently substandard and perhaps unneeded work. Pretty and huge office, but I rarely saw more than one or two patients waiting. Please save your teeth and your money by going elsewhere!

I was a patient at ACD for about 2 ½ years before moving to San Francisco. I was very happy with the office in Clarendon. The staff was friendly and accommodating. My dentist was Dr. Anthony Papinsick, and I always thought he was very skilled and thoughtful. I had to have a lot of work done – genetics, not hygiene – and he always explained everything very well. I really appreciated his conservative approach – dental work is neither fun nor cheap, and Dr. P’s explanations of what I needed to have done always helped me feel like I wasn’t taking on additional or unnecessary procedures *just for the fun of it.*
Recently, I contacted Dr. P to ask him about some recommendations from my new dentist here in San Francisco, and he took his personal time to explain alternative causes, options and approaches. Now *THAT’S* what I call customer service and a dedication to your job! It’s probably unusual for someone to miss their dentist, but I would certainly have stayed a patient of Dr. Papinsick at ACD if I remained in the area.
To note: when I first visited ACD I was living in Arlington, but I eventually crossed the river into DC. I would actually drive out to Clarendon to go to the dentist – that’s how much I appreciated consistent care from Dr. P.

The good: The center is clean and modern. Staff is generally friendly and I haven’t waited for more than 10 minutes without being seen. Dr… remembered my name, had a friendly bedside manner and answered any questions.
The bad: I had a procedure done over the course of two months. A few months later I received a telephone call asking for my new address so the office could update my insurance information. Days after that, I received a bill from the office, handwritten in a sticky note was the total my insurance did not cover. I specifically asked about the total before and it wasn’t mentioned my insurance would not cover it. After this debacle I received a second opinion and the estimate of dental work wasn’t even a quarter of my previous quote.

I chipped my tooth yesterday, and I called this office to see if someone could fix it today. The lady who answered the phone was very courteous, and offered me an early afternoon appointment. I went and was immediately impressed by the office. It’s beautiful and pristine (and VERY colorful!). I was greeted, and taken back shortly after I arrived.
The dentist and his assistant were both extremely nice and efficient. I was completely at ease, and the procedure was painless. I literally felt zero pain during the entire thing. The charges and payment requirement were told to me up front, which I appreciated.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better experience!

Beautiful office, no doubt — and very efficiently run. Kudos for that.
I started reading several of the reviews wherein others said they were a bit stunned
by the number of cavities ACD was claiming and the ensuing challenges they had.
I figured it was me. maybe I did in fact have a messier mouth, but I was still a tad surprised by what they were saying. Never in my life had i heard of that many cavities. What I couldn’t quite get my head around was why I was in pain after visiting them and in several spots.
I was in better shape before I went to see them.
I’ve now had several procedures done and there’s more pain in new areas. I am not going to go back for more. I’m unnerved by how similar my experience is to what others have said and I’ll find someone else to clean up the rest.
Maybe those of us who have had this experience are unique, or maybe it is in fact
just us – but that’s your decision to make now.

Professional and courteous.
Hi tech facility. Email and txt confirmation.
Pleasant all around

I’ve been going here for around two years now, and have been pretty happy. We’ve even referred our friends to the office. Like many have said and will continue to say, this place has a wow factor in terms of its modern design, clean lines, and overall visual appeal.
Beyond that, the care structure here is really great. Once your pager buzzes, the dental assistant or hygienist takes you back to the room and gets you a bib, does the x-​rays if necessary, and talks to you about what will be happening today. Something that was new to me here versus other dental offices I’ve been to is that the dentist actually does the cleaning instead of just the hygienist. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I believe the hygienists are trained to do this and should be allowed to practice at the top of their license, freeing the dentists up to see other patients. Since getting an appointment in a timely manner can sometimes be a challenge, making better use of their workforce would be better than just impressing someone that the dentist is actually cleaning their teeth.
I’ve had fillings and multiple cleanings done here, and I love that they pay careful attention to billing. After each visit, you sit down with a billing specialist and they discuss their charges to the insurance, the amount the insurance is allowing, and your out of pocket cost. If you need to schedule a follow-​up or a treatment afterward, they show you your care plan at this time and allow you to make the best financial decision for you. This sort of transparency in health care cost is very, very rare, and other provider offices would be wise to imitate what they do here at ACD. At my last visit, my treatment plan was more than I had in total benefits left for the year, and the guy even said that I could split the treatment up to charge part of it to my current insurance and the other part to the new insurance I’d have at the beginning of the next month when I told him I was switching soon.
The only negative experience at all I’ve had was also the last time I visited, whenever my dentist (Dr. Nguyen) mentioned that she’d like to have the endodontist look at something and said in a non-​chalant way that he was in so she’d just have him walk over. Okay, cool. He comes over for about five minutes, puts some cold on my tooth, I say ow, he says, yeah, you need a root canal. Awesome. A few weeks later, I get a bill from my insurance company saying that the endodontist consult is not a covered service. As I mentioned, they are always so careful to mention all charges and things with you, that this was really upsetting, to the tune of $ 395. However, as soon as I called, the billing specialist said, don’t worry, when we realized it was not covered, we just decided to write it off for you. That was really nice of them, and is probably a lesson to them to check on things like that mid-​visit, or maybe not have the endodontist charge $ 395 for 5 minutes of his time.
Dr. Nguyen remembers who I am (or at least acts like she does,) and is super friendly and personable. All of the assistants and hygienists are also grand and will make small talk about what’s on the in-​room TV screen while we wait. I’m very happy with ACD and my fiancé is as well. We plan to make ACD the dental home for our future kids as well since they seem to have outstanding pediatric services. Highly recommend.