Toluca Lake Dental

I initially wrote this review just after I’d seen them and wanted to add that the dentist herself seemed nice. However, I was made to wait in the chair for a half an hour before they took the x-​rays. They recommended an expensive procedure that even with insurance was nearly $ 1000. I told them that was not something I would like to do at the moment, but would just like to get a cleaning they suddenly weren’t able to schedule an appointment. The receptionist argued with me aggressively to try and get me to do the expensive procedure, telling me they had time the very next day. Then when I really stressed that I’d like to just go ahead and get a cleaning suddenly she didn’t have an appointment for another two months. I would not recommend this place if you’re looking for a pleasant, convenient experience that is truly about care.

I hate switching and finding new doctors, medical… dental… and vision. After a few years in the LA area I finally found this office and have been quite pleased with them so much so that even after moving to Santa Monica I still return. The office is friendly and the dental staff will help keep you smiling, in more ways than one… and just to make sure they stay in business they have yummy cookies in the waiting room.

I have a HUGE distrust of dentists that has developed over many years of numerous sets of incompetent hands in my mouth, plus the whole issue of never really being able to believe that they actually cared about my dental health more than their own pockets.
I literally left my last dentist’s office in tears the last 3 visits I had with them (don’t ask why I ever returned to them after my initial frustrations…) I simply didn’t know where else to go. So I didn’t go anywhere for a year and a half! But I knew I had to find someone… So, add to that the fact that I have an HMO, which can be a load of frustration in-​and-​of itself and it took me a very long process of conversations with a friend of mine going to school at USC for dental hygiene & calling practically every every dental office in my plan — I finally decided to go with Dr. Tabesh.
I wasn’t blown out of the water by this office, but I was definitely impressed and am very confident in placing my dental health in her care! Glad I found this office. :)
Pros: honest & thorough dentist, full explanation of care options, personal approach & good chairside manner
Cons: limited availability for appointments, no in-​office hygenist, the office seemed to be a bit hectic during my visit (lots of stuff going on and long time to take my x-​rays with dental assistant in training)

I cannot believe I’m Unilocaling about a dentist… but she is THAT GOOD. Trust me. Dr. Tabesh was so kind and gentle from the first time I met her. I am TERRIFIED of dentists, and was visibly shaking when I had to get two cavities filled today. (Bummer.) And she got my trust by walking me through the whole procedure, and being gentle with the anesthetic needles and everything.
I ALSO can’t believe I’m saying this, but I am actually not scared, and kinda looking forward to my next visit! If you are as scared as I am of the dentist chair, come here. The staff is warm and friendly, and Dr. Tabesh takes GREAT care of her patients :) I’m a believer!

The folks at Toluca Lake Dental do an amazing job. Getting an appointment can be tough but they always try to accommodate. Certainly the best dentist office I have ever visited. Dr. Tabesh is pretty awesome.

I started writing a terrible review of this place after my first visit for an exam because I had such a hard time getting an appointment in the first place… then I had a hard time getting an appointment for a cleaning… but after my cleaning I’ve changed my mind. My final assessment is that the receptionist Linda is entirely off-​putting for a long list of reasons. But the cleaning the Dentist did was the best I’ve ever gotten! My teeth were so white and shining that my husband commented on it! So if you want to put up with a fairly rude space cadet of a receptionist to have the best cleaning of your life — go here (HMO-​style).

My company offers an HMO dental plan, so I made the mistake of choosing the office that seemed closest. I am writing this review to advise AGAINST that plan, for any others who may be faced with the same decision.
Toluca Lake Dental is a highly inconvenient office. To begin with, they are only open extremely limited hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so it’s pretty difficult to get someone on the phone. I’ve left messages for them trying to make an appointment, all of which went unreturned. After several calls, I was finally able to get someone on the phone. I was placed on hold and passed to someone else, who rudely held an entire conversation with someone in front of her without even excusing herself. I honestly couldn’t even tell that she wasn’t talking to me at first. The conversation did not seem at all pressing, either — idle chit chat. Finally, the rude woman asked if she could take down my number and return my call. She did not. By 5 I decided to call them back and check in, and of course, they had closed at 3:30pm. I left a message requesting that they return my call so I could make an appointment, which they did not.
I called again today and finally managed to get someone on the phone who seemed willing to make an appointment for me. Well, it turns out that they don’t even do cleanings on the first appointment (rather take x-​rays, etc.), and will not schedule the second appointment until after your first consultation. Considering that I’ve never been forced to make separate appointments for this type of thing, I can only assume it’s yet another way to bilk patients and insurance companies. I was almost willing to subject myself to this nonsense, but then the woman on the line informed me that due to scheduling they wouldn’t be able to fit in both of these appointments (the second one you can’t even schedule until after the first) for at least TWO MONTHS.
GRRRR — so rude and frustrating, especially considering that with an HMO plan it takes about a month to change your primary care dentist. I highly recommend choosing a DIFFERENT dentist to avoid having to just go through the process of replacing them!