Larry J Hovey DDS

I was a patient of Dr. Hovey’s for about 15 years. I can’t speak to Dr. Brumm’s competence as a dentist, but his attitude towards patients was so unsatisfactory I moved on. Specifically: My last visit to Dr. Hovey was my first encounter with Dr. Brumm. They recommended that some work be done. I said sure, and his staff told me that they would contact Delta Dental and get the work pre-​authorized. I didn’t hear back for months, talked to staff and it became obvious that the request had never even been sent in. I then called and insisted on speaking with Dr. Brumm, who proceeded to blame Delta Dental (at length), but who didn’t know whether the request had even been sent in. I asked him to have his staff email me so let me know whether, and when, it was sent in, and of course received no response. There was no apology or attempt to make it right. Just this uncaring, arrogant little speech about why its just impossible to work with California’s largest dental insurer. The staff is nice on the surface, but incompetent generally.

This is NOT a review of the wonderful Dr. Larry Hovey who has retired but a review of Dr. Bruce Brumm, the dentist to whom he sold his practice. Dr. Hovey was the kindest and most gentle dentist. I truly believe what he said in his «retirement» letter to his patients that we were his family in so many ways. I saw Dr. Brumm for the first time recently and I have to say I won’t be returning. He is egotistical, has NO bedside manners, has terrible communication skills, etc. Don’t go to this dentist. Sure, he knows his work but that shouldn’t include making a patient feel like they’re in battle with the dentist. I was not. He seemed to encourage it though. I mourn the loss of DR. HOVEY’S practice. Go back to Solana Beach, Brumm.

I have been to many dentists in my life but Dr. Hovey and his staff are the best of the best. I broke two caps and not only did Dr. Hovey call me back on a Sunday night, he got me in the office first thing on Monday and called me Monday night to see how I was. The office staff could not have been more professional. When I went there for the first time, I was blown away when Dr. Hovey told me his goal was not to see him in his chair but to keep me on the other side with the hygienist who is amazing so I would not need to see him. I would not go anywhere else.