Smiles West Dental & Orthodontics - Canoga Park

I don't recommend this dentist. They do a bad job. One day my son hurt himself and I had to take him to the hospital. Also, they don't allow parents to accompany the children during checkups. Because the children are between 4 and 5 years old, they are minors and need an adult to accompany them, but they won't let anyone in, which is why this dentist doesn't recommend it.

I visited this dental office recently through my insurance and had also been here about four years ago. Unfortunately, my experience this time confirmed the same concerns I had in the past. First, the overall communication and patient care were poor. Procedures and treatment plans were not clearly explained at any point. I initially went in for a routine cleaning, which they said needed to be split into two sessions. During the first session, everything was fine and no anesthesia was mentioned or needed. At the second visit, I was suddenly asked if I wanted anesthesia. I declined because the previous session was done without it and I was comfortable. Despite this, the dentist became noticeably rough during the cleaning, causing pain, and responded by saying something along the lines of: “I told you to get anesthesia—now I’m doing my job.” This felt unprofessional and dismissive. Afterward, at the front desk, I was told I needed multiple fillings and crowns and that authorizations had already been requested—without anyone having explained this to me beforehand. When I asked for a clear explanation of what was actually wrong with my teeth, the dentist briefly spoke to me at the reception area, then took me back to a room, but still did not provide a proper, respectful explanation. They recommended a large number of fillings and crowns (around nine), which felt excessive and inconsistent with the condition of my teeth. I take very good care of my oral health, and my teeth are generally healthy with no major issues—possibly only a couple of very shallow areas that might need monitoring. Overall, the experience felt rushed, sales-driven, and lacking transparency. I did not feel respected as a patient, nor did I feel informed or comfortable with the treatment recommendations. I would strongly advise others to ask for second opinions and be cautious before agreeing to extensive procedures here.

I want to give a big shoutout to Evelyn and Gladys for their exceptional service during my recent visit as a patient. They truly went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable, even taking extra steps so I wouldn’t feel uneasy while waiting for my follow-up appointment at another branch. Their kindness, professionalism, and genuine care made such a difference in my experience. Thank you both for making me feel valued and well taken care of!

Came for a checkup since I was having some bad tooth pain. The receptionist was very pleasant and greeted me as I came in. The staff overall was friendly and welcoming and made me feel comfortable. Turns out I had a pretty gnarly cavity causing the pain and they were able to take care of it as well as a cleaning since I was overdue for one. Quick and efficient I am very glad to have come here for my dental care. Thank you to the manager and staff for a fantastic service.

SmilesWest committed insurance fraud and billing fraud. They padded my bill with bogus charges, filed inflated claims with my insurance (on top of the bogus charges), and charged me more than double the co-pay set by my insurance. I discovered their fraud when they tried to squeeze me for even more money nearly a year after I was treated. If they hadn't gotten greedy, I never would have caught it. I have reported them to the California Attorney General. I have also reported them to my insurance carrier, recommending they drop SmilesWest as an approved provider.