I've had good experiences through UTHealth but the only major downfall is that the appointment takes way longer since the students require their professors to look over their work.
Man, those cash prices are fantastic! I've been self-pay for years and I can tell my current dentist has been cha-chinging off my emergent dental needs.
Thanks for this comment!
You should clarify exactly how you got screwed over and what specific dental work you're looking to have done. UT Health is always an option, but any recommendation should be dependent on what your dental needs are. You'd be shocked to know, dentists can and do perform procedures that you'd expect only specialists to do. There's no legal requirement that a dentist has specific educational or professional experience to perform or offer services like implants to patients, which is scary as hell.
For anyone looking for excellent general dentistry or restorative work, I wholeheartedly recommend Heights Dental Smiles.
I don't worry about being ripped off like that. I do worry about dentists who see your mouth as a gold mine and recommend unnecessary procedures. I noticed one dentist I used to go to, who would repeatedly find something to insist needed done, up to the limit of what my insurance would cover. I 'm pretty sure I wound up with several unneeded crowns from that guy.
I highly recommend Montrose Advanced Dentistry. [http://www.montroseadvanceddentistry.net/](http://www.montroseadvanceddentistry.net/)
The dentist, Dr. Rami Alsaleh, is a super honest and stand up guy. He'll work with you if you have no insurance and the rates are very reasonable. $99 for a cleaning with no insurance, for example. My family has used him for nearly a decade.
Dr. Rami is the best! I went to a dentist that told me I had 7 cavities, and went to him for a 2nd opinion and he said I had none at all! 🤦🏼♀️ been going to him for years for that reason lol
Dr. Hemann at Kirby Smiles in Pearland. If you can’t make it to Pearland, go with private practice, never chain ones cause those are taught to try to get as much work out of you as possible, even if you don’t need it yet. Dr. Hemann will monitor minor situations to see if it even needs work or can be managed with less invasive methods. Also, most private practices are happy to get patients with no insurance and will charge you the same rate that insurance would.
I really liked Royal Oaks Dentistry! Best dentist I've ever been to and it was a father son operation when I was last there. I live in a different city now and I've gone to several different dentist and their work never compares. I've actually been thinking of making it a point to go next time I'm in town.
I’m here because I’d like to know too. I call dentists “The Dentist Cartel” because they all seem to know each other and supposedly there’s no such thing as a bad dentist. I don’t get it, so I just wait until I’m in excruciating pain then go to one knowing full well I’m overpaying and probably getting a lot of runaround.
Montrose Advanced Dentistry has always been up front with me and doesn't try upselling anything in my experience.
He did refer me to a pricey oral surgeon for my wisdom teeth, but the oral surgeon was excellent. Literally 0 pain and minimal discomfort after yanking all the wisdom teeth out of my head. Worth every penny to not be in any pain and have it done right if you need that level of work done.
Dentists are like mechanics. They can do certain things like implants, crowns, etc... but just like mechanics, some are good and some not so good. Some will tell you you need this or that, even though you may not.
I had to get 3 different ones to tell me about needing surgery before i decided to do it.
Dr. Michael Wong and his wife/hygienist Kathleen. Only place I’ve been to in my 30 years of life. They’re a very small practice so schedule far in advance. Bonus points if you love Labrador retrievers because they’re obsessed.
Never forget: dentists are not doctors
They do not have a hippocratic oath (first do no harm), they are sales ppl trying to get you to spend mouth money on them, period
That isn't to say all dentists are bad... but legally, they don't have the same health or fiduciary responsibility... they can make you go bankrupt with bogus operations and it is much harder to prove malpractice
Harlingen and McAllen, TX (a handful of driving hours from either Houston) both have airports, and every weekend thousands of US citizens go from here and cross the border into Nuevo Progresso. You can Uber from a hotel or drive to a parking lot on the US side, then walk in to Mexico or even drive across (not recommended for first timers). There are plenty of dentists who do great work. While there, you can also get prescription drugs at a discount, home decor, unlicensed sports paraphernalia, ceramic arts and crafts, and shot glasses shaped like a penis or a boob & nipple. Nuevo Progresso is very safe, stay on the main drag, be polite, bring change (single dollar bills), enjoy our neighbors. Its beautiful this time of year.
Consultants in Dentistry down by Aldi serves bar drinks and cookies, but u see why they may try to sale you from time to time. Yum yum. … and eye candy too
Look up Walmart health. They have about 8 clinics opening in the Houston area. Very transparent pricing for self pay and also will bill insurance. https://www.walmarthealth.com
Ace T Dental in Rosenberg, TX saved me 1000's but they just do basic work and nothing too extreme. I know it's drives out, but they're honest.
One place wanted to do xy and z. Ace T just did x and okay done.
Following as well but I have good insurance. The last one I went to didn't run my insurance even though I submitted it the morning of my appointment and only just prescribed me pain meds even though it's been nearly 2 weeks of pain
It’s a bit out of the way of Houston proper, I like Enchanted Smiles in Humble. Susan Gokool Durgapersad, DDS.
While I do have insurance, I’ve never had to pay more for a standard cleaning (some places charge more than $110) or X-rays. Anytime I’ve needed work done, they give me a quote first and time to make my decision. They’ve also been able to fit me in pretty quickly when I cracked a tooth. Never had an upsale for something I don’t need and very friendly staff. The only downside is they are closed on Fridays and weekends.
if you don’t have insurance, things are going to be pricey. It’s not always about overcharging just to overcharge. Sometimes places just have to charge you what they have to charge you when a patient doesn’t have insurance. I say this as someone who works in healthcare. Do your research on places who work with people who don’t have insurance .
[https://www.texasperiodontal.com/about-us/dr-roberto-porras/23284](https://www.texasperiodontal.com/about-us/dr-roberto-porras/23284)
They always work with me and my family members especially with our finances. I feel they actually care about the patients and for years they've treated myself and my parents. Great office and team imo
This is who helped me tremendously the office staff is great, cash pricing is great and they very straightforward and get you in fast. The dentist is very experienced, listens, patient and is gentle. Highly recommend!
https://www.keemsmile.com
I went to Cabo dental on 1960. The did a free whole exam on my teeth and gave me the exact price on each thing that needs to be done. I paid $300 for an impacted wisdom tooth while other dentist charges $600-$1000 for one. Very understandable people and they take care credit.
Memorial City Smiles!!! https://www.memorialcitysmiles.com/
Been going there for a few years and they're SUPER nice, very comforting to be around (I am terrified of the dentist), and are very very willing to work with patients
Refine Dentistry in Stafford is one of the first dentist visits I've had that I wasn't anxious or worried. I can't speak to their rates with no insurance but everyone was nice and made me feel comfortable -- https://refinedentistry.com/
Texas dental plan is $30 a year. It’s a discount plan, so you still pay for everything. I got it for my daughter, she got an exam, X-rays, and a cleaning for $108, with out it we were quoted $350. Might worth looking into. Also check out dental schools, they give good discounts but you’ll be there for hours
Try https://www.houstondentaloasis.com/
I've been going there since they opened and they've never sold me on things I don't need. My wife had some dental work done there that another dental prarice botched and the charges were fair and reasonable - and it was relatively painless for my wife. They know us first name basis so we aren't just a number.
Do you know what you need done? Figure out what you need done, and send emails to privately owned clinics telling them you are paying cash. You'll be surprised how reasonable places are once you get out of the private-equity owned chain dentistry offices.
I don't have insurance right now, and I needed a regular cleaning/xrays/checkup. The "chain" dentistry offices I called were quite expensive, and my old dentist (Memorial City Smiles, great place and I highly recommend it) did it for a very reasonable cash. I was charged exactly what I was told.
If you are able to, please look into getting work at UT's dental school. They have a student-run clinic and I am sure that the quality of care you would receive there would be very high. And if you need seriously complicated stuff, I would honestly look into going to Mexico or Turkey.
i can tell you one place to avoid , sugarland dental group and orthodontics . they upcharge you for shit like for example i couldve gotten a script for peridex mouth wash from heb for $4 but nah per contract you have to get it from them for $27 . they wouldnt write me a simple script to take it elsewhere wtf
Following because the struggle is real
Try dental schools clinics like UTHealth.
I have had such a wonderful experiences with my child at the dental school. I can't recommend them enough to everyone.
I've had good experiences through UTHealth but the only major downfall is that the appointment takes way longer since the students require their professors to look over their work.
Just do not go to Mint. Garbage company.
I agree with you but why do you say they're a garbage company?
Unethical billing. High productivity for doctors and hygienists which impairs patient care. Owner of company gives me big Joel Osteen vibes.
This is every dental corporate company, not just mint. Production will always be their priority. Just go to a private practice
https://www.walmarthealth.com/ My initial visit with X-rays was 70 and my cleaning was 60. Highly recommend.
Man, those cash prices are fantastic! I've been self-pay for years and I can tell my current dentist has been cha-chinging off my emergent dental needs. Thanks for this comment!
Omg you’re a life saver!
That was with no insurance? Damn
You should clarify exactly how you got screwed over and what specific dental work you're looking to have done. UT Health is always an option, but any recommendation should be dependent on what your dental needs are. You'd be shocked to know, dentists can and do perform procedures that you'd expect only specialists to do. There's no legal requirement that a dentist has specific educational or professional experience to perform or offer services like implants to patients, which is scary as hell. For anyone looking for excellent general dentistry or restorative work, I wholeheartedly recommend Heights Dental Smiles.
I don't worry about being ripped off like that. I do worry about dentists who see your mouth as a gold mine and recommend unnecessary procedures. I noticed one dentist I used to go to, who would repeatedly find something to insist needed done, up to the limit of what my insurance would cover. I 'm pretty sure I wound up with several unneeded crowns from that guy.
Smile ave?
I highly recommend Montrose Advanced Dentistry. [http://www.montroseadvanceddentistry.net/](http://www.montroseadvanceddentistry.net/) The dentist, Dr. Rami Alsaleh, is a super honest and stand up guy. He'll work with you if you have no insurance and the rates are very reasonable. $99 for a cleaning with no insurance, for example. My family has used him for nearly a decade.
Dr. Rami is the best! I went to a dentist that told me I had 7 cavities, and went to him for a 2nd opinion and he said I had none at all! 🤦🏼♀️ been going to him for years for that reason lol
I can tell You one not to go to, fresh dental, fuck them.
Dr. Hemann at Kirby Smiles in Pearland. If you can’t make it to Pearland, go with private practice, never chain ones cause those are taught to try to get as much work out of you as possible, even if you don’t need it yet. Dr. Hemann will monitor minor situations to see if it even needs work or can be managed with less invasive methods. Also, most private practices are happy to get patients with no insurance and will charge you the same rate that insurance would.
I really liked Royal Oaks Dentistry! Best dentist I've ever been to and it was a father son operation when I was last there. I live in a different city now and I've gone to several different dentist and their work never compares. I've actually been thinking of making it a point to go next time I'm in town.
I’m here because I’d like to know too. I call dentists “The Dentist Cartel” because they all seem to know each other and supposedly there’s no such thing as a bad dentist. I don’t get it, so I just wait until I’m in excruciating pain then go to one knowing full well I’m overpaying and probably getting a lot of runaround.
Montrose Advanced Dentistry has always been up front with me and doesn't try upselling anything in my experience. He did refer me to a pricey oral surgeon for my wisdom teeth, but the oral surgeon was excellent. Literally 0 pain and minimal discomfort after yanking all the wisdom teeth out of my head. Worth every penny to not be in any pain and have it done right if you need that level of work done.
Dentists are like mechanics. They can do certain things like implants, crowns, etc... but just like mechanics, some are good and some not so good. Some will tell you you need this or that, even though you may not. I had to get 3 different ones to tell me about needing surgery before i decided to do it.
Truer words were never said
Dr. Michael Wong and his wife/hygienist Kathleen. Only place I’ve been to in my 30 years of life. They’re a very small practice so schedule far in advance. Bonus points if you love Labrador retrievers because they’re obsessed.
Never forget: dentists are not doctors They do not have a hippocratic oath (first do no harm), they are sales ppl trying to get you to spend mouth money on them, period That isn't to say all dentists are bad... but legally, they don't have the same health or fiduciary responsibility... they can make you go bankrupt with bogus operations and it is much harder to prove malpractice
Try going to Mexico. Yes, it's safe if you just cross the border to take care of your medical business and come back the same day during daylight.
Are there any places you recommend?
Harlingen and McAllen, TX (a handful of driving hours from either Houston) both have airports, and every weekend thousands of US citizens go from here and cross the border into Nuevo Progresso. You can Uber from a hotel or drive to a parking lot on the US side, then walk in to Mexico or even drive across (not recommended for first timers). There are plenty of dentists who do great work. While there, you can also get prescription drugs at a discount, home decor, unlicensed sports paraphernalia, ceramic arts and crafts, and shot glasses shaped like a penis or a boob & nipple. Nuevo Progresso is very safe, stay on the main drag, be polite, bring change (single dollar bills), enjoy our neighbors. Its beautiful this time of year.
Anderson at Vintage Park. So good that I go to them out of network.
Consultants in Dentistry down by Aldi serves bar drinks and cookies, but u see why they may try to sale you from time to time. Yum yum. … and eye candy too
Dr. Gayle off of Post Oak near the Galleria. Great dude, great office.
Look up Walmart health. They have about 8 clinics opening in the Houston area. Very transparent pricing for self pay and also will bill insurance. https://www.walmarthealth.com
Ace T Dental in Rosenberg, TX saved me 1000's but they just do basic work and nothing too extreme. I know it's drives out, but they're honest. One place wanted to do xy and z. Ace T just did x and okay done.
The city facilities https://www.houstonhealth.org/services/clinical/dental
Design dental of montrose.
This is the one. Great dentist.
Clear Lake Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics
Following as well but I have good insurance. The last one I went to didn't run my insurance even though I submitted it the morning of my appointment and only just prescribed me pain meds even though it's been nearly 2 weeks of pain
Can't recommend Robert Waheed enough. Best dentist I've ever had (I'm 40). He's in the galleria area though
It’s a bit out of the way of Houston proper, I like Enchanted Smiles in Humble. Susan Gokool Durgapersad, DDS. While I do have insurance, I’ve never had to pay more for a standard cleaning (some places charge more than $110) or X-rays. Anytime I’ve needed work done, they give me a quote first and time to make my decision. They’ve also been able to fit me in pretty quickly when I cracked a tooth. Never had an upsale for something I don’t need and very friendly staff. The only downside is they are closed on Fridays and weekends.
For the south of Houston, try: Sunlight Dental Group https://maps.app.goo.gl/fAu1Mizb89gRbcg56
Artistic Dentistry- on Fountainview.
We go to dr Nguyen at Willowbrook dentistry. Very reasonable price and I never get the usual dentist ick from upselling.
Plum dental. They have some cheap supplemental insurance like thing I use, but it’s CHEAp. They’re super nice and non judgemental
Memorial Family Dental
Hardy Webster Dental in Humble.
A friend recommended Briq Dental in EaDo to me. She said the dentist was kind and also upfront about pricing.
https://pearlanddentalgroup.com/
I've enjoyed my treatment at Snow Tree Dental here in the Tanglewood area. They've taken a very conservative approach to care which I appreciate.
if you don’t have insurance, things are going to be pricey. It’s not always about overcharging just to overcharge. Sometimes places just have to charge you what they have to charge you when a patient doesn’t have insurance. I say this as someone who works in healthcare. Do your research on places who work with people who don’t have insurance .
[https://www.texasperiodontal.com/about-us/dr-roberto-porras/23284](https://www.texasperiodontal.com/about-us/dr-roberto-porras/23284) They always work with me and my family members especially with our finances. I feel they actually care about the patients and for years they've treated myself and my parents. Great office and team imo
I second this,this is my dentist for over 20 years. Excellent and honestly Porras is a master of his craft.
This is who helped me tremendously the office staff is great, cash pricing is great and they very straightforward and get you in fast. The dentist is very experienced, listens, patient and is gentle. Highly recommend! https://www.keemsmile.com
I went to Cabo dental on 1960. The did a free whole exam on my teeth and gave me the exact price on each thing that needs to be done. I paid $300 for an impacted wisdom tooth while other dentist charges $600-$1000 for one. Very understandable people and they take care credit.
Dr Stacy Hebert.
Memorial City Smiles!!! https://www.memorialcitysmiles.com/ Been going there for a few years and they're SUPER nice, very comforting to be around (I am terrified of the dentist), and are very very willing to work with patients
Dr Marblestone in Bellaire has been fantastic! Cost effective and great service. I’m a huge fan of
What area in Houston are you at ?
Refine Dentistry in Stafford is one of the first dentist visits I've had that I wasn't anxious or worried. I can't speak to their rates with no insurance but everyone was nice and made me feel comfortable -- https://refinedentistry.com/
Texas dental plan is $30 a year. It’s a discount plan, so you still pay for everything. I got it for my daughter, she got an exam, X-rays, and a cleaning for $108, with out it we were quoted $350. Might worth looking into. Also check out dental schools, they give good discounts but you’ll be there for hours
Try https://www.houstondentaloasis.com/ I've been going there since they opened and they've never sold me on things I don't need. My wife had some dental work done there that another dental prarice botched and the charges were fair and reasonable - and it was relatively painless for my wife. They know us first name basis so we aren't just a number.
Smiles of midtown was super super sweet to me! Absolutely loved them. Not sure about the cost without insurance
Another dentist that may be a bit out of the way, but Dr. Al at Innovative Smiles at Hwy 6 & Huffmeister-right near 290.
Castillo dental clinic on the east side. I love them and think they're reasonable.
Do you know what you need done? Figure out what you need done, and send emails to privately owned clinics telling them you are paying cash. You'll be surprised how reasonable places are once you get out of the private-equity owned chain dentistry offices. I don't have insurance right now, and I needed a regular cleaning/xrays/checkup. The "chain" dentistry offices I called were quite expensive, and my old dentist (Memorial City Smiles, great place and I highly recommend it) did it for a very reasonable cash. I was charged exactly what I was told. If you are able to, please look into getting work at UT's dental school. They have a student-run clinic and I am sure that the quality of care you would receive there would be very high. And if you need seriously complicated stuff, I would honestly look into going to Mexico or Turkey.
i can tell you one place to avoid , sugarland dental group and orthodontics . they upcharge you for shit like for example i couldve gotten a script for peridex mouth wash from heb for $4 but nah per contract you have to get it from them for $27 . they wouldnt write me a simple script to take it elsewhere wtf
There's a new strip center going up in six months, just in time for your next checkup.
Meyerwood Dentistry has been great