Dana Point Dental Group

The best dentist office ever. I do not say this lightly. The front desk people are amazing. The hygienist is always on time. They are kind and courteous about billing and insurance and Dr. L is fabulous.

I’ve been here a couple times and after the last visit, I’ve had it. The first time I scheduled an appointment for a cleaning, I went in and they said that I wouldn’t be getting a cleaning today because they need to do a consultation first. So not only did I take off work for absolutely nothing, but then I had to come back a second time to get my freaking teeth cleaned. It would have been nice to know that the first appointment would be a consult WHEN I SCHEDULED THE APPOINTMENT. So then I go back a few weeks later for the cleaning, everything went well and then I go to leave and they tell me I have a $ 40 fee for «irrigation.» My insurance covers 2 cleanings a year so I’m like why do I have a $ 40 charge? It’s because they used a «special antibacterial mouthwash» after the cleaning. WTF?! Really? You’re going to charge me $ 40 for a freaking squirt of mouthwash? When I didn’t even ask for it and nobody told me there would be a charge for it?
Ok so then fast forward 6 months later to my next cleaning (I honestly don’t know why I decided to go back) but this time, I thought I was being clever by telling the hygienist that I didn’t want the fancy mouthwash. Ok, so the cleaning goes well and at the time, I didn’t have my new insurance card so I had to pay the full $ 100 for a cleaning and they told me I could call back with my insurance and they would refund me. So I call back a week later and under my new insurance I have 2 cleanings/​exams covered per year. HOWEVER, when I ask for a refund from the dentist office they tell me that because a hygienist cleaned my teeth and not the doctor, that’s not covered by my insurance. WTF? You’re telling me my insurance only covers cleanings by an actual dentist? I’ve never had a dentist clean my teeth… ever. It’s always a hygienist. So they told me that I still had to pay full price for the cleaning because the hygienist uses a different billing code, and what’s more, they said I would be charged extra for the gum probing because that’s SEPARATE from the cleaning. Really? You’re going to charge me for gum probing when that should be part of the exam? These people are a bunch of CROOKS. Even if you have insurance they make sure that there’s some loophole where you have to pay full price for something. Honestly I’ve never had a bad experience at any dentist that I’ve gone to before. DO NOT GO HERE! And if you still decide to after reading this review, make sure you ask them how much your insurance covers before you actually get your teeth cleaned. And tell them you don’t want their stupid squirt of mouthwash for $ 40!

I have been coming here for many years… they refer me out to competent specialists when I need it. They are not cheap, but they do good work, are reliable and friendly.

After a couple of visits and my insistence that I didn’t have $ 5000 to proceed with the next step, they left me high & dry with a temporary plate and no hope! STAY AWAY FROM THESE 2 FACED JERKS!!!

Top Notch! As with most people, going to the dentist doesn’t crack my Top 10 of favorite things to do, so after trying two other offices locally that were below average I tried Dana Point Dental. First impressions go a long way — Dr. Cifarelli and her staff are all extremely friendly and professional. The cleaning I had was completely painless and I had to fight to stay awake because I was so relaxed. Shannon did a wonderful job with my cleaning. I also had 4 old mercury fillings removed and replaced by Dr. Cifarelli. Her warm personality and thorough explanation of the procedure made the experience as easy as could be. Again, no pain and almost fell asleep. Dr. C., and her staff made each of my visits enjoyable and worry free. I would highly recommend Dana Point Dental! They are the best!
Darren H.

I will try to make this review as objective as possible, this is based on my own experience with Dana Point Dental. I recently moved to the area, and without any solid recommendations that were within my insurance network, I decided to visit Dana Point Dental. I was concerned with some of the reviews I read, but I try to take everything with a grain of salt, so I scheduled an initial cleaning and consultation.
I was informed that the initial check-​up is a two-​step process, the first where x-​rays and a full-​exam/​consultation are performed, and a second where the hygienist does the cleaning. It had been a couple years since I had full x-​rays, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to do the complete exam. For reference, my last dentist did a deep cleaning due to perio concerns and had me on a 4 vs. 6 month checkup schedule to monitor the condition. After my 4 month checkup, my dentist cleared me to push check-​ups to 6 months, as the condition seemed to be under control and I was doing a good job with my home care. When I visited Dana Point Dental, it had been about 6 months since my last check-​up, and my home care was better than it has ever been (brushing 3x daily, daily flossing, and rinsing with recommended products).
After x-​rays and a perio-​exam, Dr. Cifarelli expressed concern about my perio health. I explained my history of treatment and home care in detail, and that I was surprised that the condition seemed to be getting worse when my last dentist had it under control a mere 6 months ago. No sooner had the dentist left the room, than office personnel came in with the treatment plan. I thought it was a little strange that they could have a lengthy treatment plan drawn up immediately after the exam was completed. I was shocked to find out that they recommended nearly $ 4000 in treatment (before insurance), including perio treatment with a laser cleaning, a filling, and sealant. All of this when my mouth was perfectly healthy just a few short months before? The office rep. was pretty sales-​y and tried to convince me that I had great insurance so it was no big deal. They wanted to schedule the treatments immediately, but I explained that the $ 1800 out-​of-​pocket costs were no small matter and that I would have to get back to them. I left feeling pretty bad and confused about the whole thing.
I care about my oral health, and would have no problem spending what was needed to keep my teeth and gums in good shape, but I wanted to get a second opinion first. I made the nearly 2-​hour trip to my previous dentist in LA for a consultation, which was a smart move. After conducting a perio exam herself, she said everything was fine, the only concern being one small area with some bleeding that she would recommend having treated within the next few months (they estimated total cost of about $ 200). She confirmed what my own research on the ADA website suggested, that there was no scientific evidence that the recommended laser-​treatments were effective. She also said there were no fillings needed, only some superficial cosmetic stains that weren’t really visible. She put it in the terms that if she were treating her own brother where cost would not be a concern and she would do everything that was even remotely needed, she would do the perio-​treatment and nothing else. She also said that my perio health had improved since my last visit to their office, and that I was doing an excellent job with home care.
I will definitely not be going back to Dana Point Dental. Had they recommended something within reason, I may have been less suspicious, but the amount and cost of treatment seemed and proved to be completely unreasonable. I go to a dentist because I want to be healthy, not because I want to be sold on costly, unproven treatments. I would suggest that if anyone visits this dentist and finds themselves in a similar situation, they get a second opinion from a dentist they trust.
The stars given in the rating are for the routine cleaning and consultation I received from the hygienist. They answered all of my questions and provided me with effective home care tips, as well as educated me on perio health and how to prevent gum disease. The office is clean and the staff are polite and professional, but I do not trust this practice for my long-​term dental care.

After years of sub-​par dental work, I had become accustomed to relatively uncomfortable and painful experiences. That all changed when I visited Dana Point Dental.
Dr. Larijani replaced two old amalgam (mercury, gross!) fillings and my mouth now feels fantastic. The numbing combined with nitrous oxide made it the most pleasant visit to the dentist I’ve had, so enjoyable I think I fell asleep at one point!
I have a new found confidence in dentistry thanks to their excellent work. I will return! Thank you!

Had a dental emergency and my regular dentist was unavailable. Called Dana Point Dental Group at 8:30 am-​ish for last-​minute appointment and they made immediate space for me at 9 am, which for how much pain I was in was greatly appreciated.
Facility was clean and attractive. Staff was exceedingly kind and made me feel comfortable even thought I hate going to the dentist.
Was impressed that the dentist referred me to a specialist for a second opinion rather than just diving into working on me to make a «sale.»
Again, I only had x-​rays taken, but based off of the experience I had I would and will certainly return.

Dr Larijani is a great dentist who knows how to take care of his patients. He creates a very relaxing environment for his patients and is very gentle. I had been looking for a good dentist in the Dana Point area and am glad to say I found a great on, I recommend him 100%!

I have been going to this dental group for over 5 years and have referred several friends and family members. I have received a variety of services here ranging from deep cleaning, to cavities being filled, as well as cosmetic dentistry. Shannon’s deep cleaning is the best I have experienced in decades of dental hygiene services. Dr. Cifarelli has the gentlest touch of any dentist I have ever been too. She is also a very kind, considerate and honest person. Dana Point Dental’s staff are always friendly and upbeat. I highly recommend this well trained and expert dental team!

This is not your typical Orange County snobbish business. Everyone was extremely friendly from the moment I walked in the door. The docs run an excellent business. I asked for advice on cosmetic work and they said it wasn’t really necessary– no pressure to spend more than I needed. I did have a small procedure and the dentist said she could squeeze me in after my check up. Was quick and only a small fee. The entire staff was knowledgable of the different procedures which the office has to offer. I wish I still lived in Orange County to return again!

No need to dread going to the dentist if you can get to this place. Awesome, friendly staff that explain everything and go out of their way to make your visit as easy as possible.

Warning *** I am from Utah and got spoiled by a great dentist***
I just need to start by saying the front office staff are WONDERFUL. Crazy nice and professional. The stars are for them. They get 4 stars.
I would use this office for cosmetic dentistry only! It is what they care about so it is what they focus on. They want you to get the upgrades! They do not listen to or focus on what is important.
I had serious déjà vu it was like being with my dad at Bargain Ben’s Car Barn in 1980.
Why I am leaving this review:
1– have had 2 «deep cleans». I’m 40 years old. I have had 80+ cleaning in my life that were all this good or better. Is a cleaning «deep» because you say so? Our conversation was even shallow. Is it because I will be digging deep into my wallet?
2– Broken promises. So busy trying to get me to spend my money they didn’t pay attention to the lies they were telling. Dr. C isn’t magic??? What? They promised me something EVERY other dentist over the past 20 years has told me is impossible and then got defensive and blamed me when it didn’t work! Crazy! Turns out. a fake yellow tooth from 1980 will always be yellow. No matter how much zoom and filler and fairy dust you throw at it. And, if you make the client feel like they are stupid for believing you, maybe they will break down and just replace all their teeth with veneers on their way to getting a boob job.
WELCOME TO ORANGE COUNTY!

Stop flagging all the good reviews!

I’m a firm believer in «you get what you Pay for» and I want a Beautiful smile that looks like it was done in an absolutely high end dental office– And thats just what I got.
Dr. Larijani and his staff were extremely thorough, and yes they did bring up every single thing I needed done to my teeth. But I appreciated it, had it taken care of and my smile shows the difference. (As a business owner myself, I applaud the thoroughness and non pushy feel to their office sales)
I felt the difference in the office the moment I walked in. Dr larijani was professional yet hilarious, making me always feel right at home. Each one of the staff members greeted me with a smile, and the office is full of good looking professionals. That may sound shallow, but it makes the difference for me. Lexi was a great help in my process and made me feel very comfortable, explaining everything as we went along, and she was super sweet.
From my initial phone call to consultation, to X rays, Whitening, deep cleaning, exam, and finally my veneers, It was a great experience with absolutely nothing negative along the way.
Thank you all, I am in love with my new smile.

I’ve been going to this dental group for many years now. They’re very thorough with all of my dental work and are honest about what work needs to be done. Even though it’s a far drive for me, I believe it’s worth it, because I know that I’m in good hands. I usually tell all my friends and family in the area to go here since I know the staff is capable and friendly.

Dana Point Dental is the absolute best dental office that I have ever been to! From their amazing, friendly extremely organized front office to their awesome, friendly knowledgeable staff in the back (dentists, hygienists & dental assistants) — they are fully equipped with the best service and patient care! They truly care about their patients and make the visits fun and exciting!!! They also have the most updated technology, equipment & materials which definitely helped when making my decision for my dental office.
I started my Invisalign treatment in August for my wedding August ’13 and I am already seeing a huge difference in 4 short months! I communicated with Jennifer, the office manager, my target budget for my treatment and she was able to work with me! I know I could have found a «cheaper price» out there, but I am paying for the service, detailed and meticulous nature that Dr. Cifarelli has shown me throughout the entire process thus far.
If you are looking for a Wonderful & Experienced Dentist with awesome staff and experienced and highly trained hygienists… Look no more– Dana Point Dental is the way to go!!! :)

Our whole family have been patients at Dana Point Dental for over 10 years. The staff and doctors have been fantastic. We appreciate how kind and caring Dr. Cifarelli is with our kids. We have referred many patients to Dana Point Dental and they have all remained longtime patients as well. They are helpful scheduling appointments, professional and friendly front desk staff, and the dental work it simply the best. No need to look anywhere else for excellent dentists!!!
Juli & Scott Rinefort

Went to my new dentist today (Sea Country Dental) and I didn’t think I was crazy… Instead of 16 cavities between me and my son, turns out we each only had 4 and the cost to fill the cavities, perio maintenance as well as replace one of my crowns is $ 1033 total. My son didn’t need a deep cleaning either. That is a savings of $ 1817.00 just by walking in the door to the new dentist.
The kicker… they had 2 different families in their office last week in for a second opinion and as it turns out they were being over charged for work that wasn’t necessary and the dental office they received the first treatment plan from was… yep, Dana Point Dental Group. Be warned… do not use this dentist office unless you have deep pockets or a money tree in your backyard… oh and are ok with them drilling on teeth that do not really require dental work!

Had a great experience, Dr Larijani is very competent and knowlegeble and explains everything in detail to make you feel confortable. My whole family will be his patients, for sure!