Ala Moana Dentistry

Preparing your child to understand having your teeth checked at the dentist is so valuable for your child’s future. Ala Moana Dentistry has done this for my daughter since 2 years old by acclimation to sitting on the seat and just a couple minute inspection.
With book reading for teeth education by school and parenting, our daughter was comfortable at 3 years old to have her teeth cleaned by Brittney. She made Kira feel at ease during the cleaning and ensuring she will come to the dentist again without being scared.
Overall experience at dentist for my daughter was great. Parents should nuture their children to sit on the seat for their checkup prior to their child’s experience to set an example.

It’s been awhile (many moons) since I’ve been to the dentist, so today I decided I needed to. Once I walked through the door, it was nothing but pure aloha. I was greeted by my first name. Nice little waiting area and the staff was great. Meeting Dr. Chow for the first time and felt like we knew each other for a long time, like on a personal level, that’s the type of atmosphere you want to feel and be around. I would highly recommend them if you need a dentist. Much mahalos to the staff and Dr. Chow for helping me with my teeth.

My family and I live in the area and where trying to find a good dentist. Well, we found a great dentist. Dr. Keiko is a compassionate and amazing dentist who really takes care of her patients. She was able to save me money by letting me know of all my options and giving me options. She was never pushy and was always helpful in giving me the facts without any bias.
She really cares about her patients and doesn’t just see them as clients. I would highly recommend her without reservation! I wish more dentists where like her.

I was in Hawaii for work and found myself chipping my tooth. I asked the concierge of my hotel if they could recommend a Dentist. (The locals know what is best in town) They recommended Dr. Keiko and Ala Moana Dentistry. She was so accommodating to take me in last minute. Even my health plan from back home was accepted! By the afternoon, I was back to my meetings and dinner with clients! I wish Dr. Keiko and Ala Moana Dentistry were back home in New Jersey! If I lived in Honolulu, Dr. Keiko would be my family’s dentist, hands down! — Thank you!

No paperwork! Thank you for saving the environment. iPads while you wait, thank you for embracing 2015. People are sweet and kind and welcoming. Doc was caring and thoughtful. They took immediate action and called another office for a referral. Did I mention I called this morning and they took me in same day. Great service. My new dentistry. Also got referral credit, overall great customer experience.

A few key things that I look for in a dentist:
1. Gentle Hands
2. Knowledge of procedures and dental health
3. All-​around friendly and competent staff
I’ve had multiple dental procedures including cleanings, fillings, crowns, and most recently Invisalign and I’m more than happy with Ala Moana Dentistry. Under Dr. Keiko Watanabe, Ala Moana Dentistry is a staff of all women who take the time to care for you, your needs, your pocketbook, and overall dental health. Dr. Watanabe is very thorough with her evaluations and gives you the best dental advice possible. She is knowledgeable of all procedures and issues that may arise and doesn’t suggest procedures that aren’t absolutely necessary. Her staff of dental hygienists are very kind, gentle, and very good at explaining every step of the way if needed.
My most recent procedure was 6-​months of Express Invisalign and this office was really helpful in my decision to start this. They gave me all my options, price breakdown, and were supportive in the 6-​months.
I would highly suggest this dental office as they meet all my needs, have competitive prices, insurance coverage, and a staff that includes me into their family. You won’t be disappointed!

All smiles!
From the moment you walk through the doors and are greeted with a welcoming modern layout to the warm greetings by the staff you can’t help but fall in love with this place! Wait… Did I just say that about my DENTIST office?! Yes! I absolutely did!
You’ll soon learn to find that this place is amazing! The cool lounge (or as other dental offices might call theirs «waiting room») furnished with iPads for your enjoyment to read a digital magazine, watch a flick, surf the web, or even play a game! Grab a chap stick from the vase (my favorite is the pear) or just relax in the great atmosphere of the lounge. It’s really a great start to an even better experience awaiting you!
I know I mentioned the staff was very warm welcoming earlier but I can’t express enough how instantly comfortable they make you feel. Some of us are now even Instagram friends lol. They are very adaptive to your personality so if you’re more on the quite side they definitely respect that! But they also are great with walking you through the process of what they are doing. Communication is their strong suit and yet another reason why their customer service is exceptional.
Dr.Keiko! I hope she never moves off island or out of state. I may just have to follow her because there’s no way any other dentist could come close the the quality she provides. You really have to experience it for yourself to understand it. Whatever you think is great now, well just wait till your visit with Dr. Keiko! She goes through ongoing training and prides herself on continued education! In fact her husband whom also Manages the office is also going to school to better his knowledge on dentistry. But best of all, you’ll never meet anyone more kind hearted, filled with the Aloha spirit and genuinely humble.
I opened this review with all smiles because that’s how I enter and leave every appointment!
Oh and also because I’m getting my Invisalign through Dr. Keiko and I have to say it’s been a while since I could smile and be proud of it!
:)

This is the best Ala Moana Dental office in Hawaii! Keep up good work, office always friendly and professional!

The office is beautifully designed… very high tech. The staff was always friendly and helpful. Wait time was little to none. Dr. Keiko Watanabe is everything I want in a dentist — very knowledgeable, friendly, efficient, and gentle. She took care of my invisalign treatment and have been very happy with the results. I also went to them for my general cleaning, which I’ve always been very satisfied.
However, I can no longer go to them because are no longer participants of MetLife (my dental insurance). They were willing to process the papers for me but was told I would have to pay first up front then will get reimbursed from MetLife after. I stayed with them for a couple general cleanings but it just got too expensive. MetLife did not fully reimburse me or the reimbursement was just too little.
I am still looking for a good dentist that participates with MetLife. I really wish this office accepted MetLife.

After retiring from the military, I was looking for a new dentist in my area and I came across Ala Moana Dentistry and Dr. Keiko Watanabe and I couldn’t have found a better dentist! The office is well maintained and up to date with the latest technology. Dr. Watanabe was very thorough in explaining to me exactly what she was doing and made sure I understood. Her staff is super nice and took really good care of me during routine cleanings. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great dentist! — Michelle Roberts

I like how clean this place is. They have iPads in the waiting room and I’m all about technology so that is def plus that they have that. I like how when I have an appointment they will email, text, and call. I am pretty busy and can always confirm appointments so doing it via email or text is way more convenient for me.
The dental was good they didn’t take Tricare at first so there was a payment I had to cover but now they do. I like this location because it is close to work and there is parking on Mokaloa street. I am not sure if they validate though you would have to ask them.
I just started Invisalign and they gave me a $ 500 discount for express… The dentist there I feel is pretty smart and I feel comfortable with her even though I feel there is a little language barrier over all great experience and very happy staff.

I have had several visits to this office and all have been great. The parking is easy to access in the building and is validated. Once inside, the atmosphere is modern and comfortable. They have a lot of tech gadgets to use while in the waiting area. All of the staff I have interacted with has been friendly. Most of my interaction has been with my hygienist and I feel the work she has done on my teeth is among the best. The equipment they have all seems like top of the line stuff. Dr. Watanabe did a brief examination of me on my first visit and she was very kind and answered any questions I had.
In terms of pricing, this place didn’t feel any more expensive than other dentists I’ve been to in the past. But admittedly, I had not been to a dentist for several years prior to coming here (my own fault in that regard). I haven’t had any issues with my mainstream dental insurance here, as would be expected at any standard dentist office.
All in all, I’m a happy camper with this dentist!

When you need to find something fast with reviews to help your decision, Unilocal is pretty awesome…
I was in dire need for a dentist due to a terrible tooth ache! alas, it’s my fault since i’ve been avoiding the dreaded visit for years. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one to have these fears.
While enduring the excruciating pain I managed to dial the number for the office of Keiko Watanabe. Dental angels were smiling at me! The friendly voice on the other line squeezed me in that very day, Wooooohooo! From the very start and throughout the entire process of my root canal it has never been so easy, and more importantly, PAIN FREE!
I have nothing negative to say about my visit and I can finally put my fears of the evil dentist stigma to rest. I would defiantely recommend her office to anyone searching for quality and friendliness in their dentist/​office staff.
Office: Very Modern. Lap top/​Ipad check ins in the waiting room. Friendly feeling office.
Staff: Nothing but caring individuals whom are very professional and helpful.
Dentist: Nothing but the very best! She knows what she’s doing while putting patients’ first.
Highly recommended to anyone! A+++++

That was the worst experience I had ever had at any dentist.
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Update:
The reason why I decided to update my review was that Watanabe dentist keeps on bothering me by sending me unpleasant messages after my last review. Who wants to go back to the dentist who gave you the worst experience ever? I’ve never gotten confused with Ala Moana Dental Care. Honestly, I was not completely satisfied with ADC but still they were much better compared with Watanabe. Ala Moana dentist also sent me a message after my not good review but it was more professional and did not bother me at all.
Okay, this is what I had experienced at Watanabe.
Dr. Watanabe told me that I needed unnecessary treatments. She also gave me so many negative and «MEAN» comments which surprised me and scared me a lot. I was almost crying.

She told me it was «TOO LATE» to fix my teeth without getting bridges and implants!
I did not agreed with her right away. Then she kept on telling me how bad my teeth were.
When I was going to ADC, no dentists there had never told me I needed any bridges nor implants. All they had told me was I needed new crowns for my teeth. I thought I should make more research before I spend thousands of dollar for my new crowns. Then I saw very good reviews of Watanabe on Unilocal and decided to give it a try. It ended up wasting my time and money though.
Anyhow, can you imagine how much I was surprised to hear Dr Watanabe’s opinion?
If Dr. Watanabe was right, it means the dentists at ADC did not examine my teeth right.
So, I went to see other dentists right away to find out if everything Dr. Watanabe told me was true. One was a well known experienced dentist who was my friend’s husband (I did not go see him in the beginning because his office was too far for me to visit regularly). I did not tell him about my visit at the Watanabe and had him to take a look at my teeth. He said «You need to put some crowns.» I asked him if I need to get bridges and implants. He laughed and said «No need. They are not that bad. Who said that?» I told him it was Dr. Keiko Watanabe. Seems like a popular well skilled dentist according to her website and Unilocal.He said he did not know her at all.
I talked with many people and I found another dentist near my house and went to see him. He told me the same as my friend’s husband had said. All I needed was new crowns. They would do fine. I asked him if I should get bridges and implants. He was surprised and took a good look at my X-​ray pictures again and then took another good look at my teeth again and said with a smile, «Crowns would work fine. You don’t need bridges nor implants.» He told me he did not know why some other dentist told me that I needed bridges and implants. He also explained me why he thought so very well.
Did I need to believe what Dr. Watanabe told me? I still do not think so. She explained me thoroughly. She was the only one who told me crowns would never work out and I needed to spend more than $ 15,000 to get «unnecessary» bridges and implants.
Again, Dr. Watanabe told me there was no way I could be fine with crowns with so many reasons. She told me every dentist would tell me the same when I asked her an alternated plan. I almost believed her words 100%.
As I mentioned, no one agreed with her opinion at the end.
I got new crowns at the last dentist I visited months ago. The bill I got there was around $ 900 per tooth. Just in case, I asked Watanabe’s office for the estimate for my crown and it came out around $ 1400 per tooth. I got the same material for my crown. There is no problem. I am doing great.
FYI, I also got estimates for my treatment from the Watanabe and two other dentists. Watanabe’s estimates were 20 to 60% more expensive than others for the same treatment with the same materials. I don’t believe this difference of the cost is for her skills nor knowledge. I am so happy that I did not trust her and got the third opinions.
I checked other people’s review and found out the person who kept on sending me messages was Dr Keiko Watanabe’s husband. Please stop bugging me.
All the other staffs there were very nice. The hygienist was good and friendly. The receptionists there were also very nice, well organized and knew what they were doing. I think all those people and the nice building make the office look good. Sorry to say but not the dentist.
I read other people’s review and was surprised to hear the dentist was very nice? I guess as long as you obey her opinion without any hesitation, she can be nice to you.
My dentist friend used to told me that you always should get the third opinion before you get any treatment. I did not take it serious but now I understand why he told me so.

I had a tooth ache and needed a Dentist fast… I had gone numerous years without visiting a Dentist after retiring from the military, and this sin finally caught up with me.
I started to panic after contacting numerous Dentists that were either too busy to see me soon, or did not accept my insurance… When I contacted this office though, they said they would fit me in their schedule, and even though they don’t work directly with my insurance, they would be happy to help me file the claims.
I was scared at what my experience would be after not visiting a Dentist for numerous years. I’m a big baby when it comes to teeth pain, but found Dr Watanabe to be very gentle, caring and understanding. I liked the way she talked me through the process, before and during the process, in a way that I found to be calming, which I very much needed. My tooth was fixed, followup appointments were made, and her staff filed my claims for me.
I have had a couple appointments since the initial visit, to get me caught up with my neglected care, and my 5 stars also applies to Dr Watanabe’s Hygienist who was very pleasant, also good at putting me at ease by explaining everything well, and also has the gentle and caring nature that Dr Watanabe probably insists from her crew.
When I need more dental work, it will have to be with Dr Watanabe as she has earned my trust. A class act with a great crew!

Very satisfied. But I think this place is a bit pricy.
If you are Japanese needs to fix your teeth, and money is not a factor of worry, this is 100% recommended.
But hygienist: I could hear her talking and I prefer someone who is more friendlier and make me relaxed.
The doctor is really really nice, and explains thoroughly.
Also, even tough I am a married woman, it is so much better to look at her pretty face close than old man’s (sorry~)
Very different from my previous dentist who was not good at explaining situation and let an old nurse explain.

This is a beautiful office with very knowledgeable staff. As a new patient I was greeted and well informed about my first visit over the phone. I loved how my hygienist cleaned my teeth and Dr. Watanabe was fantastic.
I love the company logo and notice that not everyone was in uniform. I think it would be great if the staff all had the same attire. Overall I was satisfied and got all my questions answered by the front staff Shannon and Yoko.

Keiko and her staff are the best! I’ve had my share of horrible dentists and Keiko is hands down the best dentist I have ever had… seriously. I don’t live in Honolulu anymore but I wish I did. My dentist now (who happens to also be from Honolulu) isn’t bad but he isn’t as nice as Keiko nor does he provide the same level of service that I had become accustomed to. Keiko’s team prides themselves for their level of care and best of all it’s a family practice so they treat you like ohana.
I recently went back to Honolulu to vacation and actually considered getting my teeth cleaned while I was down there only because I know her staff is the best. The hygienists are really thorough (and I mean it!) and will leave your mouth feeling sparkling clean. *BLING* I’ve never been to a dentist that spent that much time on a cleaning. My mouth literally felt different when I got out of the chair.
It also doesn’t hurt that you will have a beautiful ocean view while you get your cleaning. Parking is great and the office is right next to Ala Moana so you can’t get lost. Plus there’s a Unilocal deal so how can you go wrong… you can’t! Take my word and switch dentists if you’re unhappy with yours. You’ll thank me.
Final Verdict: Must get back to Honolulu so that Keiko can be my dentist again.

Thanks to the wonderful filtering process, my first review was ‘filtered’ out from Unilocal.However, that does not mean that the review should be ignored or discarded.
Hawaii’s best Dental Care Provider, Dr. Watanabe and the entire staff at Ala Moana Dentistry, are competent, professional, and caring throughout the complete process of dental care needs. Every aspect of your visit is explained to you before any work is done, in clear terms without any confusion. This is important to me, as it helps me better understand what to expect during my visit. After my dental work is completed, I am instructed how I can do my part at home re my oral hygiene. This is very helpful. Dental care is important and so is selecting a provider.

This review is long overdue. When I moved to Hawaii in 2007 I was looking for a good dentist. I had been looking for a while and it was through a networking effort that I met Dr. Watanabe. My husband and I decided to try her out for our dental care needs. It turns out it was the best decision we made for our oral health!
When visiting Dr. Watanabe’s office one would expect a normal visit to the dentist. This was not the case. We walked in and they remembered us by name! We were seen on time (we didn’t have to wait more than 5 minutes). I was ecstatic — I mean how often do you go to a doctor/​dentist office and not wait? The hygienist was of high quality and the office was well equipped with current technology. Then Dr. Watanabe came in to check up on us and do her exam. I have never had such a gentle touch in my mouth. I could barely feel her working! I have never had many dental issues, but nonetheless do not like going to the dentist. With Dr. Watanabe as my dentist, I didn’t mind a trip to the dentist at all!
Since 2010, I have moved away from Honolulu and miss my wonderful dentist. She was great, her office was great and the service they offered was unparalleled to that of any other dentist I had visited. I remember telling my husband that I wanted to fly back to Honolulu to have my teeth cleaned and if I could have found a way to do so I would have (believe me). I would highly recommend going to Dr. Watanabe for your dental needs and experience the difference in the way they do business and care for your oral health!