Cheng K W, DDS

I use to go to Cheng & Thay years ago and never had a problem. I moved to the east coast for 6 years so when I moved back I made an appointment for a cleaning but didn’t get the cleaning and wasn’t told this just like Sally N. He did an exam and ex rays. He said I needed 3 small cavities filled, a crown and a deep cleaning that would cost $ 350 with insurance. I called a week later to make an appointment to have one of the cavities done and a cleaning but I told the receptionist that I only wanted a regular cleaning because I couldn’t afford the $ 350. She said the Dr. would not do that and that I would just have to find a another dentist! I asked to speak to Dr. Thay but she said he was with a patient. I asked that he called me but he never did. So I’m looking for another dentist.

Dr. Thay is terrific! Great work, accommodating and easygoing nature.

I absolutely love Dr. Cheng. I’ve been going to him for a little over 10 years now. I no longer live in Sherman Oaks, but am willing to make the 30 (sometimes 60) minute drive to see him. He is a fantastic dentist, very friendly and excellent at what he does. I had veneers put in 9 years ago. He had the best rate. Same with bridges. My FIL went to him for a bridge. His previous dentist tried to sell him on additional things. Dr. Cheng said it was unnecessary (even though he could have made money off it). My entire family goes to him. Love him. And for the person who said he is no longer there, well he is. I just saw him today (5÷14÷15).

Front desk staff are rude. It must trickle down from the boss because Dr. Thay is an equally rude a-​hole. So the first time I came here for a biannual cleaning, he asked me why did I come to his practice. I told him I found it on Unilocal,to which he chuckled and said that’s a stupid way of finding a new dentist. Little did I know, there was some truth in that.
As the cleaning started we had small talk and I brought up I was a nurse, to which he replied, «one day you might be able to afford that ferrari parked in front of my office». He then started griping about having to attend his son’s elementary school graduation. Dr. Thay gave me a nudge and said, «c’mon that’s nothing to be proud about. Everyone graduates from elementary school. It’s like being proud about graduating from nursing school». Completely unprofessional. I seriously wanted to punch this guy in the face at this point but I was distracted by the excruciating pain exacted by his sadistic dental assistant. While blood poured out of my mouth, tears of pain welled up in my eyes; the first time that this has ever happened. I came in for a cleaning, not a root canal without anesthesia!
It’s been more than a year now and I have not received any phone call or card in the mail for my annual cleaning. Good, I wasn’t planning on returning to Dr. Mengele’s office. Avoid at all costs.

Dr. Cheng is no longer there, but I saw Dr. Thay. First thing is the front office people were down right rude. I went in for a teeth cleaning and didn’t get the cleaning. I was not told this when I made my appointment. So I had to get a deep cleaning that cost me $ 125 even with insurance.
Six months later…
I changed my insurance, made an appointment, showed up and was told it would cost me $ 125. I told them about the change in insurance and the front office person told me I was not listed as a patient on new plan. She said for me to call insurance company to designate their office as my dentist and call back to make an appointment. The front office person was rude again!
I called insurance company, who said I didn’t need to designate a dentist, all I needed to do is make an appointment with any dentist I chose. So I call the office and explained this information. I told them where I worked and provided them the insurance information. Well I get a call from the office telling me I had no coverage. At this time, I called insurance company, they gave a name of a dentist, I made my appointment and I got the appointment. I was asked by the new dentist to have the other dentist send dental records. When I called to have them send records, I was told I would have to pay $ 50.00.
This is the most unprofessional office I have ever dealt with! The front office staff are not very welcoming, polite or professional. They DO NOT CARE! I have never met a larger bunch of unhappy, unpleasant people.

I have been coming here since 2008 (wow time goes fast). They are both great! They never lecture you or make you feel bad about not flossing (yeah that’s totally my issue haha), which is so nice when it comes to dentists. They did a great job with my bridge. The front office staff is very nice and they always seem to have appointments in a timely manner.

After not seeing a dentist in years, I was not lectured. Had a painless cleaning and there was no upsell for services I didn’t need. And I have no cavities! I feel like I dodged a bullet.

I have not visited a dentist for years because the last time I went I was treated so badly. I went to see Dr Cheng and I was treated so well. He was so nice, friendly and professional. Did not try to push any extras. Loved him. A few weeks later I saw Dr Thay and he was equally as professional, friendly and kind. Both are so efficient as well. I will be back in 6 months. I am so relieved to have found a good dental office.

I had a dental emergency where I thought my bridge was falling out. Dr. Thay saw me within 30 minutes and assured me that my bridge was not falling out. They could’ve charged me over a $ 100 for the emergency visit but they only charged me $ 35 (I do not have insurance) and that included an X-​ray. I was worried that they’d try to force a root canal but they did not, thank god. I am scared to death of dentists but Dr. Thay was patient with me and made me feel comfortable.

My husband and I have been going to see Dr Cheng for over five years now and have had a good experience. The office is tucked away along Ventura Blvd near Woodman Ave and you wouldn’t really notice it unless you were looking for it. There’s plenty of metered parking and there’s 2-​hour parking neighborhood parking. The waiting area is clean with plenty of current magazines to keep you busy. The office staff is friendly and they take care of you efficiently. For the most part, I just go in for my six-​month check up and cleaning and I’m in and out of there in about 30 minutes. Dr Cheng does the checkup, the scraping/​cleaning and the dental asst does the polishing. Other services that either me or my husband have had in the past include amalgam added for receding gums, having a mouth guard made, and replacing silver fillings. All good experiences. It’s a no-​nonsense, little frills office but their prices are affordable.
On an extra note, I recently took my two year twins here for their first check up. Dr Cheng is in our HMO network and I didn’t feel the need to pay extra for their first check up. The checkup was pretty quick with a close look done by Dr Cheng. They didn’t do a cleaning — I don’t know if my kids would’ve gone for that. I’ll take them back in six months for another check up.

My dentist for years. Dr. Cheng. He’s friendly and does great work. He always quotes me before work is done too. 5 stars, Fo Sho

Tina C has some validity in her statement in an earlier review. I went there as a first time patient and witnessed the front desk verbally abuse (loud and condescending) an elderly lady for not understanding her co-​pay options. She had to pay $ 30 apparently. The old lady asked, ‘Isn’t it $ 15?’ «No, that’s $ 15 from last time as well. Your insurance company keeps changing things.» Poor old lady. I wonder why they didn’t ask her to pay the other $ 15 on her last visit.
They also tried to charge me for things that already covered 100% by my insurance and «recommending» more frequent options for additional services.

I can’t speak to the other reviewer who talked about her issues with billing & insurance. However, my personal experience here has been a positive one. I was lucky to stumble into their practice by randomly picking a name out of my insurance booklet.
The pros
They don’t take x-​rays every visit. I didn’t know but its not recommended to do this unless there is an issue since it otherwise it exposes you to unnecessary radiation. I thought it weird but after doing an internet search about it I was grateful that this is their practice.
If I’m having an issue, they seem to be very honest as to whether I need any actual dental work. I’ve gone in with some tooth sensitivities and I’ve had them simply suggest to switch to a sensitive tooth toothpaste. Without fail the problem always goes away. That is integrity. I know some other dentists would just drill, leave my mouth with unnecessary holes and take the easy money.
I’ve been really happy with them so far.
Con:
This one is minor: but my previous dentist used to send out reminder post cards every six months so I could make an appointment. I wish they did this or at least called and told me it was coming up time for a cleaning.

Dr Thay has the most amazing memory and bed side manner of any dentist I’ve ever had. He’s also one of the gentlest! When I moved to San Francisco I actually kept some of my LA appointments just so I didn’t have to find another dentist. Highly recommended! (I never had any major work done — only cleanings.)

Clean, friendly and nice facility. My husband has been going here for over ten years. Dr. Thay is super nice and tells interesting stories while he works on your teeth. I highly recommend.

Beware, they are thieves!
I have been going to them for 5 years and am done! I went in yesterday and was told I needed a crown and I agree with that assessment. My issues with the Insurance aspect of the business. I was quoted $ 345 for the crown. I checked with my insurance today after calling the dentist and getting the procedure code from them. My co-​pay is only $ 170, NOT $ 345. I called the office back and was told the $ 175 difference was a «lab fee». I then called insurance back and the lady on the phone was in shock! Her comment was «Oh, no they didn’t charge that». I told her that I had not had the work done yet. She advised me to have them get a pre-​authorization and then have them call in so they could advise them of the agreement. She said if they still want to charge me the «lab fee» she would switch me to a different dentist immediately, waiving the guidelines of it being effective the 1^st of the following month. Please ask for the procedure codes and verify the co-​pay amount with your insurance company.
I wish I would have followed by gut with the last crown I had 2 years ago, I checked into it and had it done anyway. You can fool me once… NOT TWICE!
Edited to add: After contacting the business office they called my insurance and only charged me the $ 170 co-​pay. I did ask to see my previous payments and somehow the $ 345 I paid for my last crown wasn’t showing on my payment records. It is also strange how I could have sworn when I looked at it 3 weeks ago it was there and on white paper, now the billing log is a different color (blue if I remember correctly). No accusations are being made here, read into it what you want.
BTW…after putting on my permanent crown the dentist confronted me about my review here…