I had been to four different dentists before finally finding Dr. Puno at Cosmetic Dentistry Associates. My previous dentists were all nice enough (well, except for one...) but there was always something missing, whether it be thoroughness, execution of services, personnel, care, etc. I'm hopeful that Dr. Puno will be my forever dentist because she is the best of the best! A friend of mine recommended Dr. Puno to me after I complained about my previous dental appointments. It's a huge bonus that she is located in One Embarcadero Center, since that's only two blocks away from my office. This makes it really easy and convenient for me to see her, whereas before I really had to move my schedule around to go across town. They also validate for parking, another plus! It was super easy to set up an appointment as a new patient. With a few emails exchanged, I had my new patient consultation and cleaning appointment set up, and also received the forms to fill out prior to arriving at the office. This saves precious time and it's surprising how many other dentists don't offer this. Upon arrival at their office, it's really clean and modern looking. It suits the Embarcadero Center aesthetic. Since I visited during the pandemic, they were very thorough and checked my temperature and did a screening questionnaire. Additionally, you sanitize your hands and the bottom of your shoes. I also appreciated that they have plenty of air purifiers in plain sight. Good ventilation/air circulation is a huge factor in the spread of COVID-19, and it was really reassuring to see that they took this seriously. I've been anxious to go grocery shopping (let alone the dentist) but the office really made me feel at ease and completely safe. This was probably the best dental cleaning I ever had. My teeth are now stain-free, and feel so nice and smooth. I've had cleanings before where I left and my teeth still felt gritty/dirty, which is a terrible feeling. Dr. Puno also noticed right away that I had previously extracted several teeth. This is not a major factor, but it shows her awareness and attention to detail, which I really appreciated. I also liked that I was able to ask her plenty of questions and voice any concerns I had, and she would take her time to assess and explain to me the why/how/what/when of it all. She did not pressure me for any procedures, but simply gave me the facts and her educated opinions, and let me decide for myself. For example, I have a crevice in my back molar that tends to get stained and attract food particles. Many dentists would probably suggest to seal or fill it, however Dr. Puno said that since I seem to practice good oral hygiene, that we could leave it be and continue to monitor it and reassess at a later time if it gets borderline serious. I remember I had asked one of my previous dentists whether or not I should remove my wisdom teeth, and he literally said "I don't know, up to you if you feel like it." You never want to hear something like that from a licensed professional in charge of your health and well being! I left their office with a fresh smile and a newly instilled confidence in my dentist. For once, I actually find myself looking forward to my next dental appointment! If any of my friends or family need dental recommendations, I will definitely suggest Dr. Puno.
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