North Coast Dental Excellence - Oceanside

I came in for an emergency dental exam feeling anxious and in pain, and the team immediately made me feel cared for and safe. Everyone was kind, calm, and genuinely compassionate. A shout out to the woman at the front desk who went above and beyond! The dentist was completely transparent about what was going on and my treatment options, and I truly appreciated that there was absolutely no upselling — just honest care. I’m incredibly grateful for how quickly and respectfully they helped me during a stressful moment.

Billing Issues, Failed Dental Work, and months of Fighting for a Refund I went to this office in August 2025 because I was in severe tooth pain and knew I likely needed a root canal. After X-rays and the consultation, I was told that my insurance would not cover the treatment and that I needed to pay $2,900 upfront in order to proceed. Because I was in pain, I agreed and paid. After the root canals and crowns were completed, I began receiving notifications from my insurance company showing that claims had been submitted and insurance had actually paid more than half of the treatment costs. This was never disclosed to me beforehand, and no one contacted me about the insurance payments or a refund. When I questioned the office, I was told the insurance payments would be applied as a credit toward future dental work, which I refused. I requested a refund instead. What should have been a simple process turned into a struggle. The billing manager, Sandra, was extremely difficult to reach, and calls often went unanswered. I only received a response after leaving a voicemail stating that I would file a small claims court case. Only then did someone return my call. I had to go on a three-way call with my insurance company and the dental office because they were trying to claim they owed me less than what I was requesting. The issue was only resolved after my insurance company confirmed exactly how much they had paid. Even worse, the dental work itself failed. The treatment was done in August 2025, and by January 2026 I needed retreatment because the root canal had not been done properly and the crowns were not sealed correctly, which caused infection and additional procedures. I ultimately had to have the crowns removed. I went in seeking relief from pain and instead experienced: • Insurance billing issues • Delayed refund of overpayment • Difficulty reaching billing staff • Failed dental work within months • Infection and retreatment Patients should be extremely cautious about paying large amounts upfront and should verify insurance coverage independently. Very stressful and disappointing experience.

I found this dental office when I was searching for a place that offered weekend appointments, and I’m so glad I did! They’ve been incredibly flexible and accommodating, especially with scheduling me on Saturdays. The entire staff is wonderful — so kind and gentle whether it’s a routine cleaning or something more involved like a wisdom tooth removal. My husband has now started going here as well, and we’ve both had such great experiences!

North Coastal Dental Excellence is amazing! From my first visit, Laura and Dr. Ali made me feel so warmly welcomed and comfortable. Gabe is so nice, and Eli is so helpful — such a great team all around. Dr. Sharifi and Dr. Rao are excellent doctors who truly care about their patients. I’m so grateful to have found this office! Highly recommend.

I had a great experience during my recent dental visit. The staff specially Laura and Eli were very welcoming, professional, and made me feel comfortable from the moment I arrived. The dentist took the time to explain everything clearly and answered all my questions, which really put me at ease. The appointment was efficient, thorough, and pain-free. I truly appreciate the care and attention I received and would highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for excellent dental care.