Lifetime Smiles

While Dr Arzegar was very friendly, his services were not great to say the least. I got a cleaning (which lasted about 7 minutes), X-​rays and an exam with a groupon. He suggested I get a cavity filled and get a mouth guard ASAP as I was grinding my teeth very badly. He quoted me $ 330 for the cavity and $ 570 for the night guard. I decided to get a second opinion with a dentist I love and trust but who I no longer go to due to them being an hour drive away. During the second opinion I was told that I showed ZERO signs of grinding my teeth, the cavity was very small and could wait to be filled until after I deliver my baby. The most disappointing part was the shock my second opinion dentist had when I told him I had had a cleaning three weeks prior. He showed me the tartar on the X-​rays between my molars and said any decent cleaning should have removed this. One of the receptionists at Lifetime Smiles was very friendly, the other one was so incredibly rude!!! She told me to transfer my X-​rays I would be charged «anywhere from $ 40-​$ 130» ??? When I asked how it could possibly be $ 130, she snapped at my and was so unprofessional!!! Unfortunately Lifetime Smiles only cares about making money and will compromise their patients’ wallets and mouths to ensure they meet their quota. Soooo glad I didn’t have unnecessary work done! Please avoid this dentist and getting majorly ripped off!!!

Staff is very friendly and my appointments usually run on time (not more than 5 – 10 minutes late, if they do run behind). After a visit that included numbing my gums, Dr A said he would call to follow up and he did! Found that reassuring. When I attempted to call the office from their website, I was told the number was not working. I called Dr A back at the number he’d used and he immediately returned my call and helped me schedule my needed appointment.
I greatly appreciated Dr A’s patience with my numerous questions and his thorough explanation of what work needed to be done. My only concern is that I can overhear his conversations with patients sitting in the next chair.

Dr. Arzegar frequently dons his salesman hat as many have pointed out here. In my case it wasn’t his recommendations that were irksome. The problem was that Dr. Arzegar created an uncomfortable situation by deviating focus from the current problems and suggesting solutions for issues that have yet to present themselves.
Case in point: I recently received a deep cleaning, and during my consultation Dr. Arzegar repeatedly insisted that I need to see an orthopedic surgeon to correct my lifelong underbite, lectured me about having jaw surgery performed by a cosmetic surgeon, and all the while contradicted himself by insisting that doctors should stick to their practices and avoid patient work that falls outside their field. I was not happy sitting in a dentist’s chair being chided for a past emergency mandible surgery, regardless of Dr. Arzegar’s intentions.
I also followed up with other dentists post-​treatment and apparently Dr. Arzegar neglected to perform what would’ve been an invaluable service to me — bacterial analysis. This basic swab lab test was suggested by every single dentist I followed up with after Lifetime Smiles, which makes me highly skeptical of Dr. Arzegar’s standards for quality patient care. The bacterial analysis identified gum disease which required antibiotics to properly treat — something else Dr. Arzegar failed to properly identify.
Dr. Arzegar and his staff are pleasant people, but I highly suggest seeking alternatives for focused, quality dental care and treatment.

After reading through these reviews I feel that my suspicions are confirmed. My wife always thinks she is sick and is deathly afraid of cancer every hour of every day. She is the perfect target for a practitioner to sell her based on fear of something happening. This happens every time she goes to lifetime smiles. She comes home and tells me what the new recommendations are and how many more root canals she needs. My wife has beautiful teeth and takes care of them. I am sending her somewhere else that she will get a real opinion not just bee seen as a dollar sign.

$ 40 for them to email my child’s X-​ray? We decided not to stay with the clinic, partially because of the scheduling, partially because of the reviews. I’ve never heard of charging to release kid’s X-​rays to a new doctor…

I had a cleaning done so Dr A only looked at my teeth and provided me with advice afterwards. For the hygienist, I’ve had better. Very nice and professional, but the cleaning didn’t seem as thorough as I have had from other hygienists. Dr A, himself, is very nice. Seems extremely ethical, caring, and passionate about dentistry. He seemed to want to provide me with sound and honest advice. He spent a lot of time explaining things to me, and all this was done with him knowing I was there due to a Group-​On and probably wouldn’t be back. The dentist office is really nice and comfortable.

So, I had an upcoming appointment, but my phone was on the fritz and I was not available. Once I could get the message and called to find out that I was going to be charged $ 50.00 for my appointment the next day, which I was trying to reschedule. Was told that I could have called by 12pm and they could have worked with me, but since it was 12:15 the computer automatically puts the charge in and they could try to apply it to my visit.
I have already paid money to them for a guard I didn’t need and now this late fee. Time to move on to another dentist. Beware of their practices.

Dr. A and his staff did a great job with me. Everyone was polite and patient with my questions. I had to go in immediately due to my wisdom tooth causing so much pain. At the consult with Dr. A, he let me know what he RECOMMENDED I can do. Unlike other people said, he never pressured me into dental work or make me feel uncomfortable, he simply let me know my options. And yes, I hadn’t been to the dentist in two years so he let me know of other dental work that should be done, but he only notified and informed me about the work. He never brought it up again or asked if I wanted to get started with that work. I ended up getting some wisdom teeth taken out without sedation. Dr. A and his assistant made sure I was ok the whole surgery, he even called me later that day to see how I was doing! I was skeptical about going here because of the negative reviews, but DONT listen to those people. Dr. A and his staff are awesome!!! I’m glad I found a great dentist to go to! :)

Dr A,
What a phenomenal job you have done on my mouth. I came to you for a second opinion and ended up using you for treatment. Everything I’ve wanted including GREAT service. You have a wonderful chair side manner and a fantastic staff.
I so appreciate that you even spent your Saturday doing my implants and poor Brook hung in there with us even though it took longer than we expected because the chemo had softened the bone. All the while knowing she had her daughter’s Birthday party to attend. I love her for that and you for letting her go the minute we reached a point where you could handle it yourself.
I’ve had nothing but the best care ever! And I have spent a lot of my lifetime in a dentist chair. You’re the best. All the people I have referred have personally thanked me for the referral.
Keep up the great work and I will keep smiling thanks to you and the crew!!!
Bobby

I came here over 2 years ago for a cleaning (a Groupon deal — should have known better) but left with a list of things I «should» get done. Dr A said most of the things on the list could wait a little but he strongly suggested I fix a cracked molar right away. Long story short, he put a crown over the cracked molar and ever since then, I’ve had severe pain and sensitivity on that tooth. I went back a few times to get it checked but nothing helped. I don’t trust this place and wanted to warn others.
I’ve found a great dentist since then and guess what, nothing on that list was necessary AT ALL. Glad, I didn’t waste even more money at Lifetime Smiles.

This dental practice will violate HIPAA in its replies if you voice a negative light on this place. How does that sound? The original review and updates are posted below.
Original review: After going to Lifetime Smiles for almost 2 years I am done with seeing Dr. A. Every time he saw me he would hawk Invisalign to me. I just wanted my teeth to be fixed up or cleaned not to be pressured like a car salesman on services I don’t need. The assistants at Lifetime Smiles were pleasant so they get +1 star. However, after being pushed for the umptemth time on Invisalign I didn’t schedule another appointment. I’ll go to a dentist who won’t push unnecessary services onto me.
Update 4÷8÷15: I knew Dr. A reads Unilocal like a hawk after seeing replies to other reviews so he decide to contact me by e-​mail about my visit which he’s never done in the past. Nice try. Anyone who’s considering Dr. A should read over the reviews to proceed with caution. Scare tactics and upselling are what shady car salesmen are known for, not dental practices. Maybe his practice can retain more patients, especially this person who was pressured into spends thousands without insurance but was never offer a cash discount, some of which I felt was unnecessary (like $ 500+ for a nightguard that became unless after a month), if they talked to them straight and only doing what’s needed over a gradual time at an affordable scale rate.
I do need to get more dental work eventually but I’ll be sure to research it a lot more thoroughly with the next practice I see by treating it as if I was looking for a mechanic shop to find the honest reputable type. The major red flags about Dr. A didn’t start pouring in until the times after I had done a light search on his practice reputation before going in. I should have done a follow-​up when the bills were racking up. 2 years later I can see I’m not the only one with the slew of 1 star reviews left by others during that timeframe who were burned too. Enjoy the $ 10k+ you siphoned from me Dr. A as I hope this deters people from the tens of thousands in lost revenue who read this to look elsewhere along with others who’ve warn about your tactics.
If further contact is made I’ll be sure to let Unilocal patrons know about it.
Anyone who’s looking up Lifetime Smiles on here because of a Groupon offer are advised to look into a different practice. The $ 150 you might save in the first visit may end up costing you dearly in the future.
Update 4÷13÷15: Jessica has decided that violating HIPAA by posting my patient privacy as a reply is more important to save face than let it slide. The credibility of this dental practice has just gotten much worse to those who read this. Is this the kind of practice you want to go to? More updates will be posted as this develops.

Got my wisdom teeth extracted here.
I had problems with one wisdom tooth but the doc suggested removing two teeth so i wouldn’t have problems in future with the other one. The doctor and the staff were very polite and professional.
One thing that I didn’t like was one of the receptionist suggested i get invisalign.
Well, technically she said ‘Your insurance has good coverage for invisalign’ Which loosely translates to ‘you need to get your crooked teeth fixed.‘
Anyway, her mentioning about invisalign out of nowhere came across as being rude.
Thanks to her, now all i can think of is, do i really need to get invisalign?!
Brain games well played, lifetime smiles.
4 stars because they know their job well. doc and the medical staff were very professional /​helpful /​polite.
I would definitely suggest this clinic. Found this place through zocdoc.

Dr. A and his staff put my past dental experiences behind me at my very first visit. I ‘ve had to have some extensive work done so far with more left to go. He is upfront about the direction we need to take and takes the time to explain everything. Nothing about the office or experience makes you feel like just a number. After having a procedure and feeling puffed up and such, Jessica was still there with a kind word and a smile. I mentioned the office to a co-​worker and he went there at my suggestion. On the next visit I was surprised to learn that referral was worth $ 100. Not everyone will have the exact same experiences, but from the ones I ‘ve had I highly encourage you to give Lifetime Smiles a call.

Great office! Feels like a little resort. I was nervous coming in as I haven’t been to the dentist in several years. Everyone is very nice! Melinda, my dental hygienist, was very gentle and Dr. Arzegar took his time during his exam and consultation. I would definitely recommend this office

Exact story as Caty B. This dentist told me the exact same thing. So happy I got a second opinion.

Dr A is amazing! I have anxiety about dentist visits due to bad experiences as a child. I’ve been to many dentists in Austin and none have worked out. I’m so thankful I found Dr Arzegar and Lifetime Smiles. All of the staff is great! Everything is explained every step of the way. He was very gentle during my procedures and made sure I was always comfortable…
Without hesitation I can say this is now my dentist. I won’t go anywhere else!

I had a pleasant visit here from start to finish. I waited for no time at all and was seen. I had some x-​rays done, and then Dr. A came and spoke with me. He and the rest of the staff were super kind and professional, and he let me know everything that was going on inside my mouth. I don’t know why some people have given this place a low rating; maybe they haven’t considered the fact that their «second opinion» could very well be the wrong one. Either way, I’ll definitely be returning.

Dr. A is still the bomb!
The office staff puts up with my billing nonsense (sometimes I pay, sometimes my parents pay, my dad has moved jobs which has resulted in multiple insurance changes, all without insurance cards… I’m a nightmare.) and they put up with my constantly changing my appointment around (full time student who works 30 hours a week– the schedule struggle is real.)
I’ve read the reviews. And they are entirely inconsistent with the Dr. A I know. Although he gives me the friendly reminder that I’ve got some crowding going on (I agree man, I gotta get that handled… Eventually.) he has never made me feel uncomfortable when I’m like «I can’t hit my parents up for that, yo, and I got school to finish brutha» and has never pushed any kind of dental work on me, even when he easily could have.
In fact, let’s go on a story adventure.
I actually met Dr. A by a desperate plea to ~10 dentists to «pleeeease see me I am going to die for sure»
I had 11 fillings done at one time by my last dentist, who was probably a part time jail warden on the side. A few months later, one of the teeth that had the filling hurt so bad when exposed to warm or cold, I basically stopped eating and drinking for a few days. Now, why would a college student subject starvation and avoid a dentist? $$$ of course, or a lack thereof. I eventually got desperate enough to throw my soul and whatever money I could gather at anyone who could fix my mouth, and Dr. A was the first to call me to come on over. After investigating, Dr. A found that basically my sinuses were so stuffed up that it was crowding up the roots of the painful tooth. I was convinced by Google that I needed a root canal. *If* Dr. A was some money hungry dentist, he could have taken me for a ride, absolutely. But he absolutely did not. He told me to take some mucinex and get hydrated and the pain will go away, and it did. He could have easily made up some type of invasive procedure I «needed» and I would have done it, no question. Additionally, he *did* recommend a night guard that I had needed for some time, to which I still use every night and do not regret in the least. It wasn’t related to my initial reason for the visit, and was a huge benefit. Two birds, one stone.
TL;DR
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would recommend, Dr. A wasn’t, and still isn’t, a crook. He’s actually a dentist baller who knows what’s up and will make your mouth hurt less and be healthier.
Oh and the office staff are saintly humans who put up with even the worst kind of person, ie. Me.

1) I do not appreciate you sharing my medical records in a public forum.
2) I have had my teeth re-​examined by other dentists with new radiographs required due to poor quality of your images — they all agree with my first review of your business.
3) Proof that I am not using Unilocal as leverage to have you work on my mouth for free:
a) I have not responded to your email
b) I did not answer or return your receptionist’s phone call to schedule my treatment
c) I have a treatment scheduled with a different dentist on Monday.
Now, please disappear before this becomes a legal fiasco that neither you nor I have the time for.

I edited this review from a 5 star to a 3 star. While I will add that the cleaning, the explanation of diagnosis and overall experience was really good, but don’t buy all the procedures that they try to sell to you. Because at first I thought that I got a great detailed diagnosis. The office was successful (for a while) in making me believe that they had uncovered a bunch of issues with my mouth which my previous dentist had not mentioned and that I could get them fixed (although it would cost me roughly $ 4000 – 5000 AFTER insurance). Boy was I glad that they found stuff wrong with my mouth.
Still, before undergoing the procedures that they recommended, I decided to go for a second opinion. Then I went for a third opinion. Finally I even went for a 4^th opinion. All these three dentists said that there was nothing wrong with my teeth save for one minor issue which would cost less than $ 100 to fix. When I told them about this diagnosis they said that most of the procedures were completely unnecessary for me. And these 3 were reputed dentists. I decided against going for the procedures recommended by lifetime smiles. It’s been 2 years and I have a good regular dentist now.
TL;DR: They offer a good experience and cleaning, but it seems like they try to upsell a bit.