Kathleen J Lucas, DDS

I moved to the area in 2013 from Northern California after having the same dentist for over 10 years.
I am so happy to have found Dr. Lucas.
Pros:
— Very friendly, professional, responsive, and happy office staff. (Not always a combination I have found in dental offices)
— Beautiful, modern, and clean office
— Caring, compassionate, honest, and competent dentistry by Dr. Lucas and her staff
— My interpretation that her philosophy is about encouraing good preventive care and fundamentals, as opposed to unnecessary, invasive, and/​or harsh treatment options
I have definitely had a great experience here and think others will too.

After seven years of loving my DDS, I moved to Pasadena and was disappointed with the first DDS I found.
Then a coworker told me about Kathleen Lucas. What a find!
In short: friendly, professional, honest, skilled.
Also, Diane is an awesome hygienist! My cleaning the other day was likely the gentlest I’ve ever had. Don’t read that to mean my teeth didn’t get thoroughly cleaned, she’s just really good at not jamming the instruments into my gums, as so many hygienists at other locations seem unable to do.

I called last week and left a voice message for them to call me back to set up a new patient appointment. No call back. I sent them an email through their website system. No response. If this is how they run their admin, I doubt the practice is any better. I guess I’ll never know.

I found Dr. Lucas on Unilocal when I moved to the Pasadena area 3 years ago and have not been disappointed with treatment and care. Jodi does my regular cleanings with Dr. Lucas checking X-​rays and asking about any problems or concerns. Recently, I cracked a tooth. Dr. Lucas took me the same day and bonded it to hold me over for a few weeks before I could be fitted for a crown. (I was going out of town). It was my first crown experience. I told Dr. Lucas I was nervous and she talked me through the whole procedure. I am happy to say my crown is in place and i can chew on that side with NO pain. The process could not have been smoother. Thank you Dr. Lucas and Jenny.

After many years of my mother being convinced that the insurance only covered doctors in her network (the bay area) she finally realized that I could go anywhere for my dentist and eye doctor (something I had been saying for years, but as I wasn’t the one with the insurance I just trusted her). Upon hearing that I could finally leave my terrible dentist in the bay I took to Unilocal to find a new one.
With any kind of doctor you want someone who is going to take good care of you. I spent a good amount of time reading reviews of local dentists. What I liked about Dr. Lucas’ reviews was that she took the time to respond to not only the negative reviews but also the positive. Hearing her side of the story on both the good and the bad showed me that this is someone who cares about their patients (and can prove that the bad reviews were unfounded).
During my first check up I was so pleased with everything. The office is well lit and feels welcoming. Everyone was super friendly. Dr. Lucas made sure to make me feel comfortable and chatted me up a bit. I felt very much at ease and trusted her completely.
At the end of my visit she told me I had a small cavity on the cheek side of my wisdom teeth (yes I still have my wisdom teeth. I suffered much to keep them as a child and I’ll be damned if I am going to loose them after all that). I made the appointment for my next day off and requested nitrous. I have a deathly fear of needles (like it took 7 nurses to hold me down once as a child for a flu shot level of fear). I’ve gotten much better about needles but I still can be prone to panic attacks when I know a needle is involved. I told Dr. Lucas this and she informed me she doesn’t use nitrous. Uh oh! She promised me though that she is very gentle and will numb my gums ahead of time. I really liked this place so I decided to give it a shot. I held off my review until today after my cavity filling.
Dr. Lucas wasn’t lying. She was very gentle and calming with the needle. If someone as phobic as me can handle it anyone can. I was in and out in about 30 minutes. No fuss, no muss.
One final thought on what I like about Dr. Lucas. She doesn’t pressure you into anything. My dentist back home always pushes zoom whitening, vaneers, and other cosmetic unnecessary add ons. I also have friends who go to dentists who tell them they need a deep cleaning regularly or that they have issues with their gums and have to come every three months now (something their old dentist never found, but this one magically did). Dr. Lucas isn’t here to take you for a ride. She is all about making sure you have a good experience and healthy teeth. The only thing she pushed me on was flossing more (I know I need to do better on that).
So happy to have a good dentist again.

I have been a patient of Dr. Lucas’ for over 10 years now. It’s so nice to see Karen, the office manager every time I have been in and be greeted with a nice smile. I have a wacky schedule and can never plan in advance for dental appointments, so I’ll call Karen and she’ll always find a way to squeeze me in or put me on a cancellation list so I’m able to get in right away.
I have had the same hygienist Jodi for all of these years as well. She is wonderful, and doesn’t manhandle me while cleaning my teeth. I always look forward to getting my teeth cleaned by her. We always chat about what’s going on in our lives while there.
Dr. Lucas is warm and caring, and is always cheerful. We always seem to laugh a bit while I’m there. Whenever I have had to have work done and it required Novocaine, I can honestly say that I have never felt the needle go in because of her gentle touch.
I feel like family when I walk through the doors of her beautiful office, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve been coming back for so many years and look forward to my appointments.

Dr. Lucas is awesome. She’s cheery, prompt, honest, and thorough. Her care feels really personalized; they don’t take 10 patients in at a time. Her office is a block from a metro stop and has free parking. I haven’t had to wait weeks for an appointment as is common with other doctors. I highly recommend her.

If you value your teeth DO NOT go to Dr. (and I use this title with reservation) Lucas. Every crown she put on my teeth fits incorrectly. Every dentist I’ve visited after Dr. Lucas has told me her work is terrible. One of the crowns she put on was HUGE and didn’t fit. It caused me to grind my teeth in my sleep eventually breaking off at the gumline. While she was putting on the crown that broke she said «oops, do you ever make a mistake you can’t fix while you’re working?»
Now my wife is going through the same thing. She is now getting dental work done including a root canal to repair the shoddy work done by Kathleen Lucas.
In my opinion she covers up her lack of skill with jokes. I only wish there was something I could do to make it so she’s not allowed to practice dentistry.
Reply to Dr. Lucas’ response: It is within the realm of possibility that I lived in Pasadena and moved to Pennsylvania. Which is what happened. I have been going to Penn to try and fix the damage you did in my mouth. The instructors gather the students around me and use your work as an example of terrible dentistry. It’s been less than five years since you put the botched crowns on my teeth. As soon as the five years are up I am going to have them replaced. I’m not comfortable putting my real name here for what I think are obvious reasons. Message to other patients: Beware, what I say is true.

I have a mouthful of teeth that have been decimated by chemo and radiation, so after a disastrous experience with another ignorant dentist in Pasadena in the late 90’s, I decided to do several consultations to find a dentist that was not only very knowledgable, but had the personal characteristics that would keep me comfortable in the chair. Dr. Lucas was the clear winner and still is. Always helpful, organized and informative, she and her staff are outstanding. There have been several occasions when I needed emergence interventions (lost crowns, etc) and they dealt with it quickly, and with the utmost friendliness. I highly recommend her!

I’ve been looking for a dentist I feel comfortable with and trust, since my beloved dentist retired a few years ago. I tried Dr. Lucas after reading her reviews and although she came across as very kind and pleasant at first, I saw another side of her a couple of times and will not go back. She said one thing, then appeared to forget what she promised and actually got a bit testy and defensive when I reminded her what she had told me. This was not a one time occurrence, as the first time, I let it go, but the second time, I thought to myself, «This is not a pleasant experience and I don’t have to put up with feeling uncomfortable when I go to the dentist.»
If you stay on her good side, you’ll probably have no problems, but she’s not my cup of tea. Still searching for a dentist I actually like.

DR. Lucas is wonderful. She is honest as can be, funnny and easy to talk to. It is as if your not at the dentist. I absolutely love her. She has me on a great plan to keep my teeth in shape. I came in as if I had a train wreck in my mouth but just in the nick of time I found an honest, sincere DR who will guide me in better health with my teeth and gums… TOTAL five stars… TEN in my book

I have been a patient of Dr. Lucas for about 2 years now and couldn’t be more happy. Staff is efficient, friendly, and Dr. Lucas is honest. Went to a dentist in the past who was paying off his Mercedes on my dime with loads of unnecessary procedures. Dr. Lucas takes her time and is very thorough. Office is tidy and comfy. The two essentials for me when it comes to dentistry. Look forward to many more visits with Dr. Lucas and staff.

I hate going to the dentist. It’s my least favorite thing, which is why I hadn’t one in about three years. Of course, the longer you don’t go, the worse your teeth get, the more terrible things happen when you go to the dentist, which is why I was extra nervous when I headed here for my appointment.
Turns out, I had nothing to worry about; this may have been the easiest dentist visit of my life. More attention from the dentist then I’ve ever gotten (usually it’s an hour with the hygienist and 2 minutes with the actual dentist), no extreme pain, no yelling about how I don’t floss… it was great. From now on, I’m actually going to the dentist every 6 months like I’m supposed to.

Update to parking — now that I’ve been going to her new spot for a while, they have a really kind parking attendant in back now, he monitors the lot and gives out parking tix that you just get validated when you see the dentist. really easy parking now ! (Y el le gusta halba conmigo en espanol! tan bueno! LOL)

Dr. Lucas is a wonderful dentist. She is extremely kind and knowledgable. I had a great time at the dentist office just now — who ever says that? But its true. The office is clean and new and in a beautiful building. They won’t try and upsell you here like most places. I had a great experience.

I was pretty disappointed by my experience with Dr. Lucas. She came highly recommended and I had looked forward to meeting her. I’ve had hit-​or-​miss experiences with dentists during my life as someone with teeth that are pretty prone to cavities and other not fun stuff, despite all of my best efforts.
Dr. Lucas came recommended as that most elusive of beasts, a «No Guilt» dentist, someone who would treat me without guilt-​tripping me about my teeth.
During my first visit, Dr. Lucas came across as condescending, rushed, and anything but no-​guilt. She also asked me if I had an eating disorder, and when I said that I didn’t have an eating disorder, stated that she wasn’t sure if she believed me.
I left and will never be back. I still have friends who really like her, but I’m not one of them. There are dozens of better dentists in Pasadena to go to.
Edit: Dr. Lucas responded specifically to my review. Again, I’d like to reiterate that I have friends who like her a lot. My experience was not at all like theirs, or any of the other reviewers, so perhaps it is an anomaly. But there is no way around the fact that she specifically asked if I was bulimic, and when I said that I was not, she stated that she wasn’t certain if she believed me. Not cool.

Dr. Lucas is outstanding. She is friendly, cheerful, always willing to discuss any issues or problems, and is gentle with those of us who still have dental phobias. The hygienist is the best I’ve been to in 25 years in California and the front office staff is always upbeat and friendly and wonder of wonders they remember who you are. I would recommend her to anyone – and I have!

When I was looking for a dentist nine years ago, I was seduced by that «good with anxious patients» tag I saw in a directory — well, that and the fact that Dr. Lucas’s office was, like, three blocks from where I worked at the time. Even though my job situation has changed since then, and so has her location, the relationship has remained strong the entire time!
Thanks to Dr. Lucas, I’ve been able to arrange for a (long overdue) wisdom-​tooth extraction and get a couple of nicely-​done bondo– I mean, composite fillings. Karen stays on top of the paperwork and scheduling, Jody the hygienist does great cleanings (I’m still licking my teeth a day later), and the office tries to stay on top of the latest dental technology. My exam yesterday included digital x-​rays and a ViziLite oral cancer screening. If my insurance ever covered it, I’d gladly get my orthodontics done here too.
One note: the parking at the new building is a bit dicey, but it’s not crazy-​bad, and the attendant/​valet in the lot does his best to be helpful.

Dr. Lucas has always been friendly and helpful. Her and her staff are always flexible, and are willing to accommodate the patients. Also like the new building! Fancy!

I have been going to Dr. Lucas for 2 or 3 years and have sent my family to her. We have found her to be an excellent dentist and appreciate her patience and the amount of time she spends with her patients. You will not be rushed in and out. Everyone in the office is friendly and helpful. Jody, the hygenist has a very gentle touch. Karen at the front desk is extra nice. There is plenty of parking on the property. The office is clean and comfortable. Highest recommendations to this office.