Universal Smiles

My experience with Universal Smiles (and dr. Sulivan) was fine. I was a customer for just under 2 years and when I first came, had not had dental work in a couple of years. So I did have a decent amount of work done by him. I believe him to be more than competent and he was definitely motivational in getting me to improve my oral health (mainly to get me to floss more than once a month). He’s a nice guy and makes an effort to be conversational but I still never really felt comfortable with him. He just seemed artificially nice (a bit like a salesman). His staff are very friendly and were very pleasant to work with.
My issue with the experience is similar to another review, in that I believe the Dr. asserted that I needed more work than necessary. Primarily, when I first visited the office he told me I had 5 or 6 issues that needed addressing. I was definitely pushed toward getting some of them done that day, at which point I found out that 3 of the issues were actually just cosmetic chips, etc. He made it sound like all were necessary but at least one of those chips had been there for years and no one thought it was a problem before. He also required me to get a deep cleaning (which I may have actually needed), and after which he required me to have 3 month appointments. Having done my research on some of this now, I don’t suspect that I need 3 month checkups or cleanings, because I never had issues with my gums.
My biggest concern was after he told me I should get an antibiotic treatment (Arestin I believe) after one of my cleaning because I had «sockets that weren’t healing.» I figured this would be fairly routine and agreed to it. It wasn’t until I received the bill for $ 1500 that I questioned the need for it. Luckily my insurance picked up 90%, but I did not have any pain or indication that my gums were actually unhealthy, and I did not like the side-​affects. He tried to recommend that I get it a second time «if my insurance would cover it» which I don’t think it would.
Overall, He is a competent dentist, but I think he took advantage of the fact that I had great insurance and a comfortable enough income that I wouldn’t question paying an extra few hundred out of pocket without thorough explanation.

I hadn’t been to the dentist for years before I came to see Dr. Soliven. Naturally I was terrified of what they would find and of the process itself.
The staff is very nice and they make you feel comfortable right away. They seem very knowledgeable which is something I admire.
Dr. Soliven is amazing. I had to get a few fillings and I was definitely scared of the numbing needle (as usual) but he calmed my nerves and the whole thing went smoother than I thought it would. He is fast and very efficient. My fiancé and I have made appointments at the same time for the last two visits and he always magically gets us done around the same time as each other so it’s really nice not having to wait very long!
I have to go back for one more visit and I am not dreading it like I was the last few years! Hahah.

This is the best dentist I have ever had. He is not only a great dentist but he really cares for his patients. He is the easiest dentist and he has so much compassion for everyone. I would recommend him to anyone. Bless you dr Sullivan. You are one in a million! I also want to thank Joy for her kindness and patience with me

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE!
This is honestly the most RESPECTABLE, HUMBLE, HONEST, CARING dentist you will ever meet. Dr. Soliven is an incredible dental professional and human being. He composes himself with such humility and confidence that it is impossible to feel uncomfortable in his presence. I felt totally at ease and comfortable with him and the suggestions he made for my teeth. For the FIRST time in my life, I am able to say that this dentist GENUINELY cares about what his patients truly NEED… Not what they want or what they don’t really need, he looks at each of us uniquely and doesn’t try to up-​sell or add anything that is unnecessary to the invoice or procedure.
As I was in the waiting room, I met Ken, one of Dr. Solivens regulars, and he was telling me how he was always deathly afraid of dentists up until he came into Dr. Soliven’s office. Ken told me that he has never been able to go any other dentist and thanks to Dr. Soliven’s calm countenance and professional talent, Ken has overcome his fear of the dentist! Now Ken only feels safe and comfortable going to Dr. Soliven for all of his oral needs.
That story really compelled me to publicly praise and applaud Dr. Soliven and his whole team at Universal Smiles.
The cherry on top was Joy. Joy is the most amazing dental assistant you will ever meet! She brings light and happiness to any room she walks in, she is truly an integral part of my experience and I hope that everyone can be greeted and assisted by someone as special as Joy!
Awesome job, keep up the amazing customer service
— Luiz

I was a little hesitant since he only had three reviews. However, I was desperate so I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did, Dr. Sam is very professional and his office looks nice. The only downside about the office were his employees. They were listening to the radio station and the sounds was very loud. The music was not appropriate for a dental office. Yes, I do recommend this Dr.

Dr. Sam Sullivan is the best dentist I have ever used. I admit I let my teeth get unattractive through unhealthy life style. I didn’t have much of an expectation because I smoked for 7 years and became a heavy coffee drinker on top of years of substance abuse. At the age of 35 wanting to reverse all the obvious damage I caused he was my first active step towards repairing the physical aspect. When my top row was done I was ecstatic! It only got better!
There are second goes at life! I want to thank him and his staff! L.M.M

My experience with this dentist was not great. On my first visit the dentist was so rushed, he did not even take the time to introduce himself before poking around in my mouth. The discussion I tried to have with him was very hurried and pressured and I did not feel like my questions were welcomed. I had never experienced this in a dentists office before and did not feel like a valued patient.
I went in with only one tiny cavity on my back molar. I specifically sought out this dentist because he does not use mercury-​silver amalgam. WHICH IS AWESOME… BUT… The dentist tried to tell me I had two other cavities forming that he would like to fill. (Well the other dentist that had identified my primary cavity just a week before did not think these other two areas were a problem… in fact they had been pointed out to me about 20 years prior and had not advanced in that time)…so no… I do not appreciate his opinion on this and did not have the extra fillings.
The one I did have filled was as small as the tip of a ball point pen. The dentist filled it and I went home. I looked at it in the mirror and everything looked fine (I could see the new white filling and the black dot was gone). But the tooth was sensitive…
…after a few weeks this sensitivity seemed to have increased so I looked at it again. To my surprise I had a black dot and pit right on the border of where the new filling was. (My teeth are very healthy otherwise with only 3 fillings at age 40)
When I called the office to speak to the dentist I was told the dentist does not speak with patients on the phone. I still requested he call me. I never received a call back from him after relaying my concerns to his staff. To me this is very unprofessional and every other dentist I have worked with has been happy to speak to me on the phone.
It turns out there was only something caught in a pit at the border of the new filling and another dentist removed it for me — so no new cavity… but I really did not feel comfortable with this dentist and will not be going back.