Avoid Urban Decay

I can’t speak highly enough of the professional and positive care provided by Dr. Ismaj and all his staff. I had major surgery involving 5 implants last year. Dr. Ismaj was always positive and upbeat during the whole process and the end result is a great smile and apples I can bite into! The follow up care was also exceptional and I always found the staff professional, positive and pleasant. My only regret is I had to move from San Diego!

I had a cleaning then later got a deep cleaning that I figured I’d need. I thought they did a fine job and were very professional and courteous. I’ll be going back for my next cleaning. I did have to talk to them about my bill afterwards, but they quickly refunded me what I was owed after my insurance paid them and all was good.

Avoid Urban Decay is a great dental office! The technical aspects of this office are fantastic. They are very professional, appointments always occur on time; they have very knowledgeable and professional staff; they have state of the art technology too.
I am not a huge fan of going to the dentist, like most people, but I have never had a painful or uncomfortable procedure or cleaning at this office. They have never tried to «up-​sell» me for things like invisalign, etc, like other offices.
These are things that might not be important to most people, but I think they make a big difference:
They are always friendly, happy to see me and actually remember things we talked about last time (6 months ago!)
They support all the local businesses. I’m a local business owner, so I really appreciate this aspect. They have a wall for local companies (and patients) to share their business card/​brochures.
So many great things I can say about this office! I’m not sure what caused the misconception of the office by some of the other reviewers, but I’ve been going to this office for the last 5 years and have never had a bad experience.

Scum Bag and a liar. He will do anything to get a buck out of you and his workmanship is on par with a student in training. He told me I had cracks in my teeth and had to have crowns. Ok so you trust people right?
I told him I do not want any metal in my mouth! since I had fillings removed and put the non toxic product in.
He made two crown sets, both containing metal. After he finished them I said what is that metal showing and he flat out said «Oh you will not see any since your gum will come up over it.»
One or two days later he was calling me, (not his billing clerk) and demanding his cash. I said wait a minute, I told you I would pay you within a few days, and I asked «Well you don’t get paid the next day by the insurance companies.», and he said «Yes I get paid the next day!» Mind you he had already gotten ½ before he started.
My first sign that I should have run away the first visit was he wanted to send me to his buddy, this Maxillofacial surgeon to break and realign my jaw. Ok I’m 58, why would I want this? Then he could get the thousands to redo my whole mouth!
His work and other’s I know who were unfortunate suckers to go to him have had to have the work redone but someone who actually knew what they were doing…
If you don’t have Urban Decay in your mouth you will after he is done with you!

Four years after my horrible expeirence with Dr. Isjma, I am still trying to fix the damage he did. I have spent an additiona 1,000+ to put a crown on a tooth that the «doctor» failed to completely remove decay from before sealing it with a filling.

My experience with this place was actually about 2 – 3 years ago, but left such a bad taste in my mouth that I am finally getting around to writing the bad review I’ve been meaning to write forever.
My first impression of this place was actually really positive. Very modern, TV’s on the ceiling, lotsa technology… seemed cool. I was pretty new to SD and was looking for a new dentist. I was also dentally uninsured at the time. So yada yada after they took X-​rays and pocket sizes they immediately tell me I need a deep cleaning in all four quadrants to the tune of $ 1300 or so. I was in shock because I take great care of my teeth, had regular check ups at my old dentist and hadn’t had ANY cavities or dental problems in years. I wore braces for 3 years so taking care of that investment is something I take seriously. I don’t remember the dentists name but he was a foreign guy, probably the same Dr. Ismaj the other people are referring to.
I told them straight up that I really question that assessment for the aforementioned reasons and that I’d prefer just to get the regular cleaning I had paid for. But they refused, saying that my case is so far gone that a regular cleaning would do nothing to help me. Really? How could cleaning my teeth not help my teeth? I paid for it but they refused and I found that infuriating. Coupled with the fact that I find it HIGHLY unethical for a medical professional to use their expertise to misguide somebody into a procedure they don’t need purely for their own financial gain.
I later went to two different dentists, one a friend and the other my new AWESOME dentist in Solana Beach, and both told me that they would not judge the other dentist, but that they personally COMPLETELY disagreed with his assessment.
This place is totally shady and they will give you the service that they can get reimbursed for or that will be most profitable for them, NOT necessarily what you really need. If those two things happen to be the same thing, then consider yourself lucky. But my humble advice: do not go here for your dental work.

I have to preface this review with saying that I have given this office many chances, and at first I REALLY liked them (but I guess its a good thing that I waited to write this review so I could see the error of my ways.)
This was the first dentist office I visited after moving to SD, and having the same dentist for almost 15 years. I was nervous about seeing someone else and I had heard horror stories about scam artists masquerading as dentists from friends.
I loved the office and the TVs on the ceiling as well as the super-​friendly polite staff, dentists and hygienists. But, I did not love the fact that two different dentists lied to me and tried to scare me into having $ 3000 of unnecessary dental work done.
I had the full set of x-​rays done on my first appt (which is terrible!) and soon after they were trying to tell me that I had SEVEN (!) cavities. I have never even had ONE in my 25 years and yet all of the sudden I have SEVEN? So I asked to see the proof and they showed me the xrays with «dark spots» on some of my teeth (which I saw on ALL the teeth lol) and then talked me through how I really needed to have this done and my insurance wouldn’t pay for the type of fillings they do so we could split the cost! LOL WTF is this a flea market here? Are we gonna haggle over the cost of my teeth… geez that should’ve been my first clue.
I barely got out of there in time to call home an book an appt with my old dentist back home who reassured me that she did not seen even one cavity and that I didn’t need to have anything done but a basic cleaning.
I am giving this office two stars because of the staff and how awesome the office is… very high tech. Just remember that you should ALWAYS get a second opinion, especially after going here because they are gonna try and sell you stuff that you don’t need… but hey they gotta pay for the flat screens on the ceiling somehow, right? ;)

If I could give Avoid Urban Decay 10 stars, I would. In a heartbeat.
People of San Diego, do not be scared away by the negative reviews. Avoid Urban Decay is the most amazing, caring, customer service oriented, helpful dental office I have ever encountered.
I am a problem dental patient. I get a little teary and nervous when I think I’ll need a filling. I am terrified of the sound of the drill and it takes a lot for me to submit to cleanings without drugs. So far, I have had 5 cleanings (mostly with Stacia who ROCKS!!!) and two major dental procedures including multiple fillings and crowns at Avoid Urban Decay. Every procedure has been fantastic.
Dr. Ismaj and his staff hve treated me like a beloved family member. The staff has called after procedures to make sure I was feeling well and not experiencing pain. After the last round of dental work, I experienced a lot of pain, which ultimately resulted in a root canal (not the dentist’s fault, I had a very deep filling that was being replaced with a crown). The dentist and the staff were extremely attentive to my complaints of pain, calling every day, and ultimately referring me to an endodontist. Dr. Ismaj called the endodontist personally before I was referred and then repeatedly afterward to ensure I was receiving good care.
Most of the negative reviews refer to billing issues and not dental work or dental care. Let’s just be honest, dental work is not well covered by insurance and it is ridiculously expensive — no matter what dentist you see. I don’t have a Dental HMO. I have a Dental PPO. Even still, my insurance BARELY covered all of the work that I needed. And, it didn’t cover the root canal. Do you see me taking out my frustration with my insurance company with Avoid Urban Decay? No.
Avoid Urban Decay is worth every single penny I have paid for the amazing care that I have received.

Okay… so, I too had an issue with the billing… the work is great, dont get me wrong. and the staff is very sweet. but I think it is fair to let people know about the billing process.
I hadnt been to the dentist in a while, so I kind of just went with the flow when Dr. Ismaj was explaining to me how dental insurance barely pays for anything and I was probably going to have to pay out of pocket for most of my work. He told me I would have to pre-​pay $ 700 and that we’ll see what the insurance covers (and I have great insurance, but I didnt know that at the time) but most likely they’ll barely cover anything…
So, I prepayed the $ 700 and then I got my statement for insurance that said I only needed to pay the deductable. To make a very long story short, I had to fight to get my money back, when I called my insurance carrier they knew exactly who he was because he called and chewed out one of the people that worked there… so all in all, work is great but be VERY VERY CAREFUL about the billing and payment…

I don’t know what everyone is complaining about, unless you have two dental insurances you will have to pay a deductible out of pocket fir services rendered,
I went to Dr, Ismaj for a teeth cleaning by Stacia and then the teeth whiteneing procedure. I was very comfortable in the office. I was explained what to expect after the process and they were correctl
I see all these negative reviews. And believe me after working in the medical field accounts payayble, I can honestly say that most of the mistakes come from your insurance not the practice itselt. They just seem like the bad guy for trying to collect on a debt that your insurance failed to pay. So if you want to get mad, read your covereage pamphlet and coverage information, and you may find that your insurance is the one scamming you.
I have NEVER had ANY PROBLEMS with Dr. Ismaj. So I highy recommend seeing Avoid Urban Decay, especially Dr. Ismaj who is gentle, and who cares about my smile.

**UPDATE***
Since I wrote my last review, I got a call AT WORK, from Dr. Ismaj who wanted to talk about my «misconception» of Delta Dental’s coverage (although they had already admitted to their mistake and had refunded my $ 50 «deductible»).
I then followed up on the cancellation of my next appointment in July since they will charge you if you don’t formally cancel your appointment. In response, I received an e-​mail which stated that they are «dismissing me from the practice». HA
Today, I received an Explanation of Benefits from Delta Dental in the mail with the patient portion of my bill coming to $ 117.00. Which is strange since all I got was a new patient exam and cleaning. The bill shows a $ 63.00 charge listed as Preventive which I believe is the oral cancer screening that I told them I didn’t want because insurance doesn’t cover it. There are also 2 separate charges for x-​rays, and a charge for fluoride which I KNOW I didn’t get. This place is RIDICULOUS, or as Elle O. would say SCAMTASTIC!

EDIT: This place is SCAMTASTIC!!! I was taken in by the fancy gadgets, clean floors, and the TV on the ceiling. I even really didn’t mind my exam and I trusted the dr’s opinion… but…
a. I got a bill, for $ 141 for my exam/​consultation. The $ 141 was my portion, AFTER insurance paid.
b. I didn’t pay said bill, because I wanted to discuss it with the insurance company. This late payment elicited several threatening phone calls, and the words «we are going to turn this over to the lawyers…».
c. Got a threatening letter, saying that I need to resolve my bill immediately, or else «things are going to get very uncomfortable for both of us…».
d. Talked to insurance company. Super scamtastic business going on at Avoid Urban Decay! They told me that not only did AUD not have the right to charge me fees over and above what Delta Dental required, they also failed to account for my $ 50 «copay», that should have been applied to my bill (which Delta said should never have been charged).
e. Called AUD. Told them I was going to pay only what Delta told me I should pay ($ 35). Shockingly (sarcasm) the $ 50 fee was said to be a mistake, and they couldn’t understand why Delta was charging so much less for my exam and consultation… hmmmmmm…
I’m this close to calling Turko!!! Beware. And if you know of a decent dentist, let me know.
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So glad I found this office. Lots of gadgets, everything super clean, and the office staff were very friendly and welcoming. Now, you have no excuse not to go to the dentist.

Still just as great as before, but after having been here several times, I felt the entire office deserved a more thorough review.
Let’s start with Dr. Vane. My previous review is still in full effect here. I’ve had quite a bit of work done, but she’s always been great about explaining my options and making realistic suggestions that take into consideration my insurance coverage, my budget, and my oral health.
She is an absolute professional as well. A couple of weeks ago my appointment was moved up and, due to a miscommunication, Dr. Vane was a little late. No biggie… Dr. Parrone was in and she went ahead and numbed me up for Dr. Vane’s procedure. All in all, I’d say I lost about 15 minutes. I really didn’t even think twice about it.
A few days later, I get a card in the mail from Avoid Urban Decay. I open it up to find a handwritten note from Dr. Vane apologizing for being late along with a Starbucks gift card. Completely unexpected, completely unnecessary, but absolutely thoughtful and amazing. This just shows you the type of person she is, because most dentists wouldn’t think twice about making a patient wait in a chair for 15 minutes.
Next, the front desk, including Dr. Parrone. Everyone in this office is super helpful and they are very good about remembering the little things (e.g. that I need a detailed receipt so that I can submit it for reimbursement to my health savings account administrator). Scheduling (or changing schedules) with them is a breeze. All in all, I guess the best way to describe it is that they are one of the few dentist’s offices I’ve been too that realizes that the patient is the customer and that we’re doing them a favor by giving them our business, not the other way around.
Finally, the facilities. Everything is brand new and the office is very comfortable. Plus, don’t forget the TV’s!
Overall, if you’re in downtown, I’d highly suggest you come to see any dentist at this office! I know you won’t be disappointed.

It was time for me to say goodbye to my previous dentist and begin my search for greener pastures. Obviously my first stop is Unilocal,so I can see who is recommended. After sorting through reviews I chose Avoid Urban Decay.
Digital X-​rays: Check
New Office: Check
Cool gadgets everywhere: Check
T.V. on the ceiling… uh okay sold.
The enrollment process is simple, and everything is done online in the comfort of your own home.
upon entering the office I noticed it was a little small, but they made great use of space. The front desk was really nice and I sat down to wait in a… what’s this? massage chair? awweesome!
Dr. Vane is a really really good dentist. I love how she explains everything with normal technical terms and doesn’t talk to you like an idiot. The digital X-​rays are great, because if something is going on and Dr. Vane needs to just check out a tooth really quick, bam x-​ray without all that waiting to develop stuff.
5 stars easily from me. check this office, you won’t be dissapointed.

Unless you’re really warped, nobody likes going to the Dentist… me certainly included. I went to the «Avoiding Urban Decay» office last month and have been back a couple of times (the annual fun) and gotta say they are AWESOME. From the receptionist, to treatment, follow-​up, etc. they are great. Super location if you live downtown, comfy office with screens on the ceiling to watch while you’re getting raked with metal hooks.
Nicole Vane is highly recommended — she did most of my treatment and I can’t imagine a better recommendation. Heidi (pretty sure it was Heidi) is a great Hygenist too, so make sure you ask for her!
They also recommended me to Dr. Brian Oleksy for getting my wisdoms out, yes it’s been a fun couple of weeks, and that guy rocks! If you need surgery, I would ALWAYS go with this guy. He knows his stuff.
Not a fun topic, but I wanted to commend these guys as it’s tough to find great folks in this line, but I would endorse these guys for sure! Oh yeah, and if you have never seen the movie, THE DENTIST, it’s a must see!!!
Cheers

It is hard for me to give a dentist 5 stars … it is just a dentist thing.
Dr Parrone, though, is great.
Talented and totally state of the art in terms of treatment and equipment.
The place is right next to Petco, so convenient for Downtown dwellers and businesspeoples. It has a great feel (and even a pair of my old sneaks hanging from the pipes that run above the waiting room).