Norman Lee Choy & Associates

I have been going to Dr, Choy happily for at least 10 years. I was recommended by a colleague at USF — a number of USF faculty and staff have Dr. Choy as their dentist and we are all happy patients. I don’t have the best dental history myself and as I get older I need more root canals, crowns, and implants. Dr. Choy does most general dentistry himself — cleanings, fillings and root canals — but refers out for surgery and implants and his referrals have always been good. He knows everybody and has a great reputation in SF. He is also a kind, funny and compassionate man. He goes to China every year with a team to do free work there and he teaches at local dental schools. The support staff are also extremely professional and friendly. Parking in the neighborhood can be tricky. If you go, park in the Laurel Heights shops car park on California and walk a couple of blocks.

I went to Dr Choy several years ago when a crown fell off and needed to be recemented. I was poor, panicky and had a genuine deep seated dislike of dental visits. I did a Google search, found Dr. Choy was a block away from my current location and went in the same day.
I found Dr. Choy to be competent, funny, and respectful of both me and my financial sitch. Even though I haven’t been back to see him (I ended up having my dental work completed with a dentist who would knock me out), I’ve recommended him to several people and have intended to leave a review for a while. He sent me a personalized, handwritten thank you note, which left a great impression too.
In a month, when my unconscious dental work is completed, I plan to visit Dr. Choy for my regular/​maintenance dental work. Can’t recommend him highly enough.

Dr. Choy is really amazing — about two weeks ago, one evening, as I was eating a salad, the veneer on my upper left canine tooth just chipped off. In my panic, I desperately searched for a well-​rated dentist within the western area of the city and found Dr. Choy’s office.
I left a voicemail around 8 in the evening, giving some detail on what happened, and also explained that I would be a new patient, but had insurance. Dr. Choy’s office called me back the next morning, around 9 am, shortly after they opened. They were kind and said that they would be happy to help me, as they understood my emergency, and told me to come over right away.
I was in and out of the office in less than two hours, with a brand new beautiful tooth. Dr. Choy has wonderful bedside manner, which is huge for a dentist, considering how scary those visits can sometimes be. He even sent a Thank You card, asking me how I was doing and saying that he was looking forward to our next appointment.
Thank you, Dr. Choy and team, for making my first dentist appointment in San Francisco so enjoyable — I will definitely be back!

Friendly, fast, and really helpful when asked questions about insurance. Much more personable than my prior dentists.

Unfortunately it really costs you here..
Some dentist at this office are great but sometimes some dental work may not be really needed. The charges are high so often insurance does not cover much of it.

I was quite explicit that I only wanted x-​rays if the office was certain that it would be covered by insurance and I would not be charged. At the time, I was assured that this was the case. But when my insurance company wouldn’t cover the cost, they refused to pay the charge, choosing instead to blame it on the insurance company and act as if they were powerless to comp the charges despite the false information I was given.

Dr Sandy Shih actually called me back later based on my conversation with the receptionist and apologized that I wasn’t informed about the out of network charges. She even offered me a discounted rate based on the ‘In network’ plan of my insurance because i wasn’t informed of it earlier!
That was really nice of her! I hope to keep her as my dentist if I can afford it!

Great dentist who fit me in as a new patient when nobody else could (within the hour b/​c of pain!). Awesome staff & reasonable prices w/​o dental ins.

I doubt many people enjoy check-​ups after years of avoiding the dentist… but I will say that my first time back in a while was handled wonderfully. Dr. Sandy Shih and her assistant Ebonnee were super knowledgeable, but more than that, compassionate! I can’t stress how awesome and calming it is to know that they not only know what they are doing and can answer any questions, but treat you with the right amount of professional yet friendly concern! Would definitely recommend.

My entire family goes to Dr. Choy. He is funny, and makes you feel comfortable even when scraping unmentionable things off of your teeth. The whole staff is fantastic-​everyone remembers you and is happy to help if conflicts come up with appointments. Would recommend Dr. Choy and his colleagues to anyone!

I’ve been going to Dr. Choy since I can remember (almost 30 years). I’m truly blessed to have him and his staff take care of me.

Dr. Choy and his staff are the best! I was referred by a good friend and they were right! The staff is down to earth and super friendly. Recently got a tooth pulled and it was nothing like a previous bad experience that I had elsewhere. They do their best to accommodate your schedule and tooth needs.

Dr Choy is a great dentist, and Everyone who works here is super nice, and make you feel like an old friend.
After my first visit… Dr Choy sent me a hand written thank you note!!! Who does that sort of nice stuff???
Another great thing is that Dr. Choy teaches at UCSF, and stays very current on to the newest info and best techniques.
Bring Quarters for the meter or come early yo find non metered parking.
Good service comes at a price… He is not cheap. But thorough, skilled and honest! I have never been old I need to have some high priced gum cleaning or any other unnecessary high priced services.

I started going to Dr. Choy because my mom wanted my brother and me to go to someone young. I think I was in middle school when I started seeing him. Dr. Choy is also a very good friend of my auntie. He’s awesome and is known for painless, dental shots. Dr. Flores is outstanding also; she always asks about my family who all go to their office! This office is always so welcoming and have positive attitudes. Their technology is up-​to-​date. The staff is a kick. It’s kid friendly there as my little one would amuse herself by walking around and digging around in the toy box.

I started going to Dr Choy because of a recommendation from a friend, boy am I glad!
Previously my dental work has been hit and miss.
Dr Choy takes all the time necessary to do a great job. He also is mostly painless.
My only complaint is that it takes FOREVER to get an appointment, oh… his prices aren’t the cheapest either. I think this is a case of «you get what you pay for» though.
Thanks Dr Choy!!!

I almost don’t want to post or else Dr. Flores and Dr. Choy will be too booked up =P
Love love love them! Have been going there since I was in grade school and when I wasn’t insured, I tried to cheaper alternatives but NO ONE compares to them! I’m now happily back with them and never venturing away again =)
Dr. Flores spends about 45 – 60 minutes cleaning your teeth! Other places just use the electric polish/​brush and go over your teeth and call it a day. but she meticulously goes over each tooth… first for a visual look, then to remove any plaque/​stains, then polishing, then flossing, then another visual!
Grade A service with an accompanying grade A staff!
Dr. Choy also does a lot of work with Operation Smiles! Great people!!!

Friendliest dentist and staff ever!
My family has been seeing him since I was little. Once I was no longer covered under my parent’s insurance plan, I haven’t seen Dr Choy and Dr Flores. With all the horrible dentists I’ve seen since, I SO miss them! If only their office takes my insurance.
Dentistry should all be this way — competent, friendly, pleasant, professional, comfortable, and in a warm office setting. I’d recommend anyone to see them.

Dr. Choy was able to see me the next day to fix something that went amiss. He was kind and very skilled, and even personally wrote me a lovely thank-​you note! He asked me how I heard about him, and when I told him Unilocal,he said that he’s been getting several people a week from Unilocal!While I’m sure there are many great dentists (as well as many to avoid, of course), he’s a good choice.

Maria Flores is my dentist but today, when my tooth really hurt, even though the office was officially closed, Dr. Choy, came up from the Peninsula to help my aching tooth. I am ever grateful for his kindness, skill and willingness to see me!

Great, great dentist. Believes in pain-​free dentistry! Plus, he has a sense of humor. So good that lots of members of the SF Symphony go there and a former conductor still flies back from Boston to see Dr. Choy. Maria Flores is fantastic as well. Always flogging me to floss… And the staff is always helpful, never bitter, mean or even ornery.
Only downside is parking in the nabe. But if that’s the most painful part of a visit to the dentist, I’ll take it!