Gary J MacKey, DDS

Not only is Dr Mackey less expensive than most dentists out there, he does a much better job as well. After paying big dollars for several crowns that were put in so poorly they needed replacing in less than 5 years I went to Dr Mackey. He made absolutely sure they were seated correctly even if it meant sending the mockup crowns back to the lab several times. Other dentists would just save themselves the trouble and put a crown in the first time even if it isn’t a good fit. As I already mentioned, he is a lot less expensive than other area dentists (yes I called around). We do have good insurance but still have to pay half of cost for crowns out of pocket. Office ambiance may be lacking but hey-​better service at a much better price… so who cares!

We’ve been seeing Dr. Mackey for about 35 years and wouldn’t trade him for any other dentist in the universe! He knows his stuff, cares about his patients more than his pocketbook, doesn’t overbook, and in general is just great! Can’t say enough good things about him.

These reviewers weren’t lying… he is great! Dr. Mackey fit me in same day and did not try to sell me on unnecessary treatments unlike my other ex-​dentist. Too bad I am moving in a month… otherwise he would be my dentist forever!

I had my first visit with Dr. Mackey today and was so impressed with him. Please, do NOT be thrown off by the location/​outward appearance of his office (I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first…)
Dr. Mackey is absolutely fantastic. I did not have to wait around for him at all; he immediately saw me at my appointment time, on the dot. He did an extremely thorough job and was very, very gentle. As we all know, going to the dentist usually isn’t high up on anybody’s «want-​to-​do» list, but Dr. Mackey took all the anxiety out of the whole process.
Best of all, he didn’t try to «up-​sell» anything (I’ve had experiences before with dentists who tried to convince me that I needed a filling in several teeth, even though I had no cavities!) He was upfront, honest, and completely trustworthy.
I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Mackey and I cannot think of one bad thing to say about him. If you are looking for a great dentist in the Orange/​Santa Ana/​Tustin area, you definitely should go see him.

Thanks to Megan O. and Alison R. for your great reviews of Dr. Mackey. Now that I’ve been, I’ve finally found a dentist that I trust.
He was playing K-​Earth 101 today — which is also pretty 70s heavy — as opposed to the smooth jazz Alison R. had me expecting.
Anyway, I definitely can get with the 70s vibe in his office. Reminds me of the good ol’ days when all the appliances were avacado green, carpet only came in shades of shag, and the walls weren’t finished without wallpaper in a silhouetted tree branch pattern. Plus, I love the potted plants hanging from the ceiling with rope. Those planters alone take me back to the 70s.
The office is located in a not-​so-​nice strip mall, but the important part is that Dr. Mackey is really nice, and seems to have been at this dentistry game for a long time. He jokes around with you, and makes you feel totally comfortable and at ease. He explains everything he is doing as he’s doing it so you don’t wonder what each tool is for or what is going to happen next.
He accepts PPO insurance, if you’re wondering. And my teeth feel clean and happy now. Plus, he gave me some tips about how to protect my gums from feeling sensitive after the procedure.
Thanks, Dr. Mackey!

I think Dr. Mackey might be the only honest dentist around. I started going to him when I was three years old (he actually had my chart from 1984 when I went to see him the other day!) but had to stop seeing him for a few years because he didn’t accept my insurance for a while. After being possibly screwed over by my latest dentist (updated review to follow), I did some research and found that my new insurance (my company changed dental plans) is accepted by his office so I went to see him for a second opinion.
First (and it’s always been this way), I didn’t have to wait for more than 2 seconds to be seen. In fact, I was almost 30 minutes early for my appointment and they saw me right when I walked in. Second, he was nice as always and remembered me even though I hadn’t been to see him for 4 years or so (though my parents still see him). Third, he didn’t charge me for the Xray he took! I’m sure my insurance will be charged for the visit but he said he wouldn’t charge me for the Xray.
I recommend Dr. Mackey to EVERYONE, even if you have to go out of your way to see him. He’s honest, kind, extremely informative, and just an all-​around good guy. He told me all kinds of stories about people who get overcharged and screwed over by other dentists and then come to him so he can fix it. His philosophy is that he always wants to save the tooth, even though root canals make everyone more money (as root canals basically split the tooth, fill it up, and then saw it down and place a crown on the end). That’s the kind of dentist I want to be in charge of my mouth. Yay, Dr. Mackey!

I really don’t mind going to the dentist, cause gary mackey is the shit.
the office is super 70’s, you will feel like you are in a time warp. there is tons of brown and yellow and burnt orange décor.
dr mackey is super chill. he has been a dentist for a billion years. he’s very easy going and makes sure that things are not painful, which is very important. he also plays some hilarious smooth jazz, which adds to the experience.
seriously, though, this guy is a fantastic dentist. his office is very comfortable, and he makes you feel calm about the fact that unpleasant times will occur.
his office is only open 4 days a week though, kind of random hours.