Southwoods Smile Squad (Southwoods Pediatric Dentistry) in Albany
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Albany, Albany County, New York, US
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Site: http://www.southwoodspd.com/
- Monday:8AM–4:30PM
- Tuesday:8AM–4:30PM
- Wednesday:8AM–4:30PM
- Thursday:8AM–4:30PM
- Friday:8AM–2PM
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
Dr. Gallo is very soothing, very nice, and very knowledgeable. Her main concern was making sure my toddler was as comfortable and happy as possible. Great first visit.Since our first visit weve been back quite a few times. My LO fell and damaged her lip and front teeth. Dr. Gallo and everyone else in the office was super nice, made sure she was seen quickly, and made the experiences as stress free as possible. My LO, who is just barely 2, even sat calmly for her last exam and X-rays.
We loved it here! We unfortunately had a bad experience at another pediatric dental office and I was worried that my daughter would be anxious, but all the staff put her at ease. They were able to get good x-rays, whereas they werent able to at the last pediatric dental office, and Dr. Gallo was much more thorough and seemed more knowledgeable than the last pediatric dentist we consulted. Ava is looking forward to coming back!
Amazing staff! Overall wonderful experience- my daughter has a generalized anxiety disorder and has had unsuccessful dentist trips at other pediatric dentist locally. Also felt a push at other offices to go straight to full sedation without really attempting any other non invasive interventions prior. Complete opposite here- they all took time and made sure it was safe and successful for her. Sooo impressed!!!!
Dr. Gallo is without a doubt the best pediatric dentist I’ve ever met. The Office is clean and modern, staff extremely professional. No wait time, never overbooked. One can sense she’s full of skill and compassion and really loves her specialty. I feel Dr. Gallo treats her patients as she would treat her own child. Truly pleasant experience.
The staff here was wonderful with my son. We knew going to the dentist would be a scary experience for him and that he would be a bit resistant. Dr. Gallo and her staff were beyond patient with him, treated his first visit as nothing more than a time to get him acclamated fo the experience, and we now have no worries that he will get more and more comfortable with each visit. Highly recommend.
They are the BEST! My son, who is autistic, has severe anxiety, especially when going to the dentist. Dr. Gallo and her assistants knew exactly what to say and do to keep my son calm. From cleanings, to X-rays, to fillings, every experience my son has had has been a amazing. They are phenomenal with all children, but if you have a child with special needs, I highly recommend them.
Dr Kristina was AMAZING! I brought all 3 kids there for their first visit with her and all 3 were happy, calm and loved it! The office is beautiful and clean with a few different types of toys to keep the kids busy while they were waiting for their turn. She was so thorough with each child and took her time to really go over each childs cleaning and xrays with me. I am very happy with my decision to switch my children to try her as their new dentist and will recommend her to everyone I know!!!
We brought our 14 month old twins to this office, and me and my husband were so impressed by how friendly the staff was and how clean the office was. Dr. Kristina was AMAZING with our boys! She played peek-a-boo with them and made them feel very comfortable. Given there were tears but not tears of fear. We cant wait to come back!
Dr. Gallo and her staff are wonderful! They are professional, experienced,and patient. From the minute my son walked in the door until we left, he was smiling. The office is beautiful, welcoming and very kid friendly! I highly recommend Southwoods pediatric dentistry for pediatric dental care!
Our son had his tooth knocked out and it was our first dental emergency. Dr Gallo was able to see him within an hour of my call to her office. She was calm and professional while assessing our son’s mouth injury and did an amazing job at keeping him calm. Dr. Gallo thoroughly explained what the X-rays and injury showed and was able to make an appt for an oral surgeon the same day. We are so fortunate she is our dentist and highly recommend her to all of our friends and family.
Dr. Gallo and her staff have gone above and beyond in terms of care for our children, one time in particular during an emergency. Always caring, always warm and friendly, and always compassionate and knowledgeable. I trust them with my little ones completely and feel thankful to have found such a wonderful dentist! Oh, and her office is bright and cheerful and they give little prizes, which the kids really enjoy. Id give them six stars if I could!
Edit: As much as I LOVE Dr. Gallo and her demeanor, I can no longer give this place 5 stars. I had too many issues with being overcharged for procedures and following up with my insurance and their billing office countless times. I really wish their billing department would get it together. When I asked for pre-treatment service plans, they were apparently not even getting the actual estimates from my insurance company. My insurance had no record of pre-treatment plans. I miss Dr. Gallo, but I do not miss the headache that came with paying (and overpaying) for services.I had my first visit with Dr. Gallo last week and I was so thrilled with the visit. My 5 year-old daughter is very frightened of dentist and doctor visits. Dr. Gallo was extremely patient with her. She took the time to talk to her and gain some trust and gradually got her to do an oral exam WITHOUT CRYING! I was in utter amazement! My daughter still would not sit on the actual exam chair nor would she let Dr. Gallo to a complete cleaning, but this was the longest time my daughter has ever let a doctor examine her mouth...EVER! Did I mention...no tears? It was also, my sons first visit, and that went as expected since hes only one and doesnt even like me examining his teeth. She was calm with my son as well. I am so happy I chose Southwoods Pediatric Dentistry. The only challenge I had was with insurance. We have dual dental coverage, but they didnt accept one of them. So, Im actually going to change my dental insurance to ensure that my children can continue to be seen by Dr. Gallo and be completely covered. That is how great she is!
My 2 yr had ECC. Dr. Gallo recommended “general anesthesia” for teeth extraction at St. Peter’s Hospital where she would have to be on a breathing tube. I had an off experience and I won’t go into detail because I’m thankful that she did recommend me to Pediatric Dental Group of NY where they were amazing and my daughter got her teeth extracted in 5 minutes using numbing and a mild sedative. The dental assistant at Southwoods was very pleasant and Dr. Gallo was good with my daughter but her treatment plan just wasn’t for me.
My son was extremely nervous prior to his visit and Dr. Gallo worked her magic! The staff and Dr. Gallo are amazing...very professional, kind, insightful, and empathetic. My son enjoyed his visit and I couldnt be happier to see him at ease throughout his entire procedure and even after it was over. He left with a smile on his little face! I would recommend her practice to anyone in a heartbeat!
My son needed an appointment quickly due to a bump on the mouth, I was able to get in the following day to assess the damage. My son is 1yo and I knew he wouldn’t like it at all. Kristin was so amazing, she was soft spoken, kind and thorough - she even tried to get my son to warm up to her before poking and prodding around in his mouth. There were tears shed, but no where near what I was expecting. We both left happy with a “First Dentist Appointment” certificate, a baby toothbrush and toothpaste, a toy and knowledge about taking care of baby teeth. We’re moving away from the Albany area, but I can assure you we’ll be making the hour trek for this one of a kind service. And, all of her staff were just as accommodating as her!
I cannot say enough good things about our initial visit... My son had the most personalized dental experience ever. He even commented about that. The entire staff went out of their way to accommodate us, too. Im so glad we found you! Even though weve only been to one appointment it just feels like the kind of place you want to bring your kid(s) too.
We love Dr. Gallo and her staff. As a mom of three, she really knows kids- and she understands the struggles that parents have in keeping kids on track with dental health. She doesn’t lecture or shame, but educates her patients and their parents. Having her perspective as a mother AND dentist is really helpful.
Both of my children enjoy visiting the dentist because the staff are friendly and wonderful with kids. They are great at including the kids in the exams so they arent frightened - no surprises! They also provide lots of fun distractions to make it a positive experience.
I brought both my kids in for a check up. My 4 year old is pretty stubborn but Dr. Gallo was able to get him to cooperate after a few tries. It was my 2 year olds first check up. She was a little scared but the doctor was able to make her feel comfortable. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Gallo and this practice.
What a great experience I just took my 17 month old son Here for his first Dentist appt. The waiting room had plenty of different play stations fun for all Ages! The staff was so friendly and welcoming. Over all Spotless facility and Friendly staff I recommend Southwoods Pediatric to all parents
If you are in need of a Pediatric Dentist I would highly recommend.We were referred to this practice by our Primary Dentist due to urgent Pediatric Specialty needs.Dr. Gallo and Staff are very compassionate & concerning.Very respectful of established relationships with other Dental Offices & Orthodontists.Very good at coordinating care between multiple offices established practices.Very flexible based on the needs of the patient.If I was looking for a Pediatric Dentist, I would highly recommend this practice!Thank you for being compassionate and caring to our son while he was in alot of pain!
Dr. Gallo and the rest of the staff are awesome! My four yr old has had to have several appointments to have work done. She talked us through everything he needed done, and explained why, so that you knew no unnecessary work would be done. My son left our previous dentist with a scared/nervous attitude, so she was going to have us use nitrous oxide. When I found out insurance didnt cover it, she didnt try to talk me into using it anyway, and worked tirelessly with him to calm his fears. He LOVES being able to watch his favorite show while having the work done, and getting tokens to get prizes from the vending machines when hes finished. I HIGHLY recommend bringing your kids here!
Dr.Gallo and staff are so professional, personable and great with kids. The offices are beautiful, clean and very kid friendly. She explains everything to the patient to assure they are comfortable and aware what she is doing. I highly recommend this practice, I just love it here.
Dr. Gallo and her staff are wonderful! This dental practice absolutely amazing and I would go nowhere else for dental work. Southwoods Pediatric Dentistry is truly a dental home and a very professional environment. It is wonderful to see a dental practice that truly cares for all of their patients and take their time explaning the all treatment options. Thank you for all you do, Dr. Gallo!
Fast and friendly; my 9 year old had a filling procedure completed with as little drama as I could possibly have hoped for.The doctor took the time to speak to us about any concerns, and what is never a fun experience was as good an experience as we have had with a pediatric dentist. Thank you Dr. Gallo and staff!
I had the worst experience ever at this office. My 6-year-old son was referred to this practice because his primary dentist (Dr. Harris) did not fill cavities for children his age. Dr. Harris’ office faxed over the x-ray pictures to Dr. Gallo’s office. We went in for a follow up appointment at Dr. Gallo’s office. We waited more than 45 mins past the appointment time. We arrived 15 mins early. A total of 1 hour of my time was wasted. The dental hygienist then came in and said they didn’t like the quality of these x-rays and they wanted to take another FULL set of x rays. My son is only 6, he just had a full set of x-ray taken the week before. I didn’t want him to be exposed to another full set of x-ray pictures unnecessarily. I then contacted Dr. Harris’ office to verify the exact tooth that needed a cavity fill. Dr Gallo then came in and said she needs a full set of x-ray pictures to be taken or else she is unable to do anything about the cavity. They gave me a quote of $300+ for the full set. I told her, I didn’t want to pay $300 out of pocket for the set of x-rays. I was also in the middle of switching my son’s dental coverage. I told her office that I’d take him to a different dental office to get a second evaluation. She said that’s fine, and we left. I had contacted my dental insurance immediately after our appointment to let them know how disappointed I was. A month later, Dr Gallo’s office tried to Bill my insurance company for a “comprehensive oral exam”, “oral hygiene advice” and “nutrition consulting” totaling $247. Are you serious? You didn’t do a thing other than trying to get me to pay for a full set of x-rays. This entire experience has been extremely dreadful for my son and I. Never again!
This is a long review, but if you are doing research on a pediatric dentist you need to take this information into consideration.I found this dentist when I moved to the area, and wanted a pediatric dentist for my kids. They took my insurance, so I made an appointment for my kids. Their first visit went well, we had no problems with the insurance coverage and the staff were friendly.Well, after our second visit we didnt get that same treatment. It felt like I was being pressured into saying YES to every unnecessary procedure they could think of, for young kids, and NONE of it would have been covered by the insurance. They kept trying to present the procedures to me in may different ways just so I would agree to them (sales pitches). They also took full advantage of me being by myself, with two kids, both being treated at the same time in different areas. So, it was a little difficult to keep up with what was going on.I also must point out, that the exam room is just ONE BIG open floor with no divider or privacy screens, just a row of chairs. So, if there are other patients in the room (like when we were there) they can hear everything going on. During our visit, the hygienist was reviewing my childrens personal information and there was another patient in the room the whole time listing to everything.During our last visit, I had refused fluoride treatment on both of my children, (it is only covered once a year with our insurance). When I got home, I check the portal, to see what they had charge for the visit. They do NOT provided a statement on the way out for you to check over (sounds fishy). I noticed that they had charge both of my childrens accounts for the fluoride treatment, that I declined multiple times during the visit.I called right away and explained my situation. They told me that they have a generic billing system with all the projected procedures they think they will provided that day. I was told, the hygienist should have removed the fluoride from the account when I declined it. The woman I spoke with told me that she took care of the charge and it was removed from the account.A few days later I noticed that the charges were still on both accounts, so I called again. They again, reassured me that it was taken care of and removed from both accounts and I wouldnt see a bill for the service on the account.Two weeks later, I got a bill in the mail from the insurance company telling me I owed money for fluoride treatments on both accounts. I called the insurance company and explained the whole situation to them. They must had spoke with Southwoods and had the issue resolved, because a few days later I had a new bill from the insurance with a zero balance on it.This was clearly dishonest on their part. Dont trust this place, they are a bunch of sales people trying to scam you!! So untrusting!Why would I ever willingly bring my kids back to a place like this? If they are willing to do this, what kind of dental work are they providing?Stay clear of this place!!!
At night we have a routine just like anyone I am sure; a question I always ask is “what was your favorite part of your day?” My three year olds response was “going to the doctors!” When I asked why he said because they took pictures of his teeth and used marshmallow toothpaste. This was our first visit and he thanked me for taking him there when we were leaving. Every single staff member is attentive and patient. They take their time and followed my son’s cues as he was slightly hesitant and fearful due to past experiences else where. I am beyond thankful that I discovered Southwoods and the two hour drive is completely worth it! I cannot recommend them enough, the patient is the main priority with them and that in and of itself is so refreshing.
Southwood’s Pediatric Dentistry has turn out to be a hostile, sales pressure, and money bragging institution.My son (who is now 6 years) routine dental appointment was originally scheduled on November 7. However, I was informed via automated scheduler notification email that my son’ routine dental appointment was change to November 27. I called Southwood’s Pediatric Dentistry and talked to one of the administrative personnel about the change of schedule. She told me that date change was necessary because Dr. Kristina Gallo is not available on the original scheduled date. She also told me that I should have a received a telephone from one of the administrative personnel prior to rescheduling the appointment. I informed her that I DID NOT received a courtesy. With no apology, she keep insisting that a telephone called was made.On the November 27, during the routine appointment, they discovered that my son has several cavities and needing treatment. (Keep in mind that my son was 5 years old at that time). Dr. Kristina Gallo, told me and my husband that the recommended treatment IS OUR DECISION TO TREAT OR NOT. After keep us waiting for a longest time for Dr. Kristina Gallo to do her final check and finally sent us to check-out. One of the administrative personnel pressured us to sign the treatment plan with no proposed detail treatment plan that are needed to be done and must importantly the PRICE. I felt like I was at the auto dealer and talking to a high-pressure car sales person. I told her that my husband and I need see the proposed treatment plan and how much it would cost if we decided to treat.Oh! A week later, we received a bill for fluoride treatment despite of opting out.On December 11, I received a call form one of the administrative personnel regarding our decision to treat. I told her that we have not received a copy of the proposed treatment plan.On December 13, I received the proposed treatment plan with email. After assessment and deliberation, we made the decision not to treat. We are not irresponsible parents! We love our son to the moon and back, and we never put a prize on our son’s well-being.Since, receiving a copy of the proposed treatment plan. We received countless of emails and postal mails regarding the treatment.On January 15, I another received a call form one of the administrative personnel regarding our decision to treat. I informed her:•that we choose not to treat at this time,•my son is not experiencing any pain,•my husband and I will seek treatment when my son is experiencing pain, and•that we are taking preventative measure to slow the spread of the cavities by flossing, brushing, and raising twice a day.Apparently, IT IS NEVER OUR DECISION because today we received a termination letter discharging my son as Southwood’s Pediatric Dentistry patient due to NON-COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT PLAN. They are very unprofessional because during that conversation with one of the administrative personnel on January 15, she never informed me that by refusing treatment my son will be terminated. The termination letter was dated January 15 with the effective date of January 15.I talked to Ashely V today (January 24) about the reason of the termination due to NON-COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT PLAN. I informed her that we never neither agreed to any treatment nor signed any treatment agreement. This is a new to me, so I asked her to check the patient information forms that I filled out for my son for disclosure about termination of patient due to NON-COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT PLAN disclosure. She confirmed that there is no such disclosure.Southwood’s Pediatric Dentistry, dropped my son because we choose not to treat the cavities. The treatment for the temporary teeth is estimated $3,797.00. I asked her if the decision has to do with money, of course she answer no.
Every time I have been here it has been a great experience, even the 1st time my then 2 year old went to the dentist and I was worried he would be scared, they were so good with him he let them do what they needed to. I have been taking him here for over a year and a half.
Total reviews rating 4.8
103 Reviews for Southwoods Smile Squad (Southwoods Pediatric Dentistry) 2023:
Review №1
2019-05-30Southwoods consistently exceeds my expectations. They are kind and courteous, and always help my children develop better habit with brushing and flossing. They take thier time, and the quality of the service really comes through with each visit. I have now been using Southwoods for over a year, and wont be moving to another pediatric dentist anytime soon. These guys are awesome, thier facilities are clean, and organized and most importantly everything is kid friendly.
Review №2
2020-10-28Dr. Gallo and her staff are amazing. I have a special needs son who was afraid of the dentist. They were great with him and my daughter. She made them feel comfortable and relaxed while she quickly did what she needed to. I recommend them highly.
Review №3
2021-03-17We’ve had 2 visits at this office for my 2 year old. Both visits have been during the pandemic. This office is so clean and I’ve never had to share a waiting room with anyone. Wait times have been less than 10 minutes. Dr. Gallo is so wonderful. Their expertise and professionalism is outstanding. Everyone that works in the office is friendly and great with kids.
Review №4
2021-04-08I initially had a 5 star rating for this office when my son first started attending, but unfortunately the office staff’s inability to do their job is what has me changing my review of this office. I love Dr Gallo and she is great, but twice now the office staff has seriously dropped the ball and made two appointments an absolute waste of time. At our final appt, I immediately gave them my new insurance card (and even checked their site beforehand to make sure they took the new one), filled out all the paperwork and sat for over an hour. Finally Dr Gallo came in and told us they don’t take our insurance so we would need to pay for everything out of pocket, so we left. Beyond disappointed with this office.
Review №5
2019-05-21The staff and hygienists are AMAZING!! They really know how to work with kids and make them feel safe and secure. My daughter was very happy to have her appointment and everything was explained to her with each and every step. Dr. Gallo was also just as amazing and kind. She took the time to explain things to us, as well as our daughter and just had a sweet, kind demeanor that made you feel welcomed and listened to.
Review №6
2018-07-18My daughter was a little apprehensive once she knew that we were going to the dentist. She even shed a few tears walking through the parking lot. That all changed when we walked through the doors at Southwoods pediatric dentistry. The atmosphere is bright and colorful and very inviting for children. Her attitude changed completely and she started playing with the toys in the waiting room. Miss Kelly was our hygienist and she was so sweet and patient with my daughter. She made her feel very comfortable for her first visit to the dentist. They do not push any treatment at the first visit but my daughter felt so comfortable that they were able to brush and floss her teeth, take x-rays and even give her a fluoride treatment. They play a movie for the kids which is a helpful distraction and as a parent I was glad to be able to be so involved. Dr. Gallo is also wonderful with children and so sweet. She is gentle and patient and clearly very knowledgeable. On top of all that, the kids get tokens at the end of their visit for being a good patient and they can use them to get prizes on their way out. I will be recommending Dr. Gallo and her team to anyone that I can!
Review №7
2018-03-14My family loved our first experience with Southwoods! Dr. Gallo was extremely gentle and thorough, and provided the right level of consultation. Our four-year old daughter was a bit apprehensive at the appointment. The staff did an amazing job at building up her comfort level and putting her at ease. I highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for an amazing pediatric dentist!
Review №8
2018-06-22We love Dr. Gallo and her staff! All three of my children have been going to her since they were 2. They are all extremely comfortable going to the dentist and look forward to their visits! She always gives me the best advice for my children’s dental care and takes time to answer any questions or concerns I may have. Also, Dr. Gallo’s office is clean, beautiful and fun for the kids!
Review №9
2016-12-08Dr Gallo was amazing!!! My son is 2 and a half and is very shy with new people especially in this setting. It was his first dentist appointment and he did awesome, all because of Dr Gallo! She didnt push him to try to do anything he wasnt comfortable with and made it fun with toys and books. I recommend her to anyone looking for a pediatric dentist!!! I wish I could give her 10 stars! Her staff was also wonderful and so kind and patient.
Review №10
2020-08-30New to the area I was looking for a pediatric dentist and received a recommendation from my neighbor to go see Dr Gallo and I’m so glad I did! Dr Gallo was amazing with my little girl. She made her feel comfortable and being a parent with everything going on with Covid the office was spotless, has new air filters and plexiglass shields up needless today I was at ease myself.