River North Dental Group

This place should NOT be in business. I’m still shaking from what I just experienced.
I went in a few weeks ago with gum pain, and the dentist concluded that I had an infection. She prescribed me some antibiotics and pain medication, but told me that the tooth needs to be extracted to prevent recurring infection. I received a quote, scheduled the appointment to come back (she confirmed via x-​ray that she’d be able to do the extraction there), and went back to work.
The original day of my extraction appointment, I woke up with a fever and vomiting. I tried calling the office to reschedule, but I was told I’d have to pay a cancellation fee, even though I was trying to reschedule. The paper I signed said cancellation fees would apply if an appointment is a cancellation or a no-​show, NOTHING about rescheduling (as every other doctor I’ve seen operates that way). I spoke to the manager to explain my situation and stated that IF I HAD TO, I’D MAKE MYSELF COME IN TO AVOID THE FEE. He told me not to — that they didn’t want to see me if I was sick. He said to call when I was feeling better and reschedule, which I did.
Fast forward to yesterday, day before my new appointment time. I got a call to confirm that I’d make it, as well as a confirmation of the cost. Hooray!
Now to today, ONE HOUR BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT — I got a phone call from the office stating that they decided they can no longer see me there because I «wasn’t happy with their cancellation policy». That’s right — they decided AT THE LAST MINUTE to punish me for being sick, even though I was told not to come in.
I’m considering what legal action I can take since they didn’t hold up their end of a written agreement.
I’m not the type of person to write angry 1-​star reviews in all caps, but this is the worst experience I’ve had with a business for as long as I can remember.

I had a GREAT experience at River North Dental Group
— They took my insurance (BCBS)
— I was provided a next day appointment.
— I was in and out of the dentist office in less than an hour (this was amazing because we completed all the new patient paper work, I had a full X-​rays, and full cleaning).
— Dr Diaz is an absolutely sweetheart. I was very impressed with how thorough she was.
I’ll be very happy to schedule my next appointment with them.

Dr Carl Leonard and his staff at River North Dental are great! I am generally terrified of the dentist, so I always have a bunch of questions to ask to reassure myself. Dr. Leonard and his dental hygienist are so patient. They both have a great sense of humor too! As far as the negative reviews of the office staff go, I haven’t experienced any of that. In fact, after switching my dental insurance this year, they were beyond helpful in making sure I would be covered by the time of my appointment.

I have always had an anxiety when going to the dentist, and River North Dental has helped. Dr. Brunetti is awesome-​he is very personable, and took the time to explain everything for the work I needed done. I’m not a huge fan of the hygienist I’ve had (not sure on her name). She seems a bit ‘spacey,’ like she’s not 100% confident in what she’s doing (which isn’t great when you have dental anxiety), but I like everything else about this place, and I’d give 5 stars if it weren’t for her. Norm, the insurance/​payment person, is really awesome and helpful, too.

Awful customer service! The receptionists are so rude and not helpful at all. It is so difficult to make an appointment as they are booked a couple months ahead of time!

Switched to this dentist’s office about a year ago and very happy that I did! Dr. Carl Leanord is fantastic, very patient, and thoroughly explains what dental work needs to be done. I could not do it all at once due to cost. We were able to prioritize what needed to be done first, based on necessity, and come up with a realistic plan for me. Finally I don’t dread going to the dentist! The rest of the staff is also very friendly — everyone is always very nice!
Bonus is that the dentist chairs actually have a massage feature on them! I’ve since referred several friends over to Dr. Leanord and they have all had great experiences as well.

My wife and I have been getting our dental work done by Dr. Lindsay Diaz for a few years now and she is an excellent dentist.
We ended up all the way in River North because we did not care for the way we were treated at Oak Ridge Family Dental (which was much closer to home and therefore more convenient) and couldn’t find any positive information on any other practices that took our insurance in the area.
Dr. Diaz has a very pleasant and youthful disposition while maintaining a professional demeanor. She has our teeth in great shape and does a good job of communicating what things are going well and what things need attention and improvement.
The office staff is also very friendly.

I was referred to this office by a co-​worker. I have gone to the same dentist my whole life but since I moved to the city I didn’t feel like going all the way back to the suburbs and I do no regret my decision. The service was excellent from the moment I walked in until the moment I walked out. Everyone was friendly and Dr. Nasatir was professional, knowledgeable and my cleaning was amazing. I cannot wait to return in 6 months.

Dr. Diaz is warm, friendly, gentle, talkative in a genuine way, attentive and caring. I had my teeth cleaned yesterday, and even though I haven’t been flossing, she wasn’t condescending or rude, just informative and encouraging. I’m glad I found a great new dentist that takes my insurance. The staff members are upbeat, energetic and friendly as well, which I really appreciate. I’ll be going back for some more extensive treatments soon, and I feel good about it.

I am new to Chicago and consider myself very lucky to have ended up at River North Dental Group. When you are in Dr. Carl Leonard’s chair, you get a deeply talented dentist who is committed to having you love your smile as much as I love mine.
My whole life has changed with me showing off my sensational smile… the smile I always wanted. I am beyond grateful and can only hope that you will follow my footsteps directly to Dr. Leonard’s office.

SO RUDE. Norm, the receptionist could not have been a bigger a-​hole. I’ve never been here before and even had to wait 6 weeks to get an appointment. I expressed several times that I might be a few minutes late trying to get out of work early– but certainly told my boss who was very willing to get me out to get there on time. I was just using caution. He was so rude, told me we’d have to reschedule if that’s the case (but in that super derogatory, how dare you, kind of way). I seriously told him to F OFF and cancel my appointment. Based on the other negative reviews here, I think I made the right choice. NORM, you are a complete AHOLE. I hope people treat you like crap the same way. Too bad for the doctors who lose business over your bitchy voice and attitude.

Overall a fan. I need a fair amount of work done and have been seeing Dr. Diaz for the past 6 mos. I’ll continue to see her as my primary care dentist.
On the good Dr… «She’s pretty much the worst dentist ever, smelling of absinthe, juniper and days old perfume with the chair side manor of a Chuck wagon cook» is what I would say if I were trying to dissuade you from seeing one of the best dentists in the city and I were penning a spaghetti western screenplay. The accolades bestowed on her in previous reviews are spot on.
The hygienists, reception staff and operations side of the business are also excellent. I never have to wait for an appointment. I’m seen promptly. They send you SMS and email reminders if desired. So far the insurance estimates for my DMO plan have been correct and efficiently handled.
Now for the caveat emptor portion of the review. The initial new patient on-​boarding process can leave a great deal to be desired if you have a DMO. You have to wait 30 days after selecting them as your primary care dentist for your name to be on a paper report before you can even make an appointment. It is rightly off putting and sets a bad first impression but in fairness this could be an insurance company shortcoming. Once you get past this, everything runs very smoothly.
I have a dentist friend that I pass things by and he concurs that some of the specialist referral charges (Oral Surgeon, etc) seem to be on the very high side in Chicago and might be nickel and diming. As others have stated, do your research on any charges in your treatment plan, perhaps seek other referrals and draw your own conclusions.

I generally feel satisifed with this dentist office. They always get me in for an appointment quickly and they are fast and efficient once I arrive. There is street parking right in front for a few dollars, the facilities are clean, and the office/​building is pleasant. The dental hygienist is always really friendly and the secretaries are as well.
Their prices can be a little bit high. For instance, I need a mouth gaurd because I tend to grind my teeth — but I can’t afford $ 800.00 to get one. That is a ridiculous price. I called my old dentist offce who I can no longer use because of my insurance, but they offered one for half the price. Something to think about.

Great office and facilities!

I’m a huge fan of this place… specifically Dr. Daniel Brunetti!
I’ve been twice now — each time for a semi-​annual cleaning/​routine check-​up. Each of my experiences have been friendly and efficient. No services were pushed on me and I had no issues with my insurance.
I will definitely continue to go here for cleanings and any other dental work I may need (hopefully, none — knock on wood!)

I hadn’t been to the dentist in awhile. Five years awhile. That’s totally on me, but some of that was because I had a scary experience at my last dentist appointment and let that paralyze me with anxiety. Last dentist (Dr. Gay — Manus) recommended crowns for 5 of my teeth and a 6K treatment plan. That seemed like a ton of money I didn’t have in my mid-​twenties and also, regardless of my age, completely unnecessary. I just wanted a cleaning!
Flash forward to adulthood, where I need to do adult things like actually take care of myself. I sacked up, and based on some careful online review searching, decided to pay River North Dental Group a visit. I am so happy I did.
Dr. Brunetti (as well as all the staff at River North Dental Group, and Dr. Brunetti’s dental assistant, Melissa) is so professional and kind, I am sad I didn’t reach out sooner! I was able to get a thorough consultation, a proactive, but not aggressive or unwarranted, treatment plan, and good advice on how to better care for my teeth moving forward. Dr. Brunetti did not make me feel judged (and he had every right to, after finding out I had not been to the dentist for an eternity), and he was patient and exhaustive in his examination and discussion. He never appeared rushed, is very personable, and was exceedingly concerned about my understanding and comfort level.
I did have to do an extensive cleaning, of which I had my first session (of two) yesterday. It was not too unpleasant, but he was careful and sensitive with me to make sure I was not feeling any pain or discomfort.
What I most appreciate is that I did not feel like I was being taken advantage of, as I did when I went to Manus. Dr. Brunetti did not tell me that I needed 5 crowns (or that I have any cavities, yay!). In fact, he suggested that while I do need to take better care to improve the condition of my gums by flossing regularly and that down the road I may need some work (baby teeth, old crowns, general teeth issues), there is no need to rush any crowns while my teeth still are in generally good shape. This advice and consultation was a much more manageable plan than my previous experience, and now I am excited to keep going back!

Dr. Diaz has been great for the year I’ve been going there.
In general, I have a lot of dental needs. Dr. Diaz has been great in taking care of me and letting me know the ultimate best way to plan for what to do. I feel like she is working with me to find the plan that works given my circumstances.
She and the staff, all staff, are very nice and helpful.
PS — The chairs have massagers and the music is always solid.

After seeing my uncle for decades, I was nervous to now find a new dentist after his retirement. After searching on my BCBS’s website for a provider, I found this group. Let’s just say it was a mistake.
The office is extremely nice and the front desk staff welcomed me in a very nice way. They use state of the art equipment and the chairs offer you a massage, if you wish. All in all, the office is well maintained as well as their technology. The dentist and hygienist that i dealt with, on the other hand, is a different story.
The hygienist was extremely rough and caused my mouth to bleed. She kept apologizing, but i didnt care to hear it. Perhaps it was her first day on the job. I then saw Dr. Brunetti. He was a nice, friendly man, but I felt as if I was taken advantage of. He also smelled terribly of body odor. He gave me a treatment plan that would have costed thousands of dollars. I had overlapping skin on my molars from a past procedure (wisdom teeth pulled). He told me to see his colleague, an oral surgeon, to handle this matter. I felt as if this was a little extreme. Needless to say, I left the office extremely displeased and felt as if I was taken advantage of.
That was back in June of 2012. This week I found a new dentist. I explained to him what happened at my prior visit, with the extreme treatment plan I was given. My new dentist told me all of that was a total scam and there is absolutely no need to see an oral surgeon for this matter. In fact, he said he will do it for free!
If you are looking for a great dentist who is absolutely honest with you, I advise that you see Dr. Scheffler @

Overall decent dentist.
The actually office could use a good paint job. There are scuffs and marks all over the walls. I do like the brick feel though. Also, in the dentists chairs, they give you a little massage… ha.
Dr. Diaz is super nice and bubbly… almost to the point where you are like… are you serious? She is really nice though. If you are in a bad mood, I could see her energy to be too much for you.
They are thorough with explaining everything on xrays and what they are doing, etc. Another interesting thing was that the Dr Diaz did my cleaning. Whenever I go to dentists, they always have the tech do this. Not sure if this is all of the time or because I was a new patient.
They also have online appmt making, texting reminders, etc. Nice little touches

Look, going to the dentist is never good. It’s about minimizing the bad, in my experience.
These guys are the best dentists I’ve had, and I’ve had a lot since I move around a lot. The front desk staff is friendly and helpful, and goes out of their way to help with any special requests.
I had two deep cleaning sessions, and while both were painful, they got the job done quickly and efficiently, and were kind while doing it. I’ve been to many a mean dentist, and I don’t think they get hired here.
I also like the fact that they have massage chairs, which sounds silly, but makes a difference to me when I’m trying to focus on something other than mouth pain!
The facility is clean, modern and they play decent music. It can be hard to get an appointment at peak after work times, but that seems to be the case for every dentist ever, even the evil ones.