Sung-Oh O Kim

Please do not fall for her background description on her website! She does not specialized in implant dentistry at all!!! My orthodontist referred me to Dr. Kim. Even though it was a one-hour drive, I still chose to see Dr. Kim because trust was something that could not be replaced by distance. She did my dental cleaning, tooth extraction and bone grafting. However, my nightmare started with bone grafting…. I needed dental implant for two of my teeth, after she did the bone grafting I went back for a checkup about 3 month later; Dr. Kim touched my gum during my checkups and scheduled me for the implant. I did not realized at the time but: No X-ray or CT before and after bone grafting. Dr. Kim simply used her “magic hand” to touch my gum and decided it was ready to place the implant. On the day of implant, there was no X-ray or CT scan either, she simply cut my gum open and a few moments later, she told me my bone was too thin to do the implant. She had to close my gum…she then… suggested me to see an oral surgeon. She said the only way I could get a dental implant was to take a small piece of jawbone from my body and place it in the missing tooth area to create ideal bone condition for implant. (None of the oral surgeons I seek for second opinion agreed with Dr. Kim’s opinion, they all insisted my case was simple and general dental implant was good to go) Poor bedside manner: I was lying there, numbed (local anesthesia), my gum was cut wide open…, all I heard was Dr. Kim was running here and there, looking for things, murmured negatively and then told me that she could do nothing. Yes. With my gum was still cut open and not being able to talk yet. Outdated and irresponsible bone grafting/dental implant: 1). Here in Dr. Kim’s office, you will not be treated with PRP/PRF procedures, which is to draw patient’s own blood and centrifuge before bone grafting to optimize healing. In the email I addressed this question, asking her why they she did not apply this treatment; she explained, “PRP/PRF can help for better healing but nothing is guaranteed”. Then why the oral surgeons I visited for second opinion use this method without any hesitation. They all take PRP granted as a necessary procedure of bone grafting. One thing for sure, this office has no such machine to centrifuge blood. 2). Dr. Kim’s office does not have any CT scanner equipment, in which case how could she handle bone issues before placing her scalpel?! Oh, instead of using any mature technology, she preferred to open her patient’s gum and check bone condition. While we the patients took the pain and risk gum recession issues…it was reckless!!! Funny that when I asked her why you didn’t prescribe me any CT scan beforehand? She said, ”It’s cheap”. You know what, this whole dental office is cheap! As a dentist, you want to set foot in oral surgeon’s area (dental implant) but reluctant to invest in a cone beam CT machine. At least you could have suggested your patients to get CT scan somewhere else. Honestly, Dr. Kim can handle general dental cleaning and some other regular checkup. But if you are like me, who is looking for dental implant, reading online reviews to identify and determine the right doctor to visit, please at least avoid Dr. Kim. She obviously is not knowledgeable enough to handle difficult miscellaneous problems. Please go seeking an oral surgeon, who specialize in tooth extraction and implant!