Dr. Sonia Bautista acquired Arcata Dental Office in 2001 with the vision of creating a dental practice that treats every patient with dignity and first-rate care. In 2011, she relocatedto Eureka.Dr. Bautistacontinuesto serve Humboldt County residents as well as adjacent counties. Our dental assistants and office staff are highly-trained and exceptionally friendly. We understand that for many, visiting a dentist can be a stressful (even dreadful) experience. Our comfortable surroundings and compassionate professionals will ease your fears. Please consider us for your dental needs.
Dr. Bautista earned her Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree from the University of the East at age 22. While working and training at several southern California hospitals, she successfully passed her California State Board in 1989. She practiced initially as an Associate Dentist in Irvine, CA while operating a small private practice of her own. From 1996-1999 she acted as a California Certified Quality Assurance Auditor for several different insurance companies. She also managed multiple offices for two large dental companies in the southern Los Angeles basin for several years. After a 2-year comprehensive search across the state for a practice and region that provided the perfect blend of professional and personal attributes, she decided on the Arcata/Eureka community. She has been here since and remains committed to her fellow 'NORCALIANS'here in Humboldt County and outlying areas.
Dr. Bautista has performed more than 65,000 basic to major procedures on more than 9,500 patients since opening her doors here in Arcata in 2001. She is a member of the ADA, CDA, AGD, and is certified to perform Conscious Oral Sedation Dentistry. Dr. Bautista performs a wide range of general dentistry procedures to include endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, restorations, and oral surgery. She has previously held the positions of Vice President and President forthe Humboldt-Del Norte Dental Society in 2013 and 2014, respectively. She enjoys gardening, varying cuisine, travel, and watching movies in her spare time.
Reviews
Rating 3.9 out of 5 based on 51 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestchris altman
a year ago
EDITED REVIEW: I'll be taking myself off of Dr. Bautista's service after I receive the $750 mouth guard that I was only told would not be covered by insurance AS I WAS SITTING IN THE CHAIR WITH A MOUTH FULL OF EQUIPMENT. She literally asked me "do you still want it" after just shoving a metal impression tray in my mouth. This office has changed my appointments twice in a month because they haven't figured out staffing (hint: pay people fair wages) and will text you at 8 in the morning asking you for money. Absurd, unprofessional: go ANYWHERE else.
marika wolf
a year ago
I am 74 years old and I have had many dentists. Dr. Bautista is the absolute best. Her dentistry work is superior and her ability to work efficiently is incredible. My smile has never looked better. Her staff is also outstanding. They always welcome me with warmth and sincerity. Thank you Dr. Bautista!
Robin Baker
2 years ago
Dr. Bautista and her team are welcoming, kind and professional. I hadn't been able to get to the dentist for several years since the start of the pandemic. Dr. Bautista's office provided a great cleaning and helped me know how to improve my home dental hygiene. I look forward to going back for my next cleaning.
chris altman
2 years ago
Had my first appointment and not only did Dr. Bautista do the cleaning herself (!?), she spoke to me the whole time about my teeth and answered my questions, including offering a really satisfactory solution for my teeth grinding. Too often I have had dentists that play the numbers game and give you maybe 10 minutes of rushed attention. Dr. Bautista's office made me feel listened to and taken care of. My janky teeth thank you.
CC Bean
2 years ago
Been with them for years excellent work and great staff!
Ybon Vasquez
2 years ago
Very accommodating to her patients, even with the challenges post Covid.
Lisa Yater
2 years ago
Please be confident that if you use this dentist practice each person on the team will be friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive to your comfort. My impression of Dr Bautista was of a highly experienced and thoughtful provider who communicated thoroughly and for my highest health goals.
Susan Gary
2 years ago
Horrible dentist! Look elsewhere! Had many problems with both myself and husband new dentures. The latest being a crown that was just put on less than a year ago, has broken in half and came off! She over charges also, even my insurance said that, and wanted proof of work done.
Amy Gallagher
2 years ago
Dr. Bautista and her staff are very nice. They were able to help my elderly Mother. My Mother was having a lot of pain due to ill fitting dentures. Dr. Bautista not only helped my Mother, she made an extra effort to get my Mom's dentures back quickly.
Heather M
2 years ago
Was able to squeeze me in when I had a bad toothache. Looking forward to continued care. Great staff and Dr. Bautista knows her stuff! Grateful!
L Padilla
2 years ago
When I called the staff were super nice and helpful, I gave a woman my information and was told she'd call me back. 2 weeks went by and nothing. Figured they got busy so I called, and called AND called. Left messages, and still nothing. Luckily for me, I found a different dentist. Don't waste your time here. They may seem nice and accommodating at first but that's as far as it will go. There are better options out there. Staff who will actually call you back, or better yet - schedule an appointment with you on the phone.
Haley Goetsch
2 years ago
Great doctor Very professional knowledgeable and kind Clean friendly helpful caring staff She fixed all my cavities, helped immediately with an emergency appt (within three days) and addressed my pain and discomfort. Did not do any unnecessary work and shared information about damage and prevention Listens and takes time to do it right the first time Highly recommended
jrmdhmaster
2 years ago
If you are looking for a dentist, do not consider Sonia. Everything she touched had to be fixed by a good dentist.
S. Bey
2 years ago
This person is either sadistic or color blind, do yourself a favor and find an ethical practitioner, even if that means having to drive out of town. I left with my teeth permanently discolored and she refuse to correct any of her errors. Absolutely terrible and should be closed down in my opinion. Hope you can save yourself from all the trouble I went through. Highly recommend NOT going here. They constantly changed/rescheduled appointments. 90% of the staff is always changing, I'm assuming because of the way they are treated and their differing ethical standards. Equipment is out dated. And I will definitely have to have the work she did fixed by another dentist.
Christian Zeis Romberger
2 years ago
I was pretty happy with the service they provided, until they messed up a submission to me insurance and were unable to figure out a solution. This was weird because there were submissions before and after with no issue. The staff did not take notes on the issues that we were experiencing and I had to continuously remind them of the situation we were in, they told me not to worry about any late fees. I called my insurance company over a span of two years, the company reached out to them and got no response. They kept billing the insurance company incorrectly. I finally insisted that the insurance company force the invoice through and got it paid for them, not my job, they now have the audacity to bill me for the fees associated with work they were unable to figure out and made me do for them. I have been reaching out to them over the course of this last week to reconcile the bill they sent me, but they just dont pick up the phone. I'm very frustrated with them.
Taylor Snowberger
3 years ago
I was a college student riding the bus between school and work to dr bautistas office trying to get required paperwork done to join the peace corps. Because of being way overcharged for the work Bautista recommended and her receptionist refusing to fill out my paperwork repeatedly, I actually had to tell the peace corps I couldn't do my assignment, because I had such high credit card debt from all the unnecessary procedures. the receptionist 'lost' my paperwork 3 times and I had to bring a new copy every time. I begged them in tears on my last appointment to fill out my paperwork and they refused to, but luckily a girl in the back who was completing the last day of her two weeks notice filled it out for me, making notes about which procedures I needed and which I actually didn't. Dr bautistas receptionist intentionally charged me more than my share of the procedures cost, I called my insurance while in the office and talked with a representative on speakerphone who told me that my copay for a d2391 was 25%, she charged me 81/162, she just kind of stuttered and acted confused. I was chill about it and just asked for a refund but the secretary was like 'oh we don't do refunds, just credits.' My insurance assigned me to dr Bautista and I still had more work I needed done (I thought) to be able I join the peace corps, but in the end I spent $950 that I didn't need to and I couldn't pay it off on time to ship out in August. I'm still really upset about it, but I called her office in March to get another copy of her referral to a guy who could pull out my wisdom teeth, and asked if I could use my credit for a tooth cleaning and her receptionist said, ' I have no record of you in my system or your payments and we don't do credits....I would never say that. I don't know what you're saying with the credits...' Asked her to look for my records and give me a call back, she did eventually find them and told me she found them but never scheduled a time for me to get another referral. I called three times since and left messages, never heard anything back. I have all the receipts and paperwork still. Costed me so much more than $950, it was my dream to join the peace corps for 10 years, its the reason I even went to college, and now I can't join because I revoked my assignment.
L Padilla
3 years ago
When I called the staff were super nice and helpful, I gave a woman my information and was told she'd call me back. 2 weeks went by and nothing. Figured they got busy so I called, and called AND called. Left messages, and still nothing. Luckily for me, I found a different dentist. Don't waste your time here. They may seem nice and accommodating at first but that's as far as it will go. There are better options out there. Staff who will actually call you back, or better yet - schedule an appointment with you on the phone.
Christian Zeis Romberger
3 years ago
I was pretty happy with the service they provided, until they messed up a submission to me insurance and were unable to figure out a solution. This was weird because there were submissions before and after with no issue. The staff did not take notes on the issues that we were experiencing and I had to continuously remind them of the situation we were in, they told me not to worry about any late fees. I called my insurance company over a span of two years, the company reached out to them and got no response. They kept billing the insurance company incorrectly. I finally insisted that the insurance company force the invoice through and got it paid for them, not my job, they now have the audacity to bill me for the fees associated with work they were unable to figure out and made me do for them. I have been reaching out to them over the course of this last week to reconcile the bill they sent me, but they just dont pick up the phone. I'm very frustrated with them.
S. Bey
3 years ago
This person is either sadistic or color blind, do yourself a favor and find an ethical practitioner, even if that means having to drive out of town. I left with my teeth permanently discolored and she refuse to correct any of her errors. Absolutely terrible and should be closed down in my opinion. Hope you can save yourself from all the trouble I went through. Highly recommend NOT going here. They constantly changed/rescheduled appointments. 90% of the staff is always changing, I'm assuming because of the way they are treated and their differing ethical standards. Equipment is out dated. And I will definitely have to have the work she did fixed by another dentist.
jrmdhmaster
3 years ago
If you are looking for a dentist, do not consider Sonia. Everything she touched had to be fixed by a good dentist.
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