Dr. Lisa Wu is a native to sunny Southern California. Her passion for dentistry started from her first job as a dental assistant, which she held for 15 years. Dr. Wu received her distinguished Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. She was 1 of 2 in her class of 100+ students to receive a full scholarship for her degree. She completed her first Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the California, Irvine and continued on to receive her second Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene from the accelerated program at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
After graduating dental school, she spent a year in Philadelphia training at a hospital-based dental residency program where she provided treatment to medically compromised and emergent care out-patients as well as hospital in-patients. Additionally, she received training from specialists in the field on the topics of implant dentistry, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and cosmetic procedures.
Returning to California, Dr. Wu provided service to the underserved community for a few years before she headed off to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to seek advanced training in removable oral prosthetics, full mouth rehabilitative treatment, additional implant training as well as dental treatment for patients recovering from head and neck cancer. Dr. Lisa Wu is passionate about dentistry , as is evident in her continued pursuit of knowledge in the field. Dr. Wu is continuously learning and understanding how new materials and designs can be incorporated, based on research and studies, into the treatment she provides her patients for the most successful longterm outcome.
Based on feedback from her patients, Dr. Wu is best known for her gentle touch, comfortable injections, attention to detail, thorough explanations, and her patience when it comes to listening to her patients.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Wu enjoys trying obscure foods, riding her motorcycle, and volunteering with food banks, Habitat for Humanity, and providing services for free dental care events to underprivileged families while attempting to learn a third language.
With everything said and done, Dr. Lisa Wu believes the most important part of the dental treatment is continuous patient education. Backed by research, there is a strong correlation between a patients oral health and their systemic health. Therefore, Dr. Wu believes it is important, above all else, to educate her patients about their ORAL health so they may become empowered to make the best decision for their OVERALL health.
Dr. Junil Ahn is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is both a licensed dentist and physician. He has extensive experience in all facets of oral and maxillofacial surgery, anesthesia, and dental implant-related surgery. Dr. Ahn grew up in the Los Angeles and Orange County region. He received his undergraduate degree at UC Irvine in Electrical and Computer Engineering and was on the Deans Honor List. He received his dental degree (DDS) from the prestigious University of California, San Francisco, where he graduated at the top of the class and was inducted into the Dental Honor Society. Dr. Ahn continued on to complete his medical degree (MD) at the University of California, Davis and received general anesthesia training. After completing a general surgery internship at UC San Francisco, Dr. Ahn went on to complete the oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at UC San Francisco.
With his diverse background in dentistry, medicine, and engineering, Dr. Ahn brings together the latest surgical techniques and technologies to provide the best patient care possible. Dr. Ahn is a continuing education provider and has given numerous lectures on the topics of surgical dental implantology, oral surgery, oral pathology, and medicine. In addition, Dr. Ahn continues to advance his clinical knowledge with extensive continuing education courses in the latest surgical advances and techniques to bring the most up-to-date care to his patients.
Reviews
Rating 4.8 out of 5 based on 29 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestJeni T
2 years ago
Dr. Wu and her team are amazing! They were very detailed, professional and so much fun. I have been hiding my smile for a really long time and what the team did to fix it - I am so truly happy. A client for life! Thanks team!
Walter Serrano
2 years ago
This place is great, Kaitlyn is super welcoming and the rest of the staff are wonderful to deal with as well. They really do try their best to accommodate to your needs and schedule as well as providing various options of work and financing!
JayeBriee _
2 years ago
I've been going here for the last 5 years! At first it was out of proximity and convenience but even since moving further away to a new city, I still continue to go to them for all my dental needs. The whole staff make you feel welcome every time and are very friendly. No need to avoid the dentist ever again!
Hanna Jones
2 years ago
I can honestly say that this is the best dentist office I have ever been to. I've always had a bad phobia of the dentists; like really bad. My husband actually had to schedule my first appointment for me because I was too terrified. But let me tell you, this office has changed my perspective completely. The entire staff is so warm and welcoming; they made sure I was comfortable and explained everything they were doing. It had been a very long time since I'd been to the dentist, and I was very embarrassed and nervous that they were going to reprimand me and make me feel guilty for waiting so long. Instead, they complimented me, and even though I had problems, they were so kind and understanding about everything. They did not make me feel guilty, rather lifted me up and helped me understand what I need to do to help my teeth. I have been back several times now, and every time, the staff is excited to see me, and they have everything organized and prepared for me. The procedures have also been completely harmless! Dr. Wu and her team are awesome at making you feel comfortable, giving you as much numbing as you need, and making sure the shape and bite is perfect. I think it is safe to say that because of them, I am not afraid to go to the dentist anymore!!!
Manish Patil
2 years ago
Always have an amazing experience whenever I go for an appointment. Everyone is helpful, coherent and really good at their job.
Matt Zavoral
2 years ago
Alright folks, buckle up. As someone who has worked in a few dentist offices myself, I'm surprisingly picky when it comes to the overall experience. SOUTH COAST METRO IS AMAZING ON ALL LEVELS. The staff is very well prepared for you when you come in; your forms are in order (with your name on them and designated areas highlighted), the assistants are ready to receive you, and the dentist or hygienist must've already gone over your file that morning because they don't miss a beat. Every staff member has been very kind, caring, and knowledgeable. And something I REALLY appreciate; no one hides anything. They will explain what you are paying for, what your insurance will cover, what the procedures are, and dentists have taken time to specifically show what was wrong or what they were doing/will do. I REALLY appreciate that. Plus, they give great tips on how to keep your mouth in tip-top shape. The dentists and hygienists go above and beyond to make sure your bite and smile are exactly how you would want it. "Pretty good" isn't good enough for the whole team. You'll leave the office feeling comfortable with your teeth. And the icing on the cake: the entire office is well-kept, clean, modern, and peaceful. To put in perspective how much I've liked South Coast Metro so far, I convinced my wife to drop her old dentist and give South Coast Metro a try because they really are THAT good. I would HIGHLY suggest South Coast Metro to anyone. I'm genuinely shocked that there's not a line at the door trying to get in that place because they really are the best around. So you might want to sign up before that line at the door starts forming Dare I say it, I'm actually looking forward to my next dentist appointment. A statement I never thought I would say. Well done, South Coast Metro. Well done.
Vicki Miko
2 years ago
Anyone looking for exceptional quality dentistry services need look no further than South Coast Metro in Costa Mesa. Dr. Michael Dugas diagnosed, provided options, and clearly explained the extensive restorative course of treatment that would produce the ultimate outcome, both structurally and cosmetically. There was no upselling of unnecessary services--that was a refreshing change from my experiences at other dental offices. All services were meticulously provided as discussed and I'm completely satisfied with the outcome. I recommend Dr. Dugas and his entire staff--from the dental assistants, Anton and Ingrid; to Evey, the dental hygienist; to Kaitlyn, the office manager. They all performed their jobs in an attentive and professional manner. Thanks to all of them. I've regained the smile and appearance I thought I'd lost. I'll be forever grateful. L.P.
Jenna Gavrilova
2 years ago
Hey everyone! So let me start with the most important. If you're scrolling down through the endless search results looking for the best dentist - I can insure you, you can stop right here. You found them! Guys and ladies from South Coast Metro Dentistry are truly amazing. They are professional,friendly and caring. They go out of their way to help you. Communications with them are super easy, I can get in touch with them over a phone and in messages/instagram, which is super convenient and they never make me wait for long. Be sure, you'll get the best care you can imagine right here. I've been to their office I think over 20 times now, and I got variety of treatments. Starting from annual cleanings, continuing with crowns, removing wisdom teeth and ending with straightening my teeth with invisalign.They made my smile from A to Z without me having to worry about it. I drive there all the way from Sherman Oaks and it doesn't bother me at all, because every time I walk inside, I feel like I came to visit my family. Kaitlyn is the heart of all operations. She always greets me with a big smile on her face and she's really great to talk to. She is super helpful when you need to deal with insurance and she can give the best advices. She takes care of all my communications with insurance which I'm really grateful for. Dr. Dugas is a great doctor. He's very knowledgeable and experienced. Thanks to him, I have my smile looking the way it does today. He takes his time to explain why things happen and what is the best way to fix it. He can even predict what will happen and how your teeth will react on certain things. That's how you know that he really good at what he does. Anton is helping me with the whole invisalign treatment and he also assists the doctor in other treatments (while being a great doctor himself). He took impressions, he fixed the attouchments, whenever they were coming off, and he worked on putting back my crowns after me having a candy . He also speaks the same language as I do (Russian) which made explaining my needs more detailed much easier. Evelyn is my hygienist. She did all my cleanings. She's very gentle and efficient. Even thought I don't see her as often as I see others, she still remembers all our conversations. He's very genuine and interesting person. Makes me happy giving me a little baggy with toothpaste, brushes and lipsticks ever time after visit. She's the best in taking care of hygiene. Dr. Ahn resides in a different office which I was lucky to visit one day. I remember it like in a dream, since I was knocked out for the wisdom teeth removal all I remember is that I had a great, painless experience. I had 4 teeth removed and I didn't feel pain not for a second during and after the treatment, and in the next week, all the way until it completely healed. So if you're still thinking, I hope I convinced you now. They never let me down and they won't disappoint you. Trust me on this. Thanks South Coast Metro Dentistry! You're the best!
Evelia Van Hooser
2 years ago
AMAZING DENTIST. You rarely find a good dentist like Dr Wu. Has a lot of knowledge in dental care and very very "good hands" in working with my mouth. I didn't feel a thing. Very thorough in explaining about her findings with her dental exam with my mouth, explaining the care I need and what expectations I should have. My family moved 1 1/2 hour away but will drive the distance to have my dental care with South Coast Metro Center for Dentistry and Implants. Dr. Wu welcome to Dr. Ahn's team.
Myles Saunders
2 years ago
Excellent Dentistry!!
Roko Perez
3 years ago
hey im savio here i would love to give 10 stars to this dentistry coz they helped me a lot to go thru my process smoothly keep the good work rolling yall
Vicki Miko
3 years ago
Anyone looking for exceptional quality dentistry services need look no further than South Coast Metro in Costa Mesa. Dr. Michael Dugas diagnosed, provided options, and clearly explained the extensive restorative course of treatment that would produce the ultimate outcome, both structurally and cosmetically. There was no upselling of unnecessary services--that was a refreshing change from my experiences at other dental offices. All services were meticulously provided as discussed and I'm completely satisfied with the outcome. I recommend Dr. Dugas and his entire staff--from the dental assistants, Anton and Ingrid; to Evey, the dental hygienist; to Kaitlyn, the office manager. They all performed their jobs in an attentive and professional manner. Thanks to all of them. I've regained the smile and appearance I thought I'd lost. I'll be forever grateful. L.P.
Jenna Gavrilova
3 years ago
Hey everyone! So let me start with the most important. If you're scrolling down through the endless search results looking for the best dentist - I can insure you, you can stop right here. You found them! Guys and ladies from South Coast Metro Dentistry are truly amazing. They are professional,friendly and caring. They go out of their way to help you. Communications with them are super easy, I can get in touch with them over a phone and in messages/instagram, which is super convenient and they never make me wait for long. Be sure, you'll get the best care you can imagine right here. I've been to their office I think over 20 times now, and I got variety of treatments. Starting from annual cleanings, continuing with crowns, removing wisdom teeth and ending with straightening my teeth with invisalign.They made my smile from A to Z without me having to worry about it. I drive there all the way from Sherman Oaks and it doesn't bother me at all, because every time I walk inside, I feel like I came to visit my family. Kaitlyn is the heart of all operations. She always greets me with a big smile on her face and she's really great to talk to. She is super helpful when you need to deal with insurance and she can give the best advices. She takes care of all my communications with insurance which I'm really grateful for. Dr. Dugas is a great doctor. He's very knowledgeable and experienced. Thanks to him, I have my smile looking the way it does today. He takes his time to explain why things happen and what is the best way to fix it. He can even predict what will happen and how your teeth will react on certain things. That's how you know that he really good at what he does. Anton is helping me with the whole invisalign treatment and he also assists the doctor in other treatments (while being a great doctor himself). He took impressions, he fixed the attouchments, whenever they were coming off, and he worked on putting back my crowns after me having a candy . He also speaks the same language as I do (Russian) which made explaining my needs more detailed much easier. Evelyn is my hygienist. She did all my cleanings. She's very gentle and efficient. Even thought I don't see her as often as I see others, she still remembers all our conversations. He's very genuine and interesting person. Makes me happy giving me a little baggy with toothpaste, brushes and lipsticks ever time after visit. She's the best in taking care of hygiene. Dr. Ahn resides in a different office which I was lucky to visit one day. I remember it like in a dream, since I was knocked out for the wisdom teeth removal all I remember is that I had a great, painless experience. I had 4 teeth removed and I didn't feel pain not for a second during and after the treatment, and in the next week, all the way until it completely healed. So if you're still thinking, I hope I convinced you now. They never let me down and they won't disappoint you. Trust me on this. Thanks South Coast Metro Dentistry! You're the best!
Myles Saunders
3 years ago
Excellent Dentistry!!
Evelia Van Hooser
3 years ago
AMAZING DENTIST. You rarely find a good dentist like Dr Wu. Has a lot of knowledge in dental care and very very "good hands" in working with my mouth. I didn't feel a thing. Very thorough in explaining about her findings with her dental exam with my mouth, explaining the care I need and what expectations I should have. My family moved 1 1/2 hour away but will drive the distance to have my dental care with South Coast Metro Center for Dentistry and Implants. Dr. Wu welcome to Dr. Ahn's team.
Hector Rangel
3 years ago
One of the best dental experiences I've ever had! The staff is professional, extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They have a variety of tools at their disposal to keep you updated. I was happy with the text service they offered that dealt with any inquiry if you had any.
Jaimie K
3 years ago
I've been on the fence about writing this review for a year now, but I think I have to write this in case someone else might be in the same situation as me. I decided to come to this dentist because of all the great 5 star yelp reviews, and it seemed like a great place. I got a filling redone by Dr. Dugas here last year because they told me I should replace all my metal fillings to porcelain because it's healthier. There was nothing wrong with my fillings, they weren't deteriorating badly and I didn't have any new cavities. Just like the other reviewer, they tried to sell me unnecessary dentist procedures after my yearly check-up and cleaning was finished. (By the way, the hygienist and the cleaning here is great! They are very thorough and I would recommend JUST for that). I trusted them on this and started off with my biggest filling in my back molar because he suggested it. I did the refilling in one appointment, and the pain afterwards was horrendous. It didn't go away after a week either, not even two weeks. So I called them and asked if this was normal and they said it was because the nerves were healing still from the shock. Even after several weeks and months it still did not get any better. They even called and tried to get me to do my other fillings done while I was still in pain from this one?! Trying to get me to pay them for dental procedures as much as possible instead of being in the interest of the patient is rude. They literally kept calling to come back for the other "recommended procedures" and I had to honestly tell them stop calling me and that I will be switching to another dentist. It was clear to me all they wanted was money and not concerned about my health. I was quite upset about this so I went to go find a diff dentist for a second opinion. He told me that it was unnecessary to even redo that filling because it was such a BIG filling to begin with, it was risking me to get a root canal. This new dentist told me that he should not have done anything to it unless I had a cavity or other issues. So I asked him was it necessary for me to redo my other metal fillings, and he said no absolutely not because they were perfectly working and fine. I felt like I was scammed... in any case, I decided to wait for the nerves to calm down because there was nothing else I could do. For the whole year, on and off I've had the tooth be so sensitive to the heat and the cold. I couldn't chew on my left side ever since I got this filling done because that's how badly it was filled. I decided to get this checked out every 6 months by the other dentist to keep an eye on it. Now, after a year has passed with this filling, I got this extreme pain coming from that tooth and I find out I have a tooth infection during this PANDEMIC. (Literally like this week of June). I have no choice but to go to the other dentist and an endodontic specialist, and they both tell me I have to get a root canal due to the poorly done refilling. The filling was originally too large, and reopening it risked getting it infected. He should not have done it. I still have this immense pain right now and have to get so many extra procedures because of this filling that was done here. Maybe he does other tooth fillings well if it's not a huge one, but I do think he should have known as a dentist to not redo such a big one, being fully aware that I could be in pain and have to do a root canal. I don't recommend this place for anything BIG and important, but the cleaning and xray here is great. I hope this helps someone from living with tooth pain.
Roko Perez
3 years ago
hey im savio here i would love to give 10 stars to this dentistry coz they helped me a lot to go thru my process smoothly keep the good work rolling yall
Steven Gonzalez
4 years ago
I wish they would keep their appointment times.
Hector Rangel
4 years ago
One of the best dental experiences I've ever had! The staff is professional, extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They have a variety of tools at their disposal to keep you updated. I was happy with the text service they offered that dealt with any inquiry if you had any.
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