Sonrisa Old City Dental
Carlos Velez, DMD:
Practice Profile Page

★★★★★

DENTAL TREATMENTS OFFERED

Dental cleaning

White fillings

Crowns

Inlays & onlays

Bridges

Clear aligners

Porcelain veneers

Teeth whitening

Dentures & partials

Root canal treatment

Tooth extraction

TMJ treatment

Dental implants

CLEAR ALIGNER SERVICES

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Tuesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Thursday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday: Closed

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

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BEFORE & AFTER PHOTO GALLERY

PATIENT REVIEWS

My entire family goes to this practice, which is modern and clean.  The staff is very welcoming and has a great sense of humor. My young son looks forward to seeing the dentist every 6 months.  The wait is never long and they are professional and gentle.  Possibly the best dental practice (alongside their colleagues, Garces Dental Group) I’ve ever used.

I’ve been coming to Sonrisa for several years now and I do NOT even live nearby but they are WORTH the travel. State of the art equipment. Knowledgeable and caring staff. They maintain an incredible schedule , I’m always taken in promptly so I can properly plan to be back at work from my midday appointment. Thanks to them I have a happier, healthier mouth and smile!

Dr. Velez is the kindest and most gentle dentist. My visits here are as relaxing as a dentist appointment can be, and Dr. Velez is even a sweetheart when he reminds me I need to floss more . If you ever need a crown, rest assured that he is a perfectionist when it comes to matching the shade and size to the rest of your teeth. Jess and Kirby are also super professional and personable to work with. Another plus– all appointments I’ve had at Sonrisa have always started on time and finished in a timely manner. I recommend Sonrisa to everybody I know.

Time and time again, 5 star experiences. I have been going to this practice for 3 years now, and my husband has for over a year. Dr. Valez is honest, kind, and empathetic. The front desk and billing staff are amazing. I never have to wait to be seen. The office is clean and modern. The dental hygentists, especially Jill, are very thorough and caring. So happy I switched to this dentist!

I’ve been going here for about 4 years. Dr. Velez is the man, and the hygienists and receptionist are all top notch. One time they made me a new retainer, and a crack developed after only a few months. My previous retainer of the same type had lasted over a decade. I brought the cracked one back to my next 6 month checkup, and they made me a new retainer free of charge.

I have been to many many dentists before and this one is by far the best I’ve ever been to! Both my boyfriend and I just came here (and now we’re both back again for some cavities –eeeek!) but we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The receptionist (Elisa I think? Maybe?) is sooo accommodating and nice. My tech was Kirby and she was so careful not to hurt me and was super gentle. She explained everything so well and was very clear with me. We even chatted for a bit and it was very relaxing (usually dentists make me anxious) but this place from the very first moment is so relaxing and welcoming. You don’t have to wait very long at all either which is a huge plus! My boyfriend had I think Becky who was the other tech and she was as awesome too! She actually taught my boyfriend a few things he didn’t know before- super informative and really really nice! Then there is Dr. Velez, what a fantastic dentist!!! He is so so so nice and has a great “bedside manner” that you don’t find in many doctors let alone dentists. He explained every thing and encouraged my questions and concerns, answering each one clearly and in plain non complicated language so that I left with no further questions. I can tell he really cares about his patients and smiled the ENTIRE time he was with me- I know it’s a small thing but trust me it makes all the difference. I am recommending this place to basically everyone in Philly. It is super easy to get to and parking isn’t an issue like it is in center city. Best dentist I’ve ever been to. I will be moving back to Long Island soon and no doubt in my mind I will make the 3 hour ride to come back here for my 6 month! Thanks everyone there for being so great.

Sonrisa is a wonderful dental office. Recently moving to Philly, I feel fortunate to have found this office. I’ve been there twice for cleanings – 1 time with the hygienist and the other time by Dr. Valez. Both did a great job plus no pain at all. I had an issue with an old filling and Dr. Valez took care of it as well. I don’t like getting my teeth worked on (who does) and he took his time and was very gentle. Quality work. Trustworthy practice – I feel they do not attempt to persuade you to have unnecessary work done – I’ve had that happen before at a different office! I highly recommend them.

Dr Velez is an OUTSTANDING Dentist: gentle, attentive, kind and very smart. He does the first cleaning for all his patients to get to know your mouth and really cares! I moved away from Philadelphia 6 years ago and still go to him for my yearly check ups when I am in town because he is the best!! He has a great staff who has been with him for years as well- always a good sign! Thank you Mylisa & Dr Velez

Dr. Carlos was great. He’s very pleasant and mild-mannered in addition to be a thorough, patient, and knowledgeable dentist. I had to have an emergency procedure done on a molar I had cracked the night before, and they were able to take care of me in a timely manner. I haven’t found a reliable dentist in Philadelphia until now. Thanks, guys!

I had a really bad toothache and needed an appointment ASAP. I called on monday morning and was able to get a same day appointment. Dr Velez was the one that saw me, he explained what the problem was and how to fix it, my problem was actually quite serious, so he referred me to a periodontist instead of just removing the tooth, was even able to get me an appointment with the periodontist that day… If you want a Dentist that would actually take the time to sit with you, explain everything and actually work with you.. He is definitely the one to call. Also it was not an intimidating atmosphere, very nice and welcoming. FYI: This was my first time at this place, i would definitely be going back.

Zealous, friendly, and possibly OCD is what you want in a dental hygienist and that’s what you’ll get here at Sonrisa. The dentist has a gentle touch and won’t take shortcuts. I’ve been to several dentists in my life and three in Philadelphia alone, and these guys are the best I’ve ever had. Highly recommend!

One of the sweetest, most patient, and wonderful dentists I’ve been to in a long time. I have severe dental anxiety, and needed a crown made after a root canal and 4 additional cavities filled. Dr. Valez ended up sending back the crown to the manufacturer a few times because it didn’t meet his standards which I deeply appreciate! I am so happy to have waited a little bit extra time than trying to force a sub-par product to work. He was also beyond patient when doing my cavities, giving me breaks as needed, and was incredibly attentive to my body language and any anxiety he could sense. Would highly recommend!

I cannot say enough good things about Sonrisa Old City Dental. In fact, I joined Yelp just to write this review! As a patient of Dr. Velez’s since 2010, I have only ever had positive experiences at Sonrisa. Historically I have had some traumatic dental experiences, and finding a new dentist that is calm, skilled, and caring for patients had been quite the struggle. Since becoming a patient at Sonrisa, I actually look forward to my dental visits! The dental hygienist (Rebekah) is very skilled, and explains what she’s doing as she is doing it. She also makes recommendations on flossing and toothbrushes if asked. Although I only come 2x/year, Dr. Velez always remembers small details about my life, which conveys that he is invested in his patients’ care and well-being. Recently, I had to come to Sonrisa to get a cavity re-filled, and was having tremendous anxiety about the procedure. It was the calmest, least painful dental procedure I have ever had (and unfortunately I have had a lot to compare it to!) I no longer live in Philadelphia, but travel 3.5 hours and pay out-of-network fees just to stay with Sonrisa and Dr. Velez. I highly recommend this dental practice to anyone looking for a dentist in Philadelphia. A couple of added bonuses: – The office is super nice with lots of light and high-tech computer screens at each chair – Dr. Velez is bilingual in Spanish/English

I had a really great experience at Sonrisa. I came here because I was unhappy with my prior dentist and the cleaning I had at that office. I was able to get a consultation for a cavity filling with Dr. Velez in the morning to accommodate my work schedule. He offered to do the filling at that time but I had to get back to work, so they told me I could come back in at 8 am the next morning – so quick and easy. Dr. Velez was very gentle, patient and kind throughout the whole process and kept asking how I was doing to make sure I wasn’t in any pain. His assistant was also friendly and kind. I would highly recommend him and Sonrisa!

For all those “anti-dentites” out there, this place really changes your mind.  Everyone there is warm, outgoing, and friendly- striving to make you have an enjoyable appointment.  I’m always impressed when they take the time to explain things to me or even passing along tips/tricks for a better cleaning.  All in all, a great team of staff, hygienists and dentists.

Highly recommend Dr.Velez. He made sure I was comfortable and explained everything thoroughly as he could tell I was nervous. He is even fixing one of my crowns that another dentist didn’t do properly. He is very friendly and his staff is great.I Will still come here even when I move out of old city.

Dr. Velez is the BEST Dentist in the city. I enjoy to see him. He is kind, smart and very proffesional. He is my # 1 Dentist. Im a patient for over 4 years, it was hard for me to look for a good Dentist in Philly. I did a research on Google and Sonrisa Old City Dental caught my attention and boom be a patient since that first day. I trust the staff and of course my Dentist. I always listen to his advices and make me feel good. Thanks for all you do ! Gracias aprecio mucho todo su conocimiento y consejos dentales ! 🙂 Betzy

Amazing dental services! Dr. Velez is not only gentle and knowledgeable, but he is thorough and will refer you to the right person if needed. I’ve been going here for bi-annual exams, cleanings, and a few fillings and have had only good experiences with every staff member for the past 6 or 7 years.

I am oh so happy w/ Dr. Valez and Dr. Youngblood. I had an emergency from a poor dentist in Philadelphia who made every single filling hurt. I had four, and walked out in loads of pain after I was not numb. I have had 16+ fillings in my life and I have never walked out in pain or had to come back for an adjustment. I knew something was wrong. Dr. Valez was my go-to for the second opinion and I wish he was my first dentist I went to in Philadelphia. Malyssa, the front desk personnel is superb and responds to emails and phone calls and is couteous!! The dental assistance was also very knowledgable and understood my needs and was empathetic. I am oh so happy at this office, although, I’m still in pain from the original dental work… Dr. Valez is very patient and takes time to adjust my bite and mouthguard to ease the pain. After all, shouldn’t every doctor do this after a filling? I would go to either doctor in a pinch. The office is VERY CLEAN. BIG TIP: do your work ahead of time. This practice is out of network for me, but would have cost me less than an in-network doctor, for basic cavities. Do yourself a favor and just come here…Malyssa helped me discover this in/out network really isn’t a big difference. She helped look into all of my coverage and details and called me back immediately.

I’ve always had a lot of anxiety about going to the dentist. I had lots of bad experiences with orthodontists and other dentists –from having a hard time with procedures like fillings, to just not liking the way that the dentists talked to me. I always felt like I was getting a lecture. As a result I just absolutely hate the dentist. Every time I try a new dentist, I’d always tell them that I had a lot of anxiety. Sonrisa is the first place I’ve ever been that *really* took that into account. They’ve made me feel really comfortable. They explain everything they’re doing, and they’re very thorough, both the hygenist and Dr. Velez. I also really like that there’s a screen where I can see my own dental records as they’re typing them in. I feel like I’ve learned a lot! They’ve also given me a lot of good prevention advice to help me to keep my gums and teeth healthy so that I won’t need to have procedures. But the most important thing is that they’re nice and they’re not judgmental. When I was traveling for weeks and wasn’t using my waterpik and then came in for a cleaning and my teeth were in worse shape, I didn’t get a lecture about flossing. They just took note and were encouraging to me. I feel like they’re very supportive and helpful, and have completely changed the way I feel about going to the dentist in every way. I couldn’t possibly recommend them any higher!

I have had really great experiences with Dr. Velez. I have some dental anxiety, and Dr. Velez and his staff have always been very helpful with that. I also haven’t felt pushed to get things I didn’t need, and always feel welcome at the office. A few weeks ago, I had an old filling replaced, and the whole process was both quick and literally painless. I couldn’t believe it! I’m really glad to have found such a wonderful dentist.

Let me just say I’ve never felt more involved in the process on a checkup/cleaning. Becky was by far the most informative Dental Hygienist I’ve ever had. She always let me know what she was actually doing in there. They have a screen in front of you that mirrors what they see. They were able to show me exactly what was going on with my teeth and gums. I only spoke to Carlos for a few minutes, but he was a really nice guy. Calm, relaxed, and professional. After trying a few other place in Philadelphia, I think I found my new Dentist.

I (like another fellow yelper) had a bad experience at another center city dentist. The dentist that I went to placed a crown and it was too high. I’m thinking that my tooth ended up needing a root canal because of this. Then, my tooth continued to hurt for 6 months. Went back to the old dentist twice and he was pretty nasty about it. Saying there was nothing wrong with the bite and that the only way not to feel the tooth was to pull it. I will never go back to him again. You need a dentist who is kind and who you can trust. Teeth are so important! I switched to Dr Valez and he checked the bite–it was off in THREE places. He is working with me currently to fix my tooth. He has adjusted my bite several times and I now have a mouthgaurd to help ease the stress on the tooth. Pray that he can save it for me!! But regardless, he is very nice and conservative. I trust him and coming from a bad dentist, I’m just so grateful that I found a good one because they are hard to find! (And this is the third dental office I’ve tried in CC since 2000)

I have been to so many dentists, and Sonrisa is by far the best! No judgment, awesome little tips (like which tooth to start on when you’re brushing), and Dr. Velez is so warm and kind. I used to get nervous and flake out on dentist appointments, but never with Dr. Velez! If you are ashamed of your cavities, to to Sonrisa, and you will feel better!

I’m a mother to 5 little ones (4 boys and one princess) who are very close in age, so getting to a dentist for myself was a huge challenge (dentists usually can’t X-ray a pregnant momma). I finally took the time for myself(yeah me!) and researched until I found a dentist that had great reviews and an inviting office. Enter Sonrisa: this office is warm, beautiful, and inviting! I’m not sure if I remembered correctly, but music…nice instrumental music playing in the background, the decor was calming, I felt like I was about to go to yoga! My hygienist was great! She showed me everything she was doing as it came up on the computer screen in front of me. Dr. Velez was warm, soft spoken and assured me that I was not a lost cause and with patience, he would give me the smile I can’t wait to have.

Sonrisa is hands down the best dental practice I’ve ever been to. There are many good things to say about Dr. Velez and his staff, but I’ll focus on three. The doctor and his staff. Everyone is kind, attentive, careful and very thorough. This is a small practice, they don’t overbook and no one is in a rush. If you have a problem, they take the necessary time to investigate and understand the cause. They explain everything they’re doing and take care that you’re never uncomfortable. The hygienists clean teeth gently by hand and without resorting to whiny sonic devices. No selling. My past experience with dentists has included a good deal of pressure to buy electric appliances, mouthwashes, products and procedures. There is none of that in this practice. No ads (apart from some charming historical prints on the walls), no fear mongering about gum recession and no up-selling of services. Dr. Velez repaired a broken filling for me — a thing my previous dentist would not do — and corrected a tiny chip in a tooth with amalgam, painlessly and without any loss of enamel. This saved time, money and discomfort, and I am delighted with the result. The office. The office is meticulously clean, cheerful and spacious. It’s never crowded. The whole experience is more like visiting a spa than a medical facility. I would recommend this practice to absolutely anyone, but especially to those who have been frustrated with dental care in the past. Dr. Velez is an old-fashioned dentist in the very best sense, but with all the modern bells and whistles needed to provide excellent care.

Dr. Velez and the team at old city dental are amazing. I called them on a Monday during my lunch break in severe tooth pain and hoping I could make an appointment for sometime in the next few days. They actually were able to see me right away, while I was on my lunch break! Danielle and Dr. Velez quickly had me sit down, ran a few tests and told me exactly what the issue was. He also wrote me a prescription for the pain and I was on my way with a follow up appoint for the next day to get the work done I needed. They always have been efficient and extremely nice, they’ve been my dentist since I’ve lived in philly and I wouldn’t choose anywhere else!

I was looking for a dentist in Philadelphia and saw Sonrisa was very highly rated.  These ratings are no lie; this is the best dentist I’ve been to in a long time.  The staff is efficient and friendly.  They are fast and have the latest technology.  They will show you a computer screen of your teeth, where the problems are, and can pull up your x-rays and records right in front of your face.  The dentists are skilled and thorough.  Dr. Valez was great in filling in a large cavity and avoided the need for a root canal.  I highly recommend them!

I just started going to Doctor Youngblood. This place is quick, friendly and a hi tech, paperless environment which is really cool! No one ever took so many pictures of my teeth and they have all your teeth on a screen right in front of you WOW! He was super thorough and went over everyone of my teeth with me….I was very impressed. He is a decent, caring person, then your dentist. The staff is really personable too. Big thumbs up so far. I would definitely give him a try! Good luck.

A WORD FROM YOUR DOCTOR