How to Choose a Dentist in South Surrey and White Rock: Nine Checks for Any Clinic
Updated: 6 days ago
A good dentist in South Surrey or White Rock is one you can reach, understand and ask questions of: licensed in BC, open when you are free, able to explain your treatment and its cost before it starts, and clear about what happens when something hurts. Most of that you can check from your phone before you book anything.
There is no honest way to rank dentists for everyone, so we will not try. What we can give you is the checklist below, which works on any clinic in South Surrey and White Rock, ours included. After each check we have written down how Meraki Dental answers it, with anything that can change marked "at the time of writing", and we say plainly who we are not the right fit for.
The short version
• A good dentist is licensed in BC, easy to reach, explains options and costs before treating, and has a plain plan for emergencies.
• Check nine things: licence, reviews, location, hours, language, coverage, emergencies, the first visit and how they explain.
• Meraki at the time of writing: 4.9 from 143 Google reviews, open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, CDCP billed directly.
• Not the fit if you need Sunday, Monday or evening appointments, or a clinic in White Rock itself.
Written from Dr. Kevin Zhang's own words and the clinic's own answers. Dr. Kevin is a general dentist and co-owner at Meraki Dental in South Surrey. Reviewed against the sources listed below on 7 October 2026.
What makes a good dentist in South Surrey or White Rock?
Four things, and you can check all four before you sit in the chair.
Licensed and in good standing. In BC, that means a dentist who is on the register of the College of Oral Health Professionals of BC.
Reachable. Hours that fit your week, a clinic you can get to, and a plain answer to what happens in an emergency.
Clear. What they found, what your options are and what each costs, in words you can follow, before treatment starts.
A fit for you. Your language, your coverage, your nerves and your family.
The Canadian Dental Association's guide to finding a dentist and the American Dental Association's guide between them cover location, hours, emergencies, payment, children and nervous patients. Here is the whole list at a glance.
Check | Quick test |
Licence | Look the name up on the BC College public register |
Reviews | Read the count, the dates and what reviewers keep mentioning |
Location | Map the drive from your door and ask about parking |
Hours | Compare them with your real week, weekends included |
Language | Ask which languages the dentist and the front desk speak |
Coverage | Ask whether they take your plan, the CDCP included |
Emergencies | Phone and ask what happens if you are in pain tomorrow |
First visit | Ask what the exam includes and how long it takes |
Explanation | Ask for findings, options and costs in plain words |
The nine checks on one card. The same list is in the table above.
Now each check in turn, with how Meraki answers it.
Is the dentist licensed in BC, and how do you check?
Yes, you can check it yourself. The College of Oral Health Professionals of BC regulates dentists in the province, and its public register lets you search a name and verify that a dentist is licensed and in good standing. It works on any clinic, and it is a better test than a website biography.
At Meraki, please look us up. Our three dentists are Dr. Kevin Zhang, Dr. Vivian Huang and Dr. Rupi Dhami. Our doctors page lists a Doctor of Dental Medicine from UBC for Dr. Vivian and Dr. Rupi, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Melbourne for Dr. Kevin, at the time of writing. The register is still the authority on whether someone is licensed.
How do you read Google reviews for a dentist?
Read them for patterns, not for the star average. A 4.9 on its own tells you less than you would think. Four things tell you more:
How many, and how recent. Many reviews, some of them from recent weeks, say more than a perfect score from a handful.
What reviewers keep mentioning. Staff, explanations and comfort describe what a visit actually feels like.
What the unhappy reviews say, and whether the clinic replied. A calm, specific reply shows how a clinic handles a problem.
Whether the reviewer sounds like you. The American Dental Association reminds readers that every person's dental health needs and experiences are their own.
At Meraki, the Google listing shows 4.9 from 143 reviews at the time of writing. Google also counts the topics reviewers mention: kind staff 21, welcoming atmosphere 13, clear explanations 13, knowledgeable dentist 8, new clinic 8, comfortable office 5, gentle dentist 5, thorough doctor 4, root canal 3 and modern design 2.
Kind, caring and personable is what we want a visit to feel like, and kind staff is the topic reviewers mention most. "New clinic" is one of the topics too, which is accurate. Dr. Kevin says it himself in our clinic introduction video: "we're a relatively new clinic. So we're growing and we are very much accepting new patients."
Is the clinic easy to get to, and is there parking?
It should be, because a visit starts at the door. Map the drive from your home or work at the hour you would actually go, and ask about parking and access before you book.
At Meraki, we are at 2940 King George Blvd, Unit 100, Surrey, on floor 1 of The Shops at High Street South Surrey (Google listing, at the time of writing). There is free parking on site and on the street, and Google lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot and restroom.
We are in South Surrey, not in White Rock itself. If you live in White Rock, put our address into your maps app from your door and check the drive at the time you would come. Dr. Kevin puts the neighbourhood this way in our clinic introduction video:
We also manage the general direction of South Surrey area. So if you're lost and you're looking for a specific shop that's coming in, we'll find it for you.
Do the hours fit your week?
That depends on your week, so compare the two. A clinic can be excellent and still be shut when you are free. Check weekends and evenings, and check today's hours on the clinic's website or Google listing, because holidays change them.
At Meraki, we are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and closed Sunday and Monday (Google listing and our website, at the time of writing). Saturday is a regular working day for us. We close at 5pm, so there are no evening appointments. If you can only come on a Sunday, a Monday or after 5pm, Meraki is not your clinic.
Does the dentist speak your language?
It should, because you can only agree to treatment you understand. Ask which languages the dentist speaks and which the front desk speaks, since they are not always the same. The American Dental Association's list includes the same question: whether you need translation or interpreter services.
At Meraki, the languages change with the day, so here is who is in when.
Who is in on which day, and the languages they speak. The same information is in the table below.
Day | Who is in, and the languages |
Tuesday and Thursday | Dr. Vivian Huang: English, Mandarin |
Wednesday | Dr. Kevin Zhang: English, Mandarin |
Friday | Dr. Rupi Dhami: English, Punjabi |
Saturday | Dr. Kevin Zhang (English, Mandarin) and Dr. Rupi Dhami (English, Punjabi) |
Sunday and Monday | Closed |
Jessica, our hygienist, is here every day we are open and speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Lily, our dental assistant, works alongside our dentists and speaks English and Mandarin. Ask for a particular dentist or a particular language when you book and we will arrange it. If you need a language that is not on this list, call and ask before you book.
Want to meet the team before you decide?
A New Patient Exam and Cleaning, booked as 90 minutes. You request a time online and the clinic confirms it. Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Does the dentist take your insurance, and the CDCP?
Not always, so ask before you book. Taking part in the Canadian Dental Care Plan is voluntary for oral health providers, according to the Government of Canada, so one clinic can accept it and the next one may not. Ask the same about private insurance. The American Dental Association suggests asking whether the office knows your benefit plan and what financial options it offers.
At Meraki, we accept the CDCP and bill it directly. On the day you pay your co-payment and anything charged above the CDCP fee, not the whole bill, and we send the preauthorization requests in for you. Exams and cleanings are services the plan can cover, with frequency limits, according to the Government of Canada's coverage list. Our CDCP guide goes through what is covered and what is not.
For private insurance, or anything else about billing, call and we will tell you how it works here.
Not sure what your plan covers?
We can go through your coverage with you before you book.
What happens if you have a dental emergency?
That depends on the clinic, so ask before you need to. Both the Canadian Dental Association and the American Dental Association put emergencies and after-hours care on their list of questions for a new dentist. The most revealing version is one phone call: "If I am in pain tomorrow, what happens?" The answer is either specific or it is not.
At Meraki, our emergency page says same-day appointments are available for severe pain, broken teeth and urgent dental care on the days we are open. An Emergency Exam can also be requested online. It is booked as 60 minutes and includes an exam, one bitewing x-ray and one periapical x-ray (our online booking, at the time of writing).
We are closed on Sunday and Monday and after 5pm. If something starts then, call us when we open, Tuesday at 9am, on 604-385-1823, and call 8-1-1 for advice in the meantime. If swelling is spreading, you have a fever, or it is hard to swallow or breathe, go to an emergency department, such as Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock, or call 9-1-1. Do not wait for us.
What should a first visit include?
An exam you can follow, and a plan. At a minimum, a first visit should cover a complete exam of your teeth and gums, x-rays where they are needed, and a conversation about what was found. Ask the clinic what is included and how long it takes, so nothing about the visit is a surprise.
At Meraki, the New Patient Exam and Cleaning includes a complete oral exam, a panoramic x-ray, four intra-oral x-rays, and three units of scaling, polish and fluoride if needed, according to our online booking at the time of writing. It is booked as 90 minutes. You request a time online and the clinic confirms it with you.
Our website says new patients are welcome (at the time of writing), and our family and general dentistry page covers what a first visit can lead to.
Does the dentist see children too?
Not every clinic does, so ask. If you have children, it saves you from looking for a second dentist.
At Meraki, Dr. Kevin says "Meraki Dental is a big family that will welcome all your kids." A toddler's first visit is a Chair Ride, booked as 30 minutes for children under two, and he adds that "we never force anything when it's their first time." Our guide to a child's first dental visit explains the age, the visit and who pays.
Is the treatment done in the office, or referred?
It depends on the treatment, so ask for each one. A good general dentist tells you when a case needs a specialist. It is also worth knowing what a clinic does under one roof, because it can save you a trip and a second set of introductions.
At Meraki, here is how Dr. Kevin describes it in our clinic introduction video:
We do your routine checkup and cleaning and fillings. We do wisdom teeth. We do dental implants. We do orthodontics, Invisalign or clear aligners. We do veneers, crowns and bridges. We do them all.
How should a dentist explain treatment and cost?
Before treating, in plain words, and in writing for anything big. A good dentist tells you what they found, what your options are, what each costs and what can wait, including doing nothing when that is safe. The BC Dental Association notes that dentists set their own fees, that its fee guide is only a guide, and that dentists are not required to follow it. It suggests asking whether the office follows it and requesting a written estimate for complex procedures (BCDA, Dental Costs in BC). A second opinion is a normal request.
At Meraki, Dr. Kevin says this about consultations in one of his videos:
We always offer complimentary consultations. When it comes to dental work. So if that's something you've been thinking about, trying to make the decision to do your own research, just come in, have a chat. And we'll go through the pros and cons very candidly with you and see what would be the best option for you.
The consultation is the free part. Scans, x-rays and treatment are not part of it. Ask for the cost of anything we recommend before it starts, and ask any question twice if the first answer was not clear.
What if you are nervous about the dentist?
Say so when you book. The Canadian Dental Association suggests asking whether the dentist is comfortable working with people who are nervous or have a phobia, and the American Dental Association suggests sharing past experiences and any anxiety so that the dentist understands your concerns.
At Meraki, Dr. Kevin and Dr. Vivian both offer oral sedation, which is a medication you take before the appointment to help you relax. Our family and general dentistry page says that if anxiety has kept you away, your first visit can simply be a conversation about your options, with no treatment and no pressure. Dr. Kevin's own description of the place is "a friendly, casual, fun bunch of people." And if you come in on a day Dr. Vivian is working, you may meet Jasper, the small dog who comes to work with her.
Who is Meraki not the right fit for?
A few people, and we would rather say so now. Here is when another clinic will suit you better:
You need Sunday, Monday or evening appointments. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
You want a clinic in White Rock itself. We are in South Surrey, on King George Boulevard. Check the drive before you book.
You want a clinic with a long track record. We are a relatively new clinic, in Dr. Kevin's words, with 143 Google reviews at the time of writing.
You need another language. Our team speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Punjabi. If you need a different one, ask before you book.
You need a specialist. Our dentists are general dentists. If your case needs a specialist, ask any clinic, ours included, how it handles that.
And who might it suit? Dr. Kevin puts it this way: "If you're looking for a fun, relaxing, not too serious dental office that are not so intimidating, I think we might be the right ones for you."
How does Meraki Dental answer the checklist?
Dr. Kevin Zhang and Dr. Vivian Huang at Meraki Dental, South Surrey.
In one table, for the nine checks above. Every cell can change, so the date to trust is the one on the sources.
Check | Meraki at the time of writing |
Licence | Look up all three dentists on the BC College register |
Reviews | 4.9 from 143 Google reviews. Kind staff is mentioned most |
Location | South Surrey, on King George Blvd. Free parking |
Hours | Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Closed Sunday, Monday |
Language | English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, by day |
Coverage | CDCP billed directly. Call about private insurance |
Emergencies | Same-day for severe pain on open days |
First visit | Exam, x-rays, cleaning. Booked as 90 minutes |
Explanation | Pros and cons, candidly. Consultations are complimentary |
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a dentist in South Surrey?
Check nine things: the dentist's licence on the BC College register, the Google reviews, the location and parking, hours that fit your week, the languages spoken, whether they take your coverage including the CDCP, what happens in an emergency, what the first visit includes, and whether they explain options and costs in plain words. Then book a first visit and see how it feels.
What should I look for in a dentist in White Rock?
The same nine checks apply in White Rock. Pay extra attention to location and hours, because they decide whether you keep going. Check the drive from your door at the time you would visit, and ask about parking. Meraki Dental is in South Surrey on King George Boulevard, not in White Rock itself, and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Is Meraki Dental accepting new patients?
Yes. At the time of writing, our website says new patients are welcome at Meraki Dental in South Surrey, and Dr. Kevin Zhang describes the clinic as a relatively new clinic that is very much accepting new patients. You can request a New Patient Exam and Cleaning online, booked as 90 minutes, or call 604-385-1823. The clinic confirms your time with you.
Is there a Mandarin, Cantonese or Punjabi speaking dentist in South Surrey?
At Meraki Dental, Dr. Vivian Huang and Dr. Kevin Zhang speak English and Mandarin, Dr. Rupi Dhami speaks English and Punjabi, and our hygienist Jessica speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Dr. Vivian is in on Tuesday and Thursday, Dr. Kevin on Wednesday and Saturday, and Dr. Rupi on Friday and Saturday. Ask for a day or a language when you book.
Does Meraki Dental take the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Yes. Meraki Dental accepts the CDCP and bills it directly, so on the day you pay your co-payment and anything charged above the CDCP fee, not the whole bill. We also send the preauthorization requests in for you. Participation is voluntary for dentists, according to the Government of Canada, so ask any clinic before you book. For private insurance, call and ask how it works here.
How do I check if a dentist is licensed in BC?
Use the public register of the College of Oral Health Professionals of BC. Search the dentist's name and confirm that they are licensed and in good standing. It is quick and it works for any clinic. A clinic's website can tell you where a dentist trained, but the register is the authority on whether they are licensed.
What happens at a new patient visit at Meraki Dental?
The New Patient Exam and Cleaning includes a complete oral exam, a panoramic x-ray, four intra-oral x-rays, and three units of scaling, polish and fluoride if needed, according to our online booking at the time of writing. It is booked as 90 minutes. You request a time online and the clinic confirms it with you, Tuesday to Saturday.
Book a new patient exam in South Surrey
So: pick the dentist who explains first, answers the phone when it hurts, and fits your week and your language. If that sounds like us, come and see whether Meraki fits. If another clinic fits you better, we would rather you found it. We're a fun and casual bunch. We do take our work very seriously, though. We look forward to meeting you!
Or call 604-385-1823. Meraki Dental, 2940 King George Blvd, Unit 100, Surrey, BC V4P 0E4. Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Rated 4.9 from 143 Google reviews at the time of writing.
Sources: Canadian Dental Association, How to Find a Dentist. American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, How to Choose a Dentist (in Four Steps). College of Oral Health Professionals of BC, Public Register. Government of Canada, Canadian Dental Care Plan for oral health providers and what services are covered. BC Dental Association, Dental Costs in BC. Fraser Health, Peace Arch Hospital. All read 7 October 2026. Rating, review count, review topics, hours, address and accessibility details from the Google listing for Meraki Dental, 7 October 2026. Opening hours also from meraki-dental.com. Appointment contents and lengths from Meraki Dental's online booking, 7 October 2026. Dentist days and languages from the clinic's written answers, 16 September 2026. Dr. Kevin Zhang's quotes are from his clinic introduction and veneers videos, September 2026.
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