“The reception staff is very friendly and also very helpful. They took my insurance info and they deal directly with the insurance company, which means I don’t have to pay the whole cost up front and then wait to be reimbursed. The office is very comfortable, everything looks brand new and up-to-date, with video screens everywhere and very comfortable furniture. Dr. D’Alfonso was really great! She is very friendly and personable. I felt very much at ease the whole time and the good news; no cavities.”
“The office is modern and clean and comfortable. They have TV’s in the roof so you can put on headphones and zone out. Love this feature. Dr. Flunkert himself is a true professional. I hadn’t seen a dentist for about 6 years, and I knew I had a lot of work to get through. I also told him I was working with a budget, and he was more than happy to construct a list of priorities for my dental work. I completely trust his opinion and I also feel like he respects the budget I want to stick to. He is very gentle, and always makes sure to freeze me from here to high heavens so I don’t feel a thing. I highly recommend him to all you babies out there that are scared of the dentist. I never thought I would say this but I have actually fallen asleep in his chair. Keep up the great work. “
“If you have an irrational fear of dentists, this place may change your mind. Dr. Charmaine Fong was my dentist and she had a great “bedside manner” chatting away with me and at the same time telling me what she was seeing. They’re technologically up to speed, and I got to view my dental xrays on a little screen in front of me. She was upfront about where and how I could improve on my dental hygiene, and where and how I was doing a great job. I definitely understand how this place earned “Best of Vancouver”. It’s well deserved. “
If you are a person who fears the dentist more than anything else, go to Aarm on Hornby. I grew up being traumatized by bad dentists and when I went to Aarm everything changed. The people are chatty and make you feel so comfortable. Even the dentists just chat and make small talk which is unlike any other experience I’ve had. Most dentists seem to just rush through things. When I first went in I was nervous sweating and by the time they started the procedure I was relaxed. I told them to treat me like a kid and I swear, I haven’t felt one needle or any discomfort and I’m a poster boy for teeth issues. I had my second root canal last week and the new dentist, Dr. Hedy made it almost a pleasure if I dare say so. A root canal needle goes deep and she took 5 minutes to insert it. Didn’t even feel it at all. Class acts all the way!
Dr. Hedy Akhlaghi has been working as a dentist in BC since graduation from University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry with a DMD degree in 2010. Before joining the Aarm family she worked at Elgin Dental Group in Port Coquitlam for 6 years while also working part time at UBC with Geriatrics Dental Group. She has also worked in a dental clinic in Mission for 3 years.
She has a passion for giving back to the community and has contributed many hours treating disadvantaged residents of Vancouver at the Eastside Dental Clinic as a volunteer dentist.
When not working, she loves spending time with her husband and their little son. Her mother is also a dentist and she had the privilege of spending time at her mom’s office and observing her work since very young and it started her interest in dentistry. She also plays piano and do yoga in her spare time.
Dr. D’Alfonso graduated from the UBC School of Dentistry in 1997 and did her undergrad in Pharmacy. She has been involved in numerous study clubs, most enduringly the City Core Endodontic Study Club where she is mastering difficult root canals. Her practice at the Hornby location has evolved over the past nine years and presently she is performing many esthetic procedures along with general Dentistry. Also, the pediatric population of her practice has delightedly increase ten fold. Outside the dental office she enjoys playing the piano, reading,working out, entertaining, and traveling. Aside from English she speaks fluent Italian and conversational French and Spanish.
Dr. Fong graduated from UBC Dental School in 1993. She has honed her expertise for the last 10 years in two Crown and Bridge Study Clubs and has been a member of the Vancouver Perio-Prosth Study Club for the past 6 years. Dr. Fong enjoys traveling and has volunteered in Costa Rica providing dental care to those less fortunate. Locally, she gives talks to various schools teaching children about oral health and is a Mentor to UBC dental students with the UBC Tri-Mentoring Program. As the mother of two young daughters, Dr. Fong keeps busy and loves outdoor activities, especially hiking, cycling, and running. She has been at the Hornby Office for 14 years and enjoys general dentistry, as well as periodontics and cosmetic dentistry.