Fake Reviews vs. Real Results: How to Find the Best Dentist in Indirapuram
Google ratings can be bought. An Indirapuram dentist explains how to spot fake reviews and choose a dentist using checks money can't fake.
By Dr. Sanjeet Shanker. The cover image is an AI-generated illustration, and the review it shows is not a real review.
I practise in Indirapuram, and my phone keeps receiving the same offer. It arrives on WhatsApp, by email and in direct messages: pay, and my dental clinic will get more five-star Google reviews. I don't buy what these senders sell, but the offers keep coming, which suggests somebody does.
That should concern anyone in Indirapuram or across Delhi NCR who types "best dentist near me" and picks the highest number. Many good ratings are earned, but a star rating can no longer carry a health decision alone.
The "buy Google reviews" market is real
For 2025, Google says it blocked or removed over 292 million policy-violating reviews and removed over 13 million fake Business Profiles. Not all were bought, and that covers only what Google caught. Google's policy bans paid reviews.
Are Google reviews reliable for choosing a dentist?
Partly. Patients can judge waiting time, cleanliness and whether the dentist listened. They usually cannot judge whether a root canal was sealed properly, or needed at all.
A 2018 JAMIA study of 78 US physicians found ratings failed to predict quality and peer-review performance. Its authors said ratings "should not be used in isolation to select physicians."
Fake reviews in healthcare: what India's rules say
India's BIS standard, IS 19000:2022, says purchased reviews should not be published, but it was voluntary at launch. The National Medical Commission's October 2026 guidelines bar doctors and hospitals from buying fake or paid reviews. Dentists answer to the National Dental Commission, whose 14 October 2026 advisory warns against publishing patient testimonials but doesn't name paid reviews.
Practo reviews and other platforms: a fair look
Practo labels some stories "Verified Patient", and one doctor page I read says stories are patients' opinions and may not reflect medical ability.
In 2016, Practo's founder said no doctor could pay to boost a listing in organic results. In 2021, The Morning Context reported a paid product, Practo Reach, promising a top spot. Some Trustpilot reviewers allege feedback was filtered; those complaints are unverified.
I found no regulator's finding or court ruling that Practo's reviews are fake, and I am not claiming they are. A platform that earns from doctors and also ranks them has a conflict of interest. I also founded epikdoc, a clinic software company, so I am not neutral. Use any platform to build a shortlist, not to decide.
How to choose a dentist: eight checks money can't fake
- Start with word of mouth. Ask family, neighbours and your RWA or society WhatsApp group who they actually saw, and ignore forwarded promotions. Then ask: did the dentist ever advise against treatment? Did the bill match the estimate?
- Verify registration. The code of ethics requires the State Dental Council number to be displayed in the clinic. NCR spans three councils, so search the Indian Dentists Register under Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Expect a diagnosis first. Ask what happens if you do nothing.
- Ask to see similar cases. At your visit, ask for anonymised X-rays or photos of cases like yours, and how they turned out.
- Get costs in writing. The code says fees should be stated before treatment.
- Get a second opinion on implants or full-mouth work.
- Ask about sterilisation. Ask to see instruments from a sealed pouch. The US CDC recommends spore-testing sterilisers at least weekly.
- Watch for pressure. Be wary of "guaranteed results" and "today only".
How to spot fake reviews: a quick checklist
One sign proves nothing; several are a reason to look elsewhere. These four come from a FOX 26 Houston report.
- Many reviews posted in a short burst
- Identical or near-identical wording
- Reviewers who also rated businesses in distant cities
- Hidden or locked reviewer profiles
A sudden flood of one-star reviews may be an attack: Google describes scams demanding payment to remove them. If a review looks fake, flag it to Google rather than accusing anyone.
What a genuine review looks like
Look for what is hard to fake. These signs are my own judgement.
- Video reviews: hard to fake, so mostly genuine.
- Hand-held clinic photos: taken by the patient, not the clinic.
- Specific detail: the procedure, the dentist, the cost, the follow-up.
- Personal stories: sometimes emotional, whether positive or negative.
Beyond "best dentist near me"
A good dentist tells you when you don't need treatment, puts the cost on paper and welcomes another opinion. None of that can be bought in bulk. To my colleagues: when the next offer arrives, say no.
This article is general information, not personal dental or legal advice.