Berkeley Dental Center

Every experience I have had with Berkeley Dental has been overwhelmingly positive. The quality of customer service and patient care is outstanding. All the staff from the front desk staff to the providers are so kind and thoughtful. I was especially impressed with the new patient intake forms which also asked questions to help the providers know what would make you as a patient more comfortable during your visit if you get anxious. The dental care itself is phenomenal. They have such a gentle touch and are truly understanding if you need a break. So glad I found Berkeley Dental Center!

My family has been coming to Berkeley Dental for over 10 years. Excellent hygienists and dentists. Super friendly and knowledgeable. We deeply appreciate how they educate you about good oral hygiene and explain any and all treatments.

Kind, communication was solid, and they accommodated my schedule. I had issues and they responded to them with quickness and patience. They took great care of me and it’s funny to say but I enjoyed going to the dentist with them. Amazing people and professional staff.

When Berkeley Dental Center agreed to see me on short notice as a new patient in the midst of my summer internship, I was at first grateful. The experience turned out to be quite negative, resulting in prolonged dental issues. I had experienced some tooth sensitivity and enamel loss on one of my front teeth over the prior few months. I became concerned that the tooth might chip or crack and sought Dr. Chowdhary’s advice. Dr. Chowdhary did not provide a direct answer about whether my tooth was in jeopardy of chipping or cracking before I returned to the east coast. She suggested a partial veneer and explained the procedure as quite minor, likening it to applying a resin over my tooth. I envisioned a simple application of this resin, like when a dentist puts fluoride on your teeth. In response to my questions about whether the procedure was covered by my premium dental insurance plan, her team said that they would sort out insurance coverage after the procedure. Instead of a minor resin application, the procedure involved novocaine and considerable drilling on two of my teeth. I did not feel as though I had given informed consent to this kind of procedure. To make matters worse, the partial veneer on one of my teeth chipped six days later, requiring a re-do of the procedure, which Dr. Chowdhary kindly fixed without additional expense. After the re-do of the procedure, the alignment of my bite didn’t set right. Dr. Chowdhary removed enamel from four teeth to try to fix the alignment of my bite, eventually overshooting the correction and leaving a small "gap" in how my teeth meet each other when I bite down. The original procedure cost over $700 and, with subsequent research, seems to almost never be covered by dental insurance, despite Dr. Chowdhary’s team suggesting it might be. Months after the procedure, the Berkeley Dental Center somehow has discovered that it cost $38 more than they originally estimated when I paid onsite. Now, they are sending me inexplicable billing notices. The quality of care I received, the lack of communication about whether I needed the procedure and what it entailed, and the unanticipated cost all contributed to this negative experience.

Smooth experience all around! I was met with warmth and professionalism from the very beginning as I made my initial phone call, which only continued as I visited the office for dental exam and cleaning. The hygienists and other staff members are friendly, competent, and helpful. They gave me a cost estimate through my insurance so that I knew what to expect. Dr. Chowdhary is very talented and did a wonderful job at completing some fillings. I appreciate how I wasn’t pressured into making any decisions; rather, she solely provided her professional opinion. She made sure to communicate with me throughout the procedure and that I felt comfortable. The views from the office are the cherry on top. I would definitely recommend this place!

Dental Visit Experience – September 2, 2025 I received a permanent crown at 3:00 PM on September 2, 2025, at Berkeley Dental Center. There was a discussion between the dental hygienist and Dr. C about the material being used. The Hygienist said, "I've never seen that item (purple colored before. Dr. C said, "we use that now." Dr. C informed me beforehand that when she glued-down permanent crown, I would experience a burning sensation and some discomfort. However, the actual pain was far beyond what I was prepared for. When the crown was cemented, the pain was so severe that my entire body spasmed and my legs jerked uncontrollably. It was the most painful dental experience I have ever had. At no point did the doctor offer a numbing agent or ask if I wanted to be numbed before the procedure, and she never apologized for the intense pain I endured. Instead, she quickly left the room and returned only to ask if I wanted to undergo another dental procedure the same day. I declined. After coming home, I researched the dental procedure and learned that numbing anesthesia is a standard part of crown placement, yet I was not offered it. This experience has left me deeply shaken. I will never return to Berkeley Dental Center, and truthfully, I may never go back to another dentist again. I feel I am now dealing with post-traumatic stress from this experience. (Patient T Williams)

It would be great if there were an option for 0 stars. Let me explain. First off, allow me to submit that I may have misread this establishments website and in turn I was not aware that these folks did not take MEDI-CAL insurance. After making an appointment and showing up early to finalize my paperwork, it was disclose to me by the receptionist that our insurance would not be accepted. I wasted a lot of time and energy to book this appointment and I'm usually very perceptive when it comes to what I read. However, this receptionist seemed to enjoy the fact that we were visibly upset and still in pain, needing a tooth pulled as an emergency. She smiled ever so pleasantly as we walked out of the office. I've never felt so humiliated and then shamed for not being able to pay out of pocket. Avoid these women at all cost. Oh. they're nice.... when you have the means to pay them. This place isn't anything but the upper class serving the upper class and it makes me feel like vomiting. It's the only place I've ever received a smile after telling a dental office I was in serious pain. Boy, money really does change people.