Berkeley Dental & Lab

After being assigned Berkeley Dental by Delta Dental, I gave them a call to make an appointment since I was due for a cleaning. They said they would call me back. Two weeks later, I decided just to walk down to the office and make an appointment in person. They were all locked up on a Thursday afternoon at 2:30. I called and left a voice message. They called right back and said they were closed, no explanation. But they were too busy for me to schedule a cleaning for this month. Never mind, I'll find someone else more reliable.

I have had a life long phobia of dentists due to having my permanent teeth stained from tetracycline use during childhood. It also substantially weakened the enamel of my teeth. This resulted in a lifetime of cavities and other dental challenges. I was VERY wary of being switched over to Berkeley Dental and Lab when my insurance changed. After reading all the reviews I was truly skeptical during my consultation. I shed tears during my first appointment explaining the trauma I had experienced as a child and still carry from my dental experiences. Dr. Vararaj was attentive, patient, and kind. I have since been back several times and wanted to make sure I completed a review to dispel all the negative ones. The front office person, whose name I need to remember, has also been very helpful and also kind. I am very pleased with my treatment and I can even walk to my dentist now. I highly recommend Berkeley Dental and Lab.

I have overall had a very positive experience at Berkeley Dental & Lab. I've come there a few times now for teeth cleaning. My dentist was very kind and professional, did a good job cleaning, and she told me which teeth to take special care of so that they wouldn't turn into cavities. The building is a little less comfy than some other dental businesses, and sometimes it can take a little while to get an appointment, but otherwise I've been happy with my experience here.

I had impressions taken for intermediate dentures on 4/13/‘24. I paid 800.00 up front. I asked for a receipt. No receipt. I have both called and texted them 3 times for my receipt and for an update regarding moving forward; no return call, no email acknowledgement of my communications. I then went directly to the office on Friday, April 26th, 2024, 10 am. Their opening hours are posted 10 am weekdays.

Highly unprofessional, do not come here. Had 9am appointment, was locked out of the office in the cold and no one showed up until 9:30am. Equipment is poor. Light was broken on my operating chair (had to request to be moved to a different room). X-ray machine had exposed wiring and had a label saying it was manufactured in the 70s or 80s, I don't remember. Dr. Vararaj claimed I would eventually need an expensive dental implant for my cracked tooth, but upon getting a second opinion from another, more professional practice, it turns out all I need is a root canal/crown in the worst case because the root is not damaged. I was also given an antibiotics prescription that for some reason expired the same day it was given which I did not notice until the next day when I made it to the pharmacy.. To top all this off within 3 weeks the bonding he did on my tooth has been coming off and has caused increased cold sensitivity and pain to my cracked tooth. The average bonding is supposed to last for a few years, not a few weeks. I only came here because it was the only place I could schedule an appointment with at short notice. Please do yourself a favor and avoid if possible.

Very bad experience. First the place is shabby. Then the dentist works simultaneously on three patients. My "deep cleaning" session lasted 7 minutes from beginning to end, for 2 quadrants. For each patient it takes an hour waiting 25 minutes on the chair, and then 25 other minutes at the end. So 510 dollars for the whole mouth and 15 minutes of real work. Pretty expensive. The name of the dentist is nowhere indicated as well as her diploma. I stopped asking her to repeat as she is difficult to understand.

Bait & Switch. Either this is sketchy dealings OR reception is completely incompetent. After 4 calls (me calling them as they did not call me back when they said they would) explicitly looking into my insurance to "see if you are covered", I was scheduled with a dentist who does not take my insurance and asked for a "co-pay" for routine treatment covered by insurance, and told "my" dentist, Dr. Llanell Vararaj, (though listed as taking new patients), is "on vacation" for 5 months. I understand that things happen, but they did not even bother to apologize. This feels like a scam.