Great dentists in San Francisco?

September 24, 2009 10:21 PM

Good dentists in San Francisco? Specific needs/neuroses inside.

I haven't been to a dentist in far too long, partly out of fear and partly out of being pretty deeply squicked out by the thought of tooth decay. I have no idea what kind of shape my mouth is in currently. I think I can get over the dental phobia, but now my worry is that I'll end up with a dentist who sees dollar signs instead of being objective, or otherwise won't do a fantastic job with any work I need done.

I've heard of people having problems where:
1) dentists see cavities/drill where it isn't absolutely necessary (and I'm acutely aware that once you drill into a tooth, that bit of tooth is gone forever and possibly more open to decay in the long term around a filling)
2) dentists don't fully remove decay, and then teeth rot from the inside out beneath fillings

I think the only way to know if a particular dentist is good in these respects is to get a recommendation from someone who's been going to the same dentist for a long time. So, SF-area mefites, can you recommend anyone good? Other factors are:

-I don't want any hard selling of tooth whitening or cosmetic procedures. My concern is ONLY that my teeth be in the best possible shape from a health/longevity standpoint. (And I'm totally willing to do whatever is necessary in terms of flossing or waterpiking or deep-cleaning or newfangled technology to get my teeth in great shape.)
-I need a dentist who will be kind/gentle with me (mentally/emotionally) and not make me feel shitty about having put this off. I have a bizarre tendency to equate dental decay with being disgusting and having some huge moral failing.
-And lastly (but less important than the above), I'd like someone who's good about pain management and physical comfort. Sedation is not necessary, though.

If you'll all indulge me, I'd love to hear how any particular dentist you recommend ranks on each of the above things - quality of the work in the long term (over/underdrilling), hard sell of cosmetic stuff, kindness, general savvyness to ways to help my teeth be in great shape, and pain management.

I don't have dental insurance, so that's not a factor. While it would be nice to find someone who gives a discount for paying cash, my absolute #1 priority is the quality of the dentist's work and how comfortable I will feel mentally and physically.

Whew. I'm finally (sort of) dealing with this. Thanks in advance!

posted by needs more cowbell to health & fitness (10 comments total)

I really like my dentists, Kenneth Wong on Polk. He truly doesn't do unnecessary procedures (I smashed out my front teeth and he's betting on some plastic to hold up in place of a full root canal, et al.), and he's as kind and friendly as they come. He's not in it for the money.
posted by kcm at 10:36 PM on September 24

Me and everyone I know goes to Dr. Polly Rivas. Read the Yelp reviews at this link to see if you'd like her.
posted by bendy at 11:29 PM on September 24

You want Dr. Dan Linder. He's the absolute best. He and his staff are professional, gentle, kind, and very, very skilled. I've been going to him since 1994 and I can't recommend him enough.

Dr. Dan Linder, D.D.S.
3641 Sacramento St Ste C
[phone]
posted by mattdidthat at 11:58 PM on September 24

Highest rated San Francisco dentists on Yelp
posted by analogue at 12:02 AM on September 25

Seconding Kenneth Wong, and everything kcm said.

I hadn't been to a dentist in 8 years before making my first appointment. Over the last 3 years, he's replaced a cracked filling, installed a crown, and filled a chipped tooth. The work was first-rate, pain was minimal, and he's a genuinely nice guy.
posted by prambutan at 2:17 AM on September 25

I go to Dr. Peter Jacobsen, PhD, DDS who doesn't upsell, has done a great job on drill-and-fill work, and is concerned with your health and not your morals. His pain management is very reasonable, and his hand with the needle is so steady that I almost never feel the injection of local.

The hygenists on staff at his practice are awesome, a fun and skillful bunch, and the front office/reception department is great, they're like family to me. The store cat is pretty great, too, although he mostly keeps to himself or hangs out in the other offices upstairs.

It can be tough to get on Dr. J's patient list and calendar: he has limited presence in his practice as he's also Director of Instruction at California's prestigious University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. One of his areas of professional interest (and the focus of his lecturing work, I believe) is the interrelation of general health with dental health, which is something I also care about.

Bill-wise, his services are reasonable. I had a period where I was not insured for dental work, and I felt that the bills always reflected a reasonable price for the services received. Nothing seemed overpriced or questionable. The practice also accepts most major (and some of the more obscure) insurance plans, but to tell you the truth, I'd go to Dr. J even if he were out-of-network for me. Hell, I moved an hour away from the City and I still come back in just to see him.
posted by majick at 6:21 AM on September 25

Drs Melissa Tuft and Frank Grimaldi
450 Sutter Street Ste 1619
[phone]

(They are a married couple.)

Before I moved to SF, I asked my former dentist whom she would recommend. She bounced up and down to tell me about Melissa Tuft. I am a coward around dentists, and the former Mrs Exothermic has had some really traumatic experiences with them, but Drs Tuft and Grimaldi have some pretty impressive training around pain management. They are more than accommodating about explaining what is going on, and are very comforting around skittish patients. I've recommended them to several people, and they all came back with glowing reviews. They hold the hygienists and office staff to some pretty high standards.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:44 AM on September 25

I love my Zen dentist, Don Nguyen (only one review there -- that's just to show you the address). Dr Don takes all insurance, and his office manager is pretty relaxed about paying larger bills if you talk to her first.

The best thing about Dr. Don is that he takes his time (he books his appointments for 45 minutes), and explains everything he's doing. I've had some dentists who pretty much sanded my teeth -- he doesn't do that. He plays mellow music, there are peaceful landscapes projected on the ceiling to look at, and you can also enjoy his Buddhist diorama on the windowledge if you aren't flat on your back in the chair.

I hadn't been to a dentist in years, and also had a cavity with some pain. Dr. Don filled it with no fuss and didn't chide me for not dealing with it. He's completely nonjudgemental.

He also plays in a goofy 60s covers band!
posted by vickyverky at 9:53 AM on September 25

I can not say enough good things about Linda Showaihat in San Mateo. CalTrain will get you very close to her office, so don't let the non-SF address get to you. Also, there is parking in her building, if you have access to a car.

I, like you, had put off my dental care for longer than I should. They were very kind about it, but also got me on a regular schedule.

One of my issues is that I don't like needles. I know they don't hurt, so all I want is someone mindful that I don't want to see needles. She was always excellent for that (I have since moved to a different state).

They also have personal cd players/radios for use while they do any work, which is nice, though you probably have your own personal music player.

I have sent other people to them over the years and all have been equally enthusiastic, fwiw.
posted by freezer cake at 10:15 AM on September 25

Jerilyn Negvesky, DDS

http://www.yelp.com/biz/jerilyn-negvesky-dds-san-francisco

I think she's great. Some surprising views in the yelp write-up though.

Your line "not make me feel shitty about having put this off" really made me post this. They are extremely respectful in this regard, to the point of almost treating poor dental hygiene as a legitimate lifestyle choice that they will do their best to work with. I've always had scolding dentists so this one totally threw me...
posted by muscat at 3:06 PM on September 25