Less yappin', more zappin' - laser dentistry on a tight timeframe

September 11, 2007 4:56 PM

Thoughtful recommendations for a Bay Area laser dentist who can meet a tight timeframe.

I am seeking a dental office in the Bay Area which specializes in laser dentistry to help correct teeth that are primarily sound, but which have gone years in between care and have unique problems (mildly crooked teeth, receding gum around one out-of-place tooth, cavities in odd places between teeth) that need correction - I'm fairly diligent about flossing/brushing, it's just a quirk of my path in life that created barriers to good dental care and I finally feel confident to take charge and get things done right.

I would like a dentist who is not classist, judgmental or who will shame me about the results of lack of proper treatment in my past (my parents lost their insurance and became bankrupt in my early teens, never took me to a dentist again; I currently have financial means to pay for care although I don't have insurance) The dentist should also be understanding when it comes to a low pain threshold, I often get physically ill if the dentist tries something stupid like "oh, this is a shallow cavity, so I won't numb you" (yeah, that was just one less-than-stellar experience in my past...). I understand that laser dentistry can be less painful and is more precise work.

Here's the rub, though. I will be in the Bay Area/East Bay starting next week for the next three to four weeks and would like to have the work done then (I know its short notice, but this is a last minute trip and as a former Bay Area resident, I can say that standards and service are superior to where I currently reside, plus I have a tooth that keeps getting more painful with each passing week). Am I being unreasonable about being able to do the basic work in this time frame? Recommendations and any constructive advice can be posted or sent to the e-mail address in my profile, thanks! I'd prefer not to get comments like "call 1800Dentist" or the like, I'd rather have a solid, personal experience recommendation.

posted by kuppajava to health & fitness (6 comments total)

I like my dentist quite a bit and have not found him shaming or judgmental. He's treated me for receding gums and in-between-teeth cavities. As far as I know, though, he does not use lasers, but I've found his work painless and precise. His name is Dr Steven Adame & he's right near the Church Street MUNI station. Reviews on Yelp.
posted by judith at 6:02 PM on September 11, 2007

I don't know if he does laser dentistry and I don't know what his schedule is like but I went to this dentist for years when I lived in the Bay Area:

Jeffrey K Ching, DDS
10430 S De Anza Blvd # 210
Cupertino, CA 95014
[phone]

He has an office in Fremont also.

43625 Mission Blvd # 208
Fremont, CA 94539
[phone]

He and his staff are professional and friendly. I know he did work on me but I don't remember it being painful or uncomfortable.
posted by Soda-Da at 7:14 PM on September 11, 2007

Dr. James Ho in Palo Alto is amazing. He uses a combination of laser and traditional dentistry, and he has completely gotten me over my lifelong dental fears. He's held my hand through gum restoration and is now shepherding me gently through some orthodontic work. He's also got the nicest staff I've ever had the pleasure to deal with, and his associates in the office are nearly as awesome as he is. I actually look forward to going there, even though the office itself is a kind of hole-in-the-wall that appears to have been decorated by whoever decorates low-end Chinese restaurants.
posted by padraigin at 8:56 PM on September 11, 2007

I highly recommend Dr. Dan Linder. He's the absolute best, hands down. He's on Sacramento, near Laurel Village.

Dan Linder, DDS
3641 Sacramento Street
Ste C
San Francisco
[phone]
posted by fandango_matt at 9:42 PM on September 11, 2007

Be careful. If you're traveling by plane, the different air pressure can greatly exacerbate a toothache.
http://www.jal.co.jp/en/health/before/symptoms.html
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:29 AM on September 12, 2007

Thanks everyone for you help!
posted by kuppajava at 7:45 AM on September 13, 2007