Pediatric dentist

Highly recommend Dr. Denise Bass Allen with Uptown Pediatric Dentistry in downtown Oakland. I was dreading taking my daughter to the dentist for the first time when she was about 1 1/2, so I was delightedly shocked when Dr. Denise (as she has the kids call her) was able to get through the whole cleaning and check up without any tears. Now, she still loves going to the dentist and our second goes there, too! 

We just switched to Alameda Pediatric Dentistry on Grand Ave in Oakland. Previously we went to POW in Albany, which was fun and cute but I wasn’t 100% sold on the quality of care. (I’m the daughter of a dentist and used to work as a dental receptionist.) POW told me my daughter had a lip and tongue tie (our pediatrician and my dentist mother disagree) and never mentioned that she was missing her lower lateral incisors. Alameda Pediatric Dentistry was more thorough and accurate in their assessment of my daughter’s teeth. 

Check out Alameda Pediatric Dentistry - Oakland branch. We were just there last week for my 2 year old's first visit, and couldn't be happier with them. Their offices are brand spanking new and the staff were super friendly and made my son feel so good about being there. They'll play movies on the ceiling so your kid will happily lay back and watch while their teeth and being examined and cleaned. They have dedicated parking spots for their customers behind the building! I'm beyond glad I went with them since they really exceeded my expectations in every way. Even now my son is asking to go back (he's not due for another visit for 6 months so he'll have to wait!). 

- Jess

510 848-4430 Vivian Lopez. She's very patient, good at her work, has kind assistants and her office has funky stuff for kids to play with- old technology like a typewriter, adding machine, telephone, etc. My kid is very anxious and is on the autism spectrum and we have felt very comfortable there.

Rec'd Firoozeh Lavassani in El Cerrito as a warm, professional family dentist who examined and diagnosed my 7 year son and then referred to Dr. So, Pediatric Oral Wellness (POW) in Albany where he received treatment for more advanced care.  Both accept Deltacare USA under Kaiser pediatric plan.  

Many parents happily recommended Aloha Kids to us as new Berkeley residents. They seem like a long standing pediatric dental practice in Berkeley with high name recognition.  We saw Dr. Nakazato who recommended 4 separate treatment visits with nitrous oxide each time.  Our cost for the routine visit was already staggering. Then the estimated treatment plan was outrageously expensive compared to POW at 50% more. Friendly and professional staff who put my son right at ease but too slick and profit-oriented for us.   

If you need pediatric over general, family dentist, rec POW over Aloha Kids.  

We actually left Alameda Pediatric Dentistry a few years back because we wanted more of a traditional dental office vs large organization.  For example: we kept getting a different dentist every visit and they took photos of my children without asking me (later I found out it is to prevent people from bringing in another child who wasn't covered under insurance. Which makes sense because they don't know their customers like staff and a dentist in a smaller office.).  They also kept wanting to do teeth x-rays for my kids who were under 5 for no particular reason. Otherwise they were fine and the office and staff in Alameda was nice.  I probably would have stayed but when they moved their Alameda office, they forgot to tell me so I showed up at their closed up office, oops.  At that point I looked around and...

I took the kids to Amy K Lee, who has an office in Alameda near Park Street.  She also has an office in Albany, which I've not been.  She and her staff are great with the kids and they see her each and every time.  A good friend also has recommended Denise Bass Allen in Oakland.  Her daughter has gone to her for several years.