Periodontists
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
August 2011
Re: Dentist/periodontist for dental-phobe teen
Try Carole Grimme for the gum surgery. My son who is 18 had
this done and it went actually very well. She is calm and very supportive.
Carol Grimm is an excellent periodontist. My husband went to her after a horrible gum surgery experience with a dentist. He's been seeing Carol Grimm for many years and is very happy with her. I don't know what insurance she accepts. anon
I finally found Dr. Engert (http://drengert.com/). I made an appointment to meet him and was blown away. I told him about the failed experience, and he seemed surprised that this apparently common procedure could be botched so badly at the start that I had left. He told me abt his experience, answered all of my questions, took the time to ask about my specific worries, and all in all made me feel comfortable. I ended up getting the graft done a few months ago. There were some side effects, and as I was overly anxious, I called his office to check in more than once in the days following the procedure. Each time, his office staff were friendly, he called me back quickly with instructions, and now things have healed well and it's just a blip in the past. I'm going to keep going to Dr Santos for cleanings, and while I hope I don't need additional gum procedures, if I do I'm only going to Dr. Engert. Can't recommend him highly enough. happier teeth now
Periodontist - Gum Graft?
Feb 2011Last year, my dentist referred me to a periodontist in Marin who recommended that I get a gum graft to help resolve the gum recession I have on my lower teeth. I've since moved to Alameda and would like to get another opinion locally. Can anyone recommend a periodontist in the East Bay? If you've had a gum graft with someone and had a good experience, please let me know! I'm petrified of possible complications and/or the possibility that it won't take and the pain and money will be for naught. recession? indeed...
I've had two separate gum grafts by Dr. Carol Grimm on Regent Street in Berkeley. Despite how painful the procedure sounds, neither was a big deal at all. I didn't have much pain with either, and both were entirely successful. I highly recommend Dr. Grimm. She's gentle and highly skilled. L
Hi - I have had several gum grafts over the years due to severe, ongoing issues with receding gums. My treatments started back in my hometown NYC and I never thought I'd be able to find a periodontist out here who could equal my perio back east. After several fits and starts, I was referred to Dr. Keith Chertok on Ashby Avenue, one block west of College Avenue and I can't speak highly enough about him. I've had two gum grafts in the past 10 years and 2 implants and I've had little or no pain after each procedure (with bottles of leftover Tylenol 3 with codeine gathering dust in the medicine cabinet). And the grafts have held firm over the years. Dr. Chertok is extremely caring, knowledgeable and skilled and his staff is tops (Sharon is amazing). I cannot recommend him highly enough. Good luck to you! Signed: Carole Carole
My periodonist is in Alameda. He is very nice and gentle and skilled. His name is Donald Brown DDS 522-3545 and his office is at 2238 Santa Clara Ave. Candy
Dr. Grimm is in Berkeley and she is a fabulous dentist. She's done grafting on me twice. She is very gentle. She's off Ashby on Regent Street. Anonymous
Please contact Dr. Keith Chertok in Berkeley. You will be in excellent hands. I've had both dental implant surgery and gum graft surgery with Dr. Chertok and he is amazing. He explains everything as he goes along and he informs you of what you can expect. He even called my home in the evening after each of the procedures to find out how I was recovering. Dr. Chertok personally placed the call, not one of his staff members or some canned/recorded message. Clearly he cares about his patients. You can't wrong with this Doctor. julie
Dec 2010
We are recently moved to Berkeley and looking for a good dentist and periodontist. We are located in South Central Berkeley and hoping to have office close to our home; however the quality of care is more important.Many thanks. Natalie
For a periodontist, I had a great experience with Lodberg, Grimm, and Horn in Berkeley. They are on Regent St next to Alta Bates. Office has been there for 30+ years and they are honest and meticulous. A friendly staff to boot. Michelle
Periodontist for gum grafts
August 2010
I was told recently by periodontist Dr. Lowell Davis that I need gum grafts requiring four surgeries. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Dr. Davis and can offer a positive or negative recommendation, and I would also like to get a second opinion. Anyone had gum grafts/surgery from someone they'd recommend? (Some docs in my health insurance network are Angela Lin, Farrokh Bashiri, Anand Maharathi, Jeremy Factor, Dorel Onea, and David Rustamzadeh, Yuri Veber, Eric Engert, and James Raust BUT I'm willing to pay more for someone good). Thanks. anon
hi, I had a gum graft done by Dr. Lieberman in Fremont in 2001. He did a great job. The tissue blended very well, you can't even tell I had one. And no more gum recession. Other dentists have commented on how well done it was. Dr. Allan Lieberman Ste C, 3805 Beacon Avenue Fremont, CA 94538-1464 - (510) 796-8333 Sylvie
Please get in touch with John Kwan D.D.S. and make a consultation appointment. He is the best periodontist around the Bay area and he will direct you as to your needs and may be able to refer you if you must stay within the list of theose dentists. If it were my mouth, I would choose him, at any cost. I am in the profession and think there is no one else like him! His office is in N.Oakland and the number there is 510-547- 1300 anon
Dr. Bashiri is great. His front office can be a bit confusing but I highly recommend him. He has done a lot of work in my mouth and has always been very receptive to all of my concerns. teal
I've seen Carol Grimm for 2 gum grafts and have one more to go. She's EXCELLENT, the grafts have been successful and relatively pain free. I felt ready to go to back to work the same day,but she recommends waiting until the next day. Pain Free! She's very nice, too. Her office is right next to Alta Bates, I think it's on Regent. Tell her I recommended her if you go. Stephani Lesh stefle [at] sbcglobal.net
I have had two gum grafts with Dr. Carol Grimm DDS. Phone: 510-843-6341. I will go back for a third late this year. I highly recommend her. anon
We would like to heartily recommend Dr. Bishiri for any periodontal issues. Our daughter recently had a sort of gum-emergency, when she had an allergic reaction to the nickel in her braces. She was sent to Dr. Bashiri's office by her orthodontist, who called for us that morning. Dr. Bashiri immediately fit her in to his schedule, stayed to work with her during the lunch hour that day, and then actually called me himself that evening - himself mind you - to make sure she was feeling well after the procedure. I was just floored at that. My daughter had no residual problems and his work was terrific. Very professional, very expert. Just great all around. I would definitely trust him with other periodontal issues. Best of luck
I highly recommend Dr. Kirk L Pasquinelli. His is top notch. You will pay more but he is one of the best. His phone number is 415-781-7147. The website is sfperio.com anon
My husband and I both had gum grafts done several years ago by Dr. Yuri Veber. He did an excellent job and we couldn't have been happier with his work. He'd be a good person to go to for a second opinion.
Donald Brown, periodontist in Alameda?
May 2010
Has anyone had experience, positive or negative with Dr. Donald Brown, DDS, in Alameda? I'm in need of some gum grafting, and he is one of the few periodontists in my network. JB
I highly recommend Donald Brown. I have been going to him since the late 1980s. I had a surgery when I first began treatment and then about five years ago needed a second procedure. Mainly, I go to his office for my dental hygiene and his check ups just to be sure everything is OK because I have several issues. After his training, I'm very thorough with my hygiene now and as a result my gums have stabilized. He is very, very gentle and respectful. I always feel comfortable with him and his staff. Candice
Nov 2009
Re: Dentist good with gum and tmj issues
If you have gum issues, I recommend periodontist Dr. Donald Brown DDS. He is
very gentle and respectful, however,he has assistants who do the cleaning. He
does exams and surgery. 522-3545/2238 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda
Periodontist for treatment of gum disease
Oct 2009
I have deep pockets in my mouth and gum disease and have been told there's not all that much that can be done. I just had a surgical treatment called oseous that I'm not sure was that successful since I'm experiencing pain two weeks later that I never had. I've read through a lot of periodontist reviews on YELP and am overwhelmed by the number of thoughts. I want to get a second opinion about my case. Can anyone recommend someone for my condition who has helped them or someone they know? Thank you. anonymous
I highly recommend Glenn Fujinaka. His office is right off 580 in Oakland, behind Ladyfingers bakery. His staff is terrific, the office has a very nice atmosphere, and his equipment is very up-to-date. And Dr. Fujinaka seems to truly enjoy what he does. He likes to spend a lot of time explaining what he's doing and really encourages you to ask questions. www.fujinakaperio.com Stephanie
I have had a good experience with Dr. Pia Lodberg in Berkeley. She did a deep cleaning and extracted 2 teeth and it was really not painful. Her phone # is 848-5618. anon
Need periodontist for reluctant husband
Sept 2008
My husband needs major perio work, it's not good news, and we're looking for a compassionate periodontist in the area. Thanks. michelle
I highly recommend Dr. Pia Lodberg near Alta Bates: 510-843-6341 2999 Regent St Berkeley, CA 94705-2146 She has lots of experience working with nervous patients and is an excellent and effective periodontist. asymetry
My dentist referred me to Dr. Weber for possible graft for gum recession. His is at the perfect recent education/ample experience place in his career. I too am reluctant, but am confident of Dr. Weber's competence. I plan to have the procedure done. I would like to hear about other people's gum graft experiences. Dr. Weber recently changed offices to: Yuri Weber 5277 College Ave., Ste 105 Oakland, CA (510) 923-0699
And, as in all healthcare, check your insurance coverage, and ask for pre-authorization to make sure you are billed correctly and all parties are paying their share. Chris
Sympathetic Periodontist?
Jan 2008
I'm looking for a periodontist/surgeon who does gum grafts and has a realistic and sympathetic view of how REALLY painful the procedure and recovery are. My first experience with gum grafts was horrible. I had put off doing this for years because I heard how bad the pain of it was. My periodontist, Dr. Bashiri, told me that those reports were not true of his more modern procedure. WELL! The pain during the procedure was traumatizing. The doctor said it was standard practice to only use novacaine and no other pain medication. The pain of multiple shots and the pressure involved in stitching was intense. Because I am allergic to vicodin and codeine, the doctor prescribed ibuprofen. 800 mg. of ibuprofen didn't touch the pain. The pain afterward was worse than the major abdominal surgery I had. My pleas for better pain medication went unheeeded. Oh yes, said the doctor on the phone, sometimes the pain is worse on the FOURTH AND FIFTH day! The ibuprofen, he said, should ease the pain. Ha! I was in very bad pain for 8 days. So, has anyone had gum grafts that went well from a results and pain management standpoint? If so, please send me a referral.
I hear you on the pain front with gum grafts! You should talk to the dentist ahead of the surgery to really discuss your fears, experiences, pain levels, etc. I saw Dr. Carol Grimm for a gum graft about a year ago and was very pleased with the whole procedure. And I should say that I was so scared about it that I put it off for 2 years! I can't say that Dr. Grimm coddled me about the fears, but she was completely professional, understanding, and realistic. I don't remember what pain medication I had for the procedure, but I can say I did not feel pain during the graft. She did prescribe valium to help with my anxiety, and that helped. I am also allergic to codine, etc, and had ibuprofin, but I found that to be sufficient, and only needed it for 2-3 days. By the 5th day, I felt no pain at all. By the 7th, the plaster came off and I was fine. Dr. Grimm was also good with the follow up. Don't let her name fool you--she's an excellent periodontist. Her number in Berk! eley is 510-843-6341 --cw
I've had 4 bone grafts and gum surgery due to periodontal disease, plus 4 teeth pulled and now have a front lower bridge. My periodontist is FABULOUS, Dr. Harandi, in Pinole, off of Appian Way on Terra Hills Drive. His office number is 724-3666. The staff is really nice, they'll work out a reasonable payment plan they make you as comfortable as possible. Dr. Harandi is gentle, sweet, explains everything, asks if you have questions or concerns.
For all my treatments I brought my ipod and headphones, my neck pillow. The only thing that hurt was getting the injections for numbing. I felt pressure during the procedures but NO PAIN. He was fast too. My only complaint was how outrageously expensive it it adn how little of it my dental insurance covers. Good luck. It's no fun, but it is possible to have less discomfort. By the way, each time I healed quickly with little discomfort. anon
I would highly recommend Dr. Keith Chertok on Ashby in Berkeley. I recently had my third gum graft and was prepared for severe, long-lasting pain. Much to my surprise, I barely needed more than a few ibuprofren tablets over the course of a few days. Your perio was correct, though - the pain does get worse 4 or 5 days into it, since there's still a lot of anesthetic in your system. But what a difference from my first two grafts! They were done within the previous 15-20 years in Manhattan and the pain lasted for weeks. Techniques do improve over the years but, still, what a surpise for me. I was prepared to stay out of work for a while and was able to go back within a day or two. I did bruise quite a bit (I looked like Mike Tyson had lit into me) but the pain issue was a non-issue. Good luck! Carole
For gum grafts, I highly recommend periodontist Paul Sebastiani in San Rafael (415-482-9901). She is worth the drive to Marin, for her professionalism, her amazing skill. and gentle manner. More about her later. I first went to Carol Grimm in Berkeley, who refused to do more than two teeth/spaces at a time, which would cost me MUCH more money and also time and suffering. Dr. Grimm misled a friend of mine, not mentioning that she would need another graft after the first single-space she grafted, so now my friend has to go through it all over again, and pay double. (The cost to do more grafts at once is much less than doing them in separate procedures.) Dr. Grimm was business-like, negative and cold. Her office is also very unpleasant, as patients are separated only by a curtain, and you can hear every breath and sound from the other patients. And I had to wait for 40 minutes! Dr. Sebastiani's office is well-run, with no waiting, separate rooms, and a much more pleasant atmosphere. She agreed to do all 4 of my gum spaces in one procedure, and actually ended up doing 6 when she finally got into it, so save me the trouble of having to go through the procedure again. The recovery is very painful, no doubt about it. Not something I would want to do repeatedly. Dr. Grimm told me she would not be able to build up the gum, just arrest further recession. Dr. Sebastiani actually built up my gums so I have a little more height against the teeth, and a good solid pad against further recession. I was so grateful that I drove the extra 20 minutes to go to Paula Sebastiani. Her staff is also incredible, calling me after the procedure to see if I was alright, and answering all my many questions with courtesy and caring. Grafted
Periodontist for soft tissue grafting?
Nov 2006
Has anyone seen Dr. Chertok for soft tissue grafting? I hear it is a simple, but albeit painful procedure and was hoping for some input. Did you like Dr. Chertok and the office? I also would love to get an idea of what something like this might cost me, (the total amount before submitted to insurance, as insurance plans vary...) I have two teeth that are needing grafts. I haven't yet had my consult appt. (at which point the Dentist office will submit a pre-auth to my insurance), but the problem is that I am about to submit my Flexible Spending Acct. allotment amount to work and the forms are due before I will even have the consult appointment. Anyone out there that can enlighten me on the surgery/recovery and additionally the cost I might expect to incur? Thanks so much julie
I just had gum graft surgery a couple of weeks ago thru Dr Marks in Walnut Creek (primarily because I live along the 680 corridor). About a week before the actual procedure, I had to go in to get an impression for a plastic piece that fits on the roof of your mouth to allow it to heal (that's where they harvest the tissue from). The procedure itself went more quickly than I thought it would (about 75 minutes)--I think I spent more time at the Kaiser WC pharmacy to get my post-op meds. After the surgery, my gum was really sore for about the next 18 hours. I didn't really encounter soreness or pain in the roof of my mouth (I was told it if I did, it would feel like I burned my mouth from eating hot pizza, but I didn't). I also made the mistake of not eating enough food with the prescribed pain reliever, so I had a nasty spell of nausea the following day. As far as eating, you'll probably want to stick to soft, bland foods (e.g. soup, applesauce) for the first few days. But about 24 hours after the surgery, I started to feel normal again. I had the surgery on a Thursday afternoon, took Friday off to recover, took it easy for the rest of the weekend, and was back to work on Monday. The plastic piece wasn't covered by my insurance and required a $100 payment. Procedure itself was about $2000 and luckily insurance is covering most of that; in your case, it will depend on your insurance carrier. A recent gum surgery patient
January 2003
Looking for a current recommendation for a periodontist. Would love someone that works with my schedule instead of just their own. Prefer near Rockridge or SF Embarcadero area. Nicole
I recently had my gums grafted by Keith Chertok. I found him to be very friendly, knowldegeable and sensitive. He is located on College Ave. near Alta Bates. Phone is 510.548.0150 Amy K
My wonderful dentist, Dr. Nathan Kaufman, referred me to Dr. Kwan, a periodontist, for a dental implant. My initial consultation was great, no need to look further. He explained everything quite well and was also very nice. I had the implant two days ago and it was great. I had heard horror stories about the dental implant process but it was no worse than a filling or root canal (and I am the biggest chicken when it comes to dental work). Suddenly, it was over and time to go home! I highly recommend Dr. Kwan. Here is his website: http://www.peri-eau.com/ Lisa
October 2002
Can anyone recommend a skilled (and gentle) periodontist in the eastbay? It's for my parents who live in Alameda. Thanks! Adrienne
My periodontist, Dr Gilbert Oliver in Pinole is wonderful and so are the hygienists and office staff. I've had deep cleaning done by him initially and I now go in for regular cleanings done by Debbie who is also really good. I've opted to not go to a regular dentist for cleanings even though it's a little more expensive. His number is (510)724-3666. (1500 Tara Hills Drive Suite 202, Pinole). priscilla
I would recommend Dr. Keith Chertok. Just last week, I had my gums grafted and he did a great job. Very gentle, explains things as he goes along and is sensitive to the pain and anxiety that such a surgery causes. He is located at Ashby and College in Berkeley and can be reached at 510.548.0150. Amy
I would recommend Dr. Glenn M. Fujinaka. He's very gentle and experienced. His office is in Oakland, CA. His phone number is 465-9911. Good Luck! Nancy
I have had two gum grafts (sounds WAY worse than it is) by Carol Grimm, in the Huntmont Building behind Alta Bates (on Regent, I believe). She's incredible.
It wasn't pleasant during the procedure (not sure how it could be), but it wasn't painful and was over fast. She's also VERY good about explaining what is going to happen, etc.
And my recovery time was incredibly fast. I went to work the next day in each case and felt completely healed in just over a week. If you need a periodontist, she's your gal. Jennie
February 1999
From: L
I had a very positive experience with a periodonticist in Hayward. His name is Ivan D. Ancell at 886-7910. He made sure I did not have any discomfort when he performed surgery on my gums. He is also an extremely funny and personable guy. I highly recommend him.
From: Rochelle
Chertoff--(I'm probably spelling it wrong...) was a referral from our dentist Howard Pollick and orthodontist Bob Iezman.--- Very personable and smart...good people and communication skills.
From: Karen
Before you pay your periodontist for the cancelled appointment, consider this: Is there anywhere in her office or in any literature that they give you...including when you make the appointment...that they need a week's cancellation? I believe they have to have something that lets you know that this is their office policy. I would definitely challenge this. I know when I took my son to a periodontist in San Diego for a tooth extraction, they wanted 48-hour notice, but they told me this over the phone when I made the appointment. You might want to check and see if there are any guidelines with the American Dental Association as to business practice, etc.
From: Nina
I highly recommend Dr. Carol Grimm in the Huntmont Building, 843-6341. I find this practice extremely well managed and Dr. Grimm highly competent as well as remarkably gentle and reassuring. For long appointments, they do charge for missed appointments if you cancel later than 48 hrs. in advance, but explained this policy to me very carefully in advance and called me to remind me in time for the cancellation to be made with no charge.
I highly recommend Dr. Santiago in Oakland. I got a dental implant from him about 2 years ago, and the whole experience went as well as possible. Great doctor, great staff, great care. East Bay Periodontist & Implant Specialist Dr. Evan Santiago (eastbaygums.com)
My husband and I have had very good experiences at Berkeley Periodontics and Dental Implants. We’ve both had implants done there and my husband receives regular periodontic care at this practice. They are located next to Alta Bates Hospital in the Huntmont building. All clinicians at the practice are good.