Western Dental

My whole family had done cleaning, filling, etc in the early 2008 here. The place was pretty good then. So I went back in 2015 October for extraction and filling. Things have changed a lot. The place has gone worst. There were all new students. My gums were bleeding when one of these students did the xray coz she pushed that thing so hard into my mouth. I was pushed into another room for surgical extraction. after an hour of lying there, an Asian guy appeared. ‘DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH’ she haughtily asked me and grabbed those small stuffs, gave me two shots and started his job. After 40 minutes, he threw those knives and stuffs and vanished not even speaking a word about what he was doing, why etc. What a rude guy! Unprofessional. I came back home never to return there. The night i had severe bleeding… so went to hospital instead. I would never ever go there and never ever recommend.

This organization has ALTERED MY MEDICAL RECORDS and my records no longer reflect what was done. My new dentist informed me of this and stated that the medical notes were highly subjective and suspect. Western Dental Oakland FALSIFIED MY RECORDS. Trying to avoid a lawsuit for a BOTCHED JOB? Western Dental Oakland LIED about the treatment I received. Zero stars for this highly UNPROFESSIONAL, UNETHICAL and INCOMPETENT dental mill.

They are really pissing me off now. it seems like lately its getting WORSE. Ive sat and waited 47 minutes and still in the waiting room to be called. Once my ortho is done, I’m going back to my old dentist

This place is really dimly lit and smells. The smell is probably from all of the bums who hang out in the waiting room. I started a new job a while back and signed up with Western Dental, because the location was convenient and I didn’t know better. The one time I went here, a thuggish guy walked into the lobby with a gun. I changed my dental plan the very next day.

I received a mailer for a $ 29 cleaning and x-​ray for ALL UNINSURED patients ONLY.
This dental place really cares for their uninsured patients ya??? you don’t even have to be a NEW patient!!! Mind you, a cleaning goes for $ 90, and it requires a dental cleaning person!!! x-​ray costs nothing really, and you know, without the x-​ray it’s hard to sell that little cavity that needs to be fixed right away: p
Anyhow, I called for an appt.
Then the lady wanted to SCHEDULE me in for a FREE ortho consult… without even asking me if I wanted one… I already have an AWESOME ortho, so I said no thanks.
I had to think about this a little more… and found out they don’t have a local office number you can call. Because I wanted to call the local office to cancel the appt…
That kind of bs bureaucracy makes me question what kind of business these people run where they don’t want you to be able to call the office itself… perhaps they get too many grievances so they cannot afford to have a local office number known to their patients…
WHEN I CALLED TO CANCEL my appt, they wanted my tel number, and another number, address, email… It’s like… dude, I gave you all that info when I MADE the appt so you’d have it… WHY u asking me this shit when I’m CANCELing??? They can’t trust that it’s you to cancel an appt without me giving you my address and email? I mean, SERIOUSLY, WHAT’s wrong with you!
So I got a little upset and said, I just want to CANCEL my appointment! and the lady hung up on me so I gave her all 1’s to the survey I got transferred to! WHAT!!!
So I had to call again, and OMG, I got a guy who was quite nice asking me for the SAME info!!! and it hit me that this is COMPANY PROTOCOL… duh.
I’m such a dumb dumb for giving them all the info they asked for. dum dum dum…
I’m glad I cancelled this appt. They have MULTIPLE toll free numbers too. If I were a dentist, I would not want to be affiliated with this company.

Negative review if I could. EVERY SINGLE time we come here there’s a wait whether you have an appt or not. I work in a professional environment as well and when someone has an appt it just means you have a reserved amount of time at this specific place for a specific event. At western dental here, they DO NOT value their customers, they treat everyone like herds of animals. They left a piece of separator in my boyfriends mouth after a cleaning, and he is now left with a gash in his gums where the piece has been stabbing him for weeks. Spare yourself the troubles, DONT GO HERE. I’m going to share as much with as many people so that they would 1) change the way they treat and care about patients or 2) shut the f down .
No one should have to endure this type of treatment regardless of the type of insurance we have .
I hope to hear from someone but as of right now someone is suppose to be attending to my bf. appt at 1, it’s now almost 2. Lol don’t even know why we bother letting them have a chance of redemption.

BEWARE: This place is a dental mill… Expect to be pressured into treatments that you likely don’t need and charged too much. I went in for a routine cleaning and was immediately thrown into the X-​ray machine without question — I had X-​rays done only 6 months earlier and later learned that this wasn’t medically necessary. The cleaning was fine. When the dentist came to look me over, she told me that I needed several cavities and that I needed my wisdom teeth pulled out. I told her that I’d like a second opinion, at which point she shoved a piece of paper in front of me and demanded that I «sign» that I had denied their treatment. I then asked for the X-​rays that had just been done in order to use for a second opinion and was told that I couldn’t have them (later learned that X-​rays are your legal property). Just bad news all around. Don’t get sucked into this place.

The people here are amazing and extremely nice but they over book and it takes forever to even get in to do whatever you need to do. I had a cleaning at 9am and at 11am I was supposed to get my braces tightened on the orthodontist side. However I haven’t been in to do a thing but take off my wires. So I’ve been waiting for over an hour to even get my teeth cleaned. If you come here be prepared to pay a crap ton for the meters and to wait a really long time.

Don’t like Western Dental… From years ago to Damn slow!!! Well we decided to give them a try again last week. My Daughter was having a bad toothache,.and wr set up a Appt. The first visit was 3hrs. Today her appt. was 4hrs. come on There ‘s so much more I want to say about this, but Im not wasting my time!!!

Plan to be here ALL DAY!
brought my 4 year old in for her bi-​annual cleaning. Appointment was at 9:30am. It is 11:00 am and she still hasnt been called in even for Xrays. I usually take her to the antioch location and their wait time is almost always less than 30 minutes but stupid me chose this location since I live in oakland. Its almost worth the 1.5 hour round trip to Oakland because in the time I been waiting we could have driven and been seen already. Everytime i asked for an update on her position, i kept being told she was next but 5other people went before her. This location sucks.
I literally just called the other Location and made another appointment for today in an hour so we can actually be seen before the sun goes down.

I hate this place they would give you an early 8am appointment knowing that the dentist don’t come in till 11am. Even if you are early to your appointment you won’t get seen until 3 – 4 hours later. Basically by the time you are done you would’ve spent a whole day there. Western dental are taking advantage of the poor and their treatment are overpriced. They also said they have a dentist for special needs children but when I took my disabled daughter in the dentist was frustrated and wouldn’t treat my daughter. After I called numerous times before the appointment to ask for a special needs doctor, they said that they have them regularly at their office but the dentist are inexperienced with special needs children. I wish I could just give them no star at all. My advice is to avoid them.

I’m pretty sure Dr. Tyler effed my teeth up.
The man clearly drilled TOO deep into my teeth before inserting the filling, as I still feel ridiculous sensitivity 4.months.later. I went in for him to «correct» it 2 months ago, and ta-​da, same sh – . Someone seriously needs to go in and do an intense audit of the staff that works there.
Also, the guy who does the x-​rays could lose the attitude. He moves too quick and the inserts they put in my mouth scratched my gums because he moves too damn fast like he’s angry and anxious all the time.
I’m convinced that the doctors and their staff were hired off of Craigslist.
P. S. Have an appointment scheduled for 11am? Don’t expect to be seen before 3pm. No, I’m not exaggerating.

I had just moved to Oakland from out of state, and was assigned to Western Dental by my insurance company.
My main concern was a broken filling, and it was also time for a dental cleaning.
X-​rays were taken from a very unfriendly technician, and my mouth was examined. The broken filling discussed, and I was asked, if I like to have a referral for a root canal on another tooth who’s filling is close to the gum. This filling has been there for a long time, has never given me concern, why a root canal?
My next appointment was to repair the broken filling. While waiting for the dentist, his assistant prepared the instruments, and I noticed 2 syringes. After questioning why they were there, I was informed that these were necessary to numb my gums for the drilling.
I informed her, as I also had stated when filling out my medical records, that in the past, I had a dangerous allergic reaction from medication given to my for dental repair, when I first moved to the states. After that incident NO dentist ever has even attempted to numb my gums. Every doctor was able to work on my teeth without any problem. They were careful. I have a mouth full of fillings!
When I discusses the issue with the dentist, he insisted on numbing my gums regardless of what I said. I do have to admit, that I did not react very friendly, when this back and forth went on and on.
I was advised to see the manager of the clinic, who informed me, that the dentists at this establishment were NOT TRAINED TO DRILL WITHOUT LOCAL ANESTHESIA.
Easy to say, I will never go there again.
Had the filling fixed by a dentist in Germany. It took him 15 min. Discussed the situation with him. He confirmed, that with my history, I should NEVER consent to any local anesthesia for
minor dental work.

I decided to go to Western Dental because my insurance was accepted there and it’s close to my work. While waiting to be called, I overheard screaming or perhaps someone yelling at a worker. I asked the receptionist if everything was OK? She looked scared and didn’t say anything. I later found out that the office manager uses her power and scare tactics to belittle the workers. She is mean. No way am I going to go here. I feel sorry for all the workers there. More importantly, I feel sorry for that office manager. She needs an exorcist. She is possessed by a demon or evil spirit. God help her.

The 800 appointment line got a call from me yesterday around 5 pm and SUPPOSEDLY set me up for an appointment today at 11:30 am. I get to western dental at 11:20 today to find out they set my appointment for 11:30 am YESTERDAY. .Ummm how is it even possible for them to book past appoibtments?! So they asked that I call the 800 number back for them to set another appointment since they cannot make them here in the office. The 800 number was able to still set one for 11:30, but I did not get called til 1 oclock to get xrays, and now at 1:30 I’m sitting and waiting for the dr. This is the longest process I’ve ever seen just to get xrays and a checkup on my teeth! Don’t come here unless you have a bunch of time on your hands and the money to go out and pay for parking a few times while you’re waiting!

Would give five stars for the staff and experience on the braces side of the office only! Not all bad by a long shot but please read on and be warned.
Been a little over two years since I got my braces. No complaints with how the treatment is going. I needed quite a bit of work done and didn’t expect speedy results. My family on both sides has issues with small mouths, large teeth and crowding. Had four extractions total top and bottom before braces were put on and now there is only a small gap at the bottom so I’m nearly done. ~_​~ Yay!
Front desk staff have always been very nice, staff in the braces part of the office is genuinely pleasant and never a bad experience on that side. Dr. Wolfe is extremely patient and will answer any questions you might have.
HOWEVER — Every six months or so new x-​rays and a cleaning is required with this dental plan. Three times I’d previously done this and the young Asian lady that examined my x-​rays and then checked my teeth has always stated that I am cavity resistant and never had any issues. Last time an older lady of Indian ethnicity proceeds to tell me that I have ONE «tiny cavity in the back» and tries to bully me into having it taken care of that day before my cleaning. I politely stated I would like a second opinion and she then threatened me that if I didn’t have the issue resolved within 90 days they would discontinue my treatment. Again, I politely stated I would like a second opinion and will certainly have it done within 90 days. Now the assistant for my cleaning comes over with paperwork for me to sign saying I’ll be taking care of not one but TWO cavities that day which cost over $ 340 out of pocket! Since when did one tiny cavity turn into two and how did this happen within three minutes? So now I have two bullies literally hovering over me shoving this paperwork in my face and I firmly stated for the third time I will be getting a second opinion and I’m not agreeing to or signing anything for cavity treatment until that time! We move on to the cleaning. To say the job was done badly is a major understatement. It was absolutely terrible and I could have saved myself $ 89 and rinsed with Listerine. You couldn’t even tell anything had been done that day once I left the chair. If you Google this company there are a large amount of complaints regarding Western Dental staff pushing patients to have and pay for unnecessary treatments so it isn’t just this office.
Looked around for a local dentist and found San Ramon Dental Center. What a fantastic place! Dr. Parawan not only checked my teeth for free but also printed out signed paperwork that I have zero cavities to take back to Western Dental. Couple weeks later I went back for a cleaning and when I tell you it was the best dental experience ever I’m not kidding around. Beautiful office, leather MASSAGE chair, comfortable headphones, movie of your choice playing overhead, lot of time and consideration taken with cleaning, not a sliver of pain or discomfort and my teeth were sparkling clean! Not only that but the total was $ 80 so $ 9 less than the terrible job recently done by Western Dental.
Took the cavity paperwork back to Western Dental for my next visit and Dr. Wolfe not only accepted it and had it uploaded to my records but also checked me herself and said she couldn’t detect any cavities. So if you ever feel that the dental staff in the office is incorrect or misleading you please go with your instincts. The treatment I received that day from staff in the dental section was unprofessional and not at all acceptable. I’m 33 years old and have never had a cavity in my life!
Sorry, but I will not be paying for any further cleanings with Western Dental. I’ll continue to have cleanings as scheduled and bring in paperwork to show such but there is no contractual obligation for me to have my cleanings at Western Dental if I choose otherwise.
Be aware of your rights and good luck all!

Worse experiences* ever. I have never left here under three hours, I have never been seen under 1.5 hours of my scheduled appointment, and I have never seen less costumer service IN MY LIFE. These people are rude, unprofessional, and unacceptable. Don’t waste your time.

Sometimes the wait can be horrible. That said the staff are good people. I have had nothing but horrible dental experiences all my life, but today Dr. Emami provided the most effective care I have ever had.

This is a low end an establishment as it gets. Went in ⁶⁄₁₄. Went because Kaiser offered extended dental insurance for $ 20/​mo. extra and pick this operation at random because of location.
I had a regular dentist for 20 years. When he retired, had same regular dentist for another 25+ years. First noticed about 20 people in waiting room incl a cop. It turned out it wasn’t a cop — but a full time security guard!!!
Finally called in for xrays after 40 min. Another 30 for a cleaning by someone who I think intro’d herself as a dentist (maybe she said hygienist). After 10 min. said she was done. NO cleaning lasts just 10 minutes.
There is ONE positive. I live part time on East coast and thought I’d locate a local dentist here. Office said I’d save $ 100 if they could get xrays from a former dentist. My old regular dentist just had physical xrays. Decided had nothing to lose by calling Western. Instead of a long hold time to talk to a human — phone was answered after only 30 seconds of hold music. NANCY said «no problem» and would email me the xrays — which she did rather promptly!!!

If I had the option to give zero stars I would.
What is the point of having an appointment as well as insurance if you wait over an hour to be seen?
The facility is subpar with its cleanliness.
The front desk staff is more concerned with conversations amongst themselves than actually being helpful.
I write this before having actually being seen. And i arrived 20 minutes early with all paperwork already filled out.
Seek services elsewhere