Bradley D Shepard, DDS

Thank you once again Unilocal!Dr. Shepard and his staff couldn’t be nicer and more professional. After having a couple of recent bad experiences at different dentists, I had put off getting back to the dentist. I wish I had found Dr. Shepard years ago. He clearly knows what he’s doing, fixed a bad crown for me in no time. He also replaced a couple of old fillings for me, and I was amazed how quickly and efficiently he and his assistant worked. I was amazed how painless the whole process was. Not to mention, Dr. Shepard is a REALLY nice guy. Puts you at ease the minute you meet him.

Dr Shepard is the extreme best in dentistry. I have referred numerous relatives and friends to him and he never disappoints. I have seen dr shepard over ten years. Today he performed 3 extractions on my teeth. I had gone several years without insurance therefore i wasnt able to have my teeth worked on. Dr shepard always treats every patiient like a queen. I have no pain. His office team is always excellent too. Zoe was his assistant today w my 3 extractions. She kept assuring me i was doing well. That meant soooo much. Dr Shepard is very good at explaining what is going on during the procedure. I look forward to seeing Dr Shepard for many more years. He is the very best.

My father had gone to Dr. Shepard for years before moving to Maui. So naturally, he told me to go to him when I moved back to SF. I sure am glad he told me, because I have never had a better experience at a dental office.
The front office greeted me gingerly even though I was 5 minutes late. Zina, the doc’s lovely assistant, took some x-​rays and chatted away with me. Her warm smile and enthusiastic voice inflections made the x-​rays blow by in no time. Next I had my cleaning with Yvette, and it was the easiest, most pain free cleaning I have ever had. She was so gentle, and also very talkative and fun as well.
Next was my exam with the doc. It was obvious immediately that he knew what he was talking about. The only issue I had was small and actually an ortho issue: he immediately communicated the he could fix it easily with a new retainer. The front desk staff notified me on the way out that my insurance would pay for more than half of it!
Right away, I made appointments both for the retainer molding and a cleaning 6 months later.
I plan to go there every 6 months on the dot, and not just for the health of my mouth, but to connect with all the great people in the office there.
You won’t find a better dentist in San Francisco, and the location is prime, right by Embarcadero station.
If you need a new dentist, don’t hesitate to call and schedule an appointment. You won’t regret it.

No one likes going to the dentist, especially me. It’s hard to pick one from your insurance list and, even if you do, it can be a crapshoot. I am lucky that a friend of mine recommended me to him and now I am spreading the word. Dr. Shepard is fantastic. He is thorough, a perfectionist, listens, cares and is great at his job. On the plus side, he’s also genuinely nice. I hated going to the dentist before and I’m paying for it now with lots of fillings but they are not pushy about that which is nice. They are extremely thorough and go above and beyond. Everyone in the office is extremely friendly and helpful. They happily work with you based on your needs — what you can afford or what your insurance covers. Victoria, the hygienist, is awesome and also a perfectionist. She’s great!
Great dentists are hard to find so I’m grateful to have found Dr. Shepard!

This is the best dentist experience I’ve ever had! Stop looking now and make an appt here! u will b so happy u made the choice! Every staff person is SO friendly ! I was lost and they calmed me down have me down and gave me directions. Excellent teeth cleaning from Victoria such a wonderful person. Lisa at the front desk answered all my questions about cost and X-​rays so patiently! This place is like family. Dr Shepard is the nicest so professional and practical no bs advice — not into just selling things because he can– they all really understood I was on a budget and helped me make a great cost effective dental maintenance plan that worked for me. I don’t usually like getting dental work or cleanings but this was so pleasant ill b back soon!

If I had four thumbs, Dr. Shepard and his office staff would get four thumbs up. I have the worst time with doctors and dentists due to my complicated medical history, and from my very first visit, I knew he was the dentist for me. The office is comfortable, you get sunglasses so the dental lamp doesn’t shine in your eyes, the staff is as courteous as courteous gets, and Dr. Shepard has a great sense of humor. The entire staff puts the greatest emphasis possible on patient care, which is hard to find in a city as busy as San Francisco.
I have a tough time scheduling medical appointments because my job does not allow for paid time off. However, I never have to worry about my dental appointments because Dr. Shepard’s staff always makes sure I get an appointment on my lunch hour and that I am out in plenty of time to be back to work. I am grateful for the quality service both Dr. Shepard and his staff provide.

Two thumbs WAYYY up for this cozy office on the 9^th floor, smack dab in the midst of the Financial District.
Everyone at this office is so, so wonderful!
I particularly recommend Eve’ette T.
Albeit terrifically professional, she was incredibly friendly, approachable, sweet, and accommodating to my schedule as well as my financial limitations.
I’ve had two very thorough cleanings with her, and she entertains all of your questions with concise but well-​elucidated after care instructions.
Didn’t feel rushed at all.
There’s a reason why everyone here has such a dazzling smile. :)

Not many people look forward to going to the dentist, myself included. But, we have to get dental work and cleanings. Dr. Shepard and his team, from front desk to back office make the whole thing much easier and sometimes downright enjoyable. Dr. Shepard is extremely personable, skilled, and gentle. Zena is great as well, and they work so efficiently together that you are in and out before you know it.
If you are looking for an excellent dentist go see Dr. Shepard and his team!

I go to Dr Bradley Shepard’s clinic for all my dental work & treatments despite the fact that he is an «out of network» provider on my company’s insurance plan.
The best part about having him as a doctor is that he bats for you, your pocket, and your welfare– all the way!
Equipped with an awesome clinic, and one of the friendliest staff on the street– Dr Shepard isn’t here to perform a few cosmetic procedures on you & make some quick dollars; he is here to be your dentist for life, and to serve you & your entire family for as long as he can.
He will even go out of the way to ensure that your out of pocket cost is minimal– by fighting the insurance companies and/​or offering discounts when possible. This is a form of service that is unheard of in this day & age.
Go to him to receive some impeccable dental service, great customer service, and an experience that will make him your dentist for life!

I have been going to Dr. Shepard for 5 years now and will never go anywhere else. In fact I am living in Sacramento, and go to the City for my appointments. He and his staff treat me so well I actually like going to the dentist. Not only does he do great work on teeth he is personable and friendly and really wants to get to know you-​very genuine. Love them all!

I have been seeing Dr. Shepard for years but just decided to finally write a review based on the excellent experience I had this week getting a crown replaced. Let me start by saying I don’t have great gums so I get my teeth cleaned three times a year. I also really don’t like dental procedures (hate the drill, the needle makes me want to faint, etc.). Dr. Shepard’s office staff is amazing. I have seen most of their hygenists over the years and all are thoughtful, friendly, and gentle. Each has given me suggestions for gum care over the years which I appreciate and has helped my gums improve. They always run on time.
But like I said, what drove me to write this review was the great experience I had with my crown replacement this week. Dr Shepard’s assistant is so nice. She set me up with Nitrous and in a few minutes I was totally relaxed. Then she used a topical novacaine so I didn’t feel the novacaine shot. When I did finally get the shot, I was relaxed from the nitrous and numb from the topical novocaine so it was easy. The procedure went perfectly and today my new crown is in and I don’t feel any discomfort and it fits so well I can’t tell it’s there.
Based on 14 years of experience, I can recommend Dr Shepard’s office without hesitation, especially if you are not crazy about going to the dentist. For an experience many want to avoid, they make it as good as it possible can be!

I was referred to Dr. Shepherd office by a friend. And I must say I am very pleased. I mean the whole team is really nice and courteous. The office is very professional and clean. I’ve never had a problem setting up an appt. They always call or send an email reminder of my appt. I’m happy! And I would totally recommend anyone looking for a dentist to Dr. Shepherd.

For context :
I give Dr. Sheppard business/​marketing machine 5 stars. The persistent marketing and constant up-​selling are great for the bottom line — poor for my customer satisfaction.
I give Dr. Sheppard’s customer focus 2 stars and suspect insurance billing practices — which may be too kind.
Hence the 2 star rating
More info:
I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Sheppard about 2.5 years ago at the suggestion of a friend. Sounded awesome — local dentist in the financial district close to work.
IMO all I was getting was a cleaning, exam, maybe some x-​rays. Standard stuff for someone without dental issues.
When i went in for the appointment I had a standard wait, warmly greeted — all that jazz. Nothing to complain about.
My Dental Hygienist was good and did a good job of cleaning my teeth and was cordial throughout.
Then things started going sideways…
I was informed that Dr. Sheppard was not available to see me but that one of the other dentists was going to look at my teeth and x-​rays. Ok – I didn’t schedule an appointment with another Dentist :-(
Why wasn’t I told this *before* I started my cleaning.
But «what the hey Doodle» — I was there and needed to get things completed.
Do the newbie Dr. checked out my teeth and proclaimed most everything was groovy, expect that I needed some deep scaling and whitening. Wow — an upsell on additional services, what a surprise.
I turned down the whitening because I felt it to be subjectively cosmetic, without any redeeming health benefit. Once I learned about deep scaling, which is an intense cleaning of plaque, I thought it useful and necessary.
When I asked about cost I was informed it would be between $ 200-​$ 400 and take 1 – 2 hours. So, $ 200 per hour for a dental assistance to remove deeply embedded plaque — wow. Not to say it doesn’t require skill — rather that at $ 200 per hour I prefer to have a dentist perform the procedure.
I declined and took my business elsewhere — for about ¼ of the cost and about a 10 minute walk.
When my insurance was billed the cost of service was twice what I was quoted as paying as an individual. Though this type of billing is a common practice in the medical profession it smacks of «gaming» the system. Wonder why insurance costs so much — well there you have one reason.

Dr. Shepard is kind, patient and really has a great way of putting you at ease when a dentist visit isn’t always fun. I have been to 3 other dentist in previous years who try to insist on unnecessary work or hawk products. That never happens at this office, in fact he will walk you through every option so you can make your own decision on what suites you. The office is clean, modern and the staff is professional and extremely courteous.
I highly recommend Dr. S. Also, convenient evening hours.

Dr. Shepard is one of the best dentists I’ve ever had. Appointment was on time, cleaning was gentle, and examination was thorough. Dr. Shepard also suggested a fast and inexpensive cosmetic procedure to correct a discoloration in my front teeth which has bothered me for years. I have no idea why past dentists did not suggest it, but I am thankful to Dr. Shepard for pointing it out. It also struck me that Dr. Shepard is one of the few dentists who asked me if I had any concerns and really listened to what I had to say.
One last thing — the office posts their forms online so you can do them ahead of time and not waste time arriving early. Minor point, but it shows their organization and concern for your time.
I would highly recommend.

Dr. Shepard is a thorough and professional dentist located right above Peets on Battery and Market. When you visit Dr. Shepard’s office, you feel that your mouth and teeth are their top priority. I feel their entire team, from the front office, assistance and dentists, are dedicated to providing personalized and gentle care. As someone who has lots of work done, I would rate Dr. Shepard as the best dentist I have ever known.

Dr. Shepard is the longest term relationship I’ve had in this city. Boyfriends come & go, but I can always rely on Dr Shepard. What makes it work? The same as any good relationship…
— Communication: his office regularly reminds me that he’s thinking of me, without being clingy. They keep meticulous records so they have my dental history at their fingertips.
— Commitment: He’s dedicated to his profession and it shows. I floss not only for my own benefit, but also to make him proud.
— Good listener: He listens to my concerns, suggests treatments, explains procedures, and is sensitive to financial constraints.
— Trusted circle of friends: His staff of hygienists and front office staff are awesome, without exception. I love these ladies!
— He sends me flowers: The first time I referred a friend to his practice, I unexpectedly received the most beautiful bouquet. That has continued with every referral. Not only is it a nice gesture, he truly has the most talented florist in the city. No boyfriend has ever topped this.
— He makes me smile: Literally and figuratively.

The best, most caring dentist I’ve ever been treated by. Dr. Shepard and his happy team deliver smart, conservative dental care that’s designed to maximize your health and comfort (not their profits).

I’ve been going to Dr. Shepard for years now, and not only is he an AWESOME doctor, his staff is incredible as well! For over 7 years now, he’s had the same staff. I think that says A LOT! Even if I moved out of state, I’d still come back to see him for my dental needs. In short, Dr. Shepard and his staff are nothing short of AWESOME!

See the letter below I sent Dr. Shepard about bad communications and billing practices in his office. After I filed a greivance complaint with Delta Dental, my insurance company, Delta Dental was able to get a refund for me from Dr. Shepard. After my letters, emails, and phone calls over three months, I finally got my refund.
Bradley Shepard DDS
22 Battery Street #910
San Francisco CA 94 111
(415) 982‑4277
Dear Dr. Shepard,
_​_​_​_​_​complaint about your office communications and billing
I am a new patient of Dr. Gentry. I was referred to your dental practice by my wife, Tricia Taborn. She was referred to you by her dentist, Dr. Richard Nathan.
I needed to find a new dentist because the dentist I had been going to for 8 years did a very bad job recently on a crown.
When I called your office, you were on vacation. I was offered an appointment with Dr. Gentry with the understanding that I could switch over to you if I wish.
I was pleased with the dental care I received from Dr. Gentry and the woman who cleaned my teeth. This complaint letter is about billing and communications problems between your front desk and the professional staff, and between the front office and me. I believe part of insuring quality dental care is good communications between the patient and the dentist’s staff.
In the following narrative, some of the complaints are trivial by themselves, but taken together show a pattern of poor communications.
My first visit to your office was 18 May 2007. I appreciated the friendly manner of the two women at the reception desk. I believe their names were Clare and Edith. They playfully tested me to see if I remembered their names. I was ushered into a treatment room and was seen by Dr. Gentry. I appreciate Dr. Gentry’s friendly and professional manner.
_​_​_​_​_​Cleaning complaint
During the initial consultation, one of your staff told me I had appointment for a cleaning following the consultation. I was not informed about the cleaning before the consultation. I was offered the option of coming another time for the cleaning. I chose to accept the cleaning after the initial consultation.
I waited for 15 minutes in the room where Dr. Gentry had treated me. No one came into the room. I went to the reception desk to inquire about my cleaning. I was then ushered into the room for the cleaning. I don’t know how long I could have waited in the other room.
On 25 May 2007, I saw Dr. Gentry to fill a cavity and laser trim the gum around a back tooth with a deep pocket. Before the procedure, I discussed with Dr. Gentry that I preferred the minimum amount of anesthetic for the procedure. Although I don’t have a high tolerance for pain, I can accept some discomfort during dental work to avoid excess anesthetic.
_​_​_​_​_​Dental assistant complaint
Towards the end of the procedure, I told Dr. Gentry that I could feel some discomfort in the area being worked on. The dental assistant suggested to Dr. Gentry to give another shot of anesthetic. Doctor Gentry told her, «we’re almost finished», implying there is no need for another shot. I was annoyed that the dental assistant was giving professional suggestions to the Doctor.
On the way out of the office after the procedure, a woman I had not yet met demanded that I pay $ 176 co-​pay for the procedure I had just gotten. I gave her my VISA card.
_​_​_​_​_​Delayed response to communications complaint
On 10 July 2007, I sent an email to
asking for clarification about the co-​pay billing. Because I received no response from your office — not even a received your letter — I left voice mail at (415) 982‑4277 on 16 July.
On 18 July, Clare left voice mail for me. I called her back. She explained that because she was on vacation, my email and voicemail were not answered. This is unsatisfactory for me, your two main means of communication (voicemail and email) are only staffed by one person, and when they are not there, the messages are not responded to.
_​_​_​_​Overbilling complaint
During the phone conversation with Clare, she thanked me for bringing the billing discrepancy to your attention, and that a check was being cut by Dr. Gentry for a refund. On 21 July 2007, I received my statement of account from your office and a check for $ 50.30. As far as I can tell from all the paperwork I’ve enclosed with this letter, your office has failed to credit the $ 176 co-​pay to my account that I originally emailed and left voicemail about.
I hope we can work out a mutually satisfactory resolution of my complaints in the near future.
Sincerely,