I was referred to Berkeley from my wonderful dentist Dr. Louie Mendoza on a Friday afternoon for a root canal. I literally went from one office to the next and was seen by Dr. Brian Cheung who was fantastic. He and his assistant Maria explained everything to me and took care of the problem. He was very patient and explained what he was doing during the procedure. He told me what to expect and was spot on accurate. This was a very positive experience and I would highly recommend him. read more

We were referred to Berkeley Endo from our wonderful dentist, Dr. Ford as my husband needed a root canal. We had two appointments, one was a consultation which went well. Dr. Carolyn Chong and her assistant were wonderful and explained the whole procedure and even gave us additional reading material and over the counter medication to take home. On our second visit it was time for the root canal. My husband had been neglecting his teeth so the procedure took longer than expected, about 3 hours. I was able to stay with him through it all, as he is not a fan of going to the dentist. Both Dr. Carolyn Chong and her assistant explained everything during the procedure and even took x-rays after to ensure all went well. My husband even said Dr. Carolyn Chong had gentle hands and didn't really feel the needles and was even falling asleep during the procedure. We had a great experience and will be making another appointment in February for his 6 month follow up. read more

I would never go here as a person of color!! the worst potential dental experience of my life! staff was extremely rude and condescending after they messed up my appointment type. called me 5 times without an hour with different advice and instructions. i was extremely frustrated as Ive had an expose nerve for over a month And they refused to treat me for no reason at all. I get to my appt to find out they cancelled it because I said 'this is pretty dumb' over the phone and that was app aggressive behavior As a woman of color this is extremely disheartening and disrespectful. Never go here. read more

This was the absolute best dental experience I have had anywhere in my life. I would absolutely come back the future. Dr Brian Cheung did my root canal procedure and was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and skilled. He really put me at ease, and he was so gentle that I barely had any pain throughout the whole process. I was super nervous about this procedure but it ended up going as smoothly as it could have and it was hundreds of dollars cheaper than other endodontists that I called. Their office was even modern and beautiful, and the staff was all very kind. Everything about this exceeded my expectations. Thank you guys! read more

I had a root canal repair with Dr. Cheung and couldn't be happier with the results. He was kind, professional, and narrated the entire expeience for me in a gentle and thorough way. The staff was also kind and professional. The best aspect though is that he found a third canal that had been missed in my original root canal (with a different endodontist) and repaired that canal, and for the first time in four years, this tooth feels normal and healthy. I highly recommend him. read more

Was referred here for a retreatment of a previous root canal. I am not the world's biggest fan of dentist offices but they made my experience so pleasant. They fit me in for a consult the day of my referral and made sure to explain everything in a way I could understand and made sure I was comfortable with the plan. The day of, they made sure I was comfortable the whole time and sent me home with medication and instructions, which never happened with my previous root canal. Dr. Cheung even called me the day after my procedure to check on how the pain was and how I was feeling.Couldn't recommend them more! read more

So, unfortunately I end up needing a re-treatment of a RC on another tooth. I return to see Dr. Cheung. Wonderful experience, and yes, I am still dental phobic. The women at the front desk were great. Answered numerous insurance questions. They wrote everything out for me so there would be no financial surprises...always lovely. Dr Cheung was patient, got me in for an appointment before the holiday, placed me on antibiotics and called to check on me. My tooth had been throbbing due to a massive infection. At the first re-treatment appointment he was fabulous. He explained everything he was doing as he worked, not only hugely informative but helps to take your mind off the procedure. I needed another appointment and the same courtesies were extended at that time. Tasha, his assist, was also grand. Again, dental phobe here. Hate frigging needles, but I swear if I had this type of treatment years ago not only would my teeth be in better condition but I doubt that seeing a Dentist/Endo would so fill me with dread. Upshot: Instead of The Running Man, I got Mr. Rodgers. If I could assign 6 ****** I would. read more

So I just had treatment with the best endodontists and best dental assistants and dental office staff in the Bay Area at Berkeley Endodontics. From the first phone call to the parting high fives, everyone is kind, professional, and an absolute pleasure. My experience was relaxing and borderline fun. Each step was explained to me so thoroughly that I was never uncomfortable. No surprises, never painful, just great care. Thank you so much to this wonderful office for treating me so well! read more

Dr Cecchini and her staff were amazing! My dentist told me I needed a root canal, and my elderly mother had recently had one with Dr Cecchini and spoke highly of her. She explained everything she was doing super thoroughly as she was working on me (all the best dentists and doctors do this!), which I really appreciated. You feel pretty vulnerable with your mouth open and sharp objects prodding you, and she and her staff go out of their way to let you know they see you as a human being. I went in for a root canal, but after she got into the molar and saw how deep it was cracked, she let me know the tooth had to be extracted, which requires an oral surgeon (and she referred me to a good one -- Dr Goo at Bayside Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery). Not the outcome you wanna hear, but she and her assistant and staff were all so friendly and caring that they made the ordeal less painful. The office and treatment rooms are all super clean too, everything new. And I found free street parking! read more

Highly recommend this place. I came here for a root canal with Dr. Brian Cheung and not only was he very professional, he made sure I clearly understood what was going to happen and felt comfortable with the procedure. I barely felt it! Thanks Dr. Brian! Hopefully I'll never need another root canal but if I do, I will be coming to him. read more

Came here for the unfortunate root canal but the friendly and knowledgeable staff made it relatively painless. Thanks to Shy and Dr Brian for making what I thought was going to be a horrible experience into a benign one. read more

This will be my 2nd visit in 7 years, to Dr. Sylvia Cecchini for root canal treatment. I work all the way in Marin County but would not let anyone else do this intricate work on me but her. She was competent and thorough, doing a host of testing to make sure that I truly needed treatment. Her assistant, Maria was very knowledgeable and discussed my treatment to me in terms I could understand. I am very confident in her work and her experience. I sent my husband to her as well and he was pleasantly surprised at his "uneventful" root canal treatment. Hopefully I will not need another root canal anytime soon but I highly recommend Sylvia Cecchini at Berkeley Endodontics. read more

Dr Carolyn Chong and staff are outstanding in their field. They take care of every minimal detail and compassionate. I had a root canal done. they are very detail oriented in their work- from diagnosis, treatment, and post treatment. this is my 6th root canal , and I had never been treated with such detail ( explaining every step, putting vaseline in the edge of my lips during procedure, gentle with the injection, giving me the tylenol or ibuprofen for pain in a little envelope with the name of the medicine including expiration date) Dr Chong and staff call me after treatment. read more

Even though I may have to have the tooth removed and an implant put in I really appreciated the kind and gentle treatment provided by Dr. Caroline Chng. She really made me feel relaxed and confident in her skilled hands and easy communication. She even suggested I bring my cell phone and headphones while I was treated in her chair. Time spent with her was much better than the root canal I had two years earlier. read more

I saw Dr. Brian Cheung for a revision of a root canal. He did a great job and his explanations and attention to me, as well, as my mouth were outstanding. In addition, he was able to do a simple procedure for me that three other very highly skilled dentists were not able to do. It feels like a miracle and I greatly appreciate his skill and willingness to help! read more

I'm now at an age where unexpected things seem to occasionally happen with my teeth. I brush and floss daily and trek back to Albany to see Dr. Joe Cortese (and Family) for a check-up and teeth cleaning every 6 months. Yet, more often than not, there seems to be a surprise after patiently sitting in the chair and chatting away. This time around it was an abscessed tooth that had reached a point where either a root canal or extraction was required. The first step was a referral to Berkeley Endodonics to explore the former and preferred option. Unfortunately, that was not to be, as my #19 turned out be cracked and halfway towards dead. So it's onwards to Dr. Michael Doucet for an extraction and an implant after that. I'm also very fortunate as there's current no pain in the tooth (or to quote Leonard McCoy - It's Dead Jim) and I have insurance and a decent balance within my Health Savings Account. Despite the bad news, my 2 visits to Berkeley Endodonics were great. Reception Staff members (both in person and on the phone) were friendly, accommodating, and very good at the ins and outs of insurance and post-op care. The Office itself was comfortable and I particularly enjoyed the tile art and the Scenic (Australia or Hawaii?) and historical European photography on the walls. Dr. Carolyn Chong was also top notch. She was friendly, kind, explained the various steps and options, and was very honest about possible and actual outcomes. Her assistants were also excellent and I felt that I was in good and very competent hands. That's high praise when your all numbed up, you hear the drill, and dental smoke rises in front of you. This was no Marathon Man situation. Sometimes You Get the Bear and Sometimes the Bear Gets You. Either way, this is the place to be when it comes to root canal-related dental care. read more

Professional, courteous, and friendly staff. I came in for a treatment and Dr. Chong did a great job, I felt that I was in good hands. She took the time to answer questions and I never felt rushed.The best dental care I have ever experienced. Highly Recommend! Also, thank you, Mae for promptly responding back to my emails. read more

I was sent to Berkeley Endodontics by a dentist who thought I may need to have dental surgery. I saw Dr Brian Cheung. I did not end up needing any dental surgery, which was good news, but I was also very happy with the explanations Dr Cheung was able to provide. I would recommend this office to anyone needing and endodontist and if I do ever need one, even though I hope *knock on wood* I won't, I would return here myself. They also accepted delta dental insurance and filed the claim in a timely manner. read more

When my dentist told me I needed dental surgery I was terrified. The procedure sounded awful and I was expecting the worst. I am happy to say that I was wrong. I couldn't have had a more positive experience. The whole staff operated as a team, putting me at ease, explaining the procedure, answering my questions, helping me with paper work, preparing me for the procedure, and calling me both before and after the surgery to make sure I was ok. My surgeon was kind, patient, attentive and caring. I couldn't have asked for more (except maybe to never have had the problem in the first place.) If you're reading this because you just got some bad news, take it from me, it will be ok. You're in good hands. Tip: parking on the left side of the building is free for an hour. You might be about to find more parking on the residential street to the right of the building. Dentists are expensive enough, no need to pay extra for parking. read more

I had an emergency root canal today, performed by Dr. Cecchini. I was so impressed with the whole experience that I feel the need to write a review. Dr Cecchini did thorough testing to make sure my aching tooth truly needed a root canal. The procedure itself was pain-free, and I didn't even feel the anesthesia shots. Dr Cecchini explained every step of the way during the procedure, which helped me a ton. And last but not the least, she was very compassionate, kind and patient. Quite probably the best doctor I've ever been treated by. I highly recommend Dr. Cecchini. read more

Dr. Chong is friendly, diligent, and communicates well based on my visits. The tooth repair I came for is doing well, and I may not need to return for further assistance. I appreciate the careful attention to my health I have received from this practice. read more

Hello People Berkeley Endodontics. Top Class = my four visits. Doctor Carolyn Chong and the support staff are the best I've experienced in 78 years. She is a patient, masterful, sophisticated, engaging PROFESSIONAL. Grateful, Bill read more

Dr. Cecchini is THE BEST! My tooth, jaw and ear were in terrible pain and she took the time to get me in on the same day and stay after hours to perform the needed root canal. She explained every step thoroughly and professionally. When my blood pressure and pulse were elevated, she took all precautions to ensure the procedure was safe, I was as comfortable as could be and she did what needed to be done. Dr. Cecchini and her team are top notch! read more

Dr. Chong is great. I have (sadly) had two root canals with her and I've found her to be kind, communicative, and respectful of my anxiety about dentistry. Honestly, it's hard to imagine what more I'd expect from a dentist and the staff has proven equally professional and nice. I'm not sure what happened with the one negative review here but I definitely don't think price is a fair or reasonable complaint when one can always choose to go elsewhere. Dental work is always expensive. (I also find the reported 20 minutes of work incredulous. Mine take closer to two hours and I've never felt rushed or inexplicably left alone.) Getting a root canal sucks, there's no "good" root canal. But there are awful ones. If you have anxiety about dental work and are looking for a caring doc to get the work done, I recommend Dr. Chong. I also recommend being nice, yourself, and taking time to explain your anxiety and establish ways to communicate while she's working. read more

From the first call to a follow-up call from Dr. Cheung, everything was as it was supposed to be! My dentist, Brian Assael, referred me to Berkeley Endodontics for a root canal and Mae got me in right away. She explained everything succinctly and accurately and I felt she was on top of everything. Consummate professional. Arrived and Jessica, another pro, got me my forms and expedited the entire process. Toshia assisted and made me feel very comfortable and managed my expectations by proactively explaining everything as we proceeded. Dr. Cheung was the same.....he anticipated my concerns and explained everything as we went along to make me feel like I knew him and the practice for years...just like my family dentist, Dr. Assael, does. Would absolutely recommend them and, if needed, would not hesitate in returning. :-) read more

Who likes dental work? No one. I was scared to get my root canal as my memory of the one I had 20 years ago is not good. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Chong. First off the actual root canal was done with care, clear explanation all the way through, and no pain. But a day later I was chewing like a pro on the tooth with no pain. I took a couple ibuprofin day of but that was it. Modern tech and excellent care. read more

Just the thought of root canal is never fun. However, I highly recommend Dr. Brian Cheung's expertise and professionalism in this procedure. He worked on on my upper molar and it was painless and he has very gentle touch. He explained everything before and after the procedure that made me feel comfortable, safe and at ease. Overall the experience was great! Thanks to his assistant, Tasha who is also so patient and caring all throughout. Such a great team and the entire staff as well.. Glad my dentist, Dr. Guy Nazareno referred me to this place. read more

Stay away from Dr. Chong - especially if you're a woman of color. I went to see her on a referral from my dentist due to an issue with a root canal I had done many years ago. The tooth didn't hurt but there was an abscess. Dr. Chong hit my tooth with her tool repeatedly, each time with increasing force and kept asking me if it hurt. Obviously after her violent approach it did hurt, for weeks after when it never hurt before walking into her office. Fortunately I found a much better and knowledgeable dentist who was gentle and actually helped me instead of treating me as some science experiement to see how much pain a dark skinned woman can endure. I cannot stress enough how unethical of a practitioner Dr. Chong is and I will be reporting her to the BBB as well. read more

College student that was under UC Berkeley's SHIP Program that included dental work under Delta Dental. I'm seriously a magnet for cavities, and in this case, I had a big one that potentially resulted in an expensive root canal that, despite my insurance's coverage aid, would require digging deep into my pockets to pay off both treatment and the crown. After doing some research on and receiving a recommendation from my Berkeley dentist, I came here to have my deep cavity treated by Dr. Anderson (who I believe no longer works here now). I was scared out of my wits, because no matter how many dentists I visit, I'm always mentally prepared to hear some horrible news about root canals, more cavities, etc. (I can't help it if I was born with genetically cavity-prone teeth that despite flossing, mouthwash and brushing still somehow end up affected). However, Dr. Anderson gave me what was one of my most positive dental experiences, because he immediately started joking around and relaxing me with his cheery attitude. He made sure to let me know what was going to happen, and the process that he would go through to try his best to remove the decay while preserving my tooth and prevent a root canal. He drew out a simple diagram for me and also told me right off the bat how much a filling or a root canal treatment would cost. The process itself was painless and flawless, and I am happy to say that he managed to remove the cavity successfully and without a root canal (but I'll say this: I had to eventually get one in that place anyways a couple years later). He celebrated with me, who was nearly tearing up with the relief, and sent me off with best wishes and a stellar impression. Needless to say, if Dr. Anderson still worked at Berkeley Endodontics, I'd be coming by there without hesitation. The least I can say for the rest of the staff there was that the dental assistants were extremely kind as well and gentle. They helped simplify the insurance and payment procedure so I could comprehend what were my best options with great patience. read more

Don't usually write reviews on yelp but my experience with Dr Cecchini was so wonderful I had to share! I am not a fan of dentistry of any kind ( had some bad experiences as a child) so am always apprehensive about any procedure. Now a root canal was really something I didn't look forward to. Just left the office and couldn't wait to write a review that could possible help someone else who needs a good dentist!!! Can't imagine writing a review on a good experience at a dentist but it truly was! read more

My review is solely about my interaction with the receptionist, Mae. I have never been to this office. I had an appointment for a root canal evaluation so I called ahead of my appointment seeking clarification about next steps if their testing was not conclusive; BUT I was still experiencing pain/discomfort in my tooth. I expressed to Mae that I had been experiencing pain/irritation in this one tooth for over a year, and that I had a root canal and retreat on a different tooth (opposite side) so was aware that tests aren't always conclusive prior to a root canal. I also shared with Mae that recent dental x-rays did not reveal what could be causing the discomfort. Mae went on to lecture on procedures, refused to answer the question, accused me of seeking a diagnosis from her and was completely condescending. She failed to respond to anything I was communicating to her; zero empathy. Is it asking too much to want someone to listen to what you're saying and care enough to respond with honesty and integrity? Wouldn't she want and even demand that same respect; especially if she was in pain? I was not seeking a diagnosis from Mae. What I was seeking was empathy and honesty. I cancelled my appointment. read more

Avoid them if possible. My dentist told me yesterday that my tooth is starting to abscess, I'll needs a new root canal. Unfortunately. this will be the THIRD time the same tooth requires a root canal. Anyone can miss something occasionally and the work needs to be redone, but three times on the same tooth? Guess what, the charge you full price again to fix their poor work! Avoid Berkeley Endodontics, if you need to use them I would strongly recommend a written guarantee. read more

Dr. Carolyn Chong and her assistant were extremely professional and careful, and although I was prescribed pain-killers after the procedure, I didn't end up needing them. I asked them later how many root canals they performed on average each day, and it turns out the number is four-five. :) When I went back to my dentist to put the crown on two weeks later, they remarked on how well of a job the endodontist did. read more

I had a root canal performed by Dr. Chong. $1600 out of pocket, not including the crown. This during a major economic recession. Three years later, they tell me the tooth is still fractured and infected and now has to be extracted. Another $3700 out of pocket for an implant and crown to an oral surgeon. I keep thinking about the $1600 thirty-minute root canal job, of which ten of those minutes I was left alone in the chair with my mouth uncomfortably and unbearably trapped open while she went out to work on another patient. I called the office back and requested to speak to someone regarding the failed root canal. No response. I actually never minded going in for dental work before as I always took great care of my teeth but this has really left me bummed out and jaded about the profession. read more

In conjunction with the fast work of Dr. Robin Whitley and her staff (http://www.drrobinwhitley.com/) I was able to see Dr. Silvia Cecchini urgently for a consultation, and get a root canal the morning of the day I was flying across the world to see my husband's family for Christmas. Yes, on Friday 12/23 right before holiday closure. Dr. Cecchini and her assistant were careful, quick, informative and frank (when I was oscillating), patient, professional and kind. Who knew that having a root canal could be so simple? It was painless thanks to the drugs, and fast (maybe 90 minutes tops, not including the consult and me going back and forth about whether or not to have the procedure.) read more

This office is both professional and caring. Dr. Cecchini explained everything as she worked and made sure I was comfortable (as possible) all the time. Her assistants were reassuring and capable, and the work went smoothly. Nobody wants to need the endodontist, but you will be in very good hands at Berkeley Endodontics. read more

A tooth was bothering off and on last week. Then Sunday afternoon did some yard work and took a cool drink of water...and...ouch! I didn't sleep very well that night with the pain. Went to our family dentist Howard Endo,,,who is great...He checked out my tooth and called Berkeley Endodontics and got in within the hour. There I met with Brian Cheung DDS who has a friendly professional manner and a light touch. He explained the steps and what to expect as he worked. He was able to save my tooth with a root canal. I highly recommend him... read more

Berkeley Endodontics is where you want to go if you need a root canal. I had a bad experience with another Berkeley dentist (Dr. Helen Thai), who failed to diagnose a fractured tooth with a huge, visible-to-the-naked-eye fracture and instead kept performing followup root canal procedures on the tooth next to that. But that's another review. After 2 weeks of severe pain, I got a referral from Dr. Marcella King's office to see someone at Berkeley Endodontics. Dr. Cecchini is a goddess of the dental profession. She is calm, informative, compassionate, careful, observant, and, I think, a very fine practitioner of her craft. She and all the staff there are also extremely pleasant, informative, professional and easy to deal with. Dr. Cecchini diagnosed what was going on in my mouth, performed a palliative root canal, and finished the root canal in the first sick tooth. She also graciously checked me out when I was having post-root canal pain to reassure me that things were normal and give me some options to manage the pain. I'm really pleased with their work and with Dr. Cecchini in particular. read more

I can highly recommend this Endodontics practice. The staff are professional and friendly. Dr. Chong is a really wonderful dentist; she's communicative, skilled and kind. Root canals are not my definition of "fun", but if you need one, I don't think you can make a mistake by visiting Dr. Chong. read more

I would like to echo "AW" below and say that Dr. Chong is great; I went to her for my first root canal. I am a highly anxious patient who asks a lot of questions and Dr. Chong and her assistant (I'm sorry, I forgot her name!) managed me well. They review the process thoroughly and I felt well-informed about what was happening. You need to keep you mouth open for over an hour, but honestly, after the first twenty minutes, that becomes a lot easier. Dr Chong is extremely gentle in your mouth; it almost felt like she was doing intricate craft work, her manner is so calm. Dr. Chong's and her assistant's level of calm and professionalism really reassured me throughout. I recommend understanding how your dental plan works cost-wise before your appointment. They will review this with you, but if you're like me, it will be hard to absorb all of this quickly if you are also worried about the root canal. They go over this, but it is better to mostly understand how/what the dental insurance pays beforehand. Of course, I hope to not have another root canal, but if I need another, I would definitely return to Dr. Chong! read more