I have known Dr. Assael since 1990 when I was his dental assistant. We were both new in the industry and cared deeply about our work. Dr. Assael soon purchased his own practice and he has been my dentist ever since. He has given me beautiful veneers that was not an easy case. These veneers fit my face and I listened to his suggestion for color and they are perfect. What I like best about Dr Assael is you can trust him and he performed exceptional dentistry. He won't perform treatment just to bill your insurance and he takes pride in his work. I went to another dentist for a few cleanings as I didn't want to drive to Berkeley. She billed my insurance for a crown that I didn't need and Dr. Assael had to replace ten years later because it failed. I will never go anywhere else for my dental care. Thank you Dr. Assael and his staff for caring for me. read more

I hate to have to write this review. This was my dentist for almost 14 years. I have been happy with the quality of the work, but things have gone downhill. The office now is way too busy and they are not paying attention to detail. I was not informed of issues that were very serious, that I only discovered once I went to a different dentist. This caused me an incredible amount of suffering and expense, not to mention that it may be phobic about going to the dentist. I also had serious issues with what was supposed to be minor work. I'm not leaving this review to throw shade, but to protect anyone who is considering becoming a patient or questioning whether to continue as one... I know I was starting to wonder whether I would continue. I wish I would have moved on sooner. These issues affected me for almost an entire year. It's hard these days to find quality care. I would look for an office where they have intro, oral cameras, so they can show you what they are seeing. I trusted them for all these years to be the eyes inside my mouth, and they let me down big-time. read more

He was recommended to me and seems to be a good dentist but I am 74 years old and cannot climb stairs. It never occurred to me to ask if he had access for the disabled as most places do. I thought this was required in Berkeley. However when I got there I discovered the only access to his office was an outdoor stairway. I called the office and asked if they had disabled access and was told they didn't. The person I spoke with was very unconcerned and unsympathetic to my situation and I was forced to cancel my appointment. read more

Let me start by saying I used to loathe going to the dentist. But that was before I started seeing Dr. Assael six years ago. He is simply THE BEST! His work is excellent (beautiful cosmetic work and wonderful routine care) and he is always so kind and patient, never rushing your time with him. He really explains what all of your options are and never tries to push unnecessary procedures on you, as I have experienced elsewhere. The equipment is very modern and they always make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed. And his office staff are superstars! Theresa especially, is the warmest, kindest and most professional and organized dental office manager I have ever met. You just feel so taken care of when you are there. They make you feel like you are family and I walk out of there smiling every time. Who else can say that about their dentist? read more

Dr. Assael is FANTASTIC. A couple of years ago I went to a cheap dentist because I was an idiot and she completely messed up four of my teeth. Dr. Assael came to the rescue - took out her horrific work and redid everything perfectly. I had some long-term issues and ended up having to get two root canals because of the original mess, and Dr. Assael basically held my hand through the whole process. He's the rare kind of specialist who has both technical proficiency and just enough artistry to understand that detail work is really important. The work he did on my teeth not only eliminated my pain, it also felt so comfortable in my mouth that I barely notice the difference. He also gave me a break on the price when I didn't have insurance, which was awesome. He's an all around nice guy and a really good dentist. Oh, and his receptionist Teresa is the kind of woman who remembers everyone and everything, and always has a kind word and a smile. If I were her boss, I'd pay her whatever she asked! read more

How many people can say they enjoy going to the dentist? I am one of the lucky ones. Dr Assael had been my dentist since I was a kid. He treated my whole family. Twenty plus years later, I'm still here with no plans to leave, ever. Dr Assael is everything you could want in a dentist: kind, professional, thorough, patient. He always seems to get you in and out quickly but you will never feel rushed. He explains everything he does and he is as painless as humanly possible. He remembers his patients and is genuinely concerned with their welfare. In addition, he is funny and smart, and just generally great to talk to. I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of my other favorite things about this office: Theresa. She is amazing, just amazing. She is kind, super organized, sweet, smart, caring, funny. Hers is the voice I want to hear on the phone when I'm calling in about a dental emergency, because I know she will make everything all right. My schedule is tricky but Teresa has always found a way to get me in when I need it. I have cheap insurance but Teresa always helps me figure out how to get the most out of it. She is a scheduling and insurance master. Last, but certainly not least, the dental assistants are all pretty darn terrific as well. I feel bad that I can't remember their names but boy, they are just as kind, caring, and professional as Dr Assael and Teresa. Bottom line, if you get to choose your dentist, choose this one. I promise you will be happy. You too can know what it is like to enjoy going to the dentist! read more

Dr Assael is awesome and approachable. My composite fillings fell off and because it was my front teeth, I called to make the earliest appointment. They allowed me to go in and Dr Assael did a good job. read more

I've always disliked dentists, but Dr. Assael's office is as good as it gets! My first time in, he gave me a great pep talk about flossing regularly. He was careful to not guilt me into it, but provided some really good reasons why I needed to be more diligent, which was exactly what I needed to hear. For the last year I've been flossing regularly for the first time in my life. I needed some minor work done, which he made painless and comfortable despite my TMJ. He was warm, chatting with me about his daughters, and extremely knowledgeable when I asked him some questions. Not only that, I'm always in-and-out within 30 minutes when it's just a basic cleaning. His staff is equally as friendly. Not only that, because I'm self-employed and have terrible insurance, they generously gave me almost 50% off my last cleaning as a discount!! I'll continue to recommend Dr. Assael to everyone I know. read more

Dr. Assael has been the dentist for my wife, my two kids and me for more than 10 years. He's knowledgeable, friendly, easy to work with and responsive, and so is his staff. I highly recommend. read more

"Let's have fun with this!" Dr. Assael said as he turned on the TV connected to the magic little camera-wand he would put inside my mouth. And off he went to drill out my cavity, taking pictures along the way! Yesterday marked a major milestone for me--my very first filling--and I'm glad my awesome new dentist did it. After 3+ years of driving back to my old hometown for checkups, I decided it might be a good idea to find a dentist closer to my current residence. I made my first appointment with Dr. Assael about a month ago. He is out of my insurance's network (I have Guardian), but, as the website states, he accepts any insurance that allows patients to choose their own dentist. Of course, I double-checked with Theresa at the front desk. Since that first cleaning and yesterday's filling, everything has gone off without a hitch (yes, including the insurance stuff). Everything about this practice is just pleasant, and everybody is so kind. Ack! Just book your next appointment there already, OK? read more

Dr Assael is the unofficial dentist of my workplace. All my co-workers recommended him and they were not wrong: he's great. Good sense of humor, very gentle and thorough, and very aware of the reality of insurance ; i.e, scheduling and procedures so that insurance will actually pay for them. He cleaned my teeth himself and filled a cavity the same day (so I didn't have to spend one of my two annual insurance-allotted office visits on that) He and his excellent staff were really concerned that I be comfortable and informed about my teeth: he used a little micro-camera to show me my cavity and how my wisdom teeth were coming in. He was very liberal with the anesthesia and gave me more when I said I wasn't numb enough. Also, his office manager Theresa is just the sweetest thing on two legs. Great experience, great dentist, great staff. Highly recommended. Takes any insurance that allows you to choose your own dentist. Also has (limited) off-street parking that you don't have to pay for. read more

I've never had a better dentist. After a long ordeal of looking for a good dentist in Berkeley I found Dr. Assael by looking through the Berkeley Parents Network for reviews. I had been to three different dentists for a filling that was causing me problems - basically I spent about a year not chewing on one side of my mouth because of it. Three fillings, from three different dentists, all of whom thought it would be better to try and sell me teeth whitening rather than fix my tooth (and my teeth are white enough, thank you). Anyway, Dr. Assael said he would try his best to fix it and he did - he's a miracle worker as far as I'm concerned. And best of all he doesn't try to push expensive procedures or products that you don't need. He along with the rest of his staff are very kind people and have a sense of humor. Oh yes, and anyone who geeks out over dentistry like Dr. Assael does is ok in my book. read more

I visited Dr Assael as a result of having broken a tooth on a Friday afternoon and needing some immediate treatment. I was very happy they were able to squeeze me in and see me. I provided my insurance information and went in for my appointment. The Dr spent about a half hour with me and decided I needed a full set of xrays (which the receptionist said was covered) and a cleaning. I went back for a second visit to get a temporary crown and finally a third visit to get the permanent crown. I understood after talking to the receptionist that my insurance didnt cover the temporary or permanent crown so I would be paying out of pocket. When I finished my second visit and went out front to pay, the receptionist told me the cost and it was higher then I had been quoted on my first visit. The receptionist explained that she had initially given me the quote they would charge the insurance company, but that rate was one that hadnt changed in 10 years so they charged me the current pricing. I was not very happy about this, but I went ahead and paid (it was several hundred dollars higher then the initial quote). I also paid a deposit amount on the permanent crown that would be ready in a few weeks. After my third appointment getting the crown in place i went to pay the balance of my bill with the receptionist and was confronted with a much higher cost then initially quoted. When I questioned her she said that it turns out that my insurance company doesn't actually cover the x-rays they took the first time around so they added those to the bill (several hundred dollars). i was obviously very unhappy and communicated this to her, but simply got a bunch of lame excuses and explanations. They knew about this issue before I returned for my final appointment and waited to tell me until I had completed it to present me with the bill. I was very happy with the dental work, but extremely unhappy with the communication and the billing. I actually have a need for more dental work and at my first appointment had worked out a treatment plan with Dr Assael, but will not be returning to have more work done. They need to get their business practices together. read more

I just paid $843 to a dentist because they weren't on my provider list, didn't check my information prior to the appointment, and were unwilling to work something out. I heard about Dr. Assael's office from a co-worker of my wife and verified on yelp. Prior to going into Dr. Assael's office I provided my insurance information (I'm on my wife's plan) to the front desk. I assumed that they checked the coverage before my visit. However I was unaware that the plan had changed (my bad) and my dental insurance did not cover Dr. Assael. About a month after the visit I got a call saying that since I had no insurance they were going to bill me. I said, I wish that you told me this before I came in and had work done, but send me the bill. The bill came and it was $843. I called the office and asked if we could work something out. i explained that the bill seemed very high, that I had offered to bring in my previous dental radiographs and gave them the name of my previous dentist (they told me no need as they are covered by insurance), and that I never would have gotten the two minor cosmetic fillings for some buckling had they told me i was uninsured. They told me sorry. I said I'd really like to resolve this and I am happy to pay for the work that needed doing (repair of a cracked filling) as I had been in a bit of a rush to get it done but that I was unhappy paying the full amount, and that I would likely post something to yelp. At that point the front desk person accused me of blackmail and got rather nasty. My experience at the actual appointment was good. Dr. Assael seemed skilled and was very personable as was his assistant. Also my initial experience with his front desk was positive. So I would rate the dental care a 4 or 5. But for the cost and my negative experience with billing/pre-checking my insurance, and name-calling, I'm giving them a 1. read more

Dr. Assael is the most caring and professional doctor I have ever been a patient of. I came to Dr. Assael's office unanounced: bleeding, limping, and with a mouth full of loose teeth from a bike accident. He showed genuine concern and immediately sat me in a chair to start assessing a plan for my teeth. From the start to the end he made me feel cared for and confident that I would have a beautiful smile again. he was right! he even called my mother, long distance in Hawaii, to tell her that I would be fine. he may be a little more expensive than other places, but you will never, ever regret his work. I got a cap done at a different dentist's a month before all of the work he did. 2 years later: that cap needs to be replaced. Dr. Assael and his team's work- 2 root canals, a cap, and a full fake tooth/implant- are as strong and beautiful as day 1. his staff is very nice and the whole office has a casual, friendly feel. no fake "getting to know the patients" routine. bottom line is that Dr. Assael is a genuine, thoughtful guy who happens to be the best dentist around. read more

My teeth are so clean! I've had 4-5 appointments now, and I still think Dr. Assael and his office are amazing. He's done a root canal and permanent crown, filled another cavity, and given me a cleaning. All of his work has been phenomenal. He is gentle with his novocaine needle and a perfectionist about his care. He explains what he's doing without overwhelming you. He made sure that my temporary crown was comfortable, and went out of his way to make sure I was satisfied with the color match of my permanent crown when he put it in. He has personally called me several times in the evening after appointments to make sure that everything feels good. He cleaned my teeth himself, and they feel absurdly clean. In fact, they feel more clean than they did when my last dentist (3-4 years ago) gave me a $600 "deep-clean" (which in hindsight I think was worthless). He takes pride in his work, which has shown in every single appointment. He clearly wants you to be satisfied and to have the healthiest mouth possible -- definitely a dentist with integrity. Plus, he's just a really nice, likable guy. The night before my last appointment, my bf surprised me with a stay in a nearby sf hotel, so Dr. Assael was telling me about a great hotel at a nearby beach, and before I left, he called his wife to get the name of it for me. Sweet :) Did I mention that they not only took my delta dental insurance, but also worked with me to make sure it covered as much as possible, and that my out-of-pocket cost was minimized as much as possible? Yes, yes they did. I've gone from fearing dentists, to telling friends and co-workers about my amazing dentist. I can't sing his praises loudly enough. If you want a great dentist, call Dr. Assael. read more

My husband, son and I all have had the great opportunity to have Dr. Assael work on our teeth! I have to say from the moment we walk in the door we are greeted by a warm smile and welcome by Theresa at the front desk. Dr. Assael really takes the time needed, visits with us and is very down to earth, he is very knowledgable, proffesional and thorough when it comes to taking care us. We've had teeth cleanings, root canals and my husband had two gold caps put on his back teeth. I had a chip on my front tooth filled in about 3 years ago and its still in place. His dental assistant is very knowledgable as well. Location is easily accessable just off Ashby. We look forward to our next visit! read more

Very nice first vist. Dr Assael is very meticulous and caring. Seems genuinely interested in his clients' well-being. Glad our family found his practice. read more

I've been coming to Dr. Assael since I was in middle school. I'm 27 now and finally I have dental coverage, but I cannot stress the importance of the dental security Brian and Theresa have provided me over the year I didn't have any. They accept cash, and will work with you to get you back in action rapidly, as well as to sustain a decades old culture of courtesy, hygiene, and compassion in the office. As long as Brian and Theresa keep the office open, and I can plan ahead, I'm not going anywhere else! read more

My entire family and many of my friends go to Dr. Assael - he is the best, and Teresa is the sweetest receptionist ever! It's actually a pleasure to go to the dentist. If you're looking for a dentist, call him right away - and if you already have a dentist, switch to Dr. Assael! read more

Well all I can say is that for 30 years going now I have HATED going to the dentist. I only went to the destist when I was in pain. Dr. Assael has totally transformed me. Now I book appointments even when I not in pain. Dr. Assael is so freakin smart and knows his stuff. His work is quality and holds up a long time. I have had other destist work done by other dentist's and nothing compares to Dr. Assael. My own cousin is a dentist but I prefer to pay and go to Dr. Assael. He is so gentle and that is key for me. So I just put my earphones on and he goes to work and I never need vicoden after a visit with him... DR. ASSAEL ROCKS!!!!! BEST DENTIST EVER AND FOR ME TO SAY THAT HE MUST BE THE BEST, SUCH A GENTLE HANDS AND CARES ABOUT YOUR TEETH MORE THAN YOU LOL OR AT LEAST MORE THAN ME! read more

As an adolescent, my dentist was Dr. Aue (yes, pronounced 'owie') but he was wonderful and did not live up to his name. My orthodontist on the other hand, Dr. Grimm, totally lived up to his name! I have been treated by very kind, caring and competent dental professionals, and those who were so awful they really should have chosen another profession. Dr. Assael is the best of the best. He is caring, kind, professional, and treats his patients as partners in their care. I am both lucky to have pretty good teeth genetically, and also conservative in that I don't want any more intervention than I need. Xrays only as often as absolutely necessary. Cleaning once a year. That level of intervention works for me, and until that changes, I'm happy with it. Dr. Assael and his team are open to hearing what I want and need, don't push unnecessary procedures, offer additional information when they feel it is appropriate, but without being condescending; and are generally everything I could want in a Dentist and support staff. Also - he offers a discount if you don't have dental insurance. It doesn't get much better than that! read more

Dr. Assael is really great. Here's what you need to know: I just had a huge cavity filled today and I am on Yelp writing a 5-star review for my dentist. That should tell you something. He's a very nice guy, and truly an artist. He cares passionately about his work and his patients. Remember that teacher in college or high school that would get so excited about organic chemistry or biology that you couldn't help but be interested and engaged? That's Brian. He takes enormous pride in doing what he does well, and doing it painlessly. Personally I like my dental work with adequate anaesthesia, music on headphones and a dentist who can't wait to use his miniature camera to show me his work when he's done. That's my kind of dentist. read more

The epitome of service, quality and old-fashioned values! Always feel at home here. Up to the minute technology meets old world neighborhood dentist! read more

He's no longer in my dental insurance's network, but I miss him. Dr. Assael is competent, friendly, efficient, and always did a good job. He was good with our children also. His prices are relatively high, and the insurance he takes is limited, but perhaps that goes with the territory. read more

Dr. Assael is one of the best dentists I have ever been to. I had a dental emergency a couple weeks ago and he handled the entire situation with gentle care. He explained the entire process very thoroughly. Despite the fact that I had gone in for an emergency, I felt quite relieved after speaking to him. Also, his office manager, Theresa is one of the kindest people I have. She was very welcoming and always greets me with a warm smile. Overall going to the dentist is a lot less painful when it's a visit to Dr. Assael's office. :) read more

I started going to Dr. Assael several years ago after I sold him his current building and his location was close to my office. I immediately felt at ease with him and his staff. He corrected an old crown beautifully and is very meticulous. He has fixed several deep cavities that came close to the root, but because he is so careful and thorough, I avoided two root canals! I recommended him to my husband and my husband is now a client of Brian Assael. I would recommend him to my friends, family or clients. read more

My experience with Dr. Assael, his staff and practice was absolutely fantastic. Everything is very well organized, the exam rooms and all equipment is very modern and very clean - and yes, he uses state of the art digital x-ray equipment. You see blue skies and trees from the dentist chair which is also very soothing and comforting. Dr. Assael made sure that he explained every procedure in detail as well as any pros and cons of the various treatment options. He has profound knowledge in his field and the passion for his work clearly translates to how deeply he cares for the well-being of his patients. His warm-hearted humor and anecdotes make you feel so relaxed that going to the dentist becomes a very pleasant experience. ALL his staff is also very friendly and kind-hearted - I had the absolute pleasure to meet Theresa the receptionist and Ma, one of Dr. Assael's assistants. Dr. Assael's practice doesn't make you feel like a number or insurance case but meet you like a real human being. Dr. Assael is the dentist you always hoped you would find someday but thought he doesn't exist - well, think again - I am so glad I found Dr. Assael and would not hesitate a second to highly recommend him to my family, friends or colleagues. read more

This is the best experience I have ever had at a dentist or doctor. I had a toothache and my regular dentist was super unhelpful and wouldn't give me an appointment until days later. I called Dr. Assael's office and they brought me in for an emergency appointment that morning. The receptionist was so helpful and sweet, and Dr. Assael was super knowledgeable and patient. He took the time to explain my options to me and didn't pressure me into a decision either way. He didn't act rushed at all even though I knew that they had squeezed me in and he was way behind. They were respectful of the fact that I don't have dental insurance and so were careful to only do the procedures that were absolutely necessary at the time. A truly wonderful practice; I will be going here from now on. read more

Dr. Assael is hands down the best dentist I have ever had. I moved to Southern California this year, and have yet to find a dentist who even comes close! He managed to make dental work as painless as it can possibly be, and I finally stopped dreading visiting the dentist. Theresa is wonderful, and always makes sure your appointments are scheduled as needed. I miss the whole office! read more

I've had great experiences with Dr. Assael. Very warm, competent, and willing to answer all my questions. When I told him I had celiac, he researched safe polishing agents for me and was ready with a printout for me at my appointment. Everyone in the office was great too, working with my schedule to get me in as early as possible. read more

I met Dr. Assael about 30 years ago in the dental industry when we worked in the same office. He was a passionate and driven doctor and I was his RDA. It was a pleasure to work with him because he was caring, personable, professional and provided the highest quality dental care. Working in the dental field I understand the difference between good and bad health care. Dr. Assael has been my dentist ever since we met because I can trust him. If you want the best quality dental care ever, go see Dr. Assael and his staff. You will be very happy. read more

I am writing this review because I miss Dr. Assael as I'm currently looking for a new dentist in Chicago, hoping I will find someone like him. My husband found Dr. Assael when we moved to the Bay Area a few years ago (and since then moved back to Chicago). As with any new doctor I felt unsure of what to expect, but after a few minutes in his office my worries were all gone. He was patient, calm, and VERY excited about telling me about dentistry. I got excited too and kept asking him questions about dental procedures that had nothing to do with the work I needed. I will admit that I've spent a lot of time at different dental offices since childhood and I am not particularly afraid of the dentists. Dr. Assael was really amazing with the work he has done for me, especially the all porcelain crown, no metal. That is the only crown like that (and I have many) in my mouth and it is gorgeous. Everyone at the office was kind and helpful and I am recommending Dr. Assael and his staff highly. You will not be disappointed if you decide to give Dr. Assael a try. I wish I could go back to him right now! read more

Dr Assael is amazing. I am very happy with the dental and cosmetic procedures. I moved to the area a couple of years ago and was looking for an excellent dentist. He is the one! He recently replaced four front crowns and did a FANTASTIC job. It exceeded my expectation. My original crowns were done to cover a gap in my front teeth over 5 years ago and lacked vibrancy and quality. They did not have the proper size, shape, color, or translucency. Dr. Assael completely revitalized the look, feel, shape and color. I smile with joy and love the look! You can't tell the difference between the new crowns and my teeth. He has extensive experience, great attention to detail, eye for perfection, super pleasant, and loves what he does. He genuinely cares to provide the best quality and as a patient, you feel fully at ease and confident. His office staff is extremely flexible, warm and helpful. I could not ask for a better dentist in the Berkeley area. Thank you! read more

Broke a tooth on a Sunday and came to YELP to find a dentist. After seeing nothing but five stars for Dr Assael, he was an easy choice. I called at 9:00 AM on Monday and was in the chair before 11:00 AM. The only comment that gave me pause was a review that said he might be more expensive. However, in my case, he suggested repairing the tooth at 5% of the cost of a gold crown. I left his office in under an hour with a repaired tooth. I made an appointment for next week for general dentistry as I now have a great new dentist read more

Dr. Assael is awesome. He's so friendly and extremely thorough with his work. I've had some only minor work done but he's always walked me through everything he planned on doing. Super friendly, super easy to talk to, puts you right at ease because let's be honest, who wants to go to a dentist ever?! HIs entire staff is so nice and helpful. The best dentist I've ever had and I'd recommend him to anybody! Thanks Dr. Assael!! You are one of a kind! read more

Went to see Dr. Assael (or "Dr. Brian"; as my 3 yr. old would say) after having an awful experience at another dentist and could not have been happier with the results. The receptionist, Theresa was just about the nicest person I've ever met and acquired the X-rays from my other dentist. Dr. Assael reviewed the x-rays with me, did a thorough and efficient exam and determined right away that I did not need a root canal on any of my teeth and that there was absolutely no need to see a specialist (advice I had gotten from my other dentist). He also determined that there was no reason to replace either of my crowns as suggested by my other dentist. I left with a very simple care plan that got rid of the pain completely within 3 days. Dr. Assael was also wonderful with my 3 yr. old daughter and offered to check her teeth while we were there (her 1st time) without having to make another appt. He chit-chatted with her for quite awhile and insisted I take their picture so he could be in our family album as her 1st dentist! =) The dental hygienist was also wonderful! She helped keep my daughter entertained even while receiving data about my teeth and entering it into the computer! Great multi-tasking! Clearly, Dr. Assael and his staff understand the value of communication, good bed-side manner and excellent customer service. Can't recommend them highly enough! read more