Our friend visiting from out of state had a bad toothache and we were worried it was an infection. Upon the recommendation of our friend Echo, one of the staff here, we called Dr Lai's office and the receptionist Shirley got us in for an emergency check at 8:30am the very next morning! When we came the next morning, Shirley was super nice and helpful and got our paperwork all taken care of. Then Dr Lai did a checkup and a round of x-rays. He confirmed it was an abscess tooth and offered to drain it to relieve the pain. Then he gave us an antibiotic prescription to have the infection treated asap and gave a referral to a specialist nearby to do a root canal. He also sent a thorough email diagnosis with the X-rays to my friend's email and a copy to his own dentist. So professional and thorough! And since my friend's insurance wasn't going to cover this and we had to pay ourselves, they gave us a special discount which was very reasonable for all the work Dr Lai did! We loved this whole experience and I'm even switching my dentist to Dr Lai now! read more

H Vincent Lai, DDS - X-ray - General Dentistry Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Dr V is amazing. Down to earth, great to talk to and he explains things in full detail.

This review is LONG overdue. Dr. Lai has been so good to my mom and I over the years. (Edit: I completely forgot that I had written a review years ago, lol). Dr. Lai is generous, lighthearted, flexible, and all around just a great guy. Did I mention generous? We really appreciate him. The quality of care is outstanding. I'm for sure looking to find a way to add my wife to his practice ... just gotta figure out Insurance. We will be going to him for years and years. read more

Great dentist for kids! Squeezed us in for an emergency appt. Hid the needle from the eyes of my child. Even followed up after the appointment to make sure my child was doing well. I highly recommend Dr Vincent Lai! read more

Dr. Lai and staff are very friendly and helpful! Very welcoming environment and Dr. Lai always looks for the best interest of his patients.

I have been a patient of Dr. Lai for 10 years now. I don't know why I never got around to writing a review. He is, without any doubt, a great dentist. Very competent and skilled. I used to have all kinds of cavities and gum disease in my early 30s, but since I've been under the care of Dr. Lai, I never have these problems any more. But more than his dentistry skills, I have found Dr. Lai to be a genuinely kind person -- friendly, cheerful, and caring. He cares about me more than as a patient, but as a human being and friend. That is the highest complement I can give to any medical professional. The staff is also great -- friendly, professional, and helpful. Let me add a final note. I used to hate going to the dentist. I've had terrible oral health for much of my early life. By my mid-30s, my mouth looked like a disaster zone -- full of implants, crowns, root canals, you name it. But now I actually look forward to my cleanings and checkups. Haha, it's a minor miracle! I look forward to the cheerful banter and friendly office atmosphere. Dr. Lai and his staff are a credit to Castro Valley. read more

Since moving to the area, we have been seeing Dr. Lai for the family dental needs. He is extremely great with the kids and with me who happens to be worse than the kids. His staff members are super nice and accommodating, very professional. We love Doc, his staff and the office! He will discuss options and will work around your needs. He sells the services you need and helps you to make wise financial decisions. Parking can be challenging, so best to make an appointment during non peak hours. read more

Dr. Lai is a great dentist and a really nice guy. I have had tons of dental work done over the years, so have a lot of experience going to different dentists, and he is one of the best. Does quality work, with an excellent office staff and excellent dental assistants, and has gone above and beyond for me on several occasions. Can't recommend him highly enough. read more

Dr Lai is nothing short of AMAZING. I had a front veneer pop off on a Saturday afternoon, creating a dental emergency. My first call was to my primary dental office. No response. So I then started calling other local emergency dentists, until I came across Dr Lai. It was around 4:00pm in the afternoon and he told me to come in, that he would take care of me. Dr Lai was kind, compassionate, understanding, and just an all around good human. He re-cemented my veneer and within 30 minutes I was on my way. I am strongly considering leaving my dentist of 8 years for Dr Lai. It's important to have a dentist that will pick up their phone on a Saturday afternoon if an emergency takes place. If you are shopping for a new dentist, or need someone in an emergency situation, CALL DR LAI! Thank you so much Doctor! You saved my weekend! read more

Dr. Lai is awesome! Love his and his staff attentiveness and professionalism. Went in for deep cleaning, and Dr. Lai really knows how to make the injections at ease and pain free. Highly recommended! If your dentist is not Dr. Lai, fire whoever you have and come to him! read more

Dr Lai told me I might need a more expensive procedure or a simpler less expensive procedure. It depended on what he found after he started. He answered all my questions very well and gave me the prices for both options. He was as relieved as much as I was when the simpler procedure was all that was needed. Dr Lai has a positive, can do attitude with his work and I'm glad to have him as my dentist. I've never had to wait very long at all. read more

Dr Lai is the bomb, I have not been taking care of my teeth like I should have and now that the molars have started to fall out I needed help in a hurry. Dr Lai was very profesional and explained everything I was going to need to have successful impmants done. (now have had two). I can't recommend him enough, competent professional help without a guilt trip over the previous neglect. :) And did I mention the cash discount for the no insurance people like me? Thanks Dr Lia read more

I was a recent new patient (because I just moved here) and after two visits I'm changing my dentist: First visit left me with a bad impression because Dr Lai was very very rushed. He saw me for prob 1-2 min max and just smirked "great ! easy easy new patient ! Nothing wrong with your teeth! I hope everyone's EASY like you! Now bye !" My prior two dentists (I moved frequently because of work) both told me I have multiple issues including grinding, mild bone loss, receding gum... both took the time to explain what these meant and gave me plenty of advices. I'm sure these problems did not disappear overnight so I wasn't impressed with how Dr Lai just wanted to "call it a day" simply because I had no cavities ? Second visit was also RUSHED, but Dr Lai told me my permanent retainer broke (it's a metal wire linking two tooth after my braces came off) and that he would fix it for me, but no he had no time at that time. I needed to book a new appointment with him in 3 months and it would cost $200+ out of pocket. I was worried that my tooth would shift if the retainer indeed broke and I'd rather have an orthodontist fix this, so I went to see a local orthodontist immediately --- guess what, at a free consultation appointment, the orthodontist checked and told me my permanent retainer was NOT broken and it's working just fine. Well this made me wonder if Dr Lai knows what he's doing... or does he just want to charge me $$? Anyways changing my dentist ! read more

I first started seeing Dr. Lai years ago, after my sister kept telling me over and over to go. I love Dr. Lai! The front office staff is amazing and Dr. Lai is always willing to see me when I freak out that my implant might be infected. He always makes sure I am numb when or if he has to drill. Novocain doesn't work well on me anymore. However Dr. Lai will keep trying and waiting until I feel comfortably numb enough, before he starts working on any tooth. Dr. Lai also made me a beautiful tooth for my implant many moons ago. I'm no longer on social media, but Dr. Lai was one of my Facebook friends before I left. He was one of my favorite people to see posts from. He is funny, personable and you can tell he cares about his patients and the community he lives and works in. read more

I had three cavities drilled today and it was the most painless experience I've ever had. I've seen Dr. Lai for four years now and he is incredibly compassionate while still being honest about what is best for your teeth. I had the same dentist for over 20 years prior to seeing Dr. Lai and that experience left me with a lot of anxiety around tooth pain. I thought that was just normal. Dr. Lai has taken great care of me and I'm always surprised how knowledgeable he is about things that have absolutely nothing to do with dentistry! If you have been avoiding the dentist for years due to a bad experience, or are looking for a new dentist for whatever reason, know that Dr. Lai will listen to you and take care of your concerns. read more

I understand why Dr Lai earns a five star rating. Having a crown done at his office a month or so ago I developed a gum line issue. After a quick look he informed me it was a gum issue. Numbed me up and found the culprit that was lodged. Instructed me about home care and off I went. It's the day after and I have no pain. Thank you for getting me in the same day and solving this. read more

Dr. Lai is such a competent dentist. I've had my wisdom teeth extracted here, and when he did the numbing, i could barely feel a pinch! He is really experienced in numbing and can do it with minimal pain. He always asks about comfort level. I've never had a dentist who were able to numb me without me in pain. I get my teeth cleaned regularly at Dr. Lai's office and he is always extremely detail oriented. He can see the smallest tar buildup in the x-ray and will get it out for you. He explains everything he does, all while making you feel extremely comfortable. I've tried many dental offices before but this is one to stay. Even if i were to move hours away, i will always come back to Dr Lai. read more

Excellent care from reception to the hygienist to Dr. Lai, who is a top notch dental professional, and especially great with children, dental care here has been a breeze. He has helped me recover from poor dental health and has restored my dental health and my smile! Highly recommended! read more

There are many reasons to like this office with personable staff, technology that keeps you informed and reasonable prices. I would give this team 5 Stars for that alone. Last fathers day I needed an emergency extraction. My insurance lapsed and I hadn't seen Dr Lai in quite some time. I was desperately sending emails out to clinics the night before as the pain was escalating. Dr Lai dropped everything that morning and met 1:1 with me immediately to perform the procedure. This guy REALLY cares about people. Thank you Dr. Lai. read more

Dr. Lai is awesome, in pretty much every regard. Our whole family goes to him. He's great and patient with kids. For adults, he's highly technically skilled. I have been told by every dentist I've ever been to that I have an unusually small mouth and thus, getting any kind of work done is difficult for the dentist and not fun for me. But Dr. Lai is so good at what he does, he makes it as "enjoyable" as going to the dentist possibly could be. He is calming, takes care to ensure enough Novocain is being used, checks in frequently, and is able to perform complex dental work on very hard to reach teeth. Additionally, the support staff are friendly and attentive. He is hands down the best dentist I have ever been to. read more

They're very professional and very nice. Much better than our dentist before in San Mateo. We would like to come here always for our dental treatment. read more

I have been with Dr. Lai's office for the past two years but finally had chance to get the first filling last month since I moved to Castro Valley. I had lots of filling done by other dentists before. Those were awful experience. I had cavity at the back of my tooth which is hard to see and get to. From the previous experience, I was skeptical about how painful it would be due to the position and location of the tooth but it seems so much easy for Dr. Lai. I thought it would take at least half hour to complete the process but Dr. Lai did the filling in less than 15 minutes from the numbing to completion. I am very happy to be with Dr. Lai's team. His assistants were very helpful. I had visited to his office 4 times with 3 different assistants. They are very skilled and patience. I would definitely recommend this place for dental issue. read more

My dentist retired after many years, and I had to find one. For me, going to the dentist is worse than going to the doctor. I tried Dr. Lai after he was recommended by my hair dresser in the same center. He was great, and so was his hygienist, Renata. Very thorough, gentle, and doesn't try to do work that's not necessary. I highly recommend him (and his staff). read more

I always viewed dentists as individuals who pride themselves by inflicting pain to society. I used to be absolutely terrified of going to the dentist, until I sat in Dr. Lai's chair. His staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I have never had any problems when it came to making/cancelling/changing appointments. I'm also a very curious person by nature, and always want to know what's going on. Dr.Lai understands this, and happily explains parts of the procedure...answering all my why's, how's, when's. I went in today to get a filling done for my cavity (I like sweets...and I like sweets a lot...don't judge...haha). What I dread most about these types of procedures is that nasty needle that you eventually get poked with to numb you up. Well...let's just say...I braced myself and was numb before I knew it. Didn't even feel the pain at all. Man, this frickin dentist is a miracle worker! FYI: His office is located fairly close to the Castro Valley bart station. Having a good dentist is hard to find. Finding a great dentist is near impossible, but Dr.Lai does exceptional work. He seems to really enjoy his job, is thorough, and patient. My husband and I will definitely be back for future visits. read more

I have found MY dentist at Dr Lai's office. For the past 3 years I have been avoiding going to a dentist because of fear built up from MANY dental experiences. Determined to loose my fear of dentistry rather than loose my teeth, I started my search for a new dentist. During this search process I stumbled upon Dr Lai's office. In a visit to see what their office was like, I was pleasantly surprised to meet Dr Lai himself. He told me the best thing I could do in my search process is choose the place where I felt the most comfortable. After a few more looks I made an appointment with Dr Lai. In the last 6 months Dr Lai and his staff brought my teeth back to a healthy state WHILE completely changed my out look on going to the dentist. He explained what he was doing, different treatment options and brought a comfort that only comes with confidence. I just left my second cleaning at their office where I told them I am now excited to go to the dentist. This is a major 180 degree turn from where I was 6 months ago. I must also note, while I was doing my home work, I called over a dozen local dentists office. With every encounter I felt more and more disdain for dentistry. HOWEVER, from the moment I was greeted by Dr Lai's receptionist, there was a distinct difference in tone, demeanor and service. Jenny (the receptionist) is the gem of this office and I'm certain you will not find service like this anywhere else. I hope you choose Dr Lai's office and I hope you get as excited to see your dentist as I do!!!! read more

I have been terrified to go to the dentist since I had an awful cleeaning followed by an awful "unable to numb you as i drill your teeth" incident....Luckily a friend recommended this dentist tucked into the Wellsfargo parking lot. Dr Lai was nice, knowledgable, and not trying to fill any cavities that weren't there. The office is small, yet high tech, using digitial films. Dr Lai reviews each xray and possible problem spot with you and is happy to answer any questions. The dental hygenist, Judy, was also friendly and worked with a soft touch :) I will gladly return for my 6 month check up (something I have never done!) read more

Dr. Lai is a Champ! Very accommodating, caring and honest! I have had fillings, cleaning, root canals, wisdom teeth pulled, you name it! This guy is a master of his work! read more

I was always never a fan of dentists, but since I have a great love for sweets, it was always in the presence of one. I visited a few dentists in my local area after not being able to visit one for a while and was never happy with the procedures they would literally push me to do. I felt like I always had to get things done and get them done in the most expensive way possible. I hardly had/heard options. I heard great things about Dr. Lai and his staff from some friends and I decided to make the hour-long drive for my first appointment earlier last month. I DEFINITELY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE! Dr. Lai and his staff are FANTASTIC! I never waited too long for my appointment and was always in and out of the office in a timely fashion. More importantly, I was never scared of procedures that I had to endure because of Dr. Lai's expertise, knowledge, and calming demeanor. He was always thorough in explaining what was going on, what needed to be done, and always provided options. All of this was extremely important to me. And now, going to the dentist seems like a breeze! I highly recommend setting up an appointment with Dr. Lai! You will not be disappointed! read more

Another great visit at Dr. Lai's. He is incredibly competent and still not insisting I need dental work. This is the least amount of work done to my teeth in 22 years. The staff is all friendly and the office is always very clean. read more

H Vincent Lai, DDS - General Dentistry Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I went here in search of new dentist, and to be honest I'm really glad that I did! I hadn't had a teeth cleaning in ages, and really was dreading the pain of having my gums poked at but honestly I barely felt anything. The facility was really clean, everyone was really friendly and helpful, I didn't have to wait and I was greeted pleasantly by the dentist and his technician even though I was the last appointment of the day. I will definitely be going back here, I really liked it. read more

Renata is amazing!! Best dental hygienist ever!! Thank you for always taking good care of me and my teeth! I appreciate you! You always make me comfortable when I come to the dentist! Thank you to Dr Lai for his amazing sense of humor as well!! Made my day yesterday and my teeth look great! Thanks again! read more

Dr. Lai is the man! I have had several dentists over the years and my experience here has been far better than anywhere else. I have always been greeted with a smile, and rarely have waited more than 5 minutes for my appointment. That usually includes times I arrived early. His oral hygienists are very knowledgable, and take time to educate you on he importance of flossing and the impact it has on gum health. The bedside manners are world-class and Dr. Lai's use of images on the flat screen monitors is a cut above the rest. Rather than looking at a tiny speck on a grainy x-ray, he shows you HD before and after images of your cavities, gums, and his work. I highly recommend this dentist. read more

So glad I was referred here. Haven't had a cleaning this good for ten years. They're quick and efficient and customer service is awesome. Liked my dentist so much that I'm bringing my whole family here. Had to have a tooth extraction and the procedure was a breeze. My previous dentist was horrendous and couldn't be happier with the change :) read more

I had broken bridge, re-done sevesral times, always feel terified going to Dentist. I came to H Vincent Lai office last week, had entire different experience with Dental care. Nice office set-up, cleaning environment, thorough check ups, and skillful treatment... Have been searching around all the time, did I find a fantastic Dental office in the east bay! read more

Dr. Lai is an outstanding dentist. I started going to him a few years ago and only had pleasant experiences. He is very knowledgeable, patient and is committed to doing the right thing for his patients. Dr. Lai replaced a crown, whitened my teeth and of course performed the normal teeth cleaning and checkups. These procedures were mostly for cosmetic purposes but Dr. Lai made sure that I was happy with my smile before I left his dental chair. Dr. Lai definitely cares for his patients and does not treat them like customers. I have taken my 90 year old grandma, who doesn't have dental insurance, to remove some teeth and for dentures. His fees were veryyy reasonable for the services provided and he saw my grandma multiple times without rushing the visit. He always explained the procedures that he was performing and made sure that my grandma was comfortable at all times. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Lai to anyone. Most of my family members are his patients now. read more

I can't say enough good things about Dr. Lai and his staff. It's the best dental office my kids and I have ever been to (and we've been to several over the years). He's warm, friendly, knowledgeable and is an excellent dentist! The hygienists are also friendly and do a nice job. The office staff is great and very responsive whenever I call to schedule or change an appointment or have any insurance issues. They are the best!! read more

Thru a friend referral, I have been going to this dental office and glad that I made this change. The staff is very helpful explaining to me procedures thoroughly or even paperwork with my dental insurance. I'm one to get my teeth cleaned every six months and they feel super clean....love it. :) read more

Dr. Lai is friendly and has a warm personality. He seemed very knowledgeable. Although I saw him only for a second opinion since he does not accept my insurance (and he confirmed the first dentist's evaluation), I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a friendly and patient dentist who will kindly answer your questions without seeming to be in a rush. Also, the office manager Jenny and the other woman in the office (can't remember her name) were very friendly and helpful. His office is located in the shopping center across from Safeway on Castro Valley Blvd. at Redwood Rd.; his office is in the shopping center with Wells Fargo Bank. read more

OK! You have to go to Dr. Lai! He truly is fantastic. I have always had a major fear of dentists like most people. But he really makes you feel like he cares. I had to get a root canal today; first off I didn't feel a thing when he stuck me with me with the needle to numb me. And honestly the numbing has worn off and I am not in any pain! Thank you Dr Lai! If you're in need of a dentist trust me call Dr. Lai. read more

I've went to this dentist office when I was a kid and when Dr. Berk was here. Now Berk has retired and Dr. Lai is the new dentist. I highly recomend him to anyone looking for more than a "Good" Dentist. He is one of the greatest read more