Dr. Forbes is the best dentist I have ever had. He is experienced and very thorough. He is also gentle and both my daughters never hesitated to go to the dentist. I also like the ladies at the front desk. They were very friendly and very helpful. Easy to make further appointments and they send reminders. read more

Dr Forbes is nice, but in could be more unsatisfied with the front desk. The ladies are super rude and acting like the whole world is owing them money. I visited dr Forbes back in covid and back that time. It's super nice, the whole procedure is quick and straightforward. But when tried to get another appointment, they asked you wait 9 months to get back. And they promised you something they would like to do initially, and end up with not able to proceed, and end up with last minute cancellation. After months of waiting! Nice job front desk! read more

Found this place in August 2021, (their location is very convenient, felt lazy to drive to my dentist) visited them once in October, 2021 for a very basic cleaning and annual check; I have insurance that covers these things. in January 12, 2022, got a bill from them with 2 extra fraudulent charges for the procedures they never did. the due day is in a few weeks (60 days usually given to pay by law). Called them 3 times, left messages. they never responded or gave a call-back. The bill is not that big, but I can't tolerate any dishonesty from the healthcare providers If they do such things with the basic procedure, I can't even imagine their scale of fraud on something major. FRAUD! FRAUD! FRAUD! Please, be aware and take care of your health. read more

I love doctor Lee, but the office have no appointments left until April :( . My teen forgot to schedule cleaning 6 months out and I realized that only when 6 month had pass. call them in the beginning of August and were offered an appointment on October 1st. Today called them again as my kid got a test on school on Friday and needs to reschedule - the first available appointment for cleaning is in April and they don't put you on the waitlist for earlier times, because the waitlist is too long? I don't want my child to wait for another 7 month as it has been over 9 month since last cleaning. Looking for another office for cleaning services and use this one only for emergency visits. read more

This dental office has been a godsend. I grew up without regular dental care and am very afraid of dentists. The team here has always made an effort to be calming and gentle which I really really appreciate! They've always explained everything thoroughly and answered all my questions with compassion and respect. If you are someone who gets uncomfortable at the dentist, I can't recommend this office highly enough! read more

These people are ethical! I've seen Dr. James Forbes and another on two seperate occasions. They are fair, polite, efficient, truthful. My experience with my teeth cleaning was also noteworthy. The hygenist was very gentle. I went to another dentist in Downtown Oakland 4 months ago that said I needed 2 root canals and 2 had new cavities despite the fact I have no teeth pain or sensitivity. As long as Dr. Forbes is in the local area I will always come here. They are wonderful people. read more

I went to Forbes a few years ago for a cap on a lower molar. I returned a few days later for some bite adjustment, and I told him that I was having some pain in the corresponding upper molar. He told me not to worry about it. Four days later, the upper molar disintegrated. So I switched to my wife's dentist and he did a cap on that upper molar. A year or two later, the Forbes cap fell off. I went to my dentist and he looked at it and said that there were no "box cuts." That is, none of the shaping that holds a cap on. Forbes had relied only on the adhesive to hold the cap in place! Another Forbes story: my wife has a problematic molar. She saw Forbes around 20 years ago and he said it couldn't be saved. She found her current dentist, and she still has that tooth. (Her current dentist is a genius...) read more

Dr. Kristin was just excellent in the care, very patience and I can trust her the, she does everything with patient centered. She listen to the problems and try to give the best plan of care and outcome that can be done. Thanks Dr. Kristen and her team. read more

I went in for a second opinion, and this was by Far the best dental experience I have ever had. James Forbes was quick, thorough and efficient. This will now be my regular dentist and I would highly recommend friends + Family to check this place out. read more

I have had some negative dentist experiences, and have dentist anxiety, starting as a child (shots hitting nerves and blood vessels, minor nerve damage). I also don't seem to have the best teeth and grind heavily, so have had a lot of work despite my best efforts at hygiene. I was so thrilled to find Dr. Forbes. He was calm, nice, kind, informative, very careful and gentle, always checking to make sure I was ok when he worked on me. He had pictures of his family up, they looked happy in the photos, it was all very reassuring. The office was clean and spacious, and they renovated while I was a patient there. Unfortunately after a few years I had to move out of state. I've actually considered flying back to have him do my dental work. Based on other dentist experiences it seems like he didn't under or over diagnose. Not sure if he still does them, but he was willing to give me a gold crown instead of porcelain when I asked and it feels like a natural tooth, far more comfortable than my other older porcelain crowns. Also the night guard he had made for me fits perfectly (alas it fell in the toilet and I tried to clean it with rubbing alcohol which ruined it, so I need a new one). read more

I have been going to this practice since 1983 when Dr. Adame and Dr. Forbes were working there. Now the dentists there are James Ford (son) and grandaughter!! I have been to both and they are excellent dentist and very nice people. I drive from Mill Valley to Berkeley to see them (20+ miles) and pay the bridge toll. It's all worth it. I had a problem two years ago and they fit me in for the after I called!!! Kathy, the receptionist, has been there for a very long time and she's the best. I feel like I'm going to a family gathering when I have an appointment!!! read more

The dental service good. Beware of the bill. They told us they take our insurance. After my preventative cleaning/check-up (zero problems, issues or extra needs) I got a bill for $165. It turns out they "take" the insurance, they just take more, quite a bit more, thank you. I wish that had been made more clear up front. Before the rest of my family went too. Now I'm stuck with nearly $1000 in bills for teeth cleaning. Not good. read more

I made an appointment to see Dr. Forbes -- who is fantastic but I was shocked to see the lack of distancing between the medical bays, each one was in use and there weren't any plastic shields to separate the bays. Each bay was in use when I went in yesterday. I asked the dental assistant if she thought it was safe to be in such close proximity to the other patients and she said, "We're cleaning everything but it's up to you." I didn't see any air purifiers or any other extra precautions being taken. I was already in the chair and didn't feel like making a scene. I was being examined for pain in my mouth and the dentist recommended that I get a cleaning to which I agreed. Honestly, I'm terrified now and hope that none of the patients near me were releasing Covid infected aerosols. I hope the practice reflects on this feedback and cuts back on the number of patients for the next couple of months while the cases continue to sky rocket. read more

Not sure how I should have dealt with the revised star rating but Dr Forbes just broke my heart. He's still a fantastic dentist but I've been 86ed from the place and it was a pretty traumatic ordeal for me. I missed 4 appointments in 2 months. I get it, (seriously, couldn't be avoided...just really bad luck) but the way they handled it was just awful. Brought me right back to getting in trouble with teacher. Super shitty feeling. I received a letter basically stating that I couldn't miss anymore appointments or he would stop seeing me. I just called to make an appointment and was told that he wasn't seeing me anymore. Very awkward. The receptionist read through the letter and agreed that it didn't say I was being "terminated" so she put me on hold to ask him, came back and gave me the shitty news. Probably wouldn't be such a big deal if I hadn't been seeing him since I was 15. read more

Most folks don't know this, but us cowboys aren't known for having the best teeth. Because I wash down my cigars and whisky with chewing tobacco and I pick my teeth with cactus spines, going to the dentist can be scary! So when I need to saddle-up and head to the dentist, I head to Dr. Forbes. The staff and facility are both awesome and Dr. Forbes is a pro. I never reckoned a dentist could be 'quick and painless', but this guy is as quick and painless as my old dentist, Doc Holiday. An entire check-up and cleaning in 45 minutes left this old cowboy enough time to flirt with the pretty ladies. read more

A friend of mine is a pediatric dentist but lives 3,000 miles away. She posts periodically about how parents neglect their children's baby teeth and it's a serious problem! I knew it was time to bite the bullet (no pun intended) and even though we practiced at home and she saw her sisters having their teeth cleaned, my almost four year-old was not going to be an easy patient. Kristen Forbes was magical. I brought a tiara and she wore it (my child is obsessed with princesses, so I told her a princess would be looking at her teeth). She was incredibly patient and even enlisted the big sister to help, holding the mirror and acting like a dentist in training. She riffed off games that we play to brush the child's teeth and successfully cleaned them! read more

This is not a review of the dentists there, though Dr Lee is awesome. The office has poor ventilation and the waiting room is crowded. I tried to leave the door to the outside open, was not allowed to. Why? "Because bugs might fly in." Covid 19 is worse than bugs, right? This is a superspreader waiting to happen. I won't return until I'm vaccinated. read more

Dr petzel is great. Careful and very good. She has helped my teeth a lot. She only works a few days a week but worth the wait read more

Doctor Forbes does excellent work and is the only dentist I trust. I went to another dentist because I had to pick one covered by Blue Shield. That dentist said I needed a root canal($1200-$2200 out of pocket with insurance) and a filling. I then had my x-rays sent to Dr. Forbes and all I needed was one filling instead of the root canal and no additional filling. Many years ago my sister was told she needed 8 fillings from a different dentist. She went to Dr. Forbes and he said she didn't need any. Doctor Forbes is successful because he does good work and doesn't need to cheat people and insurance companies. I'll only go to him from now on. read more

IThis place is going downhill as senior dental hygienists leave and fresh ones join. Please beware of a new dental hygienist named "Mary". Recently me and one of my friends had bad experience with her. To my surprise, Dr. Forbes sided with her. I do not recommend this place. read more

I had a great dentist in San Pablo, but when I changed jobs, they didn't take the new insurance (though I would otherwise heartily recommend them as well). I then tried a couple of local dentists who were just okay, and then I found Doctor Forbes. Every hygenist that I have had there has been top notch, but that's the easy stuff. In 2009, I was in an accident that required reconstruction. Doctor Forbes was very clear about what needed to be done, and refered me to excellent specialists for some of the details. I am very happy with the outcome of the work, and nobody can tell the difference between the crown and the real thing. Sadly, my new insurance company put this practice through hell and back (it has taken a full two years to get that mess resolved due to no fault of Doctor Forbes' nice staff), and while the staff kept me up to date on that end, they never hinted that they wished that I hadn't shown up with this loser insurance company. Oh, for those of you who went there in the past and found the waiting room to only be four stars (it really doesn't matter to me), well, they did a major remodeling job, and it is now five stars. There is even a nifty elevator for wheelchairs. read more

I saw Dr Forbes for several years and am overall pleased with the service with one exception -- they still use mercury fillings and I forgot to tell them I didn't want them -- alas, I now have a mercury filling that I'm going to get removed at great cost. Mercury is treated as a hazardous waste before and after it is in your mouth, but the ADA says it's safe once it's in your mouth -- that absurd! What else can they say? I've changed to a mercury free dentist. I truly hope Dr Forbes will become mercury free -- it is bad for the environment if nothing else. read more

The dental assistance are very thorough in their cleanings, which is a nice touch. I didn't get an instant request to get fillings, which was heartening. The entrance is a little confusing because it's an office of three or four dentists sharing receptionists. read more

I went here to get a filling. I got a shot of Novocaine in the back of my mouth but I got numb in the front. I think he hit an artery. When he started, I told him I was not numb in the back, he gave me another shot, again in the same spot. Now I'm really numb in the front and only a little in the back. I could feel him putting in the filling. He seemed annoyed when I told him I could still feel it. He didn't seem to care that I would squirm and make noise every time I felt him drilling. Patient comfort is not his main priority. On a side note, I did get a nice cleaning from a dental assistant, but I'll never go back. read more

DO NOT GO HERE! Dr. Kristin Forbes saw my child twice for cleanings in the last 10 months. Yesterday, I took my daughter to a pediatric dentist because her tooth was hurting. After taking x-rays, my daughter has 9 CAVITIES and needs 3 CROWNS and thousands of dollars worth of dental work because Dr. Kristin Forbes FAILED as a dentist. . We thought we were getting preventative work here. How can she miss 9 cavities, 3 of which are so big that crowns are needed? DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! read more

Unfortunately I can't comment much on Dr. Forbes work because I didn't need any work done - just x rays, cleaning and exam. However, the dental hygienist was not good. She couldn't make the full mouth x ray (panex) line up properly so I had to repeat the x ray and absorb the extra radiation. Teeth cleaning was similarly one of the least thorough. The office is a bit like a mobile home and parking on Solano Ave. is a bit of a hassle. read more

Honestly, the Albany office is totally out of my way now, but I will make it work! Dr. Forbes is super knowledgeable, fast, efficient, and dare I say, painless. I have gotten 6 silver fillings removed and replaced with porcelain and one chipped tooth repaired. I have also had several cleanings by him or the hygienist. All encounters have been consistently above average. I have never waited forever in the waiting room. I have never been suck in a dental chair with a numb mouth wondering when someone will get to me. I used to think I was especially immune to novocaine, dental work always hurt, no matter what. Dr. Forbes hits the nerve every time, I never feel ANYTHING. I have never had to replace any work he has done on me. I can't sing enough of his praises. To the review about missing appointments, I have missed appointments too, and never encountered anything like that. I have been going to Dr. Forbes consistently since 2009 and he also sees my son, who is 11 and has a funny thing about his mouth. He likes Dr. Forbes just fine, but hates getting x-rays. If you are considering him, do yourself a favor and go! read more

Review is for his daughter, Dr. Kristen Forbes. Best dentist ever, no joke! Dental perfection at it's best. Thank you so much! You rock! Can't wait to come back! (who says that? lol) read more

My entire family goes to Dr. Forbes. He has a great, gentle manner and personality and I trust his knowledge about everything related to dental care. My two kids, ages 5 and 8, also feel comfortable with him. I take them here instead of a pediatric dentist because I couldn't find a local one that I like. I love all the hygenists, esp. Sue, she is gentle and always give me new advice when I see her every six months. Their office staff is also nice and helpful and they have even managed to fit me in quickly when my kids or I have had teeth pain. Parking is a pain sometimes but I always manage to find parking on Solano. read more

Best dentist by far. He is the only dentist I will trust to num my mouth so I don't feel any pain. Went to dr. Lee once and she did not listen to me when I was screaming that I could feel her drilling. Kathy (receptionist)is awesome!! Ive been going here for years and now take my son to see Dr. Forbes. read more

Kristen Forbes is a complete professional. She had great bedside manner and is helpful and thoughtful. I can't recall ever having a dentist do a teeth cleaning but this seems to be part of the practice with new patients. I am very impressed with her and would highly recommend her read more

Dr. Forbes has incredibly deft hands. As his patient for over 25 years, I continue to be impressed by his absolute ease and assured manner. He is a *VERY* good dentist. read more

Today was my first visit to Dr. Forbes' office, to have a back tooth pulled. I like Dr. Forbes and his staff! Everyone was courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable. And with many years of professional care, they all did a great job. I now have a new dentist! read more

Dr Forbes is an excellent dentist. I would recommend him to anyone. my only problem is I have no insurance so sometimes have to postpone an appointment if I do not have the money. read more

Dr. Forbes did a fairly small procedure for me, nothing complex, but still his professionalism and great chair-side manner came through. I left thinking, "what a nice guy!" read more

From the front desk to the dental chair and back again, Dr. Forbes and her staff were friendly, knowledgeable and thorough. The facility is centrally located and very clean, modern and bright inside and out. I immediately felt at ease, despite being in a dental office, and was very well cared for throughout my visit. read more

They will tell you that the dental service you come in for is covered and when the insurance denies the claim, they just bill you for it and tell you there is nothing they can do. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Forbes now for about 5 or 6 years, and decided that it's time to write a Yelp review (I just saw him last week). I have gone through various dentists in my life, from my childhood dentist and from moving around to a couple of different cities as an adult. So I have a basis of comparison. Dr. Forbes gets five stars from me for a couple of different reasons. One, he is the first dentist I've had as an adult that hasn't constantly tried to "sell" me some treatment - be it fillings, a cap, whitening, peridontal work. He examines my teeth thoroughly, takes xrays twice a year - and pretty much leaves the extras up to me. I do get my teeth cleaned at his office twice per year and am very happy with the hygienists. In addition, there is not a lot of confusion about costs and insurance. He takes my insurance, and I don't get charged extra. Simple as that. Finally, there is a nice and relaxed atmosphere in the office and waiting room (which he does share with a couple of other dentists). Sort of homey - not real high tech - but maybe that's why he not compelled to try to sell all that expensive cosmetic treatment that so many other dentists are doing. Anyway, highly recommended. read more