I have been a patient of Dr Arellano since he took over the business. Needless to say i love and appreciate his staff many of whom started with him which says a lot about him and his professionalism. On top of that Leo's skills, continuing dedication to education and his artistic bent makes him an excellent better than all around dentist. I especially resonate with the conservative approach to dentistry read more

I'm sad to strongly urge reconsideration of anyone choosing Dr. Arellano as their dentist, as he has demonstrated unprofessionalism, and a strong disdain towards seeking a simple second opinion regarding proposed dental procedures. I had been a patient of Dr. Arellano's and recently was very disappointed with his unprofessionalism and treatment of me after I sought a second opinion about fillings he had recommended. His behavior demonstrates that he is very uncomfortable with any type of reasonable and considerate questions. One of the fillings he recommended did not appear on the xray, and the other was up to judgement whether it had reached the dentin layer of the tooth, and so I was unsure about proceeding with an invasive and expensive procedure, and decided to seek a second opinion. I had recently moved to San Francisco, and my previous dentist had never brought up issues with these teeth, and so I just wanted to double check. Seeking a second opinion is a common practice in the medical and dental fields; friends and family have done so without their providers taking it personally. He dismissed me and said that he did not want for me to be his patient anymore, because he now feels like he is being watched, that eyes are on him and that it is hard for him to work like that, and that he can't trust me since I got a second opinion. Throughout the whole conversation, I maintained my composure and respectful tone towards the doctor and reiterated that I appreciated his expertise, however, this was not reciprocated. He started irrelevantly questioning me about why I have a history of xrays from multiple dentists- those sources being my childhood hometown dentist and a dentist from when I lived in DC. He tried to invalidate me by saying that people get second opinions for major things, not things like fillings. While fillings may be a minor everyday operation to the doctor, this involves my teeth and my health and therefore it is important to me, something which he was dismissive of. Overall, Dr. Arellano took my getting another opinion as personal attack, and his subsequent questioning of me was unprofessional and disappointing. Dr. Arellano unfortunately appears to operate with the 'always right' mindset, and that the patient should not ask questions or seek second opinions-- an antiquated way of thinking in 2024. read more

I recently moved to SF and started looking for a new dentist. Found Dr Arellanos practice, checked out his website and I looked no further. Made an appointment. Everyone is so nice, friendly and welcoming. Dr meets with you, asks some questions, listens to you. I will admit, I'm very afraid of dentist, I go every six months but still panic, get tense. I clench my hands but this time around I felt comfortable, was not nervous. Dr Arellanos demeanor was so calming I was not clenching my hands ! The exam rooms roof are glass so you see the sky and a garden. So different and much nicer than a wall, tv or wall art The examination was detailed and he's explaining everything he's doing. I'm so happy I found him! My better half is coming to see him too! I look forward to my next appointment. Thank you Dr Leo for a wonderful experience read more

I have been a devout client of this dentistry for years now. Each nurse and doctor with whom I have interacted with/received care from have exceeded my expectations. My primary care dentist has been Dr. Nick. He is a thorough, diligent, and insightful care provider whom I would recommend to anyone. I have underwent a variety of different healthcare initiatives with this office, and have been completely satisfied by my treatment. I hope he can start his own practice one day! I am quite glad to have found this office, and I hope anyone who is need of quality dental care stumbles into this dental practice. read more

I first visited Dr. Arellano's office referred by Kariser to get a Sleep Apnea night guard.It was in 2017 and I visited his office twice. He was a great dentist and thoroughly and patiently explained how to use the guard and adjust it, etc. It was a very pleasant experience. Back then my dental insurance was not covering Dr. Arellano's office, so I was visiting another dentist for routine work. I have changed jobs recently and I found that his office accepts my new insurance and I gave Dr. Arellano's office another visit after around 3 years. This time for a check-up and routine work. In my first visit, he spent perhaps close to 30 mins taking pictures and explaining what is the condition of each of my teeth and he recommended working on only one of the teeth. In the visit which I had with another dentist 1 year prior, the dentist was insisting that he needs to work on 3 of my teeth. In contrast to the previous dentist, Dr. Arellano explained to me that 2 other teeth show some early signs of problem but they are fine and he did not think they needed immediate attention. He recommended that I floss/brush those teeth better and have an eye on them. In my second visit he worked on the one tooth that he said needed work, and I cannot be happier with the final work. He performed and excellent job. The teeth is not taller or shorter than before and I did not feel any pain that I usually experienced for 2 days after visiting dentists. I wish I had him work on my teeth even when his office was not accepting my old insurance. I highly recommend him. He is pretty booked, so if you plan to visit Dr. Arellano, I suggest you plan ahead. In my experience he is usually booked for the next 4-6 weeks (that again speaks to quality of his work). read more

Why is there no negative rating in yelp ? If there was a negative, he would get a -10. My 3 month relationship with Dr Arellano and his staff have been nothing but a NIGHTMARE, a living HELL ! Unfortunately he is one of very few providers for a special treatment called an oral appliance for treating sleep apnea which causes me chronic fatigue during the day impacting my effectiveness at work and socially. Not responding to EVERY and ANY other treatment (other than surgery, which I will not do) I was suggested to try an oral appliance. I had to jump through SOOO many hoops in the long, painful & stressful process to even get them to talk with me. Then, they refused to deal directly with my insurance company (Aetna) and I had to make all of the calls to get a pre-certification and to get them approved as an in-network provider, which is EXACTLY what they asked me to do. Even before all of this they said that they would see me if I paid the $3500 fee upfront. I agreed then they changed their mind insisting that I continue the process with the insurance company to get the required authorizations. This took so many more phone calls between my prescribing doctor, the insurance company and Dr Arellano's office to get everybody in sync because they were uncooperative and would not even call the insurance company to provide requested information. The process dragged on for many more weeks until I finally got the authorization from the insurance company that they requested. But they STILL insisted that I pay the entire $3500 upfront which I agreed. They were the exact opposite of compassionate and caring and even though I agreed to pay IN FULL, they still dragged the scheduling of out my appointment. On my appointment day, he made they molds to send to the lab and I paid the amount they requested, expecting that we had finally reached the mountain, with a big sigh of relief ... But no ... there was more ... Out of curiosity, I asked him during the 1 hour appointment what was the lab cost for the device and he said about $700, meaning that his services for making my mold and followup would be $2800. While that seemed outrageously exorbitant to me, I figured if the insurance company would pay it, they why should I care. Shortly after the treatment, I received the statement from the insurance company showing that they would not reimburse me the full amount for the procedure and they contacted Dr Arellano about his illegal practice of charging me in full up front. In an explosive email, he wrote me that he was cancelling my oral appliance at the lab, discontinuing our relationship and refunding my money. I begged him to let me contact the insurance company to appeal the decision but he could not care less. He was heartless and indifferent to my medical condition and need for his services. Waiting for the insurance company to respond, I pleaded with him given my serious medical diagnosis, to please consider some negotiated amount since it was ALL out of pocket and I expected to get reimbursed in full by the insurance company, since I had already hit my max deductible and out of pocket max. He did not respond other than to send me copies of the refund that he processed returning all of my money. After several days and many calls by me, the insurance company finally responded to my appeal and approved to reimburse the full amount that he was demanding. I sent Dr Arellano the good news expecting him to be pleased with my successful efforts to increase the allowable amount for the procedure. No reply other than 'I still stand by election to terminate this doctor/patient relationship due to the lack of trust in us.' I even asked my sweet wife to call them and plead on my behalf for the months I had invested in getting to this point but he would not call her back. The hardest part is that I had a change of employers and my insurance had expired so I would have to go back to square one with the entire thing with my new insurance company. He has been greedy, heartless, rude and I could use much harsher words to describe my treatment by Dr Arellano and his assistant Mei. It is clear that after my many requests that he reconsider, he closed the issue and 'mailed the formal dismissal letter' to me. I have every intention of filing a complaint with the BBB, insurance company, and the state dental and medical review boards over his unprofessional and unethical behavior. Nothing would make me happier than to see his license revoked. I am sure there are many others out there who he had treated similarly. Please don't use this dentist/doctor. Please tell your friends not to use him. Let's see how/if he responds to this...Bring it on. Anyone can contact me for details to back up my complaint. read more

I have always been over-the-top terrified of the dentist. Not any more! Dr. Arellano and his entire staff are amazing. I was not even nervous coming in for a more involved procedure than I had ever needed before. Pain management was perfect. The dental technician who does my cleanings (regular and deep) is fantastic. I am finally taking care of my teeth because of this practice, since I'm not longer afraid to get things done and have stopped avoiding the dentist. The front desk staff are wonderful too. If I could give this practice a million stars I would. read more

I went to Dr. Arellano from 1999 through 2007. I was pleased with his work and his staff. Unfortunately, in the beginning of 2007 he put in a crown for me (not the first) that had everything go wrong that could -- much pain and many visits. I was puzzled and surprised at how the quality of care went from very good to lousy. I filed a greivance with my insurance company Delta Dental. Delta sent me to one of their dentist examiners who reported that the work was unsatisfactory. Delta reversed the $700 they paid Dr. Arellano. read more

amazing experience! amazing and friendly and very informative i felt right at home and very comfortable with the team here very excited that i found my new dentist! read more

I went to Dr. Leo Arellano for an oral evaluation and a teeth cleaning. Dr. Arellano informed me that I had multiple cavities that needed to be filled. Because I was starting a new job, I decided to wait because I wanted to go to a dentist that was located near my new job. A couple months later I went to see a dentist near my job because I wanted to get my cavities filled and to my surprise, my new dentist (who happens to be a Professor at Stanford University) informed me that I did NOT have any cavities at all. This allows me to believe that Dr. Leo Arellano falsely diagnosed me to receive additional compensation. It's easy to forget the harsh reality that some dentists are not trustworthy and are not dentists because they care about their patients and their oral health. Some dentists, like Dr. Arellano, do not mind running scams that may harm patients physically and monetarily. read more

This morning I had an appointment at 10a or so I thought. At 9:15 I got a call from Mai asking me if I was on my way and I said I had not left yet as I thought my appointment was at 10a. She reminded me that it had actually been at 9a. I apologized and she asked me if I remembered that a missed appointment charge was $150 - $300 depending on what the appointment was for. No, I did not remember that. I don't recall signing anything to that affect either. I have been a patient at this office for about 14 years since before Dr. Arellano owned it. It used to belong to a Dr. Hordner (I am not sure if that is the correct spelling). I have never missed an appointment during this time. I drive here from Daly City as this office was recommended to me when my family moved here. I am a Nurse Practitioner at a county clinic and we do not charge money for missed appointments. Maybe we should. Pay if you go, pay if you don't...it would probably decrease our no-show rate. Too bad that you were too sick to come or had car trouble. Those excuses should not exempt you as you could just lie about them. I will say on their behalf that recently I purchased a night guard from them and it did not work out and they refunded my money. My family will be looking for a new dentist who does not charge such an exorbitant amount for a missed appointment. Scott Cuyjet read more

When I went to dr Arellano I had been told by a periodontist that I needed to lose three teeth due to gum disease. I was also in constant pain. Dr Arellano acknowledged my panic and grief and suggested laser surgery.Now, two years later, I still have all my teeth and I even have bone regrowth on some of them! Debbie is my hygienist and she is fast, gentle and lovely to chat with. She also recommends home care specifics. I have gotten over my terror of dentists thanks to the amazing and caring staff at this office. This also includes Mae, the incredibly friendly and personable receptionist. I cannot recommend them enough.... read more

I have had gum recession for years and was afraid to have surgery to correct it. A good friend recommended Dr. Arellano and, I went in for several dental cleanings before deciding to have the surgery done. He and his staff took very good care of me. When it was time for the surgery (three quadrants), I could tell the care he took with each step (including a big gum line filling). After the surgery, he and his office were easy to reach for any questions. I felt cared for with each step. Dr. Arellano is an excellent doctor and his kindness and dedication are clear. A big thank you to his staff, Mei and all the work he puts in to find that best answers to his patients' needs. read more

Dr. Arellano and his staff were extremely accommodating, knowledgeable and kind. My insurance was running out at the end of the month and they made every effort to accommodate my schedule and get me in for everything that I needed, which turned out to be a lot! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Mei at the front desk responded promptly to the emails I sent and even made it a priority to let me know as soon as there were cancellations so I could take the appointment. She also was great at helping break down insurance and cost. I would highly recommend Dr. Arellano and am so glad I found a dentist that is not only good at what he does, but who makes you feel very comfortable while in his office. read more

I've been coming here since 2013 and had quite a few procedures done to repair years and years of not being able to see a dentist. I initially picked this place because it was far away from my office downtown at the time. One of the key features of this office is their glass atrium that looks out to a small enclosed garden. It's very relaxing and soothing to sit in the chair during long procedures and look outside or have natural lighting instead of a white-walled room with fluorescent lights. I've had my teeth cleaned by Debbie. Annie and Mannie who are all really nice and awesome people. They don't sweat me about my oral hygiene habits but will demonstrate and educate me if they notice anything. Dr. Arellano patched up my cavities and replaced all the really worn out silver fillings I had as a child. He also did a gum graft on me that has helped heaps with tooth/gum sensitivity I had been experiencing for years. Mei is also a staple at the office and is such a sweetheart. It's a pleasure to be in communication with her as she helps me navigate the confusing world of insurance. Mei keeps me on top of my progress and payments. Everyone here is extremely professional and kind. I recommend this office and their services to anyone who is looking for a pleasant environment with people working with you to get what you need done. read more

I really appreciate the excellent quality,service and expertise Dr. Leo Arellano and his staff offer. For me finding a quality dentist is like finding a quality auto mechanic not always an easy task....and I feel really fortunate to have been referred to Dr Arellano's office some years back. Recently he replaced a gold crown a different doctor had placed many years ago and everything about the quality of care, integrity, supper clean office and the visit in general was as usual very top notch! Fantastic! Excellent job! Thank you everyone at Dr. Arellano's office! read more

MEH. OK everyone here is nice enough. Surely they are professional and doing their jobs. However when I first came there I told them I hadn't had health insurance so hadn't been to the dentist in awhile. So I had to have THREE cleanings instead of one which cost me an extra $700. The whole time I'm getting my cleaning I'm being lectured and asked questions by the hygienist (my mouth is open, you're using tools in it, why are you asking me to speak?!). How many lectures to floss do I need? At least once every single time I visit. And a demonstration on it every other time. I found another dentist and they let me know they charge a fee to send copies of records but they'll waive it "this time." They want your money and they want to be right. The dentist chair sucks, but at least can I close my eyes and relax? NOPE I have to hear about WHAT A BAD TOOTH-OWNER I AM. read more

Dr. Arellano is the most careful, caring and professional dentist I have ever visited. His office is clean and modern and his staff are courteous and attentive. His prices are fair although I'm of the "i don't care just hurry up and don't hurt me school". There are no faux niceties (a received a birthday email from a previous butcher/dentist--wtf?!?) but if you are in to chatting while at the dentist (I have heard others) it seem that the staff is down. I think I have found my "forever" dentist! And this review is based on over 8 visits during a 15 month period. read more

I just moved here from Seattle and this was my first visit in 10 years to a different dentist and I have to say, hands down, the best dental experience I have had! Great staff and Dr. Arellano took his time and did a thorough examination and answered all my questions. If you are looking for a new dentist, this is your person!!! read more

Dr. Arellano and his staff are consummate professionals. I've been a patient there for many years and found that the quality and attentiveness of the work they perform is exemplary. I drive from Marin to see Dr. Arellano. I agree with all of the above reviews except the one negative one. read more

I've been seeing Leo for over 11 years and he's done all kinds of good work for me. He's easy to talk to, explains all the options, and seems to keep up with the literature: always a good sign in a doctor! I recommend him to anyone. Minor pluses: - Cute assistants Minor negatives: - Cute assistants aren't available - No nitrous oxide - Closed on Fridays Oh, and as someone else mentioned on here, Debbie the periodontist is cool beans. read more

Dr. Arellano, May and the rest of his staff have all been consummate professionals! I have been very impressed with him taking time to explain everything regarding my new oral appliance, as well as emailing and calling me to make sure everything is going as planned. Very unusual level of service! Highly recommended!! read more

Going to Dr. Arellano made me realize that I've gotten half-assed dental care until now. He is so careful, thorough, professional and thoughtful with his patients. Truly a reparative experience! read more

I've been coming here for about three years and they are fantastic! Very thorough and holistic intake that they update every visit. Everyone who works there is really nice and helpful and scheduling is always easy. They also offer complimentary teeth cleaning to regular clients on occasion. I'm not a huge fan of going to the dentist but this is about as painless as going to the dentist can be. Highly recommended. read more

Dr. Arellano is amazing. I am the BIGGEST baby when it comes to pain and he is just so gentle and quick and his work is amazing. I've had horrible teeth my entire life and am alwayd in need for something to be done. I've lived in San Jose for 3 years and I can not ever picture going to another office. Way worth the drive! Everyone in the office is fantastic and professional! read more

I've been going to Dr. Arellano's dental office for quite a few years now and I continue to be impressed with the high quality of dental care I receive. All the staff are very professional, courtesy and kind. I have quite a few dental issues (gum disease, recurring abcesses) so I've received specific treatments for these issues. I always feel like my concerns are taken seriously. And when I go to Dr. Arellano's office, I am treated like a collaborative partner in my own care, which I deeply appreciate. I think all the practitioners here take great pride in their work and they enjoy what they do. In the past, since I was a child, I have received care from dentists that were "just doing their job" and were quite barbaric in their care. I couldn't be more pleased with the care I get from Dr. Arellano and his staff and am proud to call Dr. Arellano my dentist! read more

Well... I've been a patient of Dr. Arellano for twenty-five years. More notably... I engaged the good doctor when I lived in the Richmond District near GG Park, but since 1992, I've been living in Alameda. Also, the dental insurance I've carried over the years from job-to-job did not consistently list Dr. Arellano as "in-network". Nevertheless, he is still my dentist. His advice, professionalism, periodic scolding, good humor, and impeccable skills have kept me coming back. He is committed to keeping-up with the latest technology. Several years ago when implant technology matured, Dr. Arellano coordinated a lengthy process with an oral surgeon to complete my treatment. Needless to say, I have been quite satisfied with the result. The offices of his practice are pristine and state-of-the-art. The staff is flexible, polite, accomodating, experienced, and share the doctor's good humor - most important for a dentist's office. You can't go wrong... read more

For years I have gone down town for my dental cleanings thinking that the attention down there was the best. Today I went for a cleaning with Annie Lam at the office of Leo Arellano. She was careful, attentive and very nice. Although I am not a fan of teeth cleaning as I have gum recession, Annie made it easy and the staff throughout the office is cheerful. Best of all is how CLEAN the teeth are now. WOW! Thank you! read more

6 years since my last review of Dr. Arellano so it's time to update. In the past 6 years, Dr. Arellano has provided continuing excellent care to the Huz and me (with excellent assistance from Mei). We are moving out of state soon, and may get our teeth cleanings there, but we will definitely return to Dr. Arellano once or twice a year for follow up. We wouldn't even consider going to anyone else. Seeing Dr. Arellano and Mei will be well worth the plane tickets. read more

Hands down the best dentist I've ever had. Thanks to a former co-worker's recommendation, I've been in great care for the past 2 years. Like most, I am not a fan of dentists & the pain they seem to inflict on me, but Dr. Arellano is soooo goood. I usually brace myself everytime I have to get a shot in the mouth, but just yesterday, he gave me the BEST SHOT EVER! He was elated that I told him too. It was super gentle. I asked if he changed his technique (not that the other shots were ever horrible... just not this good), but he just stated that different parts of the mouth require different levels of care due to sensitivity. In all other respects he is also awesome. And, his staff is amazingly nice & on point... Mei especially & I forget the dental assistant's name that usually helps Dr. A (a young & very sweet Latina/White? chicadee). I also have Debbie as my hygenist, and she is cool beans. She tells me how it is and what I need to do to make it better. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Hahn and Dr. Arellano (same office) for over four years, and they are both fantastic. Very patient, gentle, and careful to explain everything to you as they go along so you understand what's being done and why, and you know how to take care of your teeth to keep from having any problems in the future. Seriously I know all dentists kind of tell you what's going on, but Dr. Hahn and Dr. Arellano are more in depth than any other dentist I've been to, and I never feel like I'm inconveniencing them by asking lots of questions. They're careful to work with my insurance so that I get as much coverage as possible, and I never feel rushed at their office. Also, parking is easy, and the receptionist is very friendly too. All the way around, a good experience. I just wish I lived closer so the drive across town didn't take forever. read more

I started seeing Dr. Hahn, at Dr. Arellano's office, about 5 years ago and was very happy with her work. When I found out that Dr. Hahn decided to pursue other things in her life, I was very hesitant to change doctors. After my husband's first visit with Dr. Arellano, I decided to make an appointment. I am so glad I did. Dr. Arellano's confidence and preciseness has made going to the dentist more relieving. I was very nervous to the point of almost a panic attack when having a large amount of amalgam removed as well as a couple of teeth restored. I started to put my trust in Dr. Arellano's dedication to his profession and I sailed through the procedure. Now I am not so nervous about going to the dentist due to his professionalism and constant pursuit for perfection. He has a great staff of assistants and hygienists -not to forget Mei. Mei has a cheerful, positive energy. She is very organized and has been more than helpful many times. read more