We recently moved to Oceanside after my husband retired from a thirty year military career. My neighbor, a local, had visited many dentists before finding Dr. Howard and she gave him the highest recommendation. My 87 year old mother, my husband, and myself all have gone to Dr. Howard and have all had wonderful experiences. The office is very clean (especially comforting during COVID), has the most modern equipment, and in a convenient location. Dr. Howard's staff is friendly and professional, and the hygienists were especially gentle with my elderly mother. Dr. Howard is extremely knowledgeable, and as I had quite a bit of work to be done, I appreciated that he walked me through several options for procedures, and provided all costs up front, and in writing. In short, my family would recommend Dr. Howard to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, professional, skilled dentist. read more

I've been with Dr Howard since 2011 (14 years) and he has always taken a personal interest in my dental health. For instance, after a particularly difficult root canal, he called me at home, in the evening to check on me and offer help if needed. Who does that anymore? I've recommended Dr Howard (freely and of my on initiative) to all my friends, co-workers and family. read more

Dr. Howard is an award-winning dentist for a reason. Not only is he empathetic and compassionate as he relates to his patients, but he also gives the most meticulous attention to every tooth-related detail. I went through an extensive reconstruction and could not be more pleased with the outcome. Besides being an expert, Dr. Howard is respectful, energetic, and honest. I am so glad I trusted my teeth into his care. I cannot recommend him highly enough! read more

I've been going to Dr. Howard for at least 25years. Him and his staff are always professional, exceptional with their work, and honest and fair in price. I have always trusted his office so when it came to me having to switch to a new dentist because of insurance I was terrified as I have been taken care of so well with Dr. Howard. Sure enough, the new dentist within my new network tried to claim I had several issues that needed to be addressed that was never brought to my attention before. I was very skeptical as it seemed sales-y and hard to believe since Dr. Howard is such a perfectionist. I called Dr. Howard's office and he was nice of enough to take me in the day after I called to get a second opinion to confirm whether the work the other office claimed I needed was actually necessary. Thanks to Dr. Howard, I have saved money I didn't need to spend and I can stay clear from a dentist office that was trying to take advantage of me to get extra money vs. be honest in what's necessary. I highly recommend Dr. Howard!! He's honest and takes care of his patients ! read more

I am a retired Registered Dental Hygienist who practiced 55 years. I moved to San Diego 7 years ago and have been a patient of Dr. Howard since that time. I HIGHLY recommend him! He is kind, caring and does Excellent work!!! He gives his patient's options for needed work, gives his recommendation, but leaves the final decision up to to patient. read more

Always a good experience; friendly staff; my teeth feel fabulous-thanks to Bless the hygienist. Dr. Howard is a consummate professional-I highly recommend his office! read more

Nelson Y Howard DDS - Do not use this dentist I give them a 5 broken tooth rating with a $$$$$ for cost. They are located right next to Albertsons across the street from Lake San Marcos. Please do not use these people they ripped me off for 201.00 and are trying to bill me another $109. I am insured with great coverage. I am 100% covered for any out-of-network dentists to get an examination and annual cleanings. I had an evaluation and a cleaning with them and they are billing me and they refuse to work with me to resolve. The odd thing I noticed was that during the initial examination, the TV they used for watching movies and shows while waiting was set up right in front of me. As soon as they turned on the video explorer to look at my mouth, the screen had a definite yellow color, overlaying everything. They continued to try and sell me a tooth whitening service. I said no way. They also wanted me to have a few services performed costing thousands of dollars. They wanted to fix a "gum and tooth issue" that no other dentist has even raised an eyebrow about. read more

My experience with Dr Howard and his staff was excellent. Everyone was friendly and accommodating and Dr. Howard did a great job restoring a tooth for me that another dentist was unable to restore. He was friendly and gentle and I'm grateful to have him as my dentist. read more

Our family loves Dr. Howard and the whole staff! They do so much to make you feel comfortable, and the work they do is excellent. I would recommend them over any local dentist. They are the best! read more

I have worn dentures for forty years and needed new ones because I could not chew my food properly. Dr. Howard.fitted me with dentures that work perfectly and look beautiful. His office is serene and his staff professional and friendly. Dr. Howard is an outstanding dentist. read more

I've been going to this dentist for YEARS and I have a really hard time going because I have extreme anxiety at the dentist in general, and I've always had the most pleasurable experience here. Such nice people and the best dentist in the world. They make going to the dentist easy and care free and trust me that is not easy for me! read more

An absolute artist. By far the best dentist and cosmetic dentist around. Dr Howard transformed my smile. I could not be happier. Go see him, you won't regret it. read more

I have had many visits with Dr. Howard over the last couple of years. I must say that each and every visit I was treated like gold. His entire staff is always friendly, giving a positive family environment. Dr. Howard took me on as one of his VA patients, and worked with me, giving back to those that serve this proud country. His positive attitude and attention to detail each and every visit puts him head over heels ahead of other dentists. I have a complicated oral restoration of which his ingenuity in solving and designing different ways to restore my teeth has been his forte. He strives for perfection! I highly recommend his services to anyone that wishes to find an awesome dentist. read more

I absolutely love Dr. Howard and his friendly staff. Hands down the best dentist I have ever had. Dr. Howard is honest, forthright, and patient. I would 100% recommend his services to my family and friends. read more

You know you have the BEST dentist office when they give you cookies and a flower on Valentine's Day! I have been going to Dr. Howard since 2003 and would never go to another dentist ever again. They have the friendliest and knowledgeable staff. He is always very informative when I've needed fillings in the past which always puts me at ease. I've had many cavities and never have any issues or pain after he fixes them. I CANNOT recommend this place enough! If you care about your teeth you need to see Dr. Howard. read more

Nelson Y Howard, DDS - Valentine's Day Gift - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - San Marcos, California

Jenice is so gentle and extremely nice. My family and o have been going to Dr. Howard for over 10 years and we love him. He only does the necessary work, and always does a great job. I'd highly recommend this dentist to anyone. read more

Dr. Howard is wonderful I regret not going to see him sooner! I feel so comfortable from the moment I walk in and I feel like my treatment plan is reasonable! Thank you Karen and Bonnie for working around this busy moms schedule! They all really care about what they do and they care for their patients! read more

Can't say enough about how much our family loves Dr Howard and his staff. He has been my dentist for 29 years and I can't ever imagine anyone else touching my teeth. When you go to Dr Howard you can be confident in knowing you are going to the best dentist. He is very honest and trustworthy. read more

I hate having to get dental work done, but I love being able to go to Dr. Howard's office for my dental work. I went to him when I was a child, but moved away for a little over 10 years and when I came back, Dr. Howard and his staff welcomed me back warmly. The whole staff really gives off a sense of family with their joking with each other and laughter. I find it refreshing to see good relationships between co-workers. Everybody welcomes you with a smile and like to engage you in conversation instead of being silent and causing you to feel a bit awkward during your visits. They have advanced technology which comes in really handy when he's showing you what kind of work needs to be done. In addition to showing you your X-rays and discussing what needs to be done, he is able to show you actual photographs of your teeth that need work. I thought this was great because, well, idk how to read an X-ray! Dr. Howard knew how afraid I was of needles, so before I had to get numbed, he and his staff really helped to calm me down. The topical anesthetic helped to calm me a bit and just having knowledgeable people working on me allowed me to be at ease. Since Dr. Howard accepts my insurance, I find the pricing to be very affordable. I was actually shocked to see how cheap it would be for me to get the work done that I needed. And for the kind of service provided, I would be willing to pay more than what I do! (But I'm very happy that I don't have to :) I highly recommend this dental office to anybody looking for quality care. read more

Love the service and staff. Dr Howard knows how to identify, treat, and prevent further issues with no pain whatsoever.

After trying a couple of different dentists I found Dr. Nelson. His office is so welcoming and billing is so easy. Best of all, Dr Nelson is a wonderful dentist. I am not the easiest patient. I do not like going to the dentist and I tend to be kind of anxious but Dr. Nelson is very patient and reassuring. I am very lucky to have found a dentist nearby who has patience and gives such exceptional dental care. read more

Dr Howard is is a great man and a great dentist. It was a pleasure meeting him and being a patient. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I am not a fan of the dentist, (who is) but the staff here are so caring and professional. I was instantly comfortable . Dr. Howard is straight forward and doesn't try to rush you through a procedure. Bonnie is gentle and constantly makes sure you are comfortable.. I have a lot more work to do, but I am looking forward to getting or done at Dr. Howard's office read more

Me and my family have been coming here for years. He is very thorough when explaining procedures and very particular, which provides the best results. He is great with our children. The dentist can be a scary place for the young ones, but he has a way of making them comfortable. He is the best! read more

I spent over a year and over $100,000.00 no joke! with this dentist. I believe I have significant experience to make a proper rating. I asked Dr Howard to find and correct a dental occlusion. After a year I am worse off than I started. Either this doctor was working out of his area of expertise or was bilking me for all I was worth. Sorely disappointed and broke. read more

Accommodating and friendly, everyone in the office makes you feels like they are happy to see you. Every visit so far has been a pleasant experience with great results. read more

Dr Howard has been our family dentist for over 5 years now. We are a family of 5 with 3 young children and it was important for me to find a dentist that sees adults and kids, were really good and patient with my kids, and didn't make me feel like they were trying to squeeze money out of me at every opportunity. Dr Howard and his staff definitely live up to all my expectations and I'm so grateful we found them. I highly recommend him! read more

I have been going to Dr. Howard for 6+ years after a recommendation from a coworker. I couldn't be happier with the care I have received over the years. Every time someone asks me for a dentist recommendation (I'm in HR so it happens a lot) I always send them here because I know they will be well taken care of. I would never go see anyone else in San Diego. Since Dr. Howard is a cosmetic dentist he always ensures that his work not only fixes you but looks good too. read more

This dentist has saved my teeth! After deciding to go the cheaper rout by going to another local dentist who screwed up four crowns he was able to correct the issue and now I am able to chew again as well as have ice cream without pain. The only thing I regret is that I already spent a ton of money on the other dentist and so the lesson here was that sometimes it's worth it to spend the extra money and I will never mess around again when it comes to my oral health. read more

Dr Howard & staff deserve an extra star or two they are stellar, my previous dr was a rush job hack, I do believe I just got the best crown ever placed in a mouth. Do yourself a favor & choose Dr Howard. I'm glad I found him!!!!!! read more

Dr. Howard and staff are very pleasant and I don't doubt that he is a good dentist judging from other reviews. But if you don't have insurance or complete insurance coverage be warned. I had a tooth that was sensitive to cold and visited him. They took many x-rays but could not really find a problem. The tooth did not have a reaction to the "cold test" so he said it was probably the problem tooth. He said he could do a root canal right then and the senior discount price would be $1250 !!! I felt I was being pressured on something that needed research and he took advantage of me being in some pain.Dr. Howard kept saying "but that includes the filling" ?? Don't all root canals include a filling? I left. Thank Goodness. I did research, saw another DDS who felt it would be unethical to drill into a tooth that looks perfectly normal and revisted him 2 months later. Because pain was still there this DDS (who charged me nothing for 2 visits and x-rays) sent me to an endodontal specialist in LaJolla. He said I did need a root canal but there was no hurry. Because his price for uninsured seniors was $500, I had it done, simple and stress free. It's heartwarming to know that there are compassionate doctors around. Also, the week following my visit with Dr. Nelson, his staff called me multiple times asking me to come back in. Geez! read more

Dr. Howard is as good as it gets when it comes to dentistry. His attention to detail is phenomenal, top quality work, extremely talented and always enjoyable to see. The entire staff is very friendly and caring, I've been a patients for 15 years and refer people every opportunity I have. read more

Friendly reception staff, dentist and hygienists. I drive from 45 minutes away to receive top notch treatment.

Look no further if you need excellent state-of-the-art dental care! I have been a patient of Dr. Howard for over ten years. I would trust no other dentist with my smile. read more

Dr. Howard is an outstanding dentist who understands every aspect of dentistry and can not only provide general dentistry, but also cosmetic dentistry (such as veneers), root canals, oral surgery, etc. That is the joy of visiting Dr. Howard, you will rarely be referred out to another office for things like wisdom teeth removal and such. I came to Dr. Howard after being used and abused at a "chop shop" dentist's office in Carlsbad, who told me I needed a root canal when in fact I didn't. Dr. Howard was able to save my tooth without a root canal, and that makes me a fan for life! He also removed all 4 of my wisdom teeth in 1 visit with no pain at all! If I hadn't moved down to Hillcrest, I would probably still be seeing Dr Howard, but I just couldn't stomach the drive to Carlsbad any more, so I moved to a dentist that is a block away from my work. I'm giving this place 4 stars only because it's very expensive, they take most dental insurance but you will pay the difference between what the dental plan labels "Reasonable and customary" and what Dr. Howard's fees actually are. However, when it comes to your comfort and your mouth, don't shop on price, shop for a dentist who knows what they are doing and comes highly recommended. read more

Anyone who says Dr. Howard's dentistry is expensive is a dental dummy. There are only a hand full of GREAT dentists in the North County and Dr. Howard is the BEST!!! You definitely get what you pay for from him. I'm sure he would have no problem fixing your discounted dentistry so you could see and feel the difference. Just walk into his office and see the many smiling faces of his patients on the walls. I'm sure they will tell you he was well worth their time and money. read more

Dr. Howard and his staff are such a pleasure to deal with. The office is very attractive and clean and Cathy the receptionist is always friendly as is Alessandra the hygienist and Myra the woman who schedules appointments. But Dr. Howards is why I have been a patient for over 15 years. Kind, considerate and totally professional. If he moved out of state, I'd travel to him for all my dental needs. He's THAT GOOD! You will not find a better dentist. So knowledgeable and such a perfectionist. A+++++ read more

Yes, five stars, it is as good as it gets for Dr. Howard and his staff. My family of 4 are all so grateful and thankful for the superb, outstanding care each time we go to Dr. Howard's office. Dr. Howard has made many crowns for me as I had been grinding my teeth for decades and I my teeth were severely worn down. My crowns are perfect. My daughter, son and husband and I have been going to Dr. Howard for 8 years. My son who moved up north and could not find a good dentist, flew down while visiting us stating he would not go to any other dentist but Dr. Howard. The staff is exceptional. Dr. Howard is the finest dentist our family has ever had. read more

Dr. Howard is an ok dentist but he is so overpriced. When I went to him and part of my crown was not covered by my insurance I found out that he charges almost double what most dentists charge. I would NEVER go to him and pay that much when I can find great dentists all over san diego for a lot (and I mean a lot) less!!! read more

I needed a dentist closer to my home and found Dr. Nelson Howard. He is very professional and his staff is friendly and welcoming. If things are not quite perfect, he does everything to make it right. I am a demanding patient who loves perfect teeth and veneers. Needed crowns replaced and root canal treatment and all went smoothly with no pain. He is highly qualified and much more reasonable than dentist in L.A. or other San Diego offices. - Gail read more