I've now shown up for two separate appointments that were canceled without any notice. Both times, I was told they had texted me, but when I showed staff my phone proving I had received zero communication outside of my original appointment confirmation, I was told I must have "opted out" of notifications. No accountability, no apology, just blame-shifting to the patient. The providers are good. The front office is a different story. If your time has any value to you, factor that in. read more

Always have had a great experience at Pastel. The hygienists are very good and thorough at regular cleanings and deep cleanings, excellent in exams and explanations around tooth maintenance and care. Front desk is always very nice and accommodating and will easily adjust schedule. Happy to work with your insurance to determine correct coverage and provide out of pocket information prior to services. Very high recommendation. read more

I originally saw Dr. Life who was great but moved away from the area. I've been going for probably 5 years and all the hygienists are great. I had to get fillings for the first time here and had Dr. Morrow, who I had seen briefly after cleanings. She was amazing as she was both meticulous and very aware of patient's anxiety and comfort level and best yet, she didn't make you feel shame for having cavities like a lot of dentists. You can see she's a great leader as she was so complimentary to the other staff. read more

I was seeing Dr. Life, but she left and moved to Denver. I am now seeing Dr. Morrow. She is great, I liked her a lot! Me with dental anxiety I am nervous at the dentist, which makes me jumpy. I avoided the dentist the entire time during Covid and my dentist before Dr. Life was not sensitive to me and my fears. When I met Dr. Morrow for my fillings that I was getting done she sat down and talked with me. She said that Dr. Life told her a lot about me and that it was so nice to meet me. I felt at ease right away and she took time to get to know me. I was nervous before she came into the room because of my anxiety I have and its hard to go from one dentist to another with a flip of a switch. Dr. Morrow was funny making me feel as comfortable as possible when she was doing the numbing, while distracting me! I never thought that I would be laughing while a needle was in my mouth. I am grateful that I am at Pastel dental and that I have another great dentist. I am not going anywhere else i refuse to after all the bad experiences I have had, this office is the best I have been to! read more

Pastel Dental - The office is nice clean and modern. The light is cool underneath the front desk/ reception. - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was having a positive experience up until the last year. I have had numerous times in the last year where it has been requested that I change my appointment time. When I am unable to make the new time, the time they offer is unavailable within minutes. Most recently, I had an appointment and confirmed the time, however it seems they recorded the wrong time (15 minutes earlier), and marked me as a no show! I had the documentation to show their error, but was unable to be seen regardless. At least I was refunded the $100 no show fee. There have been some obvious shifts in staffing, so I'm not sure if this has anything to do with how my experience has turned out. They certainly seem to be dealing with some administrative issues, specifically around scheduling, and the front desk is very quick to blame the hygienists and their schedules. Feels very unprofessional and I would warn anyone looking to join their practice as a patient, if you value your time and have a tight schedule. read more

TLDR: Great people, location, prices. Have my trust and I will continue to be a customer as long as I live in SF. Patel dental is no longer the closest dentist to my home by a long shot. I happily will drive the 20 minutes every time, and continue to do so, because they just deliver really fantastic service. More importantly, I really trust them. I don't think they are there are there to nickel and dime me but instead are reasonable, honest advocates for my dentistry needs. Together we even found a strategy to avoid some scary procedures by just increasing the the number of regular cleanings I have (which cost me like $10 after insurance). All around love this place and so excited for them that they seem to be doing well. The new office is definitely a big upgrade and is super nice, easier to park at. read more

Great local dentist with friendly staff. They do a thorough cleaning. My teeth always feel clean when I leave They also always provide a goodie bag after your semi-annual cleaning! They did recommend a prescription toothpaste once - I bought it and am convinced it doesn't work. Overall, I recommend. I appreciate that they don't make me feel guilty when I say I forget to floss sometimes - I've had other dentists act like I'm the worst for this. There is no parking lot but street parking is easy or just take the 38 bus route down Geary. read more

This is my second review about this practice and I can't stress enough how happy am I with choosing Dr. Pastel' office. I have been a long-time patient of Pastel Dental, and let me tell you how amazing this office is. From the moment you step foot into the practice you are greeted by very welcoming smiles. The office itself is clean and modern. Dr. Pastel and staff use the most up to date technology and materials. He and his staff are the best! read more

I completed several crowns with Dr. Pastel, and he did an exceptional job. His attention to detail and bedside manner are unmatched. The office is beautiful and the staff is very accommodating. I highly recommend Dr. Pastel and his team! read more

Lack of patience and superficial care is obvious here. Might be a good place for cosmetic care but for normal dental care not recommended. They try to get the most out of you and your insurance in anyway possible even by putting you on the spot or giving you wrong qoutes read more

I, like most non-masochistic individuals, have never liked going to the dentist. It's not just the "having someone poking around in your mouth for 1+ hours thing" - it's the whole experience. You know, the sterile, beige, windowless waiting room. The apathetic monotoned front desk lady (or worse yet the one so fake friendly that you feel they're about to try to convert you to scientology). The damn clipboard with a selection of 10 pens, 9 of which don't work. The dentist that asks you questions about your personal life and their investment portfolio while they're wrist-deep in your mouth. I could go on... Well, Pastel dental is the exact opposite of that. You walk into a cozy waiting room filled with natural light. Whoever is at the front desk checks you in quickly (and with a tablet), and the banter feels more like what you get at the local barbershop - friendly, relaxed and authentic. Once you enter the dentist's office, there is an open environment (no rickety plastic curtains or claustrophobia-inducing exam rooms) and good music playing in the background (none of that on hold with a telecom monopoly BS muzak). As you walk in, you're immediately attended to (like at a hotel, not when you stumble into the VIP section of a strip club). It sort of feels like the apple store - only without the wait times and Devry university dropouts that you have to call "geniuses". All the staff are courteous and professional, without being uptight and judgmental (even when I inform them that my flossing schedule is sporadic at best). They even laugh at my jokes - and my jokes are terrible (thanks, Julia). Most importantly, Dr. Pastel knows his stuff and not only explains in layman's terms what procedures he will be performing and the cool new gear he'll be doing it with, but he does so with an enthusiasm that makes even dentistry seem borderline exciting. All that said, yes - going to the dentist sucks. But Pastel Dental makes it suck a whole lot less than I ever thought it could. Keep it up, Guys - my sparkly chompers thank you. read more

Pastel Dental - The most fun I've ever had getting a filling. - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - San Francisco, California

Been coming to this office for years and love the doctors and the stuff . Would recommend to anyone

Positive things first: the office is beautiful and the work that I had done here was great! I had several fillings (5) done here by Dr. Rafii on one side of my mouth and experienced 0 pain or discomfort after the procedure. He was very kind and attentive and explained everything very patiently. There were two things though that gave me a bit of pause - the first is that I was told that I had eight cavities that needed to be filled - I ended up getting second opinions from other dentists who were a bit shocked that I was recommended that many fillings. Obviously dentists have differing degrees of how conservative/loose they want to be with treatment and generally I'm fine with receiving more conservative treatment to be careful, but 8 was a bit of a high number considering the other dentists I went to said I'd probably need 3-4 max. One other thing is that this is probably not the place to go to for emergency dentistry. I had an unfortunate scooter accident that broke both of my front teeth in half and fractured a few other teeth; when I called Pastel to try and schedule an emergency appointment in the following morning I was told that they would be unable to give me treatment and would have to refer me elsewhere if I chose to come in. I was a bit confused by this given their website says that they offer emergency dentistry services, in addition to root canals + crowns (which ended up being the treatment that I required). Ultimately I went to another dentist that was able to fix my teeth and as such I probably won't be going to Pastel as my primary dentist anymore. I'm not sure if there was miscommunication between myself and the receptionist on why Pastel Dental wouldn't be able to treat my emergency, but either way it was a bit of a confusing experience. read more

I hate the dentist. I avoid it like I avoid the plague. Pastel dental helped me change my mind. The staff her is beyond loving and gentle. I have never been so well cared for in a dental office. I came in for an emergency broken wisdom tooth. My fears were laid aside and the staff talked me down from the ledge. Gentle. Caring. Excellent dental care. Could not speak higher of a dental practice! read more

The best dentist in the city! I have been going to them for 5 years, and they are just so immensely professional and friendly. The work they do is flawless. So glad I found them when I moved to San Francisco! read more

Pastel Dental is great!! Not gonna lie, going to the dentist still freaks me out a bit because of childhood trauma and the crazy expense. However, Pastel Dental relieves so much stress for me and provides top notch dental care. The dentists are thorough with treatments but also sensitive to costs. And never make you feel guilty or cheap for being concerned. Doctors give you all the options before deciding on a course of treatment. The trust and respect I have for my dentist is definitely reciprocated. Kira, kindly and very competently helps you by providing detailed estimates for care plans and advice on timing and insurance if needed. She's super knowledgeable. So..... I have a really sensitive gag reflex, TMJ and a small mouth (great combination for dental work. Ha!). My childhood trauma stems from this fact. The nurses would yell at me and ridicule me for having a hard time with X-rays. Of course I'm much better now but the nurses and doctors at Pastel are super understanding and patient when I have longer procedures or X-rays. They provide smaller apparatuses (is that a word? "Apparati"? Lol) and work really quickly and efficiently so I don't have to deal with it for long. It might seem silly but it means a lot to me. I'm a grown ass woman and believe me I would love to be able to have my mouth jacked all the way open and filled with tools and vacuums without batting an eye (wait, this is sounding off...) but it's super damn hard tor me. And I really appreciate the compassion they have for me as a patient and a human. Only cons are the environment: *The communal layout of the treatment room. I don't love the open concept but whatever. It's a bit more concerning during Covid times. *The waiting room/restroom decor is a bit budget and dated. If it keeps cost down, I can deal. Still not enough to knock off a star, IMO. It's super hard to love a dental office but I do. Thank you, Team Pastel!! read more

First visit, favorite dental office. The vibes are good. My hygienist was so sweet and quick and I felt very comfortable with her. Dr.Rafii was super informative with great attention to detail. He explained everything including what the numbers they call out mean when they are checking your teeth before cleaning them. They pay great attention to detail, and I love that. For example: warm water when rinsing in between cleaning. Thank you so much! read more

Great service staff is always friendly and there always willing to work with you with cost and do what they can to save you money.

Dr. Leah is amazing. She is so attentive and explains every steps very patiently. I usually hate laying on the dentist chair but this time it was so flawless also painless. I feel lucky to find this place read more

I have been seeing Dr. Pastel for several years. He is truly the best dentist I have ever had. His in depth knowledge and technique is impressive and he has a kind bed side manner which always puts me at ease. He recently relocated to a new office, and it is beautiful!! It's full of light and spacious and there are private treatment rooms with very comfortable dental chairs. I highly recommend Pastel Dental if you are in the market for a great dentist! read more

Updating my review because Dr emam is no longer there- and since she left I have been seeing Dr.Pastel. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE HIM. He is literally the best dentist I have ever been too, and before seeing him I was loyal to my previous dentist in LA - but Dr pastel has him beat by a landslide. The best doctor, and is extremely patient and thorough. Would recommend him to all my friends and family. Also if you know me- you know that I love going to the dentist. I look forward to my visits at pastel dental. read more

I'll start with the positives: the receptionists are nice, and Dr. Emam is incredibly kind and does a good job of explaining what she's looking at so you can understand your treatment options. That said, the fillings she gave me earlier this year were the longest and most stressful I've ever had and resulted in extreme tooth pain that I'm still dealing with. I had two admittedly deep cavities that she filled on the same day. It took ages, and I chalked that up to her doing a thorough job. Once I'd had about a week to settle in, I realized my bite was off-- again, pretty normal since it's tough to adjust when you're numb. I went back in, she was really understanding and adjusted my bite, and I went home. I really appreciated her concern that I was in pain, and her recommendation to wait a week or two and come back immediately if it was still painful. Fast forward three weeks (enough time to let my tooth nerves calm down) and I still couldn't eat on the left side of my mouth. By this point, I was feeling anxious about going back to Pastel Dental because I didn't trust that they were going to be able to fix my problem and, after how long and stressful the initial filling was, I was terrified to have it re-done there. I went to another dentist. The new dentist adjusted my bite once more time just to be sure, and it didn't solve the problem. In addition, I was beginning to have intense jaw pain from only eating on one side of my mouth. At my next appointment, my new dentist re-did the filling (painlessly, I should add) and found additional decay *underneath* the filling I got at Pastel Dental-- decay that Dr. Emam must have missed-- and sealed it up. Jury's still out on whether this will fix the sensitivity I've been experiencing, but my new dentist threw in a custom-made night splint to help isolate the problem so that we can rule out causes and fix the real problem. I may still need to get a crown to replace the other filling Dr. Emam did, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. Other things worth considering: Office/environment: This is an open floor plan office, with I believe 4 chairs in the room (2 on each side). What that means is that you can hear everything that's happening around you, from drills to side conversations etc. Upsells: For a while, every time I came in someone would try to upsell me on something we'd already talked about and I'd already made clear I wasn't interested in. I finally had to ask them to specify in my chart that I was not interested so that they would stop asking. The upsells might just be a Dr. Pastel thing, since once I stopped seeing Dr. Pastel and switched over to Dr. Emam (a switch they made without asking me if I wanted to switch dentists), she never asked once. Hygienists: I went to this office for just under 2 years, and each appointment had a different hygienist who would have side conversations with others while working on my teeth or assisting the dentist. It's off-putting and bizarre to hear gossip while you're getting your teeth worked on, and always made me wonder if they were paying full attention. read more

Bite issues & bad fillings seems to be a pattern based on other reviews, and I had a very similar negative experience here. I had high hopes for this place based on Yelp reviews, but I'm extremely disappointed with Pastel Dental and have lost confidence in their ability to rectify my issues. I originally came in for a routine cleaning, and since it was my first time there they did a full set of X-Rays which apparently revealed a couple cavities. Dr. Emam did the first fillings on my upper left side. She took out what felt like a LOT of tooth material, but she assured me it was necessary given the cavities (even though they appeared quite small on the x-rays). After completing the filling my bite felt off, but I was also very numb, so I was instructed to go home and wait until the numbness wore off to see how my bite was. Days later pain from one of the fillings was still present, and my bite was clearly off. I went back a few weeks later to have them adjust my bite, but even after spending considerable time trying to fix my bite, Dr. Emam was unable to get it aligned. They offered to continue trying to fix my bite, but frankly I don't trust that they know what they're doing and I'm not willing to risk my bite alignment to let them experiment further. I will not be returning here, and now I have to seek out someone else to fix the mess. read more

Had a filing done here on the smallest shadow of a cavity forming that went terribly wrong. $4000 and several months of intense tooth pain later I had to get a root canal on what was orginally a perfectly healthy tooth. This started when I went to ask if id be for good canfidate for invisalign, we took a precautionary step as there was a small shadow on a tooth and with invisalign these small things can get much worse wearing a retainer 24/7. Fine, no worries. When the actual filling was being done I thought it was far deeper than normal as ive had fillings done before. Sure enough the filling was dug into the nerve of my tooth. After several weeks of intense pain afterwards I consulted a different dentist and was shown new xrays where the filling was dug too deep into the horns of my nerve. My tooth was dying because of the filling. I had to get a root canal at a endodontist and a crown at another dentist for a total of $4000. Never have I had something go so wrong medically before. Obviously it was a mistake but this doesnt change the fact that my tooth is now dead. Ive lost a tooth and a significant amount of money, I'm not sure how it could get much worse than this. read more

Best Dentist ever. Dr. Emam was kind, straight forward, and gentle. Her bedside manner made me feel like she cared about me, the patient. I knew I was in good hands. Here's what happened to me, and what you can expect if you go to Pastel Dental. I went in for a routine cleaning and X-rays which, to my denial, revealed that I had a cavity (my first). Dr. Emam told me that it needed to be filled quickly, and that if I wanted to do it right then and there, she had the time to do it. Now I've never had a cavity before. I didn't really know what to expect. Dr. Emam explained that she needed to remove the part of the tooth that was rotting, and then fill it in with a white resin. She said that because of where the cavity was, and how small it was, I did not need to be numbed. Because I was not numbed, she took her time in removing the tooth to make sure she did not cause me any discomfort. She did not-I was perfectly fine, and felt nothing. When she was done she explained that she needed to adjust the amount of resin she put in to a place where I couldn't tell there was anything there. She had me bite on strips and removed more resin as I explained what felt off. We repeated the process a few times until I felt like everything was normal. She let me know that if I went home and had any discomfort, that I could come back in and she would adjust it again. I know some patients go through the bite adjustment process while they are still numb, so it is difficult to tell if their bite is fixed or not. For those patients (and if that's you), definitely come back in the next day to make sure your bite is on. There is no possible way for you to tell if your bite imperfect or not - you're numb. You can't feel anything. In any case - I had my first cavity, and it wasn't that bad! It didn't hurt, it didn't take too long, and Dr. Emam answered all of my questions and was gentle and skilled in working on me. I will continue to go back to her for as long as I live in in San Francisco. Thank you Dr. Emam! read more

I met with Dr Pastel (Alex) three times, and this is one of the best dental offices I've seen in my life so far: - Very professional and friendly staff, they don't rush you and take the time to explain/review everything is a comprehensive language - Transparent pricing - Ability to make appointments online through ZocDoc - Always on time when you come for your appointments - Modern/clean office - Easy follow-ups / communication over e-mail - Text reminders for your appointments The only con might be the lack of parking, it usually takes me about 10-15min to find a spot in the neighborhood. read more

Just wanted to post an update since the office reached out to me to explain that they do have some COVID safety protocols, like UV air filters and asking patients to fill in a form asking if they have any symptoms before they're allowed in. I still don't feel super comfortable with the open room layout given the times, so they were kind enough to forward my treatment plan to me which I appreciate! read more

I had seen Dr. Pastel (Alex) ~ 4 times already, and every visit was smooth and successful (fillings were put without any pain and negative consequences). Dr. Alex is straight forward, doesn't try to upsell, cares a lot about a patient's comfort and satisfaction. For example, I had a highly sensitive tooth that got disturbed while other teeth were worked on (water, air pressure etc). Dr. Pastel found a way to isolate my sensitive tooth while working on a filling of another tooth, and suggested several ways to treat the sensitivity later at home. Dr. Pastel did some small services free of charge while other dentist didn't even care to mention a problem for 10 years. For example, I had a dark color ugly glue leftovers on my far back teeth from my braces dating back 2011. Dr. Pastel removed it while working on fillings and didn't even advertise his accomplishment. My teeth are snow white now. Dr. Pastel is a perfectionist (in a good way), honest, empathetic and hard working. read more

Been coming here for about 5 or 6 years and it has always been great. The scheduling is easy, communication is fantastic and the hygienists and dr pastel are great (high quality work and they take the time to explain what is happening and how to improve home dental care). I'd highly recommend to all. read more

I LOVE this office. Dental work can be very stressful, (especially for me lol), but the staff here makes it as pleasant as possible, and are just lovely overall. Beautiful people inside and out. Kira and Kelly went out of their way to provide top of the notch care to me, and are both wonderful. Office is impeccable and sanitized constantly. Highly recommend for any of your future dental needs! read more

Dr.Pastel and the whole team were so wonderful! I'm usually pretty terrified of the dentist and yet they went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable! From the moment I walked in they took such good care of me! Dr.Pastel, his dental assistant, the dental hygienist Kelly, and the front desk staff: were all so kind, patient, and most of all did a great job on my teeth! My whole family has been going to this clinic for years and after moving back home I was nervous about going to a new dentist but I'm so glad I went to this clinic. My family was right: this is a great practice! It's clear that Dr. Pastel, just like his whole team work hard to ensure safety and professionalism! I'm definitely sticking with this clinic! Thanks so much for the kindness and making me feel at ease while addressing my dental issues! read more

I have had MANY different dentists in my adult life, in many different states. And countries. I believe that Pastel is the best dentist office I've ever been. They are so efficient and organized about insurance and checking patients in. The facilities are lovely, so spacious and modern and full of light. Dr. Rafii is knowledgeable, kind, and very thorough; explains everyone in great detail. And, he does the cleaning himself. Highly recommend. read more

Honesty is all I ask from others, especially from those who provide care for me or my things directly (like a dentist or car mechanic). But it is just so hard to find any good people in this world. My visit to Pastel dental was pleasant in that everything was straight forward. No schemes here. Dr. Pastel appears to be very competent in his profession and was very professional. The dental hygienist who did my teeth was very thoughtful, careful and accommodating as well. The front desk person was also kind and accommodating. Will be back! read more

Dr. Emam has been my dentist for over two years. I haven't visited a dentist with a more gentle technique or who seemed to care more about the health of my teeth and gums. She also offered helpful, practical tips to help me keep my teeth and gums healthy between visits. Do yourself a favor. Breakup with your current dentist and go see Dr. Emam. read more

Amazing staff, and great experience each time I've been in. Very accommodating in scheduling, love the reminders and updates, and quick to get things on the books! Julia and Dr. Emam have been very very informative - procedures, timing, referrals, great care, and scheduling/billing is a breeze! So lucky to have them in our neighborhood. Highly recommended. read more

Best dental experience I've ever had. Staff was amazing and Dr.Life was so friendly. No wait time to see a dentist, and they texted me reminders beforehand which I appreciated read more

Short version: I've been going to Dr. Pastel for the past four years and I couldn't be happier. His patience, explanations, care is great and scheduling/billing is always easy, straight-forward, transparent and friendly! Longer version: I'm a guy who hated dentists his whole life and always had cavities as a kid. Coming out of college, I hadn't seen a dentist in over three years and was embarrassed at the situation of my dental hygiene/health. And a disaster it was, until the team helped me out! They came up with a comprehensive care plan that included references to oral surgeons, orthondtics and several follow up appointments. Over the course of two years, I spent more time at the dentist than with my parents, but it all paid off. Nowadays my visits are usually short, cleanings with some friendly reminders of best practices and through exams to make sure there are no problems with my existing fillings. The proof is in the pudding as none of the comprehensive work Dr. Pastel has done has needed a single touch up. I am so grateful to have found this Dentist and still go there even thought I now live in the East Bay. Thank you so much for everything! read more

Love the staff here! They are very friendly and attentive from the time you walk in until the time you leave. I moved here from NY recently so I had to find all new healthcare which can be daunting but Pastel dentist made the process very easy. They are friendly on the phone and do their best to accommodate your schedule. I had an appointment for a filling set and had asked them to call me if anything opened earlier. Three times they called to try to accommodate my schedule! The waiting room is warm and clean. The bathroom is clean and nicely decorated. The layout of the room where they do the dental work is very open and lends itself to a welcoming feel. It is obvious that those that work here really get along and have created a positive and fun work environment. It makes being a patient feel very welcoming! Dr Emam is the main reason for the 5 stars. She explains everything she is doing from beginning to end. She checks in often to make sure you are ok and tells you what hand signal or gesture to make if you feel pain or need something! Small thing that means a lot-- she also calls you by name during the whole process which really makes the patients feel cared for. I would recommend this dental practice to anyone! read more

Hands down the best dental experience I've ever had in my life. I found Pastel Dental after my previous dentist didn't acknowledge a root canal that I needed, and they fixed me up quickly, and showed empathy to my teeth pain. The staff is polished, fun, and efficient. I fully trust my dentist and their work is top notch. Pastel Dental is the best in SF in my opinion, and if you're searching for a new dentist, I highly recommend them. read more

This is the only dental practice that I have ever actually looked forward to visiting. Dr. Pastel, Julia, Kira and staff are all so welcoming, I feel like they treat me more as a friend than a patient. The clinic itself is very aesthetically pleasing and clean (also the way I happen to like my teeth). I have had multiple cleanings, fillings, and a root canal, all of which have gone very well. I regrettably tried another dentist because it was much closer to my house but it was very sub par to the treatment I was used to getting at Pastel Dental. The other dentist even commented on my root canal saying that what Dr. Pastel used was new and of very high quality. I highly recommend Pastel Dental! read more