This is my actual email to Patricia Claeys-Schmidt, DDS, sent to her on January 8th, 2024: "I nearly died 4 years ago with that tooth suddenly giving me a massive and life-threatening inflammation. I've been calling your office again and again frantically in hopes to do something about it; it looked fast-expanding and ominous. My husband tossed me in a car early in the morning, drove me to a near-by oral office. I was quickly sedated and put to surgery immediately, thank god my stomach was empty at the time. They saved my life, there's no doubt: removed the tooth, cleaned up the area around it and removed a part of the gum and lower jaw bone. I had to recover, graft the jaw, implant the tooth in question and finally crown it, spending many months and yes, a truckload of money. This near death experience made me stronger in so many ways and once again reminded me how fragile we, humans, are. Also, this sarcastic thought did cross my mind: I live in an area where dental offices are as frequent as ATM machines; it would be so extravagant and freakish of me to die of tooth inflammation and sepsis." I do have a photo with my face looking swollen, taken by the oral surgeon right before the extraction. Just a reminder how fragile we are. NOT going to post it here, too traumatic. So there you have it, my story. It's up to you to make your own conclusion. read more

She takes wonderful care of me and my daughter. Her office is calm and serene which also makes our dental experience peaceful.

Patricia a very skilled and excellent dentist. She took over the practice of my former dentist 4-5 years ago and during our first examination, she identified multiple very serious dental issues including two needed root canals which should have been reported and addressed by the prior dentist but were not. I was extremely surprised by Patricia's findings and reacted emotionally. Patricia remained very calm and recommended I get additional opinions and gave me other dentist and periodontist recommendations to consult. Patricia's advice and referrals were all stellar and I apologized to her and she said she completely understood how badly mismanaged my expectations had been with my legacy dentist. She also said she had multiple instances of patients also surprised to get concerning dental discoveries. Patricia is also stellar with correspondence if I need her input or advice. I highly recommend her and could not be more pleased with her care. read more

Dr. Claeys-Schmidt is a master clinician and a true professional. Also a very kind and gentle person. I wish we had more clinicians of her caliber. read more

I don't like to leave negative review and I really don't want to harm anyone's business, but it's been a year and my tooth is still bothering me. I went in for a routine check up and it was suggested that I get a crown on one of my molars that had a lot of decay. It sounded reasonable so I decided to do it. During the first stage, when the filling is taken out, so the doctor can make a mold and then put in a temporary until my crown arrives, I went home with a terrible temporary for a week. I've been to the dentist a lot, my entire mouth is filled with fillings. This was a bad temporary. It wasn't adjusted in anyway, it rubbed my top tooth and I was aching for a whole week. I basically avoided chewing on it. I believe this caused a lot of trauma and bruising, and then I went in and then she tried to put on the crown. It didn't work the first time so then she tried again...fine. I think the idea is that because it's a mold of my tooth that it doesn't need adjusting all, she had asked that I bite down and see if my right teeth are touching so she would know that it's been placed correctly. that's it. I felt a lot of aching after that for a little while so much so that I was fixating on it and it I had emailed her letting her know that something wasn't right and she responded that I should come in so she can adjust my bite since it might be hitting high and also that maybe I should get checked out by an endodontist. Why would you send me home without making sure my bite is correct? and why do I need to go to an endodontist if you're just putting a crown on. She said oh maybe you have a irreversible pulpitis. I looked up what that is and it's basically caused by trauma and injury to the tooth. I'm not exactly sure, but I didn't have it before I went to see this dentist. All this to say that it's been a year and I still don't feel comfortable chewing on my tooth. I feel an ache every time I chew on my left side I have just been chewing on my right side for a whole year. She did say that I can come in and she could revaluate it and give me a referral but I don't want to go to her anymore. I don't trust her and I don't want to be injured by her anymore. I'm just leaving this here so you're aware and so that it doesn't happen to you. read more

Dr. Claeys-Schmidt took over after Dr. Mark Maberley's retirement last year. I had been a patient of Dr. Maberley's for years and had the utmost respect for him and trust in his dental practice. I was saddened to learn of his retirement, as it came rather abruptly. I used to drive from San Jose, CA to San Francisco, CA just to see Dr. Maberley. I had my routine 6-month check-up with Dr. Claeys-Schmidt in June of 2019. I was under the assumption that she had done a thorough review of my file. I have severe gum recession, which has resulted in extreme sensitivity. For regular cleanings, I regular both a topical anesthetic and either Lidocaine or Novocain, which ensures that the dentist can properly clean the area. Dr. Claeys-Schmidt didn't think that was necessary and instead use only a topical gel anesthetic to "numb" the effected areas. This was the most uncomfortable routine cleaning I have experienced. It felt rushed. I apparently had zero cavities and was to see her in 6 months. In December of 2019, my routine exam was looming. I was so petrified to go back. I called and requested a transfer of my dental records to a new practice in San Jose. My new dentist found a rather large cavity, that Dr. Claeys-Schmidt failed to identify. I will happily pay an arm and a leg to ensure that my dental experience is no where near what i experienced with Dr. Claeys-Schmidt. read more

After not being to the dentist since the pandemic, I cannot rave enough about my experience at the dental office with Dr Patricia & Ursula. They were both so kind, welcoming & explained dental care so beautifully! I feel beyond lucky to have this dentist office in my community & wont have to dread going back to the dentist now! read more

I LOVE HER! Patricia books her own appointments and does her own dental cleaning, which is completely fine by me. She is warm, caring, personal, informative, gentle...everything you want in a mom, er, a dentist! read more

I am so grateful to Patricia for seeing me on an emergency basis when I cracked a back tooth on a Saturday morning and neither my regular dentist nor his backup were available. Patricia took over my former dentist's practice and I had worked with her a few times but by time Mark Maberley retired I had already found a new dentist to work with. So I hadn't seen Patricia in some time - but she was so amazing to squeeze me in for emergency treatment to carry over till Monday. She took an x Ray, cleaned up the broken tooth area and explained the likely options I would face in further treatment. She was so reassuring and kind, and very gentle in dealing with the broken tooth that my fear and anxiety quickly faded. I really appreciate her help, especially as I am going back to my regular dentist for the next phase. I will never forget her graciousness and care! read more

Added 12/27/18: Patricia is again seeing patients in San Francisco fairly frequently. --- Just a quick note to agree with the other reviews, including the sad news that she's now mostly based in New York--so this note is mainly aimed towards those on the East Coast. I realize that the unanimity may seem suspicious, but it is indeed genuine. Dr Claeys-Schmidt, on one of her return visits to San Francisco, saw me for tooth pain which had baffled eight other doctors (including the excellent dentist she had suggested as her replacement). She was the most thorough, and came up with the most helpful suggestion. Those of you who can see her in New York should consider yourself fortunate. read more

It's been slightly more than 2 years since I've been to see Dr. Claeys-Schmidt, but I am still not emotionally healed from it. I have been debating whether or not to write a review, (in fact it's a rare day that I write a negative review at all!) but I think it's important for others to read what happened. I had never minded going to the dentist before, and in fact enjoyed it. Getting a cavity filled was like getting my haircut. I went in, got it done, and moved on with my day. Now, the idea of going to the dentist for a cleaning fills me with so much anxiety. I haven't yet needed to go in to get another cavity filled, but I dread the day I do. It terrifies me. On January 6, 2015, I went to the dentist to get a cavity filled. The dentist injected several shots of Novocain into my gums. For 2 weeks after the filling, I was left with a half swollen, hard, and painful face. It hurt to eat, laugh, smile, talk (which was a near impossible challenge considering I'm a speech therapist, and as a contractor, I do not get paid when I don't work). It hurt to walk because it made my face throb, it hurt to sleep, and it was nearly impossible to bend down. I could not exercise, it was hard to brush my teeth, or even open my mouth, and I couldn't even kiss my husband. I checked in with the dentist a few times after it happened, because I didn't know what else to do. On the phone they told me they couldn't help me, but I came in anyway. When I came in they shoed me immediately out of the waiting room, so the other patients wouldn't see me. During one of those appointments, Dr. Claeys-Schmidt told me that it was probably because she administered too much novocain or too much in the same area, as she stated it was hard for her to tell how much she was really administering and where. During another one of those appointments, the dentist told me I needed to see an oral surgeon right away, and that there was one in the building. They rushed me out and the hygienist walked me to the oral surgeon's office. The receptionist at that office told me I needed to pay out of pocket right there on the spot in order to see the doctor, and that it was urgent. I did not feel it was me who should have had to pay for this, but instead my dentist. The dentist had also told me that after the cavity filling, I was left with trismus (or lockjaw). The trauma was caused because the whole procedure had been so forceful. And as a result of the lockjaw, I ended up cracking one of my other fillings. The idea of having to go back to the dentist to get it fixed filled me with absolute terror and anxiety. I wanted to just leave it as it was, but it was leaking, and therefore dangerous. A friend referred me to her very reliable, but very expensive, dentist. He didn't take my insurance, but I felt safer going to him. He patiently went over the procedure, to fix my cavity, many times. He assured me they would go slow and could stop anytime. I was offered valium several times (which I have never needed in my life!), but refused it. I wanted to feel pain if it happened, and to be aware the whole time. He fixed it up well, and after paying a big bill, I thought I was done. I thought that was the end of it. I am not free of the emotional trauma this caused. I continue to only see the dentist that fixed that leaked cavity. He does not accept my health insurance, so each time I go for a cleaning or x-rays, it costs me a few hundred dollars, but I am too scared to do anything else. I feel, for the rest of my life, I will now always be scared of going to the dentist. I feel I will always have to pay a premium price to make sure I am getting the proper care. I would avoid this practice at all costs. (I included a pic as well). read more

Patricia Claeys-Schmidt, DDS - My face for TWO WEEKS after getting a cavity filled. It looks terrible, but it felt worse than it looked! - General Dentistry Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's a good thing that she goes by "Patricia", because I have no idea how to pronounce her last name. That said, her difficult last name is the only negative thing that I can think to mention about her. I love Patricia! After having a very bad experience at Pacific Dental Spa (see other review), I was pleased to discover Patricia based on a recommendation from a friend. She works in a small office in San Francisco, and she has neither a receptionist nor a dental hygienist. I spoke to her personally to schedule my appointment, and she did all of my prep work and x-rays herself. Patricia is super friendly and honest and she does not make me feel like she has something to hide (like some other dentists I know). She also does excellent work, and I love my new crown. I would recommend her to any of my closest friends. Additionally, she is from South Africa and has a very pleasant and endearing accent. read more

I can only reiterate the wonderful things that everyone is already saying about Dr. Patricia Claeys-Schmidt. Almost everyone in my medical school class went to see her because she not only does fantastic dental work, she is also a very nice person to chat with. Even though I have moved away from San Francisco, she is worth the 6hr drive to see twice a year. I would highly recommend everyone to see her -- your teeth and gums will thank you. She is phenomenal! read more

I was referred to Patricia (everyone calls her Patricia, not Dr. Claeys) by a friend, and she's been faaaaaaaaaaantastic! I hadn't been to the dentist in a few years, and Patricia made a special effort to ensure I was comfortable with everything she was doing. Her practice is nice and simple -- she does all the work, from making appointments to fillings, and everything in between. As a bonus, she has early (7 AM) and late (6 PM) appointments, making it easy to fit my appointment into a work day. Even her referrals are great -- I was supposed to have my wisdom teeth out 10 years ago, and the oral surgeon she referred me to (Dr. Silva) was fantastic, just as she promised! My favorite thing about Patricia? Instead of lecturing me about flossing, she told me "We don't have to talk about floss." read more

Dr Patricia is the best dentist I have ever been to. I have been going to her for years, and now she sees my other family and friends. She has great bedside manner, great service and is a really nice person. She does all the work herself. No giant practice with a rotating bunch of hygienists and a 30 second visit from the dentist. Dr Patricia does it all herself, and she takes her time and does a great job. I have been lucky enough to have needed very little dentistry my whole life, until this past year when I cracked not one, but two molars from grinding my teeth. When it came time to fix them, Dr Patricia did such a great job, talking me through every step because I was surprisingly terrified. The new teeth look great and feel great. She was very knowledgable about all the techniques and options available to fix the molars. When I told her I was engaged, she said "your husband is so lucky - you are smart, beautiful and you have such excellent oral hygiene!" And before my wedding, I asked her about teeth whitening, and instead of trying to sell my some expensive kit, she told me the truth (my teeth couldn't get much whiter, and I would be wasting my time). And lastly, a few years ago, I almost succumbed to death by tortilla chip, when I bit down on a chip and the corner embedded in my gum and 2 days later my whole face swelled up with cellulitis infection. Dr Patricia responded to my distress call on ON A SUNDAY, got me the meds I needed and fixed me right up. read more

Best dentist ever. All my family and many of my friends go to her. She is the only person you deal with at her office: she makes her own appointments and does all the work. Aside from being a very good dentist, she is phenomenally sweet, really one of the nicest people I've ever met, and as a bonus, has a charming accent. Sadly, Patricia has MOVED TO NY. I am shattered and I need to find a new dentist. read more

Okay, seriously, I haven't looked at reviews of other dentists. (Yelping health care professionals, hmmm, maybe not so much...), but I just refered a friend to Patricia Claeys-Schmidt and when her Yelp review came up in the conversation I thought, hey, I should review her and say that she is awesome, the best. How many other dentists have "the best" in almost every review. I mean, we're talking about dentists here, how many times are "the best" and "dentist" in the same sentance generally speaking? If you are looking for a fancy office, intimidating pretentious staff and dentist, to have unnecessary work done, etc. don't go here. If you want exceptional dental care you've found the right place. read more

Patricia is the best dentist I've ever had. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoy going to the dentist. It's also refreshing to have your dentist, not a hygienist, clean your teeth. She manages her schedule very well, and I never have to wait. She is a most wonderful conversationalist, and a very interesting and warm person. I'm so happy I found her. read more

I just started seeing Patricia after being referred to her by several colleagues and she is a breath of fresh air. She is very friendly, explains everything that she is doing, puts you at ease, and makes the whole teeth cleaning/x-ray experience about as good as it can be. It was also a refreshing change just to deal with the dentist directly. My last dentist was nice and seemed competent but I rarely spent more than 5 minutes with her. Most of the time was spent with the dental assistants and the front desk people going over billing. With Patricia I just left a message and she called herself to schedule the appointment. Hopefully, I will stay lucky and not need major dental work, but I feel like I am in good hands with Patricia and will recommend her to my family. read more

wow. i normally hate the dentist (who doesn't?) but i walked away after my appointment last night with patricia smiling and happy and running my tongue over my nice, smooth, clean teeth. she explains everything she's about to do and why, shows you the crazy devices she's using, and says "thank you for being so patient!" as she sprays baking soda and salt water into your mouth. super sweet. the last dental place i went to sent me into a fancy consultation room afterwards to go over the thousands of dollars of work they were recommending and to come up with a payment plan. i got so overwhelmed that i walked away and didn't visit the dentist again for 2 years. dr. patricia said my teeth looked perfectly healthy and strong and sent me off to go buy cheap-o whitening strips from walgreens if i wanted. love it! i HIGHLY recommend her. read more

Patricia is awesome. Before she cleaned my teeth, she showed me the spots I was missing when I brush. So not only did she make my teeth nice and clean, but also showed me how to keep them that way. She has a great easy going personality and is very respectful of her patients. Patricia doesn't have a receptionist, but if you call and leave a message she will promptly call you back. read more

Not only is she a thorough and professional dentist, but she is incredibly sensitive and kind. I've never come out of a cleaning/check-up with brighter teeth or more information about the future of what will need to be done to keep them in good shape. If I could give her 10 stars, I would. She is the best dentist I've ever seen and I'm grateful to have had her recommended to me! read more

Patricia Schmidt is definitely the best dentist I've ever had! She's such a friendly woman and she loves educating her patients, which I consider extremely important. She takes the time to explain every step that she's doing. She also takes the time to get to know you and she just loves to talk to you. She's also very good at what she does. I will definitely go to her for almost everything teeth-related now! I highly highly recommend her! read more

I found Patricia by using Yelp reviews and felt like I had to say thank you! Everything said about her is true; she answers the phone, does the cleaning herself and explains everything she is about to do. She is polite, and puts you at ease with her bedside manner. More importantly, she picked up on problems I had that my previous dentist never mentioned. She was able to get me in fast for follow up appointments and she is also a provider of invisalign which I am excited to be getting! I am very happy with her and just hope she doesnt get too busy due to all the great reviews she is getting! read more

I had been seeing Dr. Mark Mayberley for years but sadly he retired. Luckily, Dr. Patricia Claeys-Schmidt - who shared the practice with him - took over his clients, including me! She and her staff have been professional and wonderful in so many ways; helping with my crazy schedule, communicating with me in a timely manner, and providing fantastic dental care! Everyone there worked to accommodate me and my front tooth dilemma, and now I smile even wider if that's possible;-)) read more

Dr. Claeys-Schmidt is the best dentist I've ever had. She is warm and authentic and provides excellent dental care. She responds to patients inquiries quickly and professionally. read more

I have been going to the dentist since I was little girl and have had a range of experiences from many offices. I have work with Dr. Patricia for over 4 years now and I absolutely love her. I have had root canals, crowns and fillings and honestly they were all a breeze. There is no need to dread going to the dentist is you are seeing her. I have never felt any pain. She is also really detail oriented and thourough and makes sure to recommend only what is needed and nothing more. She definitely puts the patient first in her practice. read more

Best dentist you could ever hope for! Timely, thorough, sweet, outstanding! No hygenists, you get her every time. One of the saddest things about moving out of SF for me was leaving her! read more

For the first time, I don't leave the dentist grumpy. She is a one-woman show. No hygienists, no secretaries- just Patricia. She does a great job and is obviously passionate about her work. I highly recommend! read more

Absolutely spectacular. Even though Patricia's no longer in SF, she returns to the city every other month and keeps office hours for former patients. No words to really describe yesterday's experience, which included her teaching my eleven year-old niece how to be a hygienist--and how to literally work on my teeth. Impossible to explain how great it was... read more

Patricia is the best dentist I have ever met in my whole life! She changed my perception of doctors altogether. Without exaggeration - I will never go see another dentist, hands down. She made me super comfy, she was thorough and had great recommendations for oral surgeons, root canal specialists and orthodontists. read more

Patricia is pretty much the best dentist ever. I hadn't been to the dentist in about 5 years and was hella nervous, but she made me feel totally at ease. She takes all the X-rays herself, cleans your teeth herself, and explains anything you need to know herself. Full service, here. 5 stars for sure. read more

Patricia is the dentist to all the ENT and maxillofacial surgeons at UCSF (just by word of mouth). She is phenomenal. A great dentist and therapy for free! read more