Great staff, from the friendly and efficient receptionist to the kind, effective and informative hygienist! Dr. Otswald has put together a wonderful team! read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Ostwald for many years. I initially started going to his office when it was called The People-Oriented Dental Practice, because I had suffered from dental trauma as a child and had avoided going to the dentist as an adult. I was happily surprised that the team at Dr. Oswald's office took great care of me. They would let me wear my headphones and play the music of my choice (Pre-smartphone era) and they were excellent with pain management and dental anxiety. Fast forward 20 years, and I am still a satisfied customer. Dr. Ostwald has invested in state of the art air filtration devices and implemented strict regulations so that I felt completely safe going for my dental cleaning during this Covid pandemic. The waiting room was empty, and the door locked, with notices explaining procedures to wear masks and wash hands, and rinse with iodine before the cleaning. The hygienist was also wearing PPE and did a topnotch job of cleaning my teeth as always. I highly recommend the team at Dr. Ostwald's dental practice. read more

Stephen Ostwald, DDS - General Dentistry Near Me - San Francisco, California

Doctor Ostwald is amazing but I've been having a ton of trouble getting insurance reimbursement from my appointments with him because it seems like the office is many months behind on handling these. I still haven't gotten fully reimbursed for procedures from July / even February because the office has not submitted them to my secondary insurance despite me providing all necessary documentation through email. I would really appreciate if they had been more proactive about submitting my appointments for insurance reimbursement especially since I provided documentation in a timely manner. It would also be more respectful if they would communicate with me over email as I cannot make phone calls at work and this preference has consistently been ignored. read more

Dr. Ostwald is a superb dentist. I've been seeing him for several years. He is the most thorough and knowledgeable dentist I've been to, has saved a couple of my teeth, and also practices dentistry in a holistic way. I also love the hygienist Ausra. She does an incredible job and my mouth always feels brand new after seeing her. And Helen at the front desk is always very kind. They all treat patients with a lot of respect. Highly recommend! read more

Dr. Ostwald and his staff are excellent. Really pleased with both Dr. Ostwald and his office

This has been our go-to dentist for years, and they certainly do live and work by their name. For example: Years ago, my husband had his veneer fall off days before our wedding and on a weekend. He phoned the practice in a panic, both of us thinking there was no way we were getting him in on such short notice. To our surprise, his dentist returned his call quickly and got him in for an emergency veneer replacement. And they did an excellent job, to boot. Thanks to A People Oriented Dental Practice, our wedding photos don't look like they were taken at the hootenanny nuptials of Lil' Abner and Daisy Mae. read more

I was stunned to see someone describe how Dr. Ostwald conned them into unnecessary dental work, and then give him five stars. Dr. Ostwald told me the same lie that "my old metal fillings were expanding in my mouth and cracking my teeth", and that he "wanted to" replace them with composite fillings. After a couple of bad replacements, I wised up and got a second opinion. Guess what! My silver fillings did not need to be replaced at all. Since then, Dr. Ostwald's work has all been replaced, but the remaining siver fillings are still going strong. I learned the hard way that "wanted to" and "needed to" are not equivalent. But her review descends even deeper into gullibility than I expected! She writes, and I quote, "he's been replacing all my metal fillings and has never been pushy about work". He's replacing every single one of her metal fillings? Yet, he's not pushy about work? Where can a hapless dentist find another great patient like this to offer three (3) payment plans to? read more

Dr. Ostwald saw my daughter on an emergency basis after a bicycle accident. He was able to repair the damage to several teeth and to save the tooth that had been dislodged. Her teeth look better than they did before the accident! I appreciate his gentleness, his generosity, and his expertise. Highly recommended! read more

I've been reading reviews of pediatric dentists in anticipation of my daughter's first dental visit and decided to take a look at the rating for my absolute favorite dentist ever. I'm SHOCKED that Dr. Ostwald isn't showing five full stars. I've been going to Dr. Ostwald (and Penny, the hygenist) for maybe ten years now, and each time I go, my enthusiasm for and trust in them is renewed. They are thorough and gentle and great at explaining what they see, how it compares with the last results, and how I can improve my dental routine at home. They analyze problem areas, lay out realistic treatment options, and are open to my input about timing, finances, etc. As Sarah L stated, I've found Dr. Ostwald and his staff to be completely honest. My husband, who hadn't seen a dentist in more years than he would tell me now voluntarily schedules (and I think actually looks forward to) his 6-month appointments. What a difference a great dentist makes! read more

I have been going here for almost 10 years and it is a terrific experience. Seriously, I have no complaints at all. Easy front office experience, great hygienist (Ausra) and Dr. Oswald is professional, gentle and using all of the latest technology. Very highly recommended. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Ostwald for a few months now - and have absolutely nothing but praise for both himself and his staff. Dr. Ostwald has gone over all treatment plans in great detail - laid out his expectations and then let me choose which one to go with. On Wednesday February 1st, 2012 at 3:20 PM - I came in to have my two wisdom teeth pulled. After hearing numerous horror stories from others about various doctors, I was a little concerned about this visit. Dr. Ostwald was an absolute pro. I did not feel any pain whatsoever at all - and the only time I did he stopped the procedure and added additional novacain and then waited for it to set in. On a side note, Jamal, his assistant is a very peppy, easy going and re-assuring gentleman. He constantly re-assured me during the procedure and kept me updated. At the end of the two hour procedure - Dr. Ostwald went over all of the after care items and even gave me his personal cell phone number in case I had any questions. I still have not faced any pain due to the medication he has given me and am already back at work. Dr. Ostwald is everything a dentist should be. read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Ostwald's for 10+ years now. I have been very pleased. Growing up as an Army brat with the attendant U.S. Army dentists, I've not been a huge fan of dentists, but I have felt very comfortable coming to A People-Oriented Dentist Practice. Penny (one of the on-staff hygienists) is fantastic! As usual, it's advisable to get second opinions about major dental work. But if you have it done with Dr. Ostwald, it will be done well. I have been pleased with the outcome of having some of my old amalgam fillings redone with modern technology. read more

Thank you Dr. Ostwald! This office is great. So helpful and responsive. They fit me in for a same day appointment when I was leaving for a trip and really needed to be seen. Much appreciated. read more

My wife and I have been treated by Dr. Ostwald since 2003 or earlier and have always received the absolutely best care and consideration. Most recently, when x-rays and sensation revealed the need for one, and possibly two new crowns, he was able, having removed one crown, to go in sideways under the crown of the adjacent tooth, clean up the decay, and not have to remove/replace the gold crown, saving over $1,100.00! A day later, no discomfort, even though he had to work below the gum line to get at the decay. He does really meticulous, careful, fine work. I believe you will be very glad to see him. read more

I've been going to this dental practice for 14 years! They are caring and thorough. Penny, the hygenist, rocks. The treatment plan is always discussed and options given. Only complaint...would love free parking. read more

Dr.Ostwald was GREAT---but the receptionist was TERRIBLE! I asked her multiple times if they would accept my insurance and she gave me a vague answer. Then they asked for my X-rays from my previous dentist which I arranged, and they emailed to the office, and then I got a voicemail that they needed them still, which meant another phone call to my old dentist only to find out they had ALREADY done it, so when I caled she was like "oh yea we got it"---it's like---then don't make me chase around my previous dentist and just check your friggin email first. l I filled out the paper work and after my routine cleaning she showed me the bill. I've never had to pay that much for a cleaning before. She told me the insurance (Delta dental) would send me a refund check. I didn't get anything back from them and had overpaid from what Delta said I should have had to pay. Now I will have to call their office and figure out what happened and complain more and take up time. This could have been avoided if she just answered my question in the first place about if they accepted my dental plan! read more

The worst! Utterly incompetent in every way. And, his receptionist is rude as can be. Delta Dental had to intercede, and their dentist determined that all of his work needed to be replaced. If he says you need a filling, get a second opinion! He's also a rip-off artist. With so many good dentists in SF, why even go here? read more

wow. i am *stunned* to see the other review for dr. ostwald. there are negatives you can say about him (more on that in a second), but in my experience and my husband's experience, being a rip off artist and doing bad work is absolutely NOT among them. also, i have always been stunned at how nice all of his hygienists, assistants, and office folks are. my husband says the old receptionist was really rude, so that explains that discrepancy, i guess. no clue what explains the other ones unless there are two dr. ostwalds!! so here's my experience: my father in law was in town and had some sort of filling crack or something. we didn't have a dentist at the time, and geoff's co-workers had recommended dr. ostwald. my father in law called and said, "you don't know me, but my son was going to make an appointment with you soon. i am in town and have an emergency." they saw him in no time flat, fixed him up and he was elated. then, my husband went to see him. my husband had this old dentist who he liked but i didn't. i felt he was a little over-zealous, making geoff sign up for a lot of treatments that weren't necessary. geoff disagreed completely, but when he went to ostwald he admitted he was less so, and he kept telling me how much he liked him and everyone in the office. finally, i was convinced. i hadn't been to the dentist in, well, an embarrassingly long time. and my old metal fillings were expanding in my mouth and cracking my teeth so i needed to. i've had about four visits with dr. ostwald over the last year and i have to say i've been happier than with any other dentist i've gone to, as the work goes. he's been replacing all my metal fillings and has never been pushy about work. he's given me three tiers of options depending on what i wanted to pay, and what i wanted going on in my mouth. he's very very precise and a total perfectionist. he milled one porcelain filing, examined it and decided it wasn't quite right so he chucked it and made another one. he's also spent hours crafting the fillings to make sure my bite stayed exactly the same. i've been totally thrilled with the results. the bad: he can be snippy. and he takes his job VERY seriously. at first he reminded me of that mechanic on Seinfeld who stole jerry's car because he wasn't taking good enough care of it. some people might not like this in his bedside manner. but honestly, aren't your teeth pretty important? don't you want your dentist to be pretty intense about it? plus, he warms up once you see him a few times. in all we know seven people who've used him and have never heard anything bad. read more

It's amasing office. Starting with the front desk people, everyone who works there and -of course-the main person-Doctor Ostwald. He is an excellent doctor. The office is very clean. Best ratings! I can compare this doctor and his office with others-People Oriented Dental Practive is always a winner. read more

Quality dental care here! Dr. Oswald is not only a lovely and considerate man, he is thorough and highly skilled dentist that won't cut corners and gets the job done right and efficiently. The cleanings are spot on, they taught me how to actually floss properly, and they also gave me on to the best toothbrush I have ever used, the Nimbus. I would highly recommend him to anyone in search of an amazing dentist! read more

Very surprised at the negatives as well. I am one picky narcissistic overly-concerned-about-my-looks gay man and have been coming to this office for 15+ years. While Dr Ostwald can be intense - in a "I really love dentistry" kind of way, as mentioned earlier, I only want someone with that kind of dedication and concern working on my teeth. He does brilliant crown work, replaces fillings perfectly and is always very good at explaining what he's up to in your mouth. He has the latest equipment, is able to make crowns on the spot and he's just a very nice man. (Ask him about biking or skiing....) A great dentist. I've also liked all the hygienists. And the waiting room staff is perfectly fine. It's not a cocktail party. You just want someone great to work on your teeth and this is the guy. Several fillings, three crowns later and still no root canals. He's doing something right. read more

I've been a patient of Dr Ostwald's for over 20 years now and I highly recommend him, his hygienists and his support staff. I've had many procedures during this time, including crowns, fillings, whitening, X-rays and restorations and I couldn't be happier with the service and results. I trust him and his staff to deliver the finest care possible. read more

I love Dr. Ostwald and his staff! I've been going to Dr. O for the last 8+years, and I always leave his office feeling well-cared for and respected, like I matter as a person with feelings and concerns vs. just being just another paying customer. So refreshing to find that! As a practitioner, Dr. O is without par: kind, considerate, soft-spoken, funny, charming, good-looking (for any of you who that might matter to out there :-) ), and always has a smile and willingness to listen to my concerns. It is nice, for me at least, to feel that I am in very capable hands, and thus have no worries or regrets. I trust him. Period. What is more, he earned that trust, and I greatly appreciate it. Dr. O's staff are delightful, compassionate, insanely competent (more than competent - expert at what they each do really) and very professional. Like Dr. O, they listen and they care - and what you are feeling and needing truly matters. If you are looking for a dentist with whom you can feel trust and respect, to know that you matter to he and his staff as far more than merely a paying customer, then look no further. You can't go wrong and you will be very happy. I promise! read more

I've been going to Dr. Ostwald since right before my wedding 7 years ago when he put a crown on one my Front Tooth and have been going to see him ever since. If your into expertise and not Glitz he is the guy to see. I also love their Hygenist Ausra who does excellent deep cleanings. Thanks guys and keep up the good work! read more

I rarely post reviews but had to write to counter the negative reviews of Dr. Ostwald. Dr. Ostwald has been my dentist for almost 20 years. I no longer live in San Francisco, but will drive a little further so I can continue to you see him. He and his staff are professional, knowledgeable, kind and accommodating. They have my complete trust. On a Friday, when their office is usually closed, I called to address extreme tooth pain. I initially reached the call center and Dr. Ostwald responded immediately. And within an hour he had coordinated an appointment with an excellent endodontist as I needed a root canal. His prompt support spared me from enduring a weekend of unbearable pain. Dr. Ostwald stays current with the latest on dental health, treatments and technologies. He is also concerned with my health overall and mindful of changes as one ages (I started seeing him when I was in my 20's) And now, he thoughtful of how the onset of my diabetes may impact my dental well-being. My questions about dental issues or treatments are always thoroughly and clearly explained. On queries about treatments like teeth whitening, I received various options that best suit my needs and it's presented with no pressure. I will continue to go to Dr. Ostwald as long as possible and I would highly recommend. read more

At age 66 Ive had several dentists in my life. Been seeing Steve Ostwald for about 15 years. He is the best technical (and all around) dentist I have ever had. As a surgeon, I know good technique when I see it. He has it. Absolutely painless too. I have referred a number of people to him, including my 2 sons, and they have thanked me for the referral. read more

I have been seeing Doctor Oswald for 12-13 years. Over the years have had a number of fillings, crowns, some cosmetic work, and the balance of my wisdom teeth removed. Out of the 5 dentist i have had in my life in Dallas, Boston, NY, and SF, he would rank the highest in clinical, procedural technique, and cosmetic capability while being a very thoughtful and warm doc. In my experiences its hard to find the doc you could talk to for hours with the all the technical depth. We are lucky to not lose him to Hollywood. My trust in Doc Oswald is indubitable and I give him a very high rating. read more

Been going to Dr. Ostwald for years. Everyone is always top notch: Thorough, gentle and patient (no pun intended) care from both Dr. Ostwald and Penny (my hygienist); clear explanations, demonstrations and techniques to keep my teeth and gums healthy; alternative treatments suggested when they are available; never had any unnecessary work recommended or a problem with any procedure (and my file is as large as a coffee table book); always friendly and helpful administrative staff. As long as I live in the Bay area, no one in the office is allowed to retire! read more

I've been going to him for about four years and am thoroughly satisfied. He is extraordinarily meticulous and careful, has never suggested any procedure that could be considered to be unneeded, and appears really to be quite a perfectionist when it comes to his work. I too am stunned by the negative reviews, which I suspect come from the competition. read more

(also check the reviews under Stephen Ostwald, DDS -- I am cross-posting this review) I have never written a yelp review before, but Dr. Ostwald is a such a remarkable professional, he deserves more than a review. I have been seeing Dr. Ostwald for at least 7 years -- I was initially referred to him by my GP since I have some kind of nerve problem that makes me very sensitive to pain, and I was finding it difficult to recover from dental work. I have never once been in any pain at his office. He has filled my teeth, made crowns and veneers for me. He has come up with some creative solutions for my teeth-grinding issues. All excellent, durable, aesthetic work. I marveled as he obsessed over creating an aesthetically pleasing natural contour one time in *the crown in the back of my mouth*... It is obvious that he really takes pride in his work. Currently Dr. Ostwald is someone who actually inspires me -- I honestly leave his office thinking that he is the model of someone I authentically admire, someone who is so good at what he does, does it so well and with so much care and thoughtfulness. He is a complete perfectionist/artist/craftsman, a consummate professional. I find him to be completely rational and scientific in his approach to his work, which I appreciate, and always very focused on customizing things to my specific needs. He explains everything he is doing, and why. He answers every question thoughtfully. He has encouraged me at times to get certain things done, and at other times, he has told me when I could wait a few years to save the expense. I would not say that I have found his services to be especially inexpensive. However, there is nothing that makes me feel better than knowing he is my dentist. I'm just bummed he is older than me, because I want him to be my dentist for my entire life. read more

I visited Dr Ostwald recently for a quick checkup with a problem tooth because my regular DDS was out of town on vacation. I was pleased with the office setup, efficiency and service from Dr Ostwald. He also impressed me with his calm approach and matter of fact demeanor. Thankfully my tooth didn't need any major work but if my regular DDS retires I could see myself switching over to this dental office. read more

I've been going to this dental practice for 18 years now. (Wow!) I used to work for a dentist and I am very picky about my dental care. Dr. Ostwald is extremely professional and cares a lot about the quality of his work. I've had several fillings of various types and even a partial crown, and I can say from personal experience that he does great work that lasts a very long time. He started this practice, called "A People Oriented Dental Practice," to care for people who are especially fearful or need special care. Every dentist and hygienist I've seen at this practice has been very caring and gentle, and I know they don't skimp on the nitrous if you need it. Also, they give conscientious care. My good friend went to one of those dentist places that advertise with neighborhood flyers; they told him he needed all sorts of work done, but when he saw Dr. Ostwald for a second opinion he was told that his needs were not nearly that drastic. I love both reception people; they have always been really nice to me and they recognize me when I come in. They also make calls to remind you when you are getting behind in your care, in addition to the postcards they send. All in all I have recommended many friends to see Dr. Ostwald and I recommend that anyone who is looking for a good, conscientious, expert and careful dentist to see him too. read more

I was referred to Dr. Ostwald by Dr. Koka (best Endodontist in the city - 450 Sutter) because my previous dentist had performed some cosmetic dentistry that was not well done. I had three visits with Dr. Ostwald; the first meeting was more of a meet and greet, take a look at my teeth, get a general idea of my goals and expectations, and order my previous x-rays. The second meeting was to talk in-depth about my goals and expectations, look at photos from when I was not un-happy about my teeth, and let me know if what I was hoping for was doable (I left with the slightest fear it was not completely doable). The third meeting was do the work. No matter how high my expectations could have been, Dr. Ostwald would still have exceeded them by a mile! I was blown away by what he was able to do and now feel silly that I thought the work done 20 years ago was good! Dr. Ostwald was incredibly patient and thoughtful in all of our conversations and while he was working on my teeth. If you have any issues at all with your current dentist, go see Dr. Ostwald. He really is incredible - I absolutely do not have enough great things to say about him and his office team. read more

My husband and I have been patients of Dr. Ostwald for several years. When my aging mother moved up to San Francisco, she also became his patient. All of us have had the same experiences in his office. Both the doctor and his staff treat us with great kindness. They know that people tend to be uncomfortable at the dentist, and they make every effort to explain what they are doing and why. The office is equipped with state of the art tools like digital x-rays. Cleanings, exams, and even needed dental work are more often than not, completely painless. I feel like Dr. Ostwald's great work and his useful advise have kept my teeth in the best possible condition. read more

Best dental experience I've ever had. They take the time to actually talk, explain, and reassure you about everything. And they seriously try to understand what's going on with your mouth. Example: Past dentists have suggested I grind my teeth at night. I brought this concern up with Dr. Ostwald and he showed me, with a mirror, how my teeth lined up and how certain wear marks could correspond to grinding. But I also had an uneven bite (the cons of never having to suffer through braces), which was probably a more likely cause. First time I've ever felt like I knew what's going on. read more

I've been going to Dr. Ostwald for more than 20 years and I think he's an excellent dentist. He is a skilled professional, courteous, on time and a really nice person. He is one of those dentists who is constantly learning and upgrading his knowledge of the field. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top-notch dentist. His work is impeccable! read more

I was referred to Dr. Ostwald by my daughter's pediatric dentist. I had asked for someone who worked well with patients who suffer panic and anxiety, and his was the first number written down for me. I am stunned at the few negative reviews here, and feel highly defensive over this dentist! Dr. Ostwald is WONDERFUL with putting patients at ease, with letting the patient feel they are in charge of the situation (which can be very intimidating when sitting in a dental chair with a mouth full of metal objects) and he always reminds his patients that they have the power to speak up and stop the process if they are feeling uncomfortable. I have only been going to this dental practice since February 2011, and I have made enormous progress from NEVER going to the dentist, to sitting right down in the chair so he can take care of my teeth. His office staff is beyond polite, they are caring, warm, ease you into the process, and always ask you how you are doing during the exams and dental work. I have never ONCE been treated rudely by anyone at Dr. Ostwald's practice, and even commend them for going above and beyond to make the visits as comfortable and reassuring as possible. I have already recommended this Dentist several times since February, and will continue doing so. Dr. Ostwald is DEFINITELY my dentist for LIFE! read more

Fabulous experience! Dr. Oswald's office has state of the art technology. I went in for anew crown and came out the same day with a new crown that fit perfectly and was made right in the office. Dr. Oswald made sure it fit perfectly before I left the office. His staff is fantastic. Overall great experience. The only dentist I will ever go to. read more

When my dentist retired, a friend recommended that I try Dr. Ostwald. I came to Dr. Ostwald for a cleaning and check up. His staff is courteous and helpful and the office is clean. His prices are competitive. I had been having some hot/cold sensitivity issues. After doing nothing more than cleanings for ten years, three of my teeth had cracks in them and old fillings that had degraded. I could have let them be and waited for them to fail but instead Dr. Ostwald recommended I "crown" all three in two visits. He is really into perfecting what he installs in your mouth - a dental geek - he spent a lot of time checking, grinding, checking, grinding, until he had a perfect fit. My bite is better than it was before and hot and cold sensitivity is GONE. it took time and money, but I have the peace of mind that my investment will last another 10-15 years. His assistant is attentive and caring - a real sweetheart. read more