I have been coming here since before it was bought by the current owner, Dr. Daniel Chen. I have had issues in the past, but they have for the most part been resolved or a sincere attempt to correct the situation. Today's experience is the reason for the extremely low review. I came to my periodontal appointment that was scheduled for several months, to find that a receptionist took the liberty to cancel my appointment. I receive reminders to confirm my appointment via email, which is what I did on 04/22/26. I have never had an issue confirming my appointment this way before. Fast forward to today, I arrive to my appointment, to be met with questions from their receptionist Alexis. She asks me my name. My last name. And what my appointment was. She mumbles to someone else, that it has been cancelled. I speak up to inquire about what she is referring to, as I've had this appointment & have confirmed already a week ago. I ask her if it is their policy to just cancel appointments after patients have confirmed. She replied if they haven't heard from me. I'm sorry, but I already confirmed, and I have never had an appointment cancelled after the fact. Alexis is the one who cancelled it and doesn't know how to follow her jobs protocol. I sadly am locked in here to finish my orthodontic work through my Invisalign, which I've already paid a hefty amount for. I advise everyone to find another dentist! A place can only be as strong as their weakest link. Sadly Alexis is your weak link and will continue to cost you customers. Throughly annoyed, rightfully upset, and will no longer patronize after my Invisalign is complete. Wish Dr. Wilson and Dr. Arnold were running the helm. read more

Your Dental Story - What's the point of sending these out if you don't honor them?? - General Dentistry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Overall, I like this dental provider, but there are areas for improvement. Here are some specifics: Pros: The front desk ladies are extremely nice. The dentist and hygienist who I've had work on/look at my teeth are cool - neither has a bedside manner worth remarking on in any major way, but they're both respectful and friendly, albeit a little socially awkward. Facilities are fine, not super updated but not noticeably shabby either. Cons: Very pushy about leaving a review. Rubbed me the wrong way. Ask once, no more. Three different requests is excessive and leads one to think they're desperate to offset bad reviews. Also, this may not be "fair," but I was quoted over $900 for a night mouth guard. Who can afford that? I'm a graduate student and a teacher, and in any case, I find it hard to believe that $900 (after a ~$200 insurance deduction) is a reasonable price by any standard. Lastly, their Berkeley office (not sure if they have more) is on an extremely busy road and there are a total of 2-3 patient parking spots. Not ideal but not the end of the world. read more

Dr. Chen comes across as friendly, but he is actually very hostile and takes advantage of his patients. He charges $475 for a "Zirconia Upgrade" aka dental insurance fraud. He presents one code to the patient then bills insurance something else, all in his favor. $475 each patient pays for nothing!! Ask anyone, this is NOT allowed. He also belittles staff and makes people feel like they have to walk on eggshells. Not a friendly person, not a friendly practice. Just your typical bad guy dentist who is out to empty your pockets, as if dental work isn't expensive enough. Beware!!! Also, while looking at his replies to previous reviews online, does he not know he can't give personal patient information or anything to do with someone's specific visit? Seems emotional and naive. read more

I usually don't write reviews, but I felt the need to share my experience. From my very first visit, the atmosphere felt unprofessional. The assistants were laughing and joking around during the appointment, and we couldn't even get a proper X-ray because of the lack of seriousness. For many people, going to the dentist is already an uncomfortable and stressful experience, and this did not make me feel any better. The main reason I trusted this office was because my grandmother had gone there for years. After my intake appointment, I was presented with a treatment plan that totaled almost $8,000. I was told I was "not committed" to doing all the work, yet they still wanted my signature on the paperwork. That felt very confusing and pressured. My grandmother had a similar experience and ended up asking her late husband for over $10,000 for dental work there as well. I ended up needing an emergency root canal, which had to be redone twice. I repeatedly told the office I could not afford the crown at that time and only wanted the root canal because I was in severe pain. The root canal alone cost around $1,300, and the crown was another $800. I did not have insurance at the time, and my parents had to help me cover the expenses. Once I later got insurance through my job, I provided the office with all of my insurance information and asked them to apply it to my account. I never heard back from anyone a few weeks later i was charged for their plan i called and they did give it back. Thats the only good that came out of this. On top of that, one of the dentists was extremely rough during the procedure and visibly frustrated. I could hear him huffing and puffing throughout the process, which made me very uneasy while already being in pain and vulnerable. Overall, this experience felt far more focused on money than patient care. I do not recommend this office. In my experience, they present patients with large treatment plans, pressure them into signing paperwork, and push financing options instead of working with the insurance patients when provided. I believe this office should seriously reevaluate how it communicates with and treats patients. read more

Had a dental emergency that was causing gnarly nerve pain. Dr. Chen's team worked me in super quickly for the first visit. Despite already working me in on a busy day, he took the time to show me & discuss some 3D imaging (beyond the standard x-ray discussion). When my pain got worse, they moved my procedure up from the next week to early the next morning. Most importantly, Dr. Chen is clearly very skilled. I've never had such a painless experience at a dentist before. I quite literally felt NOTHING during the numbing injection. The root canal procedure was fast & pain free. His assistant - I wish I caught her name - was fantastic as well. Relieved to have finally had a good experience at a dentist's office in the Bay Area. Highly recommend. read more

Dr. Chen and his team were really helpful and responded quickly to challenges in getting my smile to where I wanted it to be

I came here for a checkup/routine cleaning and I ended up getting a deep cleaning on top of that. Bobby was an absolute gem! He fit me into his schedule, walked me throughout the whole procedure, asked if I was okay or if I needed breaks multiple times, and gave me lots of words of affirmation . The dentist has always been scary to me, but he made the experience way more pleasant. I highly recommend! read more

I've had a lot of work done in my lifetime, countless cavities, three crowns, 11 pulled teeth, so I came to Dr. Chen with a lot of anxiety visiting the dentist. He has made going to the dentist far more comfortable. His approach is one of minimizing discomfort and pain, so procedures I once dreaded are far more manageable. I highly recommend him for other people dreading visiting the dentist! read more

Dr. Chen, Janet, Bob, and the rest of the team were great! Everyone is friendly, professional, and made me feel comfortable throughout the visit. There was time to ask questions, and they even called my insurance company to confirm that my x-rays would be covered when I wasn't sure whether I had them done at another practice already. Happy to have found a new family dentist! read more

Great, pain-free dentistry! Dr. Chen and his excellent staff are professional, courteous, and easy to work with. I recommend them highly.

Everyone at this office was awesome! They knew exactly what they were doing and made sure I was comfortable the whole time. Super friendly staff with me and with each other and they were quick and efficient with my dental work. read more

BEWARE! They told me I had 8 cavities. I got a second opinion and it turns out I only have 2 cavities. They tried to shame and pressure me into unnecessary work. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

One of the best dentists in the Bay Area. Honest, reliable and consistent. We love the ambiance and the people. The quality is superb and consistent - no add on recommendations just for you to spend more. Dr Chen also cares about everyone - from employees to new patient. We are so happy to find Dr Arnold before and Dr Chen now!!!!! Thank you!!! read more

Don't go here. Scammers who over-diagnose to pay for their fancy equipment. The staff is unprofessional and always gossiping with one another while doing cleanings. Dr. Chen will suck your wallet dry and tell you have tons of issues (and make you feel bad about it) when you don't just so he can pay off his 3-D mouth scanner. This is a super common issue nowadays amongst younger dentists unfortunately. Greedy! read more

Dr. Chen is a highly skilled dentist. My mouth was a mess and he made it beautiful. His rates are reasonable. He is versatile and does all kinds of work: extractions , root canal, crowns, bridges, etc. And the office staff are all very friendly. Highest recommendation. Six stars! read more

My husband and I both go here and it's been a great experience. Staff are professional, thorough and accept our insurance (MetLife). I appreciate the ease of scheduling and minimal waiting when I arrive. I appreciate that I don't feel rushed and dentist takes time to listen to all my concerns. read more

I went to this dentist about 10 years ago when it was Dr. Arnold and had a great experience, having moved back to Berkeley I returned to find Dr. Chen and was happy to report that the service and professionalism had not changed. I received a very complete cleaning, which over the last few years I felt had slipped down a bit. I especially like "Jahira" who got put in charge of figuring out my dental insurance, a complicated project which she handled perfectly. I only spent a short time with Dr. Chen, but amazingly he couldn't find anything wrong with my teeth on this visit, and instead of making something up, he complemented me on how I take care of my teeth. Everything went very well and I definitely recommend this dental office. read more

They've responded that they don't have records of me. I guess they don't keep records of one time visits. I saw them for an emergency while my regular dentist was unavailable and never went back, despite their bullying to set up a regular appointment. read more

I have found God, and Her name is Gloria. I had two crowns placed yesterday and it HURT. I'm not as good with pain as I always thought I was. Gloria talked me through it, rubbing my arm, speaking softly to me. By the end I said: "Where were you when I was in childbirth?" There aren't enough people like Gloria in dental offices. Or the world. read more

First off--I've avoided going to the dentist for at least the last 10 years. I had previous trauma from childhood dental visits, a fear of needles and disdain for the car salesman tactics some dentists use telling you to get treatment you don't need. I expressed all of this to Dr.Chen in my first visit, and he was very understanding and not at all critical. He speaks with a very calming soft tone and gave me confidence that they would see what needed to be done and take care of it. The hygienist who gave me a cleaning was very gentle yet thorough and gave me practical advice for regular care. Although I was anxious about having fillings for the cavities I had, once I came in for that appointment Dr Chen made sure I was comfortable, aware of the steps he was taking, and not at all in pain. He and his team got me in and out in an hour (not rushing, just being efficient) and I have a new faith in dentists now, and will be having my child transfer over as well. Thank you Dr Chen! read more

I had not gone to the dentist in some time, due to fear of pain. By the time my visit was over, Dr. Chen and his staff left me with the ability to instead smile, smile, smile. Quite serious about that. They answered all questions about my particular procedure, regularly checked in to ensure that I was comfortable during it, and help me develop an overall plan toward better dental health. I was also able to get a follow-up appointment in a very timely fashion. read more

This is a sad end to a relationship of over 36 years with this office. I began my journey with Dr. Arnold and Dr. Wilson in 1988. They were absolutely wonderful to me and treated me as if I were family. Many different procedures throughout the years, and all done without any complications or complaints. Well, Dr. Wilson finally retired a few years ago, but Dr. Arnold remained and finally retired last year. Dr. Chen purchased the practice a few years ago and took over the practice. I was always able to get Saturday appointments, but that all changed with Dr. Chen. Then, he sent out a letter some time ago explaining how he was no longer working directly with Delta Dental, and that the patient was responsible for all charges. What a nightmare that became trying to get reimbursed. I started a procedure a year ago due to a tooth that broke off at the gum line and he had to do an extraction and then do a bone graft. I was given a breakdown of the charges at the beginning, which I was under the impression was the total cost. Each time I came in over the next several visits, I would pay another portion of the bill. I would ask the receptionist for an exact breakdown of what my portion was and what was owed by the insurance so I would know exactly how much i was due back. Well, even after another visit, payment and procedure, I still was not provided with that breakdown. I paid out over $3K, did get some reimbursements back, but it never seemed like I got what was initially quoted to me as my portion on their initial breakdown. Well, I had an appointment today (delayed for three months due to a hip replacement that my surgeon wanted me to postpone the dental) for what I thought was to get fitted for the Crown. When I met with the receptionist, his words to me were "Your balance today is $3.7k." I dam near fell over, and told them that the last payment made when I was last there several months ago, I inquired if that was it and that there was nothing else. The receptionist at that time assured me that my billing was up to date and that I did not owe anything else. I never saw another charge for the crown until today. I asked to meet with Dr. Chen and he apologized for not fully explaining it up front, asked what he could do to fix it. Needless to say, I was not happy, told him that my relationship with him was over due to several factors, and would have another dentist finish what seems to have taken forever. I would hope that anyone having major procedures done with his office insure that you get the full and total amount what the costs are going to be. Dr. Chen is a nice person and very good at what he does, but, by not fully explaining to me in detail the full costs up front, he all but lied to me. That error is unforgivable and I have chosen to move on to another dental office more convenient, where I no longer have to burden all the costs upfront and then deal with trying to get reimbursement from the insurance company. read more

The people at Dental Story work together to make things seamless while also being personable and warm. The office is pretty old school, not plush or high tech, they play golden oldies soul and R/B which is kind of refreshing, not corporate. Whenever Ive had something else come up they are responsive and do their best to get me back in. I really liked Dr Arnold, before he retired, and like Dr. Chen now. Good people. read more

I recently got my teeth cleaned and got an xray on the 17th which was a Monday and I love how accommodating everyone was. They were very sweet and gentle as well. They were able to answer my questions and work together as a great team! I would totally recommend this place to friends and family. read more

I went to this dental office to have a root canal in Oct 2011. I had limited insurance with Blue Shield via a program supported by the state of California in SF. The dental office did the root canal, Blue Shield paid their share, and I spent mine in advance. The dental office offered to add deep cleaning claiming that Blue Shield would cover this service. I told them to double-check with Blue Shield as I realized that the office once tried to exploit Blue Shield by falsely claiming that my case was an emergency case to charge extra money from them. In addition, I did not think Blue Shield would pay for the deep cleaning and that there was no need for such an unnecessary service. Indeed, Blue Shield told the office it would not cover the cost of the deep cleaning, and I declined to start this suggested treatment. On 1/18/2021, I realized that the scammer's office overcharged me $51.50 and when I faced them with the evidence, they refunded the amount back to me. A few weeks later, the dental office surprised me by sending an invoice for a treatment that did not occur. When I contacted the dental office to check the issue, they checked the case and said this was a mistake by the accounting department and that they would fix it. Although the dental office promised to stop this illegal charge for a service that never happened, yesterday, 10/23/2022, they sent me the same invoice that shows no descriptions, asking for money. read more

Avoid this place. I regretted coming here the minute I stepped into the office. The equipment is old and the office doesn't seem very sanitary. I was not happy with the staff and Dr. Arnold's treatment. The dental assistant was really rough with x-rays. They still use those plastic things for the mouth, when any modern dentist now has better sensors and equipment for x-rays. She was also rude to me the entire time I was in the office. Dr Arnold himself just keeps talking and talking, asking unprofessional and out of line questions. I was a new patient and he made me feel very uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for my visit to end, and I definitely will not be stepping foot here again. read more

Dr Angry Tooth I'm not sure how, but my wife located this office and really likes working with them. She suggested that I should see if they are accepting patients, and they were... sort of. So one of the dentists there examined me - not sure who, but as I recall it was a youngish fella - and gave me the standard "Your teeth are bad, and you are bad for letting them get bad." That is, shame-based dentistry. Definitely conveyed the impression that there was nothing but my own intransigence preventing my oral care, not, say, lack of insurance or trauma from previous dental providers or anything. But it turns out he wasn't accepting patients like me. Apparently my periodontal disease had advanced too far, and he wouldn't be able to do anything at all until after a course of treatment by a periodontist. And so he had my staff book one for me. They made it very clear that they were asking for a second exam rather than a course of treatment, and assured me my insurance wouldn't share the cost at all because my policy only covers one exam per year. But too bad, I had an exam and the result of the exam was I need a new exam. Go pay the piper. The periodontist I was referred to had of much the same "your teeth are bad, and you are bad for letting them get bad" attitude. They seemed to think they could get my insurer to pay for the exam, but alas there was a surprise bill in the offing for me. And no offer whatsoever to discount or waive any of the exam fee, considering they're (ostensibly) using it to recommend a four-digit treatment plan. Just "Shucks, guess you owe us $200 before you can see us again." I never did go to discuss that treatment plan. But this review is about Arnold/Wilson, who *also* made it clear I wasn't to see them until I had completed treatment at the periodontist. And so I didn't. In fact, I avoided not just all dental care, but medical care in general after that whole thing. Fast forward a year or so, and I'm having the most incredible toothache. I called the Berkeley Dental Society emergency line, and they got the actual Dr Arnold to see me if I recall (as it was a holiday weekend). He was just as nice as everyone describes him, and he scheduled me for an RCT with a really nice endodontist in Alameda. But as far as I know, I'm not welcome back in their office for a regular visit until I've had the periodontal treatment, and the way the periodontist described it (the words "so traumatic" were merely the build-up) made me fully terrified to take that on. So I'm stuck, I guess. Fast forward several months again, and the RCT tooth is... not going to make it. Rather than deal with the embarrassment, scolding, or humiliation I would get at Dr Angry Tooth, I went directly back to that nice endo in Alameda and she got me taken care of with minimum pain or condescension. By extraction. Move forward several more months, and you see me with some severe pain and swelling in the cheek area thanks to - you guessed it - an infected tooth. Rather than run the Dr. Angry Tooth gauntlet, I gulped down some antibiotics that I had on hand and a Tylenol or three and said my prayers. This was as effective as you would expect, and I ended up on the phone with the office to get seen. After a five day wait, with a swollen abscess in my cheek and fluctuating pain, Dr. Chen (I remember his name this time!) was ready to see me. Not precisely sure what he was waiting for, maybe he was busy that week? I guess except for the time I saw Dr. Arnold, emergencies are usually on a "one business week" time frame at this office. On the day of my visit, I got to see the REAL Dr Angry Tooth. Dr. Chen *read me the freaking riot act* in that not-even-a-little-bit private exam room. I mean I'm sorry that I find dental care and dentists and the enormous financial risk involved scary, but YOU ARE NOT HELPING. The shame wasn't enough, go on ahead and pile up some humiliation too, Doc. That's what passes for "care". I'm struggling with going through the trauma of introducing myself to yet another dentist (and probably getting the whole shame lecture again) or just going to Dr Chen as often as I can bear (devil you know and all that). But how can I trust the next dentist won't treat me like Dr. Angry Tooth did? The light at the end of the tunnel is I did find a very kind periodontist/prothsodontist who is able to work with me and help me feel safe and cared for; I've asked him for a referral for a general dentist but it hasn't come back yet. In addition to being a lot more honest, he has access to apparently a lot more tools than Dr Angry Tooth or the periodontist they recommended (who didn't say what she wanted to do, only that it was going to be extremely "traumatic"). Here's hoping I can get out of the shame-based dental industry's clutches. read more

My three children and I have gone to this office for no less than 11 years. When my first son needed a filling we changed from our previous dentist to this one because laughing gas was an option to help settle my son before the procedure. Recently the same son now 18 needed an emergency support. One day before graduation he had a significantly chipped front tooth. Dr Arnold serviced all of his scheduled patients that day and squeezed in my son to his already packed schedule so that my son could make it to his graduation with his smile intact. There have been many examples over the years of their outstanding work, welcoming environment, and just feeling good about going to the dentist's office of all things. read more

Needed a new local dentist. My wife recommended this place and I was blown away by how friendly and professional everyone was. Got my teeth cleaned, some standard Xrays, and a tutorial on how to properly floss... and I was on my way! Highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for a dentist in the Berkeley area. read more

I am in my third year in the unofficial A&W DDS fan club. My wife introduced me to their office after I switched my dental plan and had a bad experience with a different local dentist's office. I've had a lot of good experiences with everyone here at Arnold and Wilson. The receptionists are friendly and funny (breaking the ice if you're nervous about oral care). My cleanings have always been quick and thorough. Dr. Arnold is laid back but really cares about my teeth and has always been very professional and concise with visits. Everyone here loves what they do and that means they take care of you, are happy to answer your questions and just chat about teeth (I like to ask questions about teeth and see how dentists respond. These guys love talking about teeth and they love their work). A&W have also taken the time on the phone to tell me about discounts on my visits and email me to let me know I have another free cleaning available when my insurance plan changed - this was really nice because I would have lost 6 months of dental care if they hadn't tracked down my insurance plan and called me about it. I really appreciate their all-around care and support for patients and their love of the work. read more

This was hands down the BEST dentist I've ever been to! I've moved a lot over the last 20 years and been to about a dozen different dentists, but this was by far the best experience I've ever had. First of all, Ashley was exceptional at dealing with my complicated schedule to find something that worked, I loved the option to communicate by text. As soon as I walked into the office I was greeted warmly and everyone had big smiles (what you want to see at a dentist!), a very kind man took my coat and joked with me which made me feel at ease from the get go. Next, Alexis did a great job taking my x-rays and photos and making me feel comfortable. Finally I was seen by Dr Le, who explained what he was doing and was extremely gentle. Everyone was professional, but friendly and easy to talk to. All the equipment looked state of the art and the office was very clean/modern. Overall, fantastic experience and service with a smile. I'm almost sad that I don't have to go back for another 6 months! read more

This place is pretty good. Painless and conveniently open Saturday. Not a lot of places open Saturday anymore.

The best dentist experience I have ever had every single time! The Dr. Arnold & Wilson team is absolutely amazing; you are always welcomed in with a warm hello and they truly go above-and-beyond to try to make sure you have a positive experience. Every time I have gone there I have either been taken back right away or I have only waiting for less than a few minutes. Each individual, ranging from the people in the front, the individuals who clean your teeth, and to the Orthodontists', make a very strong effort to assure you are well taken care of and it really shows. I moved to the Bay Area for school roughly two-years ago from SoCal, and one of the biggest annoyances I have noticed about the Bay Area is the lack of customer service and peoples pride in their work, but I can honestly say that at Dr. Arnold & Wilsons they epitomize the very idea of what it means to provide exceptional customer service! I remember I had an emergency situation because the right side my face was swollen and I was in pretty bad pain. I called up Dr. Arnold & Wilsons and even though they were probably very busy, they told me to come in right away. Once I went in, Dr. Arnold took great care of me and was able to get rid of my infection and provided me a referral to go and get a root canal. I then went back for a cap, and that experience was great as always. They also have this awesome refer a friend program that I encourage anyone to try and utilize. Essentially, if you have any friends or family or people you encounter, refer them to Dr. Arnold & Wilsons and you and that individual will receive $100.00 in credit! I've already been able to refer all 3 of my roommates and their experience has been just as great as mine. So if you are looking for an experienced, kind, family-like dentist, give Dr. Arnold & Wilson's a call - you won't regret it! read more

Such a great place! I use to work at another dental office a while back so I knew what to expect but being in the dental chair still gives me a bit of anxiety. However this dental office did not make me anxious at all. Dr Chen was super gentle with my cleaning and was very straight forward. His bedside manner was very warm but still very direct. The cleaning didn't hurt is basically what I am trying to say (which is saying a lot since I haven't been to the dentist in about a year or so). I would highly recommend them to anyone that is scared of dentists. You won't feel that screeching feeing here when they clean your teeth and won't "poke" your gums for fun (if that can be used to describe how that feeing is). I am going back for impressions for my Invisalign Thursday so looking forward to it and super happy I found my new home dental office :) read more

This is the best Dentist's Office I've ever been to. Such a small family feel that really makes you feel heard and taken care of. The entire staff is very friendly and helpful! I'm so happy I found this place. read more

Great experience with Dr. Chen and Janet. They have swift and gentle hands. Very knowledgeable. Quick and painless. Will be back for a filling and invisalign. Would highly recommend! read more

There is nothing better than a friendly calm atmosphere to get your mouth worked on. Everyone I have encountered there is really cool. Service is fantastic, I have never had to over wait, they are always on time. If you are looking for a great dental experience- I recommend them! read more

I've been looking for a new dentist and this place was exactly what I was looking for! Everyone was very kind and welcoming. I'm so glad I came here. read more

It's always a little stressful finding a new dentist when moving across the country, but I'm very happy I was able to find Dr. Chen. He did a very thorough walk through of my x-ray with me and identified some fillings that were done poorly by my old dentist in NYC that had been causing me discomfort for some time. Additionally, he clearly showed me where risk areas were and explained how some of my shortcomings in dental hygiene appeared in the scans. Very excited to have found my go-to dentist on the west coast on my first try! read more

I came here after disappointing experience at the other dental office. Dr.Chen is very patient, honest, and straightforward. He's very gentle and swift in his work. I feel like I'm in good hands. The dental assistants Janet and Glory were also very sweet and helpful. Overall the experience was wonderful and I highly recommend this office! read more