Berkeley Orthodontics

I only see dr. Kastrovy because he seems like he exactly knows what should be done. Hate the system that you have that you meet different doctors every time you make an appointments and every doctors opinions are so different. I had a trouble closing the gap between my teeth and other doctors were so inconsistent that it took like almost an year more than my expected removal date. And finally One doctor said its okay to take off my braces but luckily I had an appointment with dr kastrovy on the date of removal and he told me that i shouldnt remove my retainers yet and he knew how to solve the problem that others did not know. I hate the system of meeting different doctors but dr kastrovy is definitely a great doctor!

I’m an adult who recently started treatment here, and I’ve experienced a litany of screw ups. First, when I went in to decide treatment, the doctor had been instructed to prepare a course of treatment that I had clearly rejected at my initial consultation.
Then when I went in to get attachments the technician didn’t do all of them and the doctor had to rush to do the final ones, as I had to go to work and the appointment was already 30 minutes over the time they gave me.
Today I realized they charged my credit card, even though we had made clear arrangements to receive paper bills so we could use our flex spending account.
The level of administrative chaos at this place makes me very nervous about the quality of the treatment I am receiving.
–update July 2015
After calling the business office and speaking with Alva, I was promised my credit card would be removed from the database and I would no longer be charged
Turns out that didn’t happen. the card I was promised was removed wasn’t. The bill I was supposed to receive in the mail never came. Instead, the card that wasn’t supposed to exist was charged.
I’ve never had problems like this before with any service provider. This firm needs to get their business office in order.
–update
Hiliarously, the business office promised a «payment booklet» and instead I got an envelope containing 5 small, already cancelled, envelops. It’s becoming a sort of joke.

Recently, my bottom wire retainer I got when I was 16 came out, so I had to go back to Berkeley Orthodontics to have the wire replaced. It was a little weird coming into the office as a 23 year old, but they were quick and professional. The wire wasn’t cheap though, coming at $ 151.
Initially, the doctor recommended that I use a newer kind of bottom wire retainer that sticks onto each tooth, as opposed to the one I originally had which was just a wire attached to my bottom canines. However, that retainer came off within a matter of weeks. The office reattached it for free, but it came off again a month later. :(
I went back and this time, Dr. Meyer recommended that the office take a mold of my teeth and make a custom built retainer fitted to the shape of my canines. The procedure involved some lab work, so I was really grateful they did it again for free.
So I wish it hadn’t come off in the first place, so not a five star review. But stuff happens, and this easily could have been a 1 star review if not for their professionalism.

When you are considering braces — adult, kid, whomever– call them first!
I can’t say thank you enough to Dr. Meyer and Lori (highly knowledgeable treatment coordinator). These people are consummate professionals who absolutely know what they are doing.
I had a consultation with Lori and Dr. Meyer. They used great methods to evaluate me, answered every possible question of mine, were not pushy, and were entirely forthright. Convenient office hours and multiple locations, and they are sweet and intelligent to boot. Finally, their prices were totally competitive.
Note: Based on my very peculiar teeth [a problem front tooth, (broke at age 10, root canal at age 30)], they advised against braces. They could have gotten me in a mess (braces+implants) but they were HONEST and told me I wasn’t a good candidate for orthodontics.
When I needed a referral to a cosmetic dentist, Lori stepped up and gave me some recommendations. Again, THANK YOU, Lori!
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Dr. Kasrovi and his staff are great! Both my wife and I were extremely pleased by the Orthodontic treatment we received from Dr. Kasrovi. He is very professional and personable. No matter how patients he’s got lined up in his chairs waiting for him, he always cheerful, engaging, and makes the patient and family members he’s currently working with feel very special. I started my treatment when I was 42 in 2010 and needed to have both upper and lower jaw surgeries, in addition to my Orthodontic treatment, to fix my malocclusion. So I had to work with Dr. Kasrovi both pre and post surgeries over the course of 2.5 years. Another twist to my situation is that I live in San Francisco and had to travel across the Bay Bridge for all of my appointments. One of the benefits of working with Dr. Kasrovi is that he’s got three offices, two in Berkeley and one in Orinda. This allowed me to be able to see Dr. Kasrovi on all but two of my scheduled visits.
My wife only needed a minor correction in her bite and was being heavily pressed by her General Dentist to do Invisalign to correct her bite. Invisalign is a third party company that makes clear plastic corrective molds, similar to retainers, that slip over a patient’s teeth to correct the malocclusion. It takes a series of different molds, or trays as the company calls them, to straighten patients’ teeth. What makes it appealing is that adults, and children for that matter, can correct crooked teeth without having to wear wires and bands, but rather only a clear mouthguard-​like mold that is barely visible. This makes it great, especially for adults who want straight teeth but don’t want braces now that they are working. Invisalign markets it’s services not only highly trained Orthodontists, but also to General Dentists, and would have you believe that this treatment option is the right choice regardless of severity of your bite. Orthodontists like Dr. Kasrovi see Invisalign as a tool, a treatment option, but recognize it’s limitations. General Dentists are told by Invisalign that it’s a way to increase revenue of their practice, and it does do that. But, General Dentists aren’t specialized Orthodontists and don’t have the in depth knowledge that Orthodontists posses. My Orthodontist friend who referred me to Dr. Kasrovi explained this to my wife and cautioned her about working with her General Dentist to straighten her teeth. Dr. Kasrovi was able to professionally access my wife’s bite and determine that she was indeed a good candidate for Invisalign. This made my wife very happy, as she is a Partner in a large law firm and didn’t really want to be hassled with wearing brackets and bands.
We both really loved our experience working with Dr. Kasrovi and his entire staff at Berkeley and Orinda Orthodontics. They really are great!

If I could give them Zero stars I would. If you want your teen to be hassled about account status and payments every single time they go to the orthodontist, then this is your place. Even though you set up monthly payments with their accounting person, apparently that information is not shared with the delightful receptionists who have been coached by the owners to confront solo teens about payments. It’s hard enough on teens to have braces, without them being told that they ‘better get their parents to call this afternoon because this month’s installment hasn’t arrived yet”. No confidentiality. No tact. No discretion. Find someplace else if you prefer not to have your kids treated like their parents are dead-​beats.

Berkeley Orthodontics was not my original ortho office when going through treatment, but I decided to go to them recently when I was in need of a new retainer and am very happy! I felt very comfortable at this office and the office staff including Dr. Meyer is very friendly.
My bottom teeth had started to slightly shift (despite me having a «permanent» retainer bonded to the back of my teeth) and I went in for a consult with Dr. Meyer. I decided to have my wire removed and get a new clear retainer. The whole experience was very comfortable and relaxed.
Should anyone I know need orthodontic care, I’m recommending them to Berkeley Orthodontics!

I really like Berkeley Orthodontics. Orthodontia is totally not something that you really look forward to. It’s long and unnecessarily painful (braces anyone?). But these people really know how to make you feel comfortable and enjoy (as much as you can) your experience and time with them.
The office staff is incredibly friendly. I am on a first name basis with two of them, the woman who adjusts my braces, and the man at the front desk. The woman an I have developed a «Safe Word». It’s «Banana». I haven’t had to use it yet, well, not seriously at least. But its nice to know its there.
The practice itself is quite excellent. They are a group practice so every patient actually gets the attention of all the doctors in the practice. Feel free to test them. I have and they all passed by knowing who i was and the issues unique to my case. Good job!
Definitely recommend to anyone looking to start an ordeal for the reward of a better smile.

Friendly staff and excellent results. I was treated by Dr. Kim and had my braces for less than 1 year. Now, my slight underbite is gone and I no longer have to worry about my front teeth wearing down prematurely. Many people compliment me for having a great smile.