Scott Levine, DDS

Dr. Levine has been our dentist for about 7 years and will continue to be our dentist as long as we stay in the Bay Area.
Dr. Levine, Kate the office manager, all the dental hygienist are all very knowledgeable, approachable, and super friendly. I love how I always get a reminder call before every visit.
The office is very relaxing and welcoming. There is always relaxing music playing at all times. I just love the atmosphere.
If you don’t have a dentist or are unhappy with your current one, I highly recommend making an appointment with Dr. Levine!

My entire family, children + in-​laws have been going to Dr. Levine’s office for the past 10+yrs. I have only great things to say about his staff, including front desk, assistants and Dr. Levine himself. Scheduled visits or on the fly emergency visits have always been filled with warmth and supreme dental care. Excellent professionalism and on point conversations about anything: my cleaning, my bridge, my implants, etc… I have done lot’s of preventive work in the past 10 yrs and don’t feel I have the European teeth anymore!
I feel taken care off and I smile more now-​gives me confidence in my daily life knowing my past experience growing up scared of a dentist, holding my mom’s hand among concrete walls listening to the «music of pain» by the drilled patient inside… those bad memories from Yugoslavia/​Macedonia are gone!
I highly recommend Dr. Levine’s office and his staff; even though the past 2 yrs we moved up the Mountains/​Lake Tahoe-​he is still our primary dentist and I wouldn’t go anywhere else!

I’ve gone to Dr. Levine for the last 5 years. With a one year hiatus when I to the South Bay and boy am I glad I am back with Dr. Levine now that I am back in the area. Like many of the other reviewers have stated, Dr. Levine is a nice guy and I find that he has a very calming mannerism. I recently had to have a crown put on for a cracked tooth (damn corn nuts!) which ultimately needed to get a root canal because I didn’t address it earlier (when I was in the South Bay).
Dr. Levine referred me to a Endodontist, who was also really good. But what I found interesting, was how complementary of the prep work Dr. Levine did for the crown… which the Endodontist described as being «textbook…couldn’t make it any better»…which left me feeling good.
The office staff is also great. Kate at the front desk is always on top of things and I never have to worry about my insurance. Everyone else, Sam the dental assistant and all the hygenist have been excellent. Plus they have parking in the back… what else could you ask for?
I looked at some of the other reviews and my experience seems to differ from some of those that rated Dr. Levine low. I think going to the dentist is like doing preventative maintenance on your car… everyone has a bit of a different opinion based on their level of risk tolerance. You can get a regular oil change or go for synthetic. You can get new tires when you are down to ³⁄₃₂ inch of tread or wait until you have the wear bar indicators showing.
I think Dr. Levine is generally a more conservative guy and wants to make sure you keep your teeth as long as you can. I’ve learned my lesson with that cracked tooth, if I would have addressed it earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have needed the root canal.

I went to this dentist for a few years until he stated he wanted to fill in 2 teeth he said were chipped. I went and got a second opinion consult from another dentist who said he saw no areas that needed to be filled.
I’m now with another dentist who also said the same thing.

I was referred to Dr. Levine by a friend who likes his work a great deal and assured me it was a good office for someone with a lot of fear/​anxiety. I have a limited amount of insurance, so I try not to do anything unnecessary like having umpteen x-​rays. Dr. Levine’s staff is magical and delightful. Dr. Levine himself was brusque/​rude.
So, on the recommendation of the friend, I called about 3.5 weeks ago and Dr. Levine gave me a phone referral to an endodontist for a root canal. Everyone agreed I needed a tooth extracted. So, post RC, I made an appointment for an assessment with Dr. Levine. He wanted to do a LOT of x-​rays, and when I mentioned I had a panoramic x-​ray done a few weeks prior, he got testy and said they could use that in a clipped tone. He wanted to refer me to an oral surgeon for an extraction. I explained I could not afford that and would likely get the tooth removed at Highland Hospital’s dental clinic. Fine. So I do that, and there are some complications. Dr. Levine wants me to have a cleaning, which I book for about a week after the extraction, and when I get there I ask if it’s safe to have the cleaning so soon after the extraction, which I mention I think is either going into being a dry socket, or infected, or both. His hygienist looks at it, makes a concerned face and says «Yeah, I think I see some pus. Dr. Levine should look at this.»
He comes in, looks for 2 seconds and then answers every question I have about it with «possibly». Am I risking diminishing returns on results by taking the same antibiotic 3 times in a row? «Possibly.» Is this infected? «Possibly.» Is it a dry socket? «Possibly.» Just totally dismissive of my fear/​concern/​pain. Brusque and rude. Walks out of the room as he says «We’re done here.» Not goodbye, good luck, let’s reschedule that cleaning for after this heals more, none of that. Writes me a scrip for antibiotics after I ask for them, I have to ask twice for a pain med, doesn’t even bother to put enough pertinent information on the scrip to have it filled. Walgreen’s has to call him to iron it out.
I feel as though I have been treated poorly by Dr. Levine because I am low income and dared to ask questions. He made me feel like I was bothering him during my appointment, and the endodontist he referred me to overcharged me for my root canal.
I would not recommend Dr. Levine to a friend. It is highly unlikely that I will return. Again, his staff is awesome: caring, considerate, gentle, friendly. The support staff bent over backwards to make me feel comfortable, which wouldn’t have been necessary if Dr. Levine wasn’t such a stiff.
2 stars for his staff, and for not charging me for the office visit when I went in for a cleaning and didn’t get one.
UPDATE: Dr. Levine called me today to apologize. He spent about 10 minutes on the phone with me giving advice and was big enough to admit my situation could have been handled better. He gave instructions for getting me through the weekend on my current meds, and we will touch base on Monday. Now he seems a bit more certain that I may have a dry socket, and will be consulting with an associate oral surgeon on my behalf.
I appreciate when someone can admit they are wrong/​dropped the ball. Thank you Dr. Levine for owning up. Upgrade to 3 stars.

My colleague recommended Dr. Levine last year when I was looking for a dentist in the Berkeley area. I am so happy that I took that recommendation! I have VERY sensitive teeth, so getting them cleaned is almost torture for me. The dental hygienist who cleans my them is AMAZING. She remembers my sensitivity each time I come in, and always makes sure I’m sufficiently numb-​ish before she starts. Makes a huge difference. It also turned out that i had to get some dental work done (blegh). I was extremely nervous given that I’ve had some pretty uncomfortable drill-​and-​not-​really-​numb-​nerve experiences. When Dr. Levine did my work, however, I felt nothing, and felt really confident that he was doing a great job. He even called me the next day to make sure everything was OK. Highly recommended.

My wife and I are new customers with Dr. Levine and both of us had a 5-​star experience.
My wife had an to make an urgent appointment with Dr. Levine due to increasing pain around her wisdom tooth, which he managed to get under control and avoid surgery. The receptionist was very helpful getting the appointment in place fast.
My visit resulted in filling a couple of cavities which was the BEST experience ever — given the circumstances of course :). Never felt so little pain, and had overall a smooth procedure.

Dr. Levine was recommended by my boyfriend who had nothing but positive things to say about him and his staff. Now I see why. They are very attentive, from the front desk to the hygienist. I love it when an office will call you the day before to remind you, and I love it when they listen to you. I hadn’t been to a dentist in a year and a half, due to being uninsured. I was feeling nervous about the appointment because I had been experiencing sensitive gums and was quite worried. Usually I look forward to getting my teeth cleaned because I’ve been lucky in never really having any problems except the few cavities as a child. I went in for routine x-​rays, checkup and cleaning. Thankfully walked away with no bad news and the hygienist was very gentle about my sensitive areas.
A Big thank you to all the staff!

I’ve recently switched back to Dr. Levine.
I had left him for a few years because he wasn’t a preferred provider for my insurance, but my other dental experiences here in Berkeley have been less-​than-​stellar. I’m willing to pay a little extra to get the service and care I demand.
Dr. Levine does great work, and the receptionist is fantastic.

Dr. Levine was my dentist since he took over from Dr. Wolf (who was amazing). So it’s been a few years and I had several things fixed and have a full range of experience.
Dr. Levine told me once that «there should not be a reason why his dentistry shouldn’t be the best dental experience».
However I am no longer a customer, because I don’t think it’s the absolute best for my teeth.
The good:
Dr. Levine is a nice guy. Over time, he has upgraded his offices with new equipment and upgraded the interior design. There was a lot of turnover in the early days, but he seems to have found a good staff that is always friendly and on top of things. I will miss Kate and the rest. I actually think Dr. Levine is interested in improving things.
The less then good:
Someone said here on Unilocal that Dr. Levine is fast, as is if this was a good attribute. And it’s true, he works fast. But over time I have learned that his workmanship is not always consistently the very best. He is fast, but he rushes. And then you have to go back to adjust the bite and sometimes it just never comes out right. Or the measurement for a crown that sits in my mouth is slightly to big. Last year there was one particular incident where he tried to fix three fillings at once. I trusted him, but in retrospect, it was not a good idea. Without going into details, things didn’t come out right. In fairness he did try to fix it, but’s never going to be as good as it should have been. And now I am stuck with mediocre workmanship. It was bad. And at some point I will get the whole thing redone.
And so I have decided without a doubt or regrets to go somewhere else.
My teeth deserve only the very best treatment.
To Dr. Levine: don’t rush, it’s not about speed, it’s about quality workmanship. Be the best experience you told me about.

Though I’ve only been to the offices for cleanings and to replace some ancient fillings, I’ve been extremely pleased in all respects.
The staff are always courteous and efficient. The hygienist is very pleasant and has just the right touch — effective at cleaning, but not harsh or painful.
Dr. Levine himself is knowledgeable, patient, informative, and supportive. For the work he’s done, he seems quite confident and at ease in what he’s doing. He notes things to keep an eye on, using pictures and xrays to explain his thinking, and does not suggest any frivolous procedures.
The offices and equipment seem up to date and modern compared with others I’ve visited. Digital technology for records, pictures, and explanatory videos are a great thing in a dentists office.
When I relocated to the area a few years ago, I was bummed out to be leaving my dentist of many years. Dr. Levine and his staff are every bit as good. Highly recommended.

Dr. Levine is very talented and prudent. Does not engage in anything frivolous or unnecessary as one other review had implied. They are very professional and try hard to make scheduling work for their clients.

Dr. Levine and his staff are wonderful. I always have a pleasant experience there, which is a lot to say since I always need work done. I would recommend Dr. Levine and his office to anyone and have several times. Also, if you get there early, or want something to do after a cleaning, you can walk down Solano Ave. and look at the shops.

Good dentist all around.

I was in terrible pain on a Sunday night, and after leaving a message with one of Dr. Levine’s secretaries, he contacted me within an hour. He told me
to come in tomorrow morning. I did so, and he said I needed a root canal.
He referred me to Dr. Rezai who was AMAZING. I went back to Dr. Levine
for my crown and he is very kind and professional. I felt I received good care.

Dr. Levine saved my 106 weeks of wearing braces at a teen!
I was having a hyper sensitivity to cold in one of my back molars. A friend of mine looked at it and saw there was a crack in the tooth. She phone Dr. Levine’s office, she’s a life-​long patient of the practice, and was able to get me into a meeting two days later. When I showed up and they looked at the tooth, it turned out there was a fracture in the silver amalgam from 20 years ago. When Dr. Levine started poking around, the tooth literally exploded! I caught a piece in the air. (The story turns out well, so keep reading)
Dr. Levine put a temporary crown on the tooth and set me up with a specialist to have my «crown lengthened». He special ordered a porcelain crown (I have exceptionally white teeth and he wanted to make sure the crown would match the rest of my teeth!). The new crown was fitted and is now not noticeable. He immediately became the second dentist I’ve ever had.
Finding a dentist is so hard, that when you find one who has excellent staff, great billing, and decent hours, it truly is a find.
Dr. Levine opens his shop at 7 am, so getting stuff done before work is a snap. The hygienists are very good, easy to talk with and always remember stuff about you… how can they do that every six months?!?
I lived in ColoRADo for a year and a half, but now that I am back in the Bay, I’m excited to be able to go back to Dr. Levine.

Dr Levine and his assistants are excellent– thorough, friendly, fast… what else do you really need from a dentist? Too bad my new insurance doesnt cover him.

Dr. Levine’s office is staffed with highly competent, friendly people. Although a trip to the dentist’s office can never really be described as pleasant or relaxing, their professionalism and upbeat attitude have made every one of my visits as comfortable as possible.
Dr. Levine took the time to get to know me on my first visit, doing the routine cleaning himself. He also took care of all my fillings. I have been impressed with the hygienists who have done my cleanings since then, as they always seem up to date on the latest research and technology.

About a year ago, Dr. Levine took over the practice of my long time dentist, Dr. Wolf, in Berkeley. Dr. Wolf was an excellent dentist. Too bad he retired.
Dr. Levine is very nice. I’d buy him a drink. However, I don’t think I’d ever pay him money to work on my teeth again. The fillings he gave me just over a year ago have all started to fall out, one by one. I’ve never had any fillings before the ones he gave me last summer, but I don’t think that’s normal. I thought fillings lasted between ten years and a lifetime, depending on how you take care of them.
I went back to Dr. Levine this week to let him know two of the fillings had come out. I kind of thought he’d agree that there must have been something wrong with the original fillings for them to fall out so soon, and that he’d redo them for free. Naïve me. He said I must grind my teeth, which doesn’t really make sense because the fillings are in the sides of the teeth. So now I’m $ 400 lighter. Let’s see how long these fillings last.
Well, stuff happens, but I really feel kind of ripped off. What makes it really a drag is that his office staff were just so horrible and snotty to me when I suggested that there might have been something wrong with the original fillings, and that I wanted to talk with Dr. Levine about doing the work over gratis. I mean really awful.(And yes, I know I should have just walked away, but I’m sitting there with these gigantic holes in my teeth where the fillings are missing, and it kind of hurts, ya know?)
Just so you don’t think I’m snarky with this review, I make my living as a self-​employed person. I depend on my reputation and word of mouth. If a client is not happy with what I do for them, I want to do what is necessary to make them happy, including a little work for free, where it is warranted.
In this case, I don’t think it was even about the money. He just didn’t want to admit there was anything wrong with the fillings he gave me. I think there clearly was.