Joshua B Bernstein, DDS

The care, service, and results here are beyond remarkable! Dr. Bernstein is undeniably the best cosmetic dentist out there. I traumatically broke 3 teeth several years ago and have had bonding on my front teeth since 2007. It was a less than desirable option considering my many years of braces and rather perfect teeth I had worked so hard to achieve in my youth. I consulted Dr. Bernstein because he was recommended as «one of the best in his field». I could not agree more. From the genuine care and compassion you receive from Dr. Bernstein, Allison, and his staff, it is the most comfortable environment you will ever encounter. I had 6 front veneers replaced this week and I thought the temporaries looked amazing until I saw the finished veneers set in my mouth. My smile has been restored to what I can only describe as better than what nature originally provided me. It is shocking how much the veneers look like real teeth! Not only did he restore my smile, but a confidence that I wasn’t aware I lacked over the past several years. I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Bernstein and the entire experience. They deserve all of the stars in the world and I cannot thank them enough!

I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Bernstein and his staff. I had been to a few lackluster dentists before being referred here by one of my friends. After a short delay with booking (when I inquired, they were in the process of moving to a brand new office… which just so happens to have a gorgeous sweeping view of the Oakland Hills, FYI) I was set up for my first appointment.
I’m always a little nervous when seeing a dentist, because from prior experience the cleaning is more painful than it needs to be. However, Dr. Bernstein was an absolute pro, and did an extremely thorough job of cleaning while somehow managing to avoid jabbing my gums and causing any undue pain. My teeth came out looking and feeling fantastic when all was said and done, and Joshua and his staff were so warm and conversational that it was one of the best and most (dare I say) enjoyable experiences at a dentist. And as an extra bonus, the goodie bag came with a tongue scraper, which is something I’ve wanted for a while but always forget to buy!
Do yourself a favor and book your next appointment here. You won’t regret it!

Dr. Bernstein, Allison and their staff are an exceptional dental practice — and Dr. Bernstein is one of the most proficient and skilled dentists I’ve had the privilege to see. My husband and I value their services so much that we’ve traveled from out of state to have the comfort and assurance of their treatment.
The dental work itself is totally painless, professional and beautiful. But it’s the compassionate approach to dentistry which ultimately seals the deal for us. They genuinely care about the welfare of their patients, and they do everything to make sure the experience is as stress-​free as possible. As someone with a history of traumatic dentistry, I appreciate Dr. Bernstein’s gentle approach. Everyone in the office is warm and engaging which also goes a long way toward easing anxiety.
Recently, Dr. Bernstein placed crowns on some damaged upper teeth, a procedure I’d been wanting to do for a long time. He worked out a conservative plan with me, fixing just four of my front teeth to beautiful effect. Not only do the crowns look like my original, natural teeth — exactly what I’d been hoping for — he and Allison took the time to make sure I was completely happy with the work before placing the crowns permanently. Without that degree of communication, reassurance and interpersonal exchange, the process could have been traumatic instead of so positively life changing.
When I first became a patient of Dr. Bernstein almost 10 years ago, I was dealing with some unexpected health issues. He showed me such kindness, understanding and helpfulness. I’ve seen enough health practitioners to know how rare it is to encounter that level of patient care.
My husband and I both recommend Dr. Bernstein’s practice without hesitation and with gratitude. Thank you, guys, for taking such good care of the two of us.

Dr. Bernstein and his staff are awesome! The office is beautiful and comfortable. The whole team is welcoming and kind. I had my teeth cleaned and a mold made for a night guard, and the whole process was painless and quick. I have been looking for a new dentist in the area, and this is the best place I’ve been to. I highly recommend this office for those who are hesitant to go to the dentist because they haven’t been for a while. I had been way behind on my routine cleanings, so I was expecting it to be a painful cleaning based on other places I’ve gone. However, this was not the case. All went well, and I’ll be back!

Dr. Bernstein and his staff are the example that other dentist offices should strive for. They are the most welcoming and friendliest people you will ever meet in any doctors office, who from the first step into their office make you feel welcome and special. I have had several dentist over the years and I have finally found the dentist that I will stay with until the end. Dr. Bernstein has the most up to date dental equipment and uses the latest technologies to include email and text appointment notifications. I was one to postpone going to the dentist, but after my first visit, my apprehension went away and I look forward to my next appointment as I know it will have a pleasant at experieince. All my dental work and teeth cleaning has exceeded my expectations.

I had a deep apprehension about seeing a dentist, mainly because of embarassment of the horrible condition of my teeth.
Dr Bernstein is compassionate, non judgemental and patient. My mouth was in bad shape and I was truly afraid of the pain I would feel to correct the damage. He completed a detailed assessment of my mouth, created a plan and is fixing my mouth a couple tasks at a time.
We always talk for a couple of minutes and then he starts. My comfort is always important to him and he takes great care in his patients being pain free while sitting in his chair. Dana, his assistant, is professional and fun to talk with too.
The office and all who work there are lovely. Alison is always smiling and makes the whole process easy. Its a peaceful place and I can actually relax even knowing why I’m there. I’ve never waited more then 5 – 10 minutes and I would have easily waited longer with the excellent reading materials in the waiting room.
I cant say enough good things about Dr Bernstein and his staff. They have honestly changed my life for the better. I love them.

I was referred to Dr Bernstein by my dentist. I am very satisfied with the results and recommend Dr Bernstein highly. His staff is friendly and helpful and his office comfortable.

The negative reviews posted here have me puzzled. I have experienced nothing but professional and courteous care from Dr. Bernstein and his friendly, competent staff. Information regarding procedures and charges is always well communicated in advance. Patient comfort and care is clearly important to Dr. Bernstein as is displayed by the uncommon combination of good dentistry, care and compassion. I’ve been to many dentists who just can’t seem to master that mix. I highly recommend!

This small practice is purely about cosmetic dentistry and it only works for people who have money to burn on their teeth, lots of time and flexibility in their schedule (i.e., wealthy retired, semi-​retired, do-​nothing executives and minor local celebrities). Routine dental exams, cleanings, etc. are overpriced and hard to schedule. They seem to have little respect for their patient’s time, as I’ve been kept waiting as long as 45 minutes past the scheduled appt time because of their disorganized booking practices.
They don’t even have a dental hygienist on staff, relying instead on a rotating contractor with limited availability, so scheduling a routine cleaning requires lots of advance planning. In addition, they expect payment for treatment in full and put the burden of dealing with insurance companies purely on the patient. Unlike most dental practices, you have to contact the insurance company yourself after treatment to obtain reimbursement after they collect payment in full at the time of treatment — yet another hassle nobody needs in their busy schedule.
My advice is that you skip this dentist and go with one that has a good reputation and a larger more comprehensive practice.

Dr. B is the best of the best, no pain, attention to detail and always friendly and compassionate. I no longer fear the dentist! His office is wonderful a soothing and relaxing atmosphere… yes that’s right I’m talking about a dentist office! I’ve gotten a root canal and fillings here and each time he’s been amazing. Bottom line, Dr. B really cares about his patients and everything about his practice exemplifies this. I give him the highest praise!!!

Wish there were more than 5 stars I could give ! And I have reason to know. A few years ago I had a «full mouth reconstruction» by another dentist specializing in cosmetic dentistry, which involved crowns on every single tooth. It left me with severe speech problems including hissing & lisping on many words. As I’m an active real estate broker, my speech is important & I needed necessary adjustments. The dentist implied it was all in my head & told me my «case is closed.» In addition to the cavalier disregard of my speech problems, the dentist used no dental dam (I didn’t know such existed to ask for it) or a mask over my nose during the many days of drilling & grinding on old teeth, temporaries, & new teeth, the dust of which I had to inhale when breathing. Whether it is related or not I’ll never know, but I ended up with severe, incurable pulmonary fibrosis which will limit me for my remaining life.
Recently I consulted Dr. Bernstein about my phonics prob & general disatisfaction with my «new» teeth. We decided to redo 14 of the front teeth. The first big difference was the care he used to protect my nose from the dust when doing the necessary grinding. When, after installing the new temporaries, the hiss continued he actually consulted with a phonics expert who suggested some strategies to try. With good humor & complete patience, and taking as much time as necessary, he continued to make adjustments until my speech is now perfect. He corrected a mess created by another dentist & gave me an absolutely perfect job. I could not recommend him more highly. And that’s why I wish there were more stars for him.

I went to Dr. Bernstein for my invisalign. I immediately felt comfortable, and knew I would get the invisalign here. There was so pressure, or haste.
When I got the trays, he helped me put them on and assured me I wasn’t going to break my teeth my popping them on/​off. They take a while to get used to.
I saw results within 2 month. In the beginning the change is much more noticeable. Within 4 months my teeth were relatively straight.
During this time, I had other work done. I made Dr. Bernstein’s office my primary dentist. The work I got done here was pretty expensive. None of it was billed to my insurance, and I ended up paying about 300/​cavity out of pocket, and 900 to fill a chip. I was told they would bill the insurance, but it never happened. (This is the –1 star)
However, Dr. Bernstein is very patient with the invisalign results. All the work that goes into getting your teeth straight is included in the initial payment. (Getting remolded or x-​rays) He will make sure you are happy with your results. His office is bright and clean; it has a very zen-​like vibe. It is also a smaller office so you feel very personally taken care of. Other offices feel very business like and busy, or totally run down; this is neither of those.
Staff: Brittany is really cute and professional. Allison is also very sweet and easy to talk to. Everyone who works here is social and easy to get along with. The office is easy to reach and someone is always there to pick up the phone or help you out. There is parking on the street, which is a major plus.
Overall, the most important factor, the quality of work, is excellent here. Even though It’s not cheap, you will get what you pay for. You know your work will be top of the line. I highly recommend this office. For someone who is very self conscious about their mouth, and nervous about seeing dentists, I can attest to the quality of work you will receive here.
Tip: I recommend Dr. Bernstein more for cosmetic dentistry over a regular dentist just because of price/​insurance. If you can afford to make him both, do it!

First I have to say that I am a Registered Dental Assistant, and am quite picky over who works on my teeth. Now that I have found Dr. Bernstein, I am finally confident in my dentist and completely happy to have found him.
Here is the backstory… Before I had found Dr. Bernstein, I had 2 crowns on my upper 2 front teeth replaced by another (overbearing and intimidating, and apparently incompetent) Dr. I was completely unhappy with the appearance and fit and was told that there was nothing that could be done to make them better.
When I came to Dr. Bernstein as a new patient and asked if he could help me with them, he removed all of my anxiety and worry and made me feel comfortable to be in his hands to fix this problem.
He replaced the existing crowns (numbers 8 and 9) and 100% successfully matched the color and shape to my natural teeth, restoring my smile back to natural and healthy. I can’t express how happy I was to have chosen him. I came to him feeling broken, and left feeling brand new.
I highly recommend this practice and Dr Bernstein. The atmosphere is totally relaxing, the staff are all very warm and friendly,
The practice feels like a spa. Easy parking also.
I will always go here and I live an hour away!

Dr. Bernstein is the only dentist I will go to now because of the quality of his work, as well as amazing professionalism. I had veneers put on by another dentist that did a horrible job. When one of them fell off, Dr. Bernstein was able to see me right away and get the job done. He’s flexible and knows what he’s doing. I would definitely recommend Dr. Bernstein for any dental needs.

I came to Dr. Bernstein after a particularly harrowing experience getting a filling replaced on a non-​numb tooth. I was halfway through replacing my front crowns, but couldn’t bear to go back to the (well-​meaning) dentist who was obviously baffled by the fact that after multiples doses of Novocaine, I still wasn’t numb. When I informed her that this had actually happened to me several times in my life, she just seemed even more baffled, and suggested that my anxiety was playing a part in my pain (which I don’t doubt!). But whatever was going on, that episode left me shaky and even more anxious about dental work, and I knew I needed someone who specializes in difficult to treat patients to finish the work that she had started!
I found Dr. Bernstein by searching the internet for «dental practice anxious patients»! And he lived up to his great reviews and more.
Dr. Bernstein and his staff are just wonderful and sensitive. Dr. Bernstein took my concerns seriously, listened when I explained my difficulties with anesthesia, and did not doubt my experiences. I decided to go with the non-​intravenous sedation and it was wonderful. When he was not able to numb the problematic area of my lower jaw on the first try, he simply informed that I was wired a little differently, that this was not unheard of, and on the second try, numbed me without a problem. The intravenous sedation left me a little groggy, but the procedures went without a hitch, and I barely remember them. The whole process was … gasp … almost pleasant!
Now I know that my lower jaw CAN be numbed, and that my problems are not in my head. Well, thank goodness!
Now I have awesome looking new front crowns and a new filling and I hope I am done with major dental work for this year! But I will certainly go back to Dr. Bernstein for future cleanings, fillings, etc., despite the fact that he is an out-​of-​network provider under my insurance, and thus more expensive than other dentists. I’m done with cheaper dentists for now — given my issues, I need and deserve a higher standard of care! Thanks Dr. Bernstein! Highly recommended.

Honestly I do not find the negative review credible. Due to a childhood filled with dental incompetence, as an adult I avoided dentists until it became too painful to chew. Josh Bernstein not only brought my molars back into perfect shape, he also erased my dentist phobia in the process.
I was surprised that my neglected old leaky fillings left anything to repair, and I expected a series of extractions. Instead I now have eight perfect porcelain crowns that function and look like new.
One molar was so weak that it broke in the process, and by the time I left the appointment Dr. Bernstein’s staff had already made the necessary appointments with the endodontist and periodontist, and he saved my tooth. I had not one single issue with the treatment, nor any failures in the three years since.
I want to emphasize that this was a major endeavor and not once did I experience pain, discomfort or admonition. And the result is perfection. Josh Bernstein is at the leading edge of his profession, a perfectionist performing his work, and the finest human being anyone could meet.
I recommend Dr. Bernstein with complete confidence, it is impossible to find better dental care.

We should all be respectful of others’ opinions and we should be grateful that a forum like Unilocal provides an arena for expressing those opinions. It is damaging, however, when someone abuses this arena to air a personal vendetta. Such is the case here with Theresa B’s posting.
Compassion, skill, flexibility and patience are the tenets of Dr. Bernstein’s practice. I had been a «once-​every-​five-​years» or «I’ll go when it hurts» kind of dental patient. Fortunately, I have strong dental genes. With Dr. Bernstein, my visits are regular… here’s why:
All of my experiences at Dr. Bernstein’s office have been absolutely PAINLESS!!! I have never felt even the slightest prick of the needle because he has completely numbed the injection site with topical anesthesia and PATIENTLY WAITS FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT!!!
The patient’s comfort is paramount and Dr. Bernstein’s «library» of distracting media is extensive, whether music or DVD. After every appointment, every member of my family gets a phone call later that evening from Dr. Bernstein asking if we are OK, in any discomfort or needing anything further in that moment.
Dr. Bernstein sets the bar very high and runs his practice the way I run my business; caring for the consumer first. From his waiting area to the treatment room to even the bathroom, he provides a calm and stylish environment, respectful of his patients’ comfort.
He IS as good as it gets.
BTW, Theresa, I also had a cracked tooth with a filling. Thank goodness Dr. Bernstein advised the root canal as now I no longer have sensitivity or pain and he saved my tooth.

Theresa B could not possibly be farther off and I am genuinely SHOCKED by her response. Then again, maybe it’s not so shocking, since she’s never given anything more than one star… just take the negativity into account people.
Josh Bernstein has been my dentist for roughly fourteen years now, and I have referred countless friends and family to him over the years. He is beyond exceptional in his craft, and he is a caring, sensitive and philanthropic man to boot. He is endlessly conscious and cautious with pain management (you can even opt for sedation if you have dentist-​related anxiety like my little sister), so I have never once had a moment of discomfort in his care, he has always been sensitive to my budget and he calls me to follow up after every appointment to make sure I’m doing okay. His (not inconsiderable) work on my family, friends and me has been beautiful, quality work that we’ve never, ever had any complaint with. When I was living in Santa Cruz for four years, I would even drive two hours to see him– I will never go to another dentist!
The office is beautiful (doesn’t feel clinical or cold at all!), with a wonderful, sensitive staff and a comfortable, luxurious vibe. They make sure you are always comfortable with blankets or a drink, and you can even watch DVDs while he works on you!
If that doesn’t convince you, you should know that I entrusted Josh with my boyfriend’s life, when an abscessed wisdom tooth became infected and the infection spread to his entire body and became dangerous. The office reminded me that this was the kind of thing people could die from, and that we should get it taken care of right away. My fella had no insurance and next to no money, but Josh took unbelievable and immediate care of him anyway.
EDIT: Josh recently took out two of my wisdom teeth and it was a great experience! If you have any anxiety whatsoever, this doc will take GREAT care of you. I didn’t feel a second of pain, I was able to hang out in the office and sleep off a bit of the anesthesia, and best of all– I don’t remember a thing! Woo! You are the BEST, Josh!
Josh is conscientious, thorough, extremely qualified and very, very kind. He, his staff and his family are dear, sweet, valued friends and I trust him innately. I absolutely cannot recommend him and his team highly enough. You will be doing yourself a huge favor if you choose him to be your dentist.

I rue the day I went to this dental practice.
I was on a business trip and had pain in the back, right-​hand side lower molar (the very back tooth). I went to my then dentist, who said the tooth was cracked. He put in a new silver filling, and that was that.
But then a friend of mine suggested I go to Dr. Bernstein.
Dr. Bernstein saw me and said that having a silver filling was a bad idea on a cracked tooth, since with heat and cold, the metal would expand and contract and weaken it, which made sense. Where Dr. Bernstein went very, very wrong, was the treatment he suggested, and I STUPIDLY followed him to the tune of THOUSANDS of dollars and the result of a mere stub of tooth remaining.
He said I needed a root canal. Thinking the doctor is always right, I said, «OK.» I asked if he knew a good endodontist, and he recommended his instructor, Dr. Steven Cohen, who «wrote the book on them.» Naively impressed, I made an appointment.
Well, you know what they say, those who can’t, teach.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
I got a root canal from Dr. Cohen on that tooth, and wouldn’t you know it, the tooth in front of that one also «needed» a root canal. (Somehow dentists can always find more things to do in your mouth, can’t they? Like Dr. Bernstein thought I should get one tooth that is oh, so slightly crooked straightened. Really? I’ll bet NOT ONE person who looks at me secretly says, «Girl, how can you eat with that haggle tooth? Close your lips, you’re scaring me, PUUULLLLEAZE!)
But I digress.
The cracked tooth that started this whole charade then needed a crown (the tooth more toward the front luckily already had a crown), so I traipsed back to Dr. Bernstein’s office. He asked me what type of crown I wanted, and he being the alleged expert in this scenario, I said, «What do you recommend?»
People, people, people. Learn from my mistake. NEVER ask a dentist what to do: that is the crack with which they then pry open your wallet with a crow bar.
He answered, «Well, you could do gold or porcelain.»
I had heard from a co-​worker that porcelain breaks, so I asked, «But doesn’t it break?»
As the «expert,» I believed him when he said that the material had improved, and he sold me when he answered, «Let me put it this way, I changed all mine to porcelain.» I remember those very words to this day.
And so I chose porcelain. But not just for that tooth, somehow the back, bottom tooth on the other side ALSO needed not just another silver filling, but a porcelain crown as well. (Remember when I said dentists can always find another thing wrong?)
Well, to make a long, very expensive story short, the first crown over that cracked tooth literally CRUMBLED in my mouth, luckily while still under warranty (roughly under six months). But then I moved across the country, and wouldn’t you know it, but its REPLACEMENT soon crumbled in my mouth as well. And then, shortly thereafter, the one on the other side crumbled too!!!
But the cost of flying back, nay, the aggravation of going back to get Dr. Bernstein to fix the crap he had done was prohibitive, so I wisely went to the dental school where I was living.
And I would NEVER go to a regular dentist again. Or endodontist, for that matter. For the root canal on that cracked tooth had to be retreated. Indeed, the first words out of the mouth of the dentist who looked at my tooth when it started bothering me were «It’s not up to my standards.» YIPES! Thanks for the recommendation, Dr. Bernstein.
So for all the THOUSANDS SPENT at his office I got three cracked porcelain crowns and a failed root canal. Meanwhile, he got a bird-​bath looking bathroom sink that’s fancier than any sink I’ve ever had in any house I’ve lived in or 4-​star hotel I’ve stayed in. (The first words out of my mouth when I saw that thing were «I paid for that (^&(^^%^% thing!») Really, in this day and age when health care is ever more unaffordable, for this guy to be putting bird bath bathroom sinks in his office is just unconscionable. Oh, and just get him whining about getting ripped off when his house in the Oakland Hills burned down (meanwhile he’s driving a Jaguar last I saw…) Not just Dr. Bernstein, but too many dentists try to make their practices into overpriced spas, emphasizing DVD players and whale music over basic health care. And we are paying for it with botched crowns and root canals.
Bottom line is, GO TO A DENTAL SCHOOL. At a school you get about six dentists checking and double checking the student’s work, all for about half the cost of a regular dentist. I have been to two schools (root canal at U of Pacific) and couldn’t be more pleased. (The crowns (GOLD, of course!!!) were half the price (gold price that is; one-​third of what those crappy porcelain ones this scheister put in my mouth) and the root canal was one-​third the price of that «not up to standard» one Dr. Cohen did. Or go overseas, such as Japan (gold crown = $ 400).
Avoid Dr. Bernstein like the plague.

I know most people don’t think of going to the dentist as a positive experience. Given all the periodontal work I’ve had and money spent, I can’t say I always do.
However.
There are some amazing positive experiences to be had. My first (Cecile Sebastian) in Hawai‘i opened up my eyes to what a dentist should be. And after having had that, everything else is… well, dull.
So per her recommendation, I saw Dr. Bernstein. I was a bit put off because they don’t accept insurance (that said, they do the paperwork for you so that you can get reimbursed), but after a not-​so-​great experience elsewhere, I figured it would be worth it.
And it was. This is a guy who cares. Who asks questions about YOU. Who wants to keep you healthy. Who wants you to be happy. And more over, isn’t concerned about making money on your teeth — he endeavors to treat problems, not just give you a band-​aid (figurative of course, band-​aids aren’t teeth-​friendly as of yet).
And this is why: LVI (
). Don’t go to a dentist that isn’t a member. You WILL notice the difference.