Robert Phong Ho, DDS

I still hate going to the dentist (always have and always will) but 7 years later and I’m still a patient of Dr. Ho simply because he’s the best. Not only the best dentist but really the best human being on this planet.
I actually feel bad for people that go to other dentists because I know that their dentist isn’t anywhere near how awesome, kind, gentle and compassionate as mine.
He does whatever it takes to make sure I’m taken care of. Not only with my teeth but with the most cost effective solutions that we can possibly come up with. I feel so grateful to be his patient and his friend!

Dr. Ho isn’t currently accepting any new patients so I guess this review is moot but I can’t not write a review.
Dr. Ho’s office isn’t fancy and you won’t be greeted with a glass of sparkling water but Dr. Ho could move his practice into a cave and I’d still follow him. But what you will get is an amazing man who happens to be a dentist. Being a dentist isn’t Dr. Ho’s identity like most dentists. Dr. Ho is like a good friend who just happens to be your dentist.
Dr. Ho has qualities I wish my therapist possessed. Dr. Ho is kind, skillful and empathetic. Yes, I said empathetic. I’ve had many dentists over the years and not one stands out; in a good way or bad way.
Dr. Ho’s approach to dentistry is unique in that he takes a holistic approach; he looks at everything. Dr. Ho takes my blood pressure, checks my lymph nodes and screens for cancer. Yes, cancer. It kind of puzzled me at first but Dr. Ho is all about preventive care and I think this is awesome, when you see that this industry is fueled by cavities and poor dental hygiene. Dr. Ho high-five’s me when I tell him that I’ve been flossing daily.
Sorry for the rambling; it’s just really hard to put this in words, which is weird since Dr. Ho is just my dentist but he really is so awesome and treats me with such care and sincerity that I know I’m in good hands.
Of course any good dentist needs the clinical skills and know-​how to do their job but so often, dentists and other medical providers are so impersonal and it’s refreshing to see Dr. Ho’s humility and skill go hand in hand. He could easily be a jerk and get away with it because he is so skilled but Dr. Ho is so modest and that just makes him more awesome.
I had a crazy toothache and Dr. Ho saw me that same day despite having a booked schedule. He took time out of his lunch to treat my toothache.
Dr. Ho has literally told me that he doesn’t feel right knowing that one of his patients is in pain. I couldn’t ask for a better dentist and I feel lucky to be treated by such an awesome dentist/​human/​superhero. I was going to move to the East Coast and one of the pros of staying in the bay area was Dr. Ho. I haven’t told him that because even I know that it sounds a bit stalker-​ish but it’s true.

I’m compelled to update my review: Dr. Ho has not missed a beat over the last few years as my dentist. He continues to deliver dental care with a level of skill, quality and expertise that is unmatched in my own experience as well as that of my family and friends who are patients of his. If there was a dentist’s Hall of Fame for after they retire, everybody would be saying «yep, he’s a first ballot shoe-​in»! On a more serious note, what’s so striking in our world these days is to witness Dr. Ho’s sincere, patient-​centric focus. Simply put, he truly cares about his patients and puts everything he has into delivering dental care of the highest standard. No wonder he teaches dental school in his «spare time». Combine that with the fact that he’s one of the most generous-​of-​spirit and kind-​hearted men you’ll meet and you can see why he’s earned the highest reviews from so many. On a funny side-​note: my daughter moved to Seattle and my son is out of town as well … Both schedule visits to coincide with their appointments with Dr. Ho. Enough said!

I had a top-​notch experience here. I admit to having high expectations (why not?), and everything was just the way it should be: a friendly receptionist, no wait time, a knowledgeable, caring, and thorough doctor (my basic exam lasted for almost an hour), up-​to-​date equipment, clear communication. I am thrilled to have this place 3 blocks from my house. Highly recommended!

not accepting new patients at this time :((

The best dentist since the one I grew up with.

Dr. Ho is not only an exceptional dentist, he is also an extremely caring and compassionate person. He has been my dentist for 10 years and during that time I have always felt well taken care of. I have called him on various occasions with dental issue and questions and he always takes the time to speak with me no matter what time of day. He has worked with me over the years to find the best, least invasive way to take care of my teeth. Best of all, he has made my experience of seeing the dentist a positive one. He is not only my dentist, but a friend that I have great respect and admiration for. He is a mentor for many and his first priority is always on customer care. I feel very fortunate that I was lucky enough to meet him.

Those who are lucky enough to call Dr. Ho their Dentist will likely stay with him for life. I missed the note that his practice is full & unable to take patients right now. I called to try and make an appointment & got a call back from Dr. Ho himself! Not a receptionist or office manager but he answered his own call. He reiterated that they weren’t taking patients right now. He apologized that he’s not taking any new patients but then he recommended two if his favorite colleagues & he offered up the idea to stay on the line while I got my computer to verify that the colleagues accepted my insurance. Great service, and a caring attitude.

Dr Robert «Super Dentist» Ho! That’s what I called him tonight. Ha! Been coming here for about 8 or more years and hands down the best Dentist I’ve ever had.
Thank you for always working with me and even putting in later hours.
–Jason

I’ve been visiting Dr. Ho’s office for almost five years. In that time, he had become more than my dentist, he is a friend. I look forward to my visits in his office. That’s right, I like going to the dentist!
Recently I missed an appointment due to illness. Dr. Ho called me to ask how I was doing, and to make sure I wasn’t having any issues that needed his attention before my new appointment.
Dr. Ho is not just an exemplary dentist. He is a model of how all of us should treat one another every day.

Last night I busted my front right tooth. Half of it broke off clean. You might be wondering how the heck I did this. I’ll just say one word — hockey.
I called doctor Ho to see what we should do. He recommended that we temporarily fix it by cementing the tooth back together. Yes, that means I found the chipped part of my tooth on the ice. A tooth is much easier to find them contact lenses. What’s amazing though is that he came back into the office after already working a long day. He had just finished dinner and was ready to watch jack bauer with his wife. Sorry, Mrs. Ho. Your husband is really dedicated to his craft and to his patients.
He fixed me right up and before I knew it I was out the door before 10pm. This was just a temporary fix before the crowning, which is happening later today.
Doctor Ho, I can’t thank you and your family enough. Thank you again.
Cappuccinos on me.

After years of searching for a trust-​worthy and caring dentist in San Francisco, I was fortunate to find Dr. Ho on Unilocal– and at the time, he was accepting new patients. I have had multiple experiences of dentist citing cavities that did not need drilling, in an effort to make money.
For starters, Dr. Ho cares about his patients which is evident in his body of work. What other dentist personally cleans his patients teeth, and explains to them what and why he does things? Most are simply looking to bill their clients respective insurance companies– in the end, dentist are paid for the service and rely on less-​qualified Dental Hygienist. They come in, say hi, and send you on your merry way.
Dr. Ho cares about his practice and profession. He teaches at two universities in SF and is passionate about what he does. I wish there were more folks in the world. Dr. Ho is a rare commodity as it relates to his peers in SF. His passion is evident in the way he conducts himself and manages his practice.
I am very grateful I found Dr. Ho, and highly recommend him to anybody looking for high-​quality dental care. His review/​stars are commissary with his level of service.

Love Dr. Ho! I’ve been coming to him for several years now and he has always been so caring and great! I have really bad teeth and Dr. Ho doesn’t make me feel bad about them, he just gives me good tips on taking care of them! He’s very humble and knowledgeable, unlike other dentists I have been to in the past who I didn’t like. So grateful for Dr. Ho!

Forget being a great dentist, Dr. Ho is truly a great person above all! I wish I could give him more than 5 stars.
On Valentine’s Day my father was hospitalized for what I believe was a tooth infection. After visiting the ER, he had to get an emergency procedure (with a different oral surgeon) which sadly involved having his front tooth extracted & he was admitted to the hospital for the entire weekend. Now, knowing how my dad is… he was more concerned about walking around with a missing tooth then his overall well being (LOL). So my mom was on the phone with Dr. Ho & explained to him the entire situation & trying to book the next available appointment to have a replacement tooth put in for my dad. Turns out, he has to wait at least 3 weeks so his gums could heal before a tooth can be placed in. You should of seen the look on my dad’s face when I broke the news to him! Broke his heart on Vday knowing he had to wait that long!
Now, any normal dentist would of just waited to see my dad in 3 weeks… but believe it or not Dr. Ho went out of his way to visit him at Seton hospital! I couldn’t believe it when my mom told me that Dr. Ho stopped by to check on how my dad was doing! Now tell me… is he amazing or what? He really didn’t have to go all the way to Daly City just to do that… a simple phone call would of been fine. Let’s not forget, it was Valentine’s Day! I’m sure Dr. Ho had more important things to do then check in on my dad. But wow, it really brought a huge smile to my face knowing he cares THAT much for his patients. Since my dad isn’t a Unilocaler I felt it was my duty to let his story be known. I haven’t had the pleasure of personally meeting Dr. Ho, but I just want to say Thank you so much for what you did for my dad!
Love,
Your future new patient

I have switched dentists many times, but Dr. Ho has been my dentist for over a decade. His work is thorough and swift, he does not suggest unnecessary work like many other dentists do, and he’s super nice, kind and very accommodating.
I once mentioned to him that I was collecting goods to take with me on a humanitarian trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not only was he genuinely interested in the work I was doing but he immediately volunteered to donate a generous quantity of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss. As if that weren’t generous enough, he proceeded to enlist some of his colleagues to do the same. He did this two years in a row, voluntarily, and I have no doubt he’d do it a third time if I go back to Congo.
In addition to his dental practice, Dr. Ho also teaches at elite schools, and really emphasizes the privilege and noble spirit of service with his students. I have never seen him in a classroom setting, but as I’ve gotten to know him over the years, I’m sure his students find him inspirational. I’ve known him for over ten years and have recommended him to family and friends without hesitation. He is someone who loves what he does, cares about people and takes seriously his status as a role model for other dentists. He is hands-​down the best dentist I’ve ever had. If you are looking for a new dentist and able to schedule an appointment with him, I urge you to grab it! He will put you at ease right away and even make you feel like you’re his favorite patient.

This is my second review of Dr. Ho, and again, I have nothing but good things to say about him.
Some personal background: I’ve been neglecting seeing a dentist regularly over the past couple of years and am catching up now with overdue maintenance (which he knows, and he doesn’t judge or criticize). Two molars on the lower left side had really tricky cavities — right above the bone /​tooth flesh. One of the molars was also partly broken off on the other side, which is usually fixed by a cap. That presented a medically tricky situation: since there was a cavity right at the bottom which had to be filled first, the cap would have to fit a little bit lower, requiring drilling away of jaw bone, and surgery. Big procedure, and with possible adverse side effects (weakening of the entire tooth structure).
And there’s another issue: I do not have medical or dental insurance but have a small medical reimbursement account through Healthy SF (which he knows as well, I explained everything beforehand). Frankly I don’t have the money for complicated teeth surgery, not at this point at least.
Tricky situation! What to do? Well, we came up with this: since I don’t care about how the chipped off molar looks, we just went for the cavities, and Dr. Ho carefully drilled into the cavities, very careful to stay away from the root (since that automatically would result in yet another $$ root canal treatment, plus a sea of pain). And, for sure, he got the job done: one molar cavity is completely clean, the other was much more messy and still has some nastiness bacteria left, but both cavities are sealed off, so even in the real nasty cavity the bacteria are going to die for lack of oxygen. No more cavities and no root canal treatments, and no messy complicated caps. That was a very tricky procedure: while drilling, he stayed a fraction of a millimeter away from the root in the tricky molar. Total bill: $ 700. Wow. Well within the limits of my medical reimbursement account, with room to play.
I’m not home free, still have to monitor my teeth and be careful to be more diligent on brushing /​flossing /​rinsing etc. The molar cavity he filled could still turn into disaster (i.e. another root canal), though the risk is much limited, the cavity being sealed.
Why this long review, with personal medical details, which I normally never put online? A list:
1. I want to say that Robert — at this point he is my friend Robert — is a Hero. He is not just extremely competent medically, and super nice and caring, he also takes into consideration your entire situation, including financial ability. He is true to his Buddhist beliefs and spirit, medically and ethically.
2. I am able to recount all the medical details from memory because of his ability to explain medically very complicated concepts in a way that I can understand them, and make an informed decision. That makes him probably the first doctor in the history of mankind who can truly explain what is going on with your body and how to best and easily fix it.
He is really as good as it gets, and deserves all the praise. If everyone were like Dr. Robert Ho, there would be no more wars, sicknesses, inequities, ailments. We would all be happy.
Well, I am happy now. :-)
ps1 needless to say all this was completely pain free.
ps2 I discovered that Dr Ho has a secret talent, he is a very talented foley artist, but that story is for another day.

WOW! Dr Ho is absolutely the best in his field. Not only does he have incredible bed side manner, he is so talented! I’ve never felt so comfortable and at ease during a dental exam/​procedure before. I got a filling this week, he walked me through the whole process and checked in several times to ensure I was comfortable… I didnt feel a thing!
Also, you truly feel as though he cares about you. The dentist I went to prior told me I needed 10 fillings! Dr. Ho looked through my X-​Rays and let me know I needed 1 and provided me helpful information on how WE would work together to avoid fillings in the future. He definitely does not scam you like others I’ve seen in the past.
Feel lucky to be his patient and will never go elsewhere. Dr. Ho is amazing!

I’ve been to many different dentists over the years (I moved around a lot) and experiences have been all over the map, from okay to gawd-​awful. Dr. Ho is the best dentist I have ever been to. I simply can’t even compare him to any other dentist — he really is in a league of his own. Not only is he extremely patient, caring, and gentle, but he loves dentistry. In my experience, that makes a huge difference in the level of service you receive. He still teaches at the university and is always says how much he loves it and gets great satisfaction out of helping his students. He also has such a positive, zen-​like attitude… you just feel comfortable and at ease when you’re there.
As far as treatment: He’s always on time, the office is spotless and his assistant is very sweet. I have some super sensitive areas and he gives me this special mouth swish that makes the cleaning process completely painless. He also does a proper dental exam. He checks the lymph nodes around your neck, takes your blood pressure, and checks your jaw. On my last visit, my blood pressure was a little low and Dr. Ho noticed it has been going down since my last 3 visits. I was able to use that info to get checked at my regular doctor.
He also went out of his way to help my husband who had a sudden toothache. Dr. Ho’s schedule was completely full, but he came in super early (7:30 am) to fit him in before his first appointment. What a gem! You just won’t find a better dentist.
I don’t plan on moving away from the Bay Area, but if I do, I’d fly back to SF just to see Dr. Ho (seriously!).

Great care of his clients! He listens attentively and is honest with his assessments. I’m also surprised at how readily available he is.
Recently, I had two fillings. He administered pain medication through some hi-​tech needle (medical lingo). Anyways, I didn’t even feel the shot. Very impressive!

He is a gentle dentist who doesn’t try to scam you. No phantom cavities with this guy. :)
If you tell him you don’t want a treatment he won’t shove it down your throat either, pardon the pun.
Discounts for cash, and he accepts all major credit cards.
The location is easy to find, and the woman running the front (his wife?) is nice. The staff are all Chinese, but there is no surly Chinese service here. :)
The only thing I think some might complain about is that he is on the gentle side, so if you like someone who really, really go at your teeth you might prefer someone else. He primarily uses a water pick instead of the usual metal implements, so you may not feel as scrubbed clean, though the water method is probably better for your enamel.
I know people who like to have as little cleaning as possible, and some that like to feel like every nanometer of their mouth has been powerwashed.
Dr. Ho does something in between, and he did my cleaning himself.