Dr. Eric Yabu is an excellent dentist. He spent a great deal of time with me to instruct me about how to properly care for my teeth. I have been following his instructions, which have resulted in my teeth now being in such good shape that I have not needed anything more than a cleaning and a polishing at my last appointment. His staff is also excellent: his dental hygienists and his office help. read more

Lim and Yabu - I am very pleased with my dentist. - General Dentistry Near Me - Oakland, California

If there were more stars, I would give the highest star possible for this Dental practice! Dr. Lim is amazing. She utilizes all the latest advances in dentistry with precision and attention to detail. She started my treatment plan with a full mouth X-ray, followed by a thorough evaluation as to which teeth to prioritize. She then gave me a detailed copy of the X-ray report including the treatment plan and the cost of each procedure. I'm about halfway through the treatment plan and everything is exactly as promised. I couldn't be happier. Her work is outstanding. I am so glad I found her! Mona Faltis read more

Love the doctors, the music, staff and the professionalism! The front office has always been help with answering all my insurance questions. It's a complete package! I'm so thankful to call Dr. Lim/Yabu and staff my dental office. I have been referring all my friends and family!! read more

Came here for the first time recently. The reservation was easy to make over the phone and I got text message reminders to confirm. They take most major dental insurance. Did not have to wait at my appointment time. The cleaning was thorough and the service was friendly and professional. I felt that Dr. Lim was caring and responsive to my questions and concerns. I would encourage anyone in the neighborhood to check them out. Mostly street parking but you can park just a couple blocks away for free residential parking. read more

I continue to be very pleased with this practice, where I have been going for about a year. Dr. Lim did a crown for me, a procedure which is not fun to experience. But it was faster and more comfortable than any crowns I'd had done before. I think the high-tech equipment they use speeds up the procedure, and the anaesthesia was perfect. Yesterday May cleaned my teeth. I am a careful brusher and flosser and have received regular 6 month cleanings all my life, but when she was done, they looked MUCH better than they had for a long time. She, too, uses high-tech equipment which is fast and effective and seems to eliminate a lot of the unpleasant scaling my former hygienists did. So five stars plus for this dental practice, and oh, by the way, they have all treated me sweetly and respectfully during every visit. Appointments are easy and they have an optional appointment reminder email/text system which works really well for me. read more

I never thought I would look forward to going to the dentist. I've had so much bad luck in the past. Last year I went to a place that looked amazing and charged half of what most charge and thought I was getting a great deal. While the staff was very nice, it resulted in months of agony, infection, botched fillings, and money I left on the table so not to continue enduring the torture just to not pay for corrections elsewhere. After two of those fillings came out and the pain was back to an 8, I did some research and through word of mouth, found Dr. Yabu. (insert angels singing here) I was petrified but Dr. Yabu was friendly and right away, set me at ease. He was honest about what to expect but my past experience had me braced for the worst. He took his time every step of the way. I didn't feel rushed or like just a number, as I have elsewhere. Before we got down to work, I really felt I could trust him. I've now seen him three times. Just yesterday I had a wisdom tooth pulled and two botched fillings corrected. AND TODAY I FEEL NO PAIN. He got it all right the first time. I'm both shocked and relieved. I highly recommend his services and so appreciate his skills and demeanor. The results speak for themselves. I'll no longer put off dental work out of fear. I'm confident Dr. Yabu will make things better--without the series of mishaps I'd come to expect from others. Added bonuses: - He uses a topical numbing product so you don't feel the needles that come after. - Everyone in the office is professional and friendly. - Payment is clear from the start. - They accept Care Credit. - There are nice views. - They send digital appointment reminders. All this is worth far more than fancy furnishings and a ceiling mounted TV IMO. read more

Nice Dental Assistants, but everyone else I encountered was very unprofessional. The first time I tried to get in, I called and got a rude front desk person that informed me they don't take my insurance and that was that. However, a co-worker swore by them and my cavities aren't going to heal themselves so I did my research and found out my crap dental insurance basically pays the same no matter if I'm in network or not, so I call again. A nicer person answers this time and gets me scheduled for an exam and cleaning with Dr. Lim. The exam and cleaning went fine and they scheduled me with 2 follow ups to deal with 3 cavities for a couple weeks down the line. Great. Then, it all goes downhill. They sign you up for text and email reminders, which I understand, as people can forget. However, there were SO many that kept coming, even after I clicked "confirmed" on the email or texted "C" on a text reminder. So, two days before my appointment, I get a call from the office telling me my appointment is "tomorrow". I was surprised as it was 2 days from now and asked the front desk if she was sure. She said she was. I hang up and re-check the (many) messages stating 2 days from now and call back and leave a message and ask them to clarify my appointment date. In return, I get a snaaaaaarky and bitchy-as-hell voicemail in response from Maria. Basically, she was like, your appointment is 2 days from now and "oh, in the future, if you don't want a call, you should confirm your appointment reminders." You mean the 20 damn reminders I *DID* confirm, Maria? I was f'in LIVID with that nasty voicemail--I seriously wanted to play it for Dr. Lim at my appointment to show her who she has working for her. But, damn it, I need the dental work so I go to the appointment and figure I will talk to Dr. Lim in private after my work about that mess. Show up to my appointment, get in the chair, chat with the (very sweet) Dental Assistant and wait...when Miss Snarky herself comes in the room. My appointment is being cancelled--as I'm in the damn chair--because Dr. Lim has a migraine. Something that would have been nice to know before I paid for the damn Uber and was in the chair ready to go! At first I was like, okay, just reschedule but as I wait for another Uber to take me to work I realized how crappy the whole experience was. I just paid money (Uber and the first appointment) to get treated like crap by your staff. I walk up and Maria/Snarky is in on the phone. I get her attention long enough to let her know to cancel all my appointments (I'm not rewarding unprofessionalism with my hard-earned money). Snarky just rolls her eyes at me and says, sarcastically, "I'm sooooo sorry about that." Yup. That just happened. I worked a Medical Front Desk job before so I get that a lot people can be total a-holes but I wasn't and if I had dared to act that way at work, my ass would have been fired. Deservedly so. Luckily, I called another doctor's office and they were able to get me in the next day. THAT is what customer service looks like. read more

I absolutely love going to this dentist. Some of the most gentle yet effective dental work I have ever received. I was set up to do gum surgery at another place but opted to do their laser surgery with them instead- boy was I glad I did! A fraction of the price and reversed a pretty serious gum issue. Their dental hygienists are great as well- May is excellent. I highly recommend this practice especially if you are phobic about the dentist. read more

I can't say enough positive things. Anyhoo, I went to him originally because, as much as I positively love my old dentist who I have been seeing for years, I had re-done a particular filling about 3 times with my old dentist and it was always a problem because a food trap remained. The teeth were just a tiny bit too far apart and food got down there constantly. I had to dig out food between these two teeth every single time I ate and if I missed a bit, I had sore gums. My old dentist had revised it 3 times and just couldn't get it right so I decided to try someone else. Nothing against my old dentist, I think he's awesome, but I had to take care of myself. Dr. Yabu has the most friendly and wonderful chair-side manner. He is also super smart and knows what he's talking about and spent a lot of time with me on our first visit just getting to know me before he ever had me open my mouth. I appreciated that so much. Glad I went here based on a recommendation from a friend because aside from being smart, friendly and patient-centered, Dr. Yabu is also seriously incredibly gifted in doing fillings. He re-did the problem filling to fix the gap and it was spot-on perfect the first time. No more food trap, no more sore gum. I had suffered for 5+ years with this food gap. I was so happy that I just kept going to this practice. I've only had the filling done and no other work needed, but I've had 2-3 great cleanings. Insurance has been more seamless with other practices, but everything can't be perfect. Also, shout out to the incredibly nice receptionist and awesome hygienist! read more

I switched to this practice last year after seeking a second opinion for what turned was a lot of unnecessary work. All of the staff, from doctors to hygienists to office staff, are ultra professional, caring, responsive, and just lovely. I am so glad I switched! read more

My husband and I have been going to Drs. Eric Yabu and Geradine Lim for over 10 years. We have followed him from UCSF to his office on Union Street in SF and then to Oakland. Living in Marin, we often cross all 3 of the bridges in order to see the Lim/Yabu Team for our regular visits. They are both technically excellent and compassionate dentists who care a lot about their patients. They are perfectionists and will always take the extra time to get it just right. They have seen me through everything from root canals to cosmetic work. Most importantly, they are honest and kind, and will never try to make you do something that is not required. Recently, they remodeled and upgraded their office space, so patients will enjoy a new office complete with the best of modern technology and even flat screen TVs. If you are looking for a new dentist, do not hestitate to call this office. You will not be disappointed. read more

Best Dentist, ever. I have had a lot of dental work done since I was a kid, and I work hard in maintaining it. I'm also in the medical field myself and am very picky about who works on me, and personally want less than 10% of practitioners who I meet to work on me or my family. I've moved around quite a bit, and have had a lot of dentists over the years for comparison. Dr. Yabu is great. A physician recommended him to me 20 years ago when he first started his practice in the city, and was delighted when I discovered years later that he moved his practice to Oakland. He's very kind and calm, caring and knowledgable. I really trust this guy. I think what makes a great primary dentist is judgment, and being to weigh all sorts of grey factors, and having a lot of resources to choose the best thing for the individual patient. Cost is also a factor. Emotion is a factor. The fact that all my teeth will eventually fall out is a factor. Cosmetic outcome is a factor. He balances all of these, along with the technical aspects of dentistry beautifully. read more

Have been experiencing some sensitivity in my back right molar. Made an appointment with Dr. Lim last Thursday, and they scheduled me for today (Monday). Went in for ex-rays, and she let me know the results in a few minutes. Looks like I might have to have a root canal done, but she recommended a doctor to help me with this who is local, and she called them to help me set that up right away! Feel better that it's not a cavity, but will have to check and see what my next step is. Very professional and she answered all my questions! I think she is the best dentist I've ever had! read more

I have had extensive work done by Dr Lim. The work is always top notch with little waiting and done in the most comfortable way possible. The friendly staff at this office always greets me with a smile and is always there to listen to my complaints about my difficult mouth. I'm impressed at how high tech all of the equipment is and how nice the results are reflecting back at me in the mirror! I highly suggest this office for all family members! My daughters love going to see the dentist and they never have a complaint. Although braces in the near future may change that :) There is also a visiting orthodontist so that can be covered here too! Thanks Dr Lim! You are awesome!! read more

I recently found myself needing to find a new dentist after a series of disappointments with the previous practice. From my first phone contact with Mary, I have been treated with the utmost kindness, respect, and professionalism by these folks. The chair-side assistant, Queena, was courteous and efficient and made me feel right at home. Dr. Lim was amazing! She is gentle, caring, and highly professional. She explained everything to me in a way that was easy to understand and helped me to feel confident that I am being well cared for. And to top off the experience, there was relaxing Hawaiian music playing throughout the office. It was the best dental experience I have had in a very long time. read more

I've been going to see Dr. Lim for about 4 years now. Maybe I'm biased because I've had a couple of amazing dentists prior to her, but all in all, I can only give her two stars. Generally, her dentistry and bedside manner are OK. Unfortunately, I just had a bad experience with getting a crown. It was supposed to be a two-visit process (despite their website being oaklandlaserdentist, they don't use the technology that can make your crown in one visit). I came in for what I thought would be the seating of my permanent crown only to find out -- once I'm in the chair -- that the impression had a problem and so the lab hadn't made my crown and they would need to remove the temporary crown, take another impression, and I'd have to wait another couple of weeks to get the permanent crown. The worst part is that they still needed to numb me up (I HATE getting injections and being numb half the day) and peel back my gums to redo the impression. On top of that, now I have to go in for another appointment in a couple of weeks, again to be numbed up, gums peeled back, and (hopefully) the permanent crown seated. Another minor gripe is that, despite usually paying for whatever copays and other costs I have to cover that my insurance doesn't in the office right after finishing each appointment, I still get random bills in the mail from them, usually for small amounts like $10 or $20. I don't understand why they don't know how much I owe them when I pay them in the office. read more

Oh thanks heavens for Dr. Yabu! I was referred to Dr. Yabu by a friend when I was seeking a second opinion and boy am I glad I did. The treatment plan that was recommended to me by my regular dentist, Belmont Dental, seemed to be highway robbery compared to what was recommended by Dr. Yabu. I was afraid my gums were in really bad shape but Dr. Yabu put me at ease with a treatment plan that fit my schedule as well as my finances. His skills are the best I've ever experienced and the equipment is top of the line. I barely even felt the needle when he gave me a shot of Novocaine in my gums which normally will make my eyes tear. I live on the peninsula in San Mateo but the trip into Oakland is worth it for the treatment I receive. I'll never see anybody but Dr. Yabu from now on! Thanks again Dr. Yabu! read more

Two friends recommended the wife/husband team of Drs. Lim + Yabu. On my first visit, I thought I'd walked into some sort of Bob Newhart Show spin-off - a dark, dated 70's reception area in an older building on Park Ave. I was concerned, but dear friends, do not be deceived! The equipment in the offices is top notch, and Dr. Lim is great. (Never been to Dr. Yabu, but have dento-phobic friends who swear by him.) One thing I like about this office is that I haven't experienced the "upsell" of services (not covered by insurance) that I've had from dentists in the past. And they are on time: I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes. My favorite hygienist is Maribel. Carol, the receptionist/office manager, is great with billings + appointments (though she does remind me just a bit of Carol from Newhart...) Get past the reception area, and you'll have a great dentist. _____update____ they've remodeled! all shiny and new. go, go, get thy grimy teeth shined... read more

I have been going to Dr. Lim, since my previous dentist reitred after a 25+ yr relationship. He recommended his clients to Dr. Yabu and Dr. Lim. I am pleased with the relationship developed with the office staff... the hygienists... and, the doctors. I travel a distance to go there, but will continue to do so. I like the pleasant atmosphere, which lessens the "dentist willies"! read more

I've been going to see Anita Purohit for several years - and I think she is great. She is very thorough and has a great sense of humor. I hate going to the dentist - it's just one of those things that I would rather not do; EXCEPT, with Anita. She is considerate of my "delicate self" and is very diligent about providing great care. read more

The only thing that may possibly exceed Dr. Yabu's professional skill is his good nature.

Drs. Lim and Yabu are EXCELLENT dentists!! I know this firsthand because I was one of their dental hygienists (Maribel). I am temporarily retiring from the dental field to open a gym with my hubby, but if I weren't I would have stayed working at this office. Their attention to detail is incredible! They give the most thorough exams and their work borders on perfection! Their desire to be the best in their field is desirable when looking for a dentist. They are dedicated to obtaining continuing education and learning all the advanced techniques in dentistry. They now use digital x-rays, which not only enhances the diagnosis of potential problems, but also has 80% less radiation than traditional x-rays. I would recommend ANYONE to this office! The rest of the staff are all very skilled and compassionate towards every patient. It was a pleasure working at this office and I am sorry to go... especially since the remodel! IT IS GORGEOUS IN THERE! read more

Dr. Yabu is the best dentist I have ever been to--this statement is very meaningful because I am one of those lucky people genetically endowed with bad teeth. VERY prone to cavities, weak teeth, breakage--you name it, I've had it!! So we're not talking about twice a year visits here, I see Dr. Yabu four or more times a year, usually with some emergency or special problem. I know I've presented him with challenging problems. Despite my "problem" teeth, Dr. Yabu has always found a solution and given me excellent treatment--big bonus is his ability to always bring a smile to my face with a joke or two even when my mouth is stuffed with cotton!! I thank him for helping me hang on to my beautiful smile and I think he knows that he has a patient for life. I really love the fact that he is continually educating himself and others (he teaches dentistry as well), staying on top of all the latest technology. He's given me 3 great implants that have improved my life immensely--I'm not trying to be dramatic here, those of you out there who have bad teeth will know what I mean. Anyways, you're really missing out on the best dental treatment out there if you don't have Dr. Yabu as a dentist. I recommend him to all my friends and family and you should, too!! read more

This is the first review I've ever written on Yelp, and I really don't know where to begin other than to tell you I drive by literally hundreds of dentists' offices on my way to get to Dr. Yabu's office. The hour-long drive is worth every minute, every mile. I used to have a genuine fear of dentists brought on by years of bad experiences; the song "99 Problems" could have been a reference to my teeth. I am so glad to have finally found a dentist who is gentle, thorough, and personable. When he is unavailable I've seen his wife Dr. Lim, who is equally wonderful. The cutting-edge (and Green) office is beautiful, and in a charming neighborhood. If Dr. Yabu relocated a hundred miles away, I'd still make the drive to see him. He's got an excellent sense of humor and always puts me at ease. read more

I am one of the few people I know who loves going to see my dentists! Dr. Lim and Dr. Yabu offer a blend of science, medicine, and art in their services--which I discovered when I broke a tooth last year and had to have it rebuilt. They do excellent work and I highly recommend them. read more

I was referred to Dr. Lim by my previous dentist Dr. Villano. I love Dr. Villano but since she moved to Walnut Creek, I just don't have the time to go out there. Dr. Lim is very nice and a great dentist plus they are only 2 freeway exits away from me. She is gentle and professional, as are the rest of the staff I have dealt with. I recently had a filling and new crown done. Dr. Lim was quick and put me at ease and was done before I knew it. They use this mouth guard thing that keeps your tongue out of the way and helps keep your mouth open. I liked it, I never know where to put my tongue. In the past I have had problems with pain meds wearing off mid procedure but no issues so far. In the past I had always been stressed out with even simple procedures but not with Dr. Lim. The woman that did my cleaning was awesome too, didn't get her name, best cleaning I've ever had, not one speck of grit left in my mouth, I didn't even have to rinse! She was very thorough! read more

I have been going to Dr. Yabu since about 1992. His staff is always courteous, I never have to wait and Dr. Yabu does excellent work. I broke a front tooth when I was in high school and a few years ago it was time to replace the cap that I had for over 20 years. He was able to match the color and translucence to my real teeth so well that, when I aske people to guess which is the cap, they inevitably pick a different tooth. he does wonderful work. read more

Drs. Lim and Yabu are both outstanding dentists. How can you beat cutting-edge tooth technology with chairside manner second to none?

i wish it was possible to give more than just 5 stars for what Dr. Lim and Dr. Yabu have given me. I have horrible teeth to the point where I feel the need to apologize to anyone who has to help me with them. i presented to this office with somewhat of an emergency haven broken off a tooth. Not only did Dr. Lim seem unflappable, she was very gracious and kind. Their office provides an up to date system of mapping each tooth and Dr. Lim patiently went over exactly what needed to be done, the cost and the time required. And it was affordable. Something that stood out as a unique experience was Dr. Lim's approach to her dentistry. She listened to my concerns, asked me what I would like to do and went so far beyond what I had initially requested, it brought tears to my eyes. All I had wanted was a replacement tooth. In stead she arranged an entire partial. It only took 2 weeks. For the first time in many, many years, I have a beautiful smile. When I went for the fitting, Dr. Yabu was her replacement that day. He was a righteously cool dude and fellow Cal alum. Go Bears! If it was possible to supercede the already stellar wonderfulness of the entire office, he launched it into the stratosphere. The quality of his work is amazing but what struck me was the respect both dentists have for their patients. Bless you for what you have done. That has been a life altering change. I used to be so self conscious about my teeth. Knowing people judge you, I appeared somewhat sullen aware any emotion would expose my poor dentation. Now I don't even think about covering my mouth. I can greet my friends heartily. I laugh spontaneously. I am a happier person. For that gift it seems so measily and inappropriate to give just 5 stars for my gratitutde. read more

Not a great experience. I was a patient of Dr. Lim and was in the process of getting a crown on a tooth when, inexplicably, I was booked with her husband, Dr. Yabu instead, without explanation, to takeover. This was sort of OK until it became very clear that he was not up to speed on what was to actually be done. He suggested a partial crown but Dr. Lim had told me that a full crown was needed. When I insisted that Dr. Yabu follow the plan that was outlined by Dr. Lim in the first place, he became very angry and said he would not refund the money for the partial crown, which was his idea, not Dr. Lim's, and not my idea. I asked him if he had read my chart because his suggestion for a partial crown came out of left field. Then the temporary crown kept falling off because Dr. Yabu felt that no temporary cement was indicated. When Dr. Lim took over my care again, the permanent full crown that she finally placed fell off just a year later and it had no cement on it at all. My gums started bleeding for unknown reasons around that tooth and when I flossed to try to determine the cause of the bleeding, the permanent crown fell off and there was food under it, not cement. Very confusing. Why wasn't there any cement? It is inappropriate to switch a patient midstream to a different dentist who is not aware of the actual game plan. Then to have the temporary crown and the permanent crown fall off is cause for concern. I had to pay a different dentist to do it right. It isn't fair to place a patient in the middle of a husband/wife dynamic and then improperly cement a "permanent" crown. Their receptionist even stated that I should have been booked with Dr. Lim, not Dr. Yabu, because she was my dentist and she had made the initial eval and diagnosis. read more