Go to Dr. Ballard! She has been our family dentist for nearly 30 years. She is the best dentist any of us have ever had, hands down. Gentle, knowledge, and caring. read more

She was very nice and professional she has a lot of experience and will work with you on pricing if you don't have insurance.

I have had two check-up & cleaning visits with Dr. Ballard, and she has been nothing but sweet and thoughtful. I always feel slightly anxious at dental appointments but her guidance and demeanor put me at ease. When I have questions for her she offers thorough answers in a kind and respectful way. Her office is tidy and I can tell she and the staff take special care in maintaining a clean and sterile work space. Thank you for the great care, Dr. Ballard! I'll be looking forward to my next visit. read more

Just a heads up Dr. Ballard does not replace amalgam filings with the white composite filling. The receptionist who gave me a call back was a bit rude and assumed I wanted my filings done for aesthetic purposes instead of listening to my concerns. Please go somewhere else and avoid this place. read more

Always does an excellent job when I go in for cleanings. Very attentive, efficient, and the care feels very personalized. The office is pleasant and clean as well. I trust no one else with my dental and gum health! read more

My family and I have been seeing Dr. Ballard for a long time for all of our dental needs! Dr. Ballard is an amazing dentist and provides professional care for people of all ages. She is knowledgeable, quick, skilled and has a tender touch! On behalf of my children and myself, thank you Dr. Ballard and staff for keeping our mouths, teeth and gums healthy! You are a gem! read more

Dr Ballard is sweet, patient and attentive. Tish at the front desk was also very friendly and polite. We also intend to bring our son here since the office vibe seems calm and understanding even if not advertised as a pediatric clinic. Overall we had great appointments, service was thorough but gentle, and we didn't feel rushed and weren't treated condescendingly -- as we have sometimes experienced in the past at other practices. read more

I had to have two of my silver fillings replaced due to age (they lasted over 40 years) so I only wanted to replace them with silver. Dr. Ballard did a great job in replacing the fillings with new silver fillings. She communicated every step of the process, and let me know what to expect and procedures to follow for about 4 hours after replacement. Once the numbing wore off, I didn't experience any pain and the fillings look great. I was in and out of the office in less than an hour. Also loved the cute little waiting room in her new office. It's a very relaxing environment. I highly recommend Dr. Ballard. read more

Caring, gentle, and competent are my top criterias for dentistry and Dr. Ballard has these in spades. She offers high touch quality dental care. I actually look forward to going to get my teeth cleaned. read more

Where should I start .... *sigh * I walked in knowing what to expect, a clean. As I walked in I noticed the decor it must have been from 1971, it looked like gods waiting room (death). But that's besides the point ....... I was greeted by Mrs. Ballard herself. She was very sweet. I sat in the chair as we both proceeded to talk, she then placed all the tools out which DID NOT LOOK CLEAN! NOTHING Was taken out of plastic as if they were new! Very upsetting! Cleanliness was at a big 0! If you like to gamble with your health and hygiene, she's your gal. Never ever going back ever again!!! read more

It is never okay to be rude to people who are being nice to you, who do you think you are? Hanging up on someone is very rude. I was told that they do not fix cavities or do fillings which seems completely wrong for any dentist to not be able to do the most common simple procedures. When we started our conversation you said that the dentist does not do big procedures or special procedures, I have read reviews saying that people have had cavities and fillings done, so did you just not want to take someone with medical insurance? Beyond that be a good human being and don't hang up on someone mid conversation not even allowing them to talk to you about services you "do" provide. Or get a clearer answer on what services you "don't" provide. How would you feel if you were treated that way? read more

Dr. Ballard, was a pleasure and was very informative and super professional and very gentle with my 16 year old son, and super friendly, we will keep her as our new dentist. read more

Do not see this doctor. She is rude and will not communicate. She will not handle anything important. I was assigned to her through my dental network. Then she won't call back every time I have left a message. She then tells me that she won't call back anyone with any "complex" issues. How crazy is that? She will just leave someone hanging forever and won't even make a referral. So how am I supposed to know that. Learn to communicate. If you have a dental work it's hard enough to find a decent dentist especially if you check out yelp. Turns out that you can't just see any dentist with insurance. You are forced to deal with lazy communicators. read more

First time patient today for a cleaning. Had a great appointment. Dr. Ballard and receptionist were so sweet and made me feel comfortable and welcome, and also made sure to answer all questions. Dr. Ballard is very good with communication and making sure you feel comfortable. One of the best dental experiences I've had so far and I'm 30. So far so great read more

I left message on the Dentist's message board: I just called your office. I was looking for a dentist. The phone rang, and I did not leave a message. A woman from this office called me back and asked if I had just called. I told her yes and that I was looking for a dentist. I said I read some reviews. She cut me off and said well the doctor won't be in for a couple of weeks and hung the phone up on me. How rude! That made my decision right there. Who treats POTENTIAL patients like that??? This further supports the 3.5 stars rating. Please read the reviews for your own business. Work on them or simply close the business. Fire the receptionist because she problem ensuring many don't choose this dentistry for their needs. read more

She is horrible. Both my parents lost teeth because of her bad judgement and service. I would do good research before going to get service that's gonna not only ruin the tooth your getting treatment for, but the ones surrounding it. 2 people now have to pay more to get help. Imagine the pain and also money we have to pay now? read more

Hello again! I wanted to offer an updated review to emphasize how wonderful I believe that Dr. Ballard's services are. Actually, there are not adequate words to thoughtfully describe the exemplary services that I have received as a patient for over 11+ years. I'm always greeted with respect and a deep desire to provide excellent care. She is professional and up to date on best practices. She is patient and very warm and welcoming. My gratitude for Dr. Ballard is infinite. There is no other dentist I would go to or recommend. read more

Dr. Ballard is a wonderful, sweet, no frills dentist who I just recently transferred my dental care to. I went in for a Saturday appointment (woohoo!) and she greeted me herself, did the cleaning, and had me out the door within a half hour. She was gentle during the cleaning, incredibly kind, and for someone who doesn't love the dentist, (I mean, who does?), I had about the best possible experience. I would absolutely recommend her and I look forward to seeing her again. read more

I recently moved from the Bay Area and one of the hardest things to leave behind was my dentist. Dr. Ballard took great care of my teeth for years with regular checkups and cleanings, and basic fillings. When she recognized that I needed more complex procedures, she referred me to excellent colleagues who in turn did stellar work. Best of luck to Dr. B and her staff. I will miss you guys! read more

Ditto to the comments here about the phantom cavities. A friend recommended Dr. Ballard. At my appointment, the good doctor told me I had 7 cavities. Odd - I'd had some major specialty dental work after an accident the previous year and had no cavities then. I went back to an old dentist and -- surprise, surprise -- NO cavities. The dentist even complimented me on "taking good care of my mouth." Avoid this office! UPDATE: I don't know how to respond directly to a comment, so I will update here: No, I did not visit Dr. Ballard's office to consult on one tooth. I visited because I was overdue for a routine exam and cleaning. The "cavities" were diagnosed without taking X-rays at all. A full set of X-rays in November 2015 revealed no cavities. A routine cleaning in May 2016 proceeded without incident. Another exam in November 2016 shows normal X-rays, no cavities. Dr. Ballard, you are lying. read more

I went to see Madelyn Ballard based on reviews I saw on Tribe and the Berkeley Parents Network. She was the best dentist I've ever seen! I was a bit anxious, as I had neglected my regular cleaning for over 5 years (I know, I know...). She didn't make me feel bad about my lapse in dental care and made my teeth all shiny and white again! For real, I had some major stains that I assumed were permanent, but she restored their pearly finish in just about 40 minutes. She uses a lot of care, put numbing gel on my gums, and had a gentle voice that really calmed my nerves. The hygienists all seemed very nice, but Dr. Ballard did the entire cleaning (perhaps since it was my first visit?). The prices were reasonable; I don't have dental insurance and it was manageable. read more

I found Dr. Ballard on Yelp and decided to give her a shot because of the good reviews. She is the easily best dentist I've ever visited. Everyone in the office is really nice and caring. Dr. Ballard was really nurturing and constantly made sure that I felt comfortable. I've never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes in the lobby. She did a great job of making me feel like a person instead of set of teeth. I've only been there for routine check-ups, so I can't speak to their ability to deal with bigger issues, but I will recommend her without hesitation to friends looking for a dentist. Side note: For anyone who has SHIP insurance from UC Berkeley, she is part of the preferred dentist program, so you get 2 check-ups per year that are 100% covered by insurance. read more

Dr. Ballard is awesome. this is from at least a year and a half ago, but i still think she's great. 1) i had an infection because of my wisdom teeth that was gross and liquid filled and bringing tears to my eyes. i kept thinking it would shrink down and die, but this was not the case. she saw me right away when i let her know what pain i was in, and when she saw me squirming with glossy eyes she said she'd do the irrigation and draining right there. With all the anesthetics, it was great and i left with a big elephant pill of pain-killers. i was so happy and numb that i think i smiled, but ended up drooling out the side of my mouth. 2) the second reason i love her is that during my procedure it hurt in the beginning, but she turned on a tape of winnie-the-pooh for me. i think she usually works with kids, but it actually took my mind off the pain. but for some reason when i think of piglet my back jaw kinda hurts... all in all, a great doctor who is very conscientious of her patients. :D read more

Brief update. I switched dentists after a filling Dr. Ballard put in fell out. He said that she had taken off so much of my tooth that I needed to get a crown. I got a second opinion from a family friend who is a dentist and not in my network (so no benefit to upselling me on an expensive procedure). He agreed. I regret going to Dr. Ballards office. I feel like its cost me quite a bit in comfort, and now in dollars. read more

So I am sad to say that I no longer see Dr. Ballard. There were two issues. 1. The cavity she fixed... broke within a year. When she was doing this, I realized that the sensitivity in my teeth has gotten worse and she had to inject me 3-4 times and I still felt it. But since there was such little to fix she told me she would just continue... it hurt. Between the filling and the shots I was sore for 4 weeks. Which i mean isn't the worse I've endured (think 8-12 weeks), but still not cool. 2. Her customer service went really down hill in 2008/2009. In early 2009, could not get through to her when I called. And I called 8 times over 4 weeks. read more

They don't give out your medical records, even if you request it and offer to pay for copies. They don't return phone calls. They lose your on time payments and then bill you for an overdue payment a year later. They don't refund money that they overcharge you until you threaten to file a grievance with your insurance company. Two words: bad practice. read more

With a chunk cracking off of an old filling motivating me to find a dentist, I made my way to Dr. Ballard. I really appreciated the short wait for an appointment - despite being a new patient and being on Medical - and the $1 copay. There was plenty of metered street parking on Telegraph Avenue. It took me a few tries to find the unlocked building entrance (off of the corner at the intersection with Ashby Ave). Dr. Ballard runs a very cost-conscious business - no fancy tools and no hygienists. read more

I had a cleaning with Dr. Ballard on 4/29/08 (my first visit). I was surprised that she did it personally since at other dentists, a regular cleaning is usually done by a dental hygienist. Even though I was 30 mins late she still accomodated me and she did an excellent job (and it didn't feel like she was rushing through the procedure either). She listened to my concerns, discussed potential treatments and was very gentle with my sore tooth. When I had questions about what my insurance would cover (after my visit), she and her staff called me back within a day or two. Dr. Ballard even called me personally to discuss what'll be involved in my next treatment especially since I wanted to know if my insurance would cover it. As she said, she is "pro-patient" and will not try to overcharge or do unecessary work just so they can bill the insurance. She and her staff have excellent customer service and are quite friendly and efficient. I'm so happy to have found a dentist that I know will do the best they can to minimize any discomfort during a procedure. Finding a good dentist is just as hard as finding a good hairstylist. And you don't want to test-drive a bunch of dentists either (not the way you can do for a hair salon). Thanks Yelpers for recommending her! read more

This was my second visit to Dr. Ballard. I have a history of traumatic dental experiences and often wait years to get up the courage to see a dentist again. Madelyn was very thoughtful, comforting and encouraging. She offered me options and checked in to be sure I could address any discomfort. She took the time to make sure I was brushing and flossing correctly. I don't recall any other dentist doing that - ever. I would recommend her practice to anyone. My experience with her has done a lot to shift my fear of dental intervention. read more

I can't recommend this practice anymore, but I don't know how to remove my original review. There seems to be no staff here anymore--no receptionist, no hygienist, no assistant. Appointments start late. Work feels rushed, with not enough time between anesthetic and drilling. It was painful during and after. We had to redo work elsewhere. read more

Just switched dentists because I don't want to make the trek into San Francisco just for dental appointments, and Dr. Ballard came highly recommended (and covered in my insurance plan). Dr. Ballard is the most nurturing, soothing, and all around competent dentist I have ever visited. I really did feel like I was in good hands. Highly recommended for people who are dentist-phobic and for everyone, really, especially those of us who appreciate an excellent bedside manner a.k.a. genuine people skills. read more

Terrible experiences here: 1) Very painful teeth cleaning--clumsy and rough. 2) When I needed a filling, I told them that prior dentists have said that I absorb painkiller very quickly and need a higher dose than most people. I always tell this to new dentists, and I told Madelyn Ballard. However, she/staff seemed to ignore it. And when the tooth began hurting during the drilling and I asked for more painkiller, she said, "I am just going to finish up." She did not give me more novocaine. She drilled through the pain. It kept hurting. And afterwards she told me, "I didn't want to give you too much painkiller." That makes no sense. I had said before that I needed more. I actually hurt while the drilling was happening. I still don't get another shot, or even the topical-swabbing. And then she says that she was, all along, avoiding giving me "too much." This doesn't make sense. Pain itself is testimony that I didn't have enough painkiller. I have read other reviews of her from people here on Yelp, and apparently this "drill through the pain" thing is a common practice for Madelyn Ballard. Yet that's the very reason many people are often afraid to go to the dentist. If you want to keep patients, you have to actually anesthetize them! Only the most masochistic people would want to return to a sadistic dentist who continues to drill even when conscious of her patients' pain. And I am clearly NOT the only one this has happened to. 3) I soon lost the filling they gave me above, so I just started over with a new dentist--hurrah! 4) When I had my dental records transferred to the new dentist (Dr Barry Kami, in Berkeley, is amazing,) Ballard's office couldn't locate the xrays they'd charged me for previously. They ended up having to refund my money since they had no record of having completed the xrays. I wonder if they even did them or if they just went through the motions. But given the lack of organization that others complain about, they could have very well lost them. Conclusion: Sort reviews by date, read them, and then don't go to Madelyn Ballard! Go to Barry Kami on University. He actually saw me in an emergency before he was even my 'real' dentist, and he and his staff have been nothing less than courteous, professional, thorough, etc., in all circumstances. read more

Just went for the first time. Reasons why this practice is awesome: 1.)communication-The woman who called me back after I left a message saying I needed a new patient apt was VERY prompt in calling me back, she also was very helpful and knowledgeable about insurance coverage, telling me that she would call to verify, not that I had to(they also take quite a few insurance coverages there). She was very polite and patient. 2.) real towels-i did not get a paper bib, but instead a clean towel 3.) numbing gel-AWESOME,never have i been offered numbing gel for a cleaning, Dr Ballard seems 4.) The office itself- although its small, it feels very warm and clean but not like a business. There are no commercials/ads anywhere and next to the chair I sat in there were childrens drawings on a piece of yarn of bad things for your teeth like candy,soda, bacteria, etc.. which were really adorable 5.) THE PEOLPE!-everyone was so nice, Dr. Ballard cleaned my teeth herself and immediately asked me if there was any thing I needed to talk about and continued to ask me if i had any questions consistently through the apt. note: Dr. Ballard told me that their hygienist had discovered from having patients use Toms of Maine toothpaste that something in it, over time, makes the gums stick to the teeth more than they should, making it seem like you have healthier gums than you really do. She shared this with me not to get me to use Crest or whatever but just to tell me to be careful. All around awesome -I WANT TO GO BACK! read more

I had a deeply traumatic incident with a root canal at a dentist when I was a child and have avoided the dentist ever since. I randomly selected Dr. Ballard's office just needing to get a tooth seen, as you can imagine after 20 something years I now have a couple issues with my teeth. Anyway Dr. Ballard and Kayla are angels and completely restored my faith in dentistry and I legit love to floss now. They are kind and thorough and were very generous around my fears and anxieties. I needed a root canal and they referred me to an excellent specialist, also gave me the courage to get the procedure done. I could not recommend this office more highly. read more

A good dentist is hard to find. I've had quite the range in quality over the years. Dr. Ballard is the best of the best! I've been going to her for 3 years. A number of times, she's cleaned my teeth herself. And the hygienists I've had are awesome at that too. She also showed me a better way to brush my teeth, in circular motions on the front which is better for the gums than brutal back and forth. How did she know I brushed my teeth that way?? She should add "certified psychic" after her DDS qualification. A+ chairside manner. Both Dr. Ballard and the hygienists seem genuinely interested in their patients as people, and take the time to do it right. They make it seem like they have all the time in the world for you. Even when you're late. They fill the place with such warmth. They also offer me free extra toothbrushes sometimes, which is far more exciting than it should be. Their rooms are free of ads occupying all your visual space. I never realized how important this is until I went to a dentist who tried to give me the hard sell for expensive bleach treatments. In picking a dentist, run run RUN away if you see pricey things advertised everywhere! I have good teeth and haven't had much in the way of dental work done, but if I found myself needing root canals or molar caps or various other giant icky procedures done, I'd go to her in a heartbeat. I actually look forward to going to the dentist now for my 6 month checkups, as impossible as that may seem. I just got my reminder postcard in the mail, so I'll be back soon! read more

The beginning of a nightmare! I should have trusted my first instinct and walked out when Dr Ballard began treating her assistant like something she'd wiped off her shoe, I was totally mortified for the poor girl. Alas, I stayed & was told I needed at least 3 root canals on teeth that had been crowned years ago and seemed to me to be doing fine. Well, again foolishly, I went through with procedure and often was not given enough anesthesia making it much more painful that it should be. Long story short, she messed up one of my crowns & I had to go back & have it done again, more filing down of original tooth and hours of discomfort in her chair. Not long after, that crown just broke off again. My new dentist said it had been crowned too many times. Dr.Ballard never mentioned this could happen. I'd had my previous crowns well over 15 yrs & this one didn't last 3 months. Last night the second crown she did for me fell off too. So basically, I paid her for 3 crowns, 2 of which I no longer have & I'm now having to consider implants. My advice, stay well away! read more

Dr. Ballard is one of the best dentists I've ever had. The office staff is warm, receptive and always helpful. Accepting majority of the insurances, Dr. Ballard really ensures patient health and well being comes first. My experiences have been really great - they've always accomodated my schedule and been active with their follow up to get me back for my regular check up. I really did feel I was in good hands, and felt comfortable with her staff. Her sister is very affable and very helpful. I'd say if you're not sure about your dentist, you should definitely try Dr. Ballard's service - you wont be disappointed. read more

I started going to Madelyn Ballard's office because I was unhappy with my dentist and my friend highly recommended her. My feelings have been kind of mixed. On one hand, the staff is generally very friendly. They got me in quickly when I had an infected wisdom tooth, which was greatly appreciated. On the other hand, my last few visits have been strange. I went in for a normal visit and they told me I needed a deep cleaning. They scheduled another appointment, which I came in for. They charged me $50. I then had half a deep cleaning, part of which was getting accidentally stuck with a Novocaine needle in my lip (not very deep, but the tech just wasn't paying attention). As I was getting the deep cleaning done, the tech kept commenting that I didn't look like I needed a deep cleaning. I said I was there because they told me that I really needed one. After half of my mouth was done, Dr. Ballard came in and said that I didn't need a deep cleaning, just a regular cleaning, and that if I came back for another appointment she'd finish with a normal cleaning and they'd refund my money for the deep cleaning. About two weeks later, I get an envelope in the mail. I opened it up, but instead of a refund, it's a bill for the remaining $50 - for half a deep cleaning I didn't even get. I called the office. They apologized and said that they'd send my refund check. I still haven't gotten it. It seems from reading a lot of these other reviews that my experience isn't unique. I just wish I was happier with my dentist. read more

Had a GREAT intake appointment with Dr. Ballard. She was very kind, very communicative, and very aware of me and my needs as a patient. I would recommend to anyone looking for quality and kind care. read more

I have never felt more victimized by a receptionist in my entire life. My. Entire. Life. I called more than a week ago leaving my name, number, and info and they never called me back. I needed an appointment as soon as possible before I left to Central America next monday, so I called a week later, again, leaving a message, only this time, without my name .... Surprise- I got a call back! They asked for my name and right when I gave it to them the person on the other line immediately started getting defensive. "Oh, oh, oh, you've made PLENTY of appointments here and have missed all of them" I will be completely honest and say I have absolutely NO recollection of ever making an appointment with them. Not one. The only reason I decided to call them NOW was because my mom gave me a great recommendation about the doctor. So this secretary is stuck with me, and I with her, and she's going complete apeshit on me. I felt as if I were being interrogated by the CIA. "Where did you have your LAST appointment? WHY aren't you with them now? Your last dentist appointment was THREE months ago???" I'm on the other line in complete shock, mumbling like an idiot, "uhm, I don't know, uh, sorry?" She gave me absolutely NO room to explain myself. So finally she says "I can squeeze you in next Tuesday" with an attitude as if I should be more than grateful that she's letting me see this dentist, and I go, "Well I called a week ago because I need to have work done before Monday..." And she says something along the lines of "Oh, we can't do that." and hangs up. SHE HANGS UP. I have never felt more humiliated in my entire life. This woman on the other line left me with an incredible amount of questioning as to why she's a receptionist in the first place. And what's worse is that she made ME feel as if I were a criminal. Needless to say, my mom was not happy hearing about this at all, so they lost a few patients with that five minute phone call. Why go to a dentist if the woman taking the calls is a straight up bitch? read more