My two kids grew up under Dr. Purvi Zavery's care at Peninsula Children's Dentistry. From the time they were preschoolers to graduating from high school, they've received superior service--from regular dental cleanings, to oral hygiene advice, to cavity fillings, to orthodontic referrals. Dr. Purvi cares for my kids' health and always has their best interests in mind. She's the perfect combination of professional, caring, and firm. Kids love her and listen to her guidance. This warm and welcoming little office is a comfortable place to come for appointments, with toys in the waiting area, and a treasure chest to reward little ones for their patience, as well as over-chair TVs available to keep their mind off of dental procedures. We've always felt right at home here, and in great hands. Thank you to Dr. Purvi and her lovely receptionist and assistants for about 18 combined years of caring dental service! read more

We came here for a year, when my son was 3.5-4.5 years old. When he was 4.5 yo, my insurance company changed and I forgot to call ahead to let them know. When I brought my son for his appointment, I was told that I have to pay the entire amount upfront before they will see me. This is despite the fact that I have never missed any co-pay or payment. I asked to see the doctor, thinking that I would get someone more reasonable. She came out and said "Basically, you want to see me not get paid." WHOA. I thought her office manager was rude, but turned out the doctor was even more rude. Adding insult to injury, when I turned around to leave the office, they told me I have to pay for missing the appointment that day if I left. So we went through the appointment (they begrudgingly agreed not to ask for upfront payment that day), and that was the last time we visited this office. UN-freaking-BELIEVABLE. If she was good with kids, I might have sucked it up. But she wasn't even that nice and was very stern with little ones who have anxiety about having their teeth cleaned. I do not recommend this dentist office. read more

Love this place! I was given the task to find a dentist for my newly located grandkids. I heard wonderful things about Dr. Zavery. Our first dental appointment with Dr. Zavery, was amazing! Patience of a Saint, thank-you Doctor! The receptionist was great, booking us quickly, plus finding appts. for the four kids I am sure was a challenge. Upon arrival the receptionist welcomed us, totally relaxed me of my stress of the kids first dental appointment. Wonderful experience! read more

We have been bringing our daughter to Dr. Zavery since she began going to a dentist at three years old (she is now five). Dr. Zavery and her team are really great. My daughter had her six month check up today, and as usual my daughter and I left the office feeling great after having accomplished another dentist appointment (it can be stressful bringing a small child to the dentist!). This is only a review for regular cleanings, as my daughter has not had to have any other dental work yet (knock on wood). The office is friendly and sweet - there is a cute train table in the waiting area, they have fish "swimming" on the carpets, lyrical art on the wall with inspirational quotes for little ones, and small touches all around the office that says, this is a warm, safe place - nothing to be scared of! Carlos, the hygienist is really awesome, he explains everything to the child and does things (including x-rays) really quickly and efficiently. They have a tv that hangs over the dental exam chairs equipped with Netflix (I think?) and my daughter was really happy to choose "Minions" to watch today (since she can't watch that at home!). My favorite touch is the ottoman they have next to the dental exam chair for a parent to sit on. It puts you at level with your child. I really like being that close during the cleaning and reminding my daughter I am there with little touches on her hand during her appointment. Dr. Zavery and her team do create expectations for children, and I personally like that. It helps my daughter know that it is really important to sit still, open and close her mouth on command, and wait through a mildly uncomfortable experience (how many grown ups love going to the dentist? Not any that I know! I just went to my own dentist appointment yesterday, and I felt happy it was over and my own dentist is warm and awesome!). Dr. Zavery is also really good at giving tips about kid tooth care like diet recommendations and development information. My daughter always feels proud of herself that she did a job well done and also that she got to pick a treasure from the gold treasure chest on the way out of the office. Today she picked a squiggly snake that she played with all afternoon. I definitely recommend Dr. Zavery as a great pediatric dentist. read more

Because I can't give -0 star. I had the worst experience about 7 years ago and I haven't forgot how terribly mannered this lady is. I called ahead of time to see if she would treat kids with special needs on a wheelchair. Once there she was schooling me how terrible mom I was for letting my daughter without brushing. And it was sort of an emergency cleaning, that's why I called a dentist near by with appointment available on the same week. My daughter was having seizures as many as 70/Day for about one week. She had to be hospitalized and cleaning her teeth was not an option because the stimulation would trigger more seizures. So, when she was stable enough and I was black with her dental hygiene I could not get all the plaques that was building up during the seizure week. This lady instead of cleaning her teeth started schooling me and basically calling me a terrible mother. She said, "I won't be surprised if she has heart problems too caused by her bad dental hygiene...". She didn't stop there and kept talking about how bad sugar is. My kids are sugar free (added sugars and candies are never part of my daughter's diet because her seizures). It has been 7 years and I still remember how awful she is. Worst person with zero empathy and clearly doesn't believe parents. No wonder she was the only doctor with appointments available for even same day. read more

My child has been with Dr Zavery for at least five years. She has always provided us with informed choices about our dental care, and lead us in a pragmatic direction with which we've been very happy. She obviously cares and is an expert in her practice. My kid looks forward to her dental appointments, lol. read more

Best dentist ever ! One of the reasons it was hard for us to leave the Bay Area was finding someone like Purvi. Highly recommend to any parents looking to for a pediatric dentist. read more

Hmmm, so I've been keeping up with my children's appointments at this office and something is different. We're used to the usual good customer service and care but lately, my kids have complained that the dental assistants have been rough (Except for Carlos). My girls said that their cleanings hurt more, unless Mr. Carlos does the cleaning. Dr. Zavery was also a little more short and rougher than usual on a recent visit for my daughter's dental extraction. She basically didn't take into account the fact that my daughter was a little anxious about getting the numbing for her gums to get the teeth extracted. She, like most humans, may clench their teeth when nervous and Zavery was upset that my daughter but down on her finger. It wasn't like she broke skin on her fingers but just clenched lightly. Anyhow, after these past visits over the year, maybe I will have to look for another dentist for the kids. Dr. Zavery has been better in the past. read more

Dr. Zavery was very patient with my special needs child. She thouroughly explained tips on maintaining his dental needs. It felt great knowing how understanding she was. Carlos the hygienist was able to clean his teeth with such a gentle touch, he left happy and excited to pick a toy. He now asks when he is going to the dentist again to see Dr Purvi and Carlos. read more

Dr. Zavery and her staff are the best. They made me and my daughter feel welcome the moment we walked in the door. My three year old daughter is very shy and apprehensive to new things. She allowed Dr. Zavery to do a full exam of her teeth and did not complain at all. We are so happy to have found her. read more

A great pedi dentist for our girls, ages 7 and 4. Have been taking our girls there for the last few years. It's a very clean, quiet, non-busy office--which is great for tentative kids. Great chair-side personality with kids. Has movies to distract kids during longer procedures, but we never use them. Oh, and there is the "treasure box" for good patients! read more

Outstanding. When a 4 year old leaves and wants to know when he can come back...a job well done. Excellent dental care for children. Patient and calming. Exactly the treatment I want for my children. Thank you so much and we will definetly see you in 6 months! read more

I would not recommend Dr. Zavery for children with anxiety, as she is not trained or skilled in managing them. If your child is pretty easy going about seeing the dentist, Dr. Zavery is fine for the job. One of my kids has no problem, but the other has a lot of anxiety. He's only 4, but Dr. Zavery's approach is to threaten, scare, and intimate him in some weird hope of calming him down. Things she has actually said to my child while he was TRYING to hold back tears, sobbing, sweating, with eyes darting back and forth during what appeared to be a panic attack: "If you cry, your mommy has to leave the room. You don't want that, do you?" "If you cry, you won't get any screen time today, right Mommy?" etc, etc. I find that professionals have better success with anxious children when they engage the child in silly games, don't talk excessively or loudly, and really communicate at their level while allowing the parent to be remain present and involved. Dr. Zavery hasn't figured that out yet. On the other hand, my other child loved getting her teeth cleaned by the hygienist and still talks about the treasure box. So I think it all depends on your child's disposition; if you have a child that gets even a little scared going to a doctor, this practice probably isn't a good choice for you. Her office has a nice play area in the lobby, and a beautiful common area for siblings to share during exams and routine teeth cleaning. read more

Just had an awesome first dental visit here! My daughter is 22 months, so I took her for her first dental checkup and I'm so glad I chose this office. I did some research online first and read all of the positive reviews. Everything said is absolutely true and then some. The whole experience from start to finish was very warm, welcoming, and informative. I felt my daughter and I were very cared for by all of the staff. My daughter was able to play with the fun toys they have and look at some books as Dr. Zavery and I discussed dental care for toddlers and children. I received a great education on this topic and learned a lot that I was not yet clear on. My daughter was then taken to the exam area, with me holding her hand. She got to see how the child sized dental chair goes up and down before being asked to climb on. She had no problem with this and was okay the entire time. They then asked if she likes any shows, which she does, so they played Dora the Explorer on a flat screen above the dental chair as she received her exam. This worked very well to distract her. I was able to sit right next to her and held her hands while she got her exam. Dr. Zavery and her hygienist worked efficiently and quickly together to make the whole process seem less. My daughter had her teeth brushed, examined and some plaque removed during the procedure and we learned how to floss her teeth (and also that this was needed, which I did not know for this age). When all was said and done, she was able to pick a "prize" from the drawer and got a toothbrush & toothpaste. They also took an adorable picture of her, which was printed out for us and given at the end, dated and titled, "My First Dental Visit." I LOVE this office and highly recommend to anyone with children. read more

I have been bringing both my kids to see Dr. Zavery for 5 years. We all love her. My daughter had a bad experience with a dentist before and wouldn't open her mouth for him. With Dr. Zavery she was fine. The TVs help distract the kids, and I have NEVER had to wait there. Dr. Zavery is always on time. Also we had an emergency with a tooth once, and she took my son on a day off and pulled out his tooth. So accomodating!! My kids actually look forward to their appoinments. I highly recommend this place! read more

Clean place, talented Doctor and a really patient team. My daughter had several appointments here and she could not wait to go back every time. Now, how often does that happen with a dentist !! Dr. Zavery is really good with kids and she is a great dentist. Well worth the drive from San Jose. We found the best pediatric dentist in town. read more

Ever so thankful to Dr. Zavery and her attentive staff for taking care of my son's teeth. Although my son is approaching three, he has become comfortable at going to see Dr. Zavery and has fun at the office playing with trains before and after his visit. I am thankful for the professionalism of Dr. Zavery and her staff. Their thoughts and comments about helping stay the course for better teeth health go a long way. The office is well equipped to handle young children and the good doctor is excellent at communicating various techniques for our toddler to remain on his path for health and wellness. read more

Purvi Zavery, DDS MS - Happy Teeth Plus Awesome Play Area - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - San Carlos, California

Clean office, great toys and Dr. Purvi has a very calm, patient manner at my kids' check ups. She takes her time with the kids and does not seem to rush. The staff in the office seems very kind. Easy to find--right near the Trader Joes' in San Carlos. read more

This review might be quite negative compared to the 5 stared reviews in the list. The negative experience applies to cavity treatment approach(not even the treatment itself.). For a checkup? I'll give 5 stars myself. Dr Zavery's approach on cavity treatment is quite active. You see a stain, you go for a drill & fill baby. I'm not saying it's wrong. It prevents the cavity from getting worse and makes you go easy with dental care. Even though baby tooth comes off, you still have years to be with it, and leaving a bad cavity in the baby tooth can cause malocclusion, cavity in permanent teeth and malnutrition(if it hurts, kid's don't eat well.) So, it's not a bad idea actively treating the baby teeth. But on the other hand, over-treatment shortens the lifespans of the tooth. And when the treatment comes with IV sedation, you would really want to ask, is this worth it. Dr Zavery doesn't let you make an appointment for sedation and filling right away. She wants you to do the research and I really appreciate that. You can make different decisions, but a second opinion is a must for your young ones. The IV sedation is like going through a real surgery and there are chances of risking a life(not a high number but for the last 30 years, 44 child deaths were reported in the states due to this, and more unreported.) Again, I'm not saying it's wrong. If you and your child went through it, you did a great job. No doubts on that you made the best decision for your child. My boy has a couple of cavities. Dr Zavery insisted on the IV sedation, while introducing other sedative options such as laughing gas. She strongly implied that since my boy is too young and the cavity is deep, the other methods will not work. So, I went to another dentist for a second opinion, and the doctor there said that it's a tiny cavity which does not need a treatment right away. In fact, some of these tiny cavities can last up to years without worsening and the teeth can just come off when the time comes. There is no true answer. As mentioned above, each approach has it's pros and cons. But I'm buying the other doctor's word. For the following reasons - Dr. Zavery showed me the most nasty pictures of baby cavities and told me that will be my boy's future. Well, How dare you. Injecting fear is a good way to earn money, but that is so wrong. Even with swamping your tooth in Mountain dew(the top.1 drink causing tooth decay) will take quite a while for that nasty thing to happen. - No instructions on cavity care(She did give instructions on daily dental care, like don't drink juice. which is quite a common procedure in dentist visits). Other dentists prescribe methods like G** for daily use and will apply fluoride varnish to prevent cavity from getting worse. In Dr. Zavery's office, not even a cleaning was done. 2 dentists, one gave you only scary photos and wild stories and did nothing. The other gave you cleaning, fluoride varnish, calmed you down, prescribed tools to work out. Which would you want to go? But again, for those who seek active treatment, this place is not a bad option. She justifies herself very well. Like, treating you as if you have no idea on dental hygiene and that there is absolutely no way to treat cavities but IV sedation for toddlers. Reason for stars: 1. (not mentioned above though)Abundant toys and books. My boy would be asking me day by day for a visit to the dentist just for those toys. If you are for only a checkup, this might be a great start. 2. The list of drinks and cereals to avoid should be useful if you don't know much. Good explanation on sedation and not accepting appointments to push for each others own research. 3. Clean environment and modern equipment Reason for no stars: 1. Stop scaring people. These are people who only think what's best for their children. It is not right to frighten them. I tend to lose faith on doctors who inject fear which is an indication of over-treatment. 2. No option for toddler cavity treatment except IV sedation. This shouldn't be a matter to you if your child is older than 5 and you are comfortable with laughing gas. 3. No cleaning, no fluoride varnish when there clearly is a decay and those would greatly benefit. Once again, my negative experience may not apply to you. If you have a kid, who needs regular checkups, go for it. Your kid will love to go to the dentist. If you have a kid with cavities, not willing for IV sedation and you don't want to panic, go somewhere else. read more

This lady is HORRIBLE! She lacks complete professionalism. She is the worst medical person I have ever encountered. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN HERE. My son was scared and he stated crying and she said,"my hands don't work if your cry." She would not use suction until he stopped crying. He tried to get up and she physically stopped him. SHE IS HORRIBLE! If your kid is an adult then this place might be okay for you but not for kids. She also did not change her gloves after touching the computer key board. read more

The weird philosophy on how kids respond better in the morning is starting to bother me. I don't know why she thinks she knows my child better than me. Some kids might be morning people and some kids might not. Mine is definitely not a morning person but we've been forced to come in in the mornings for all the dental work. Even though her office is open all day, just keep in mind that it's really 9am-12pm. As we start having more interactions with her instead of her hygienist for simple cleaning, I'm also starting to see that she's actually not that good with kids. My LO is very gentle and disciplined but I find her using scare tactics. I'm not a big fan of her using intimidation tactics to make kids follow her instructions. I'm starting to resonate with some of the negative reviews and examples given by other fellow yelpers. She won't work unless you have a perfect child who can sit still and just loves and is dying to see the dentist. read more

The reason for my 3 starts review is this office pushes x-rays for young kids (9months - 4 year) pretty aggressively and I was told by Dr. Zavery to go elsewhere if I didn't agree with her philosophy. So I did. Our new doctor's approach and philosophy is a much better fit for our family. They don't recommend X-rays before age 4 and I've found that very customary at the dentists I researched. read more

Took our 6 year old daughter to Dr. Purvi for her examination. To start, Dr. Purvi has a brand new office so has all modern latest equipment. There is ample parking. The office is across from Walgreen and Trader Joes. There is a TV with each examination chair so the children can be distracted with their favorite show (not just PBS but premium cable! more than my home) during the examination. Regarding the procedure, we have been to different pediatric dentists with our daughter last couple of years. Of all pediatric dentists, our daughter thinks "Dr. Purvi is the best". Dr. Purvi was patient with our daughter and diligent. The examination went well. Afterwards Dr. Purvi explains preventive procedures, brushing techniques. New modern facility, convenient location and most importantly "good" dentist experience for our 6 year old daughter. As good as it gets. read more

The office is so kid friendly. Love the decor! My son had a good time playing with the toys while I spent about 40 minutes talking to Dr. Zavery and asking her a ton of questions about toddler dental care. I asked her questions about my son but also about pediatric dental care in general since I am a healthcare professional. We had an amazing first visit with Dr. Zavery. I am so impressed with her. I am recommending her to all of our friends. She was so pleasant and professional and knowledgeable. She answered all of my questions so well and provided me with lots of helpful tips. The customer service was amazing. My son of course screamed and cried during the demonstration of brushing his teeth/flossing but he also screams/cries when I put pants on him or shoes or a shirt so it wasn't surprising. I am so glad we have such a wonderful pediatric dentist so close to our home. Thank you Dr. Zavery! read more

When you have a fear of dentists yourself, it is difficult to not pass that fear onto your kids. So when my son was old enough, I wanted to make sure his dentist gave him no reason to be afraid. Dr. Purvi is THAT dentist. She is so good and made my son feel so comfortable, that he is already excited about going back. Wow. Color me impressed. read more

I recently switched (yet again) my kids' dentist to Dr. Zavery. I am glad we will not be switching anymore! She is highly skilled in treating children and is very aware of their specific needs that ranges from hating to floss - dont like the taste of flouride in the mouth - how to clean teeth with braces on and so forth. After coming back from the visit, my kids are more involved in taking care of their teeth. All in all, my kids are in safe hands of Dr. Purvi. read more

I would highly recommend Dr. Purvi Zavery. She is very patient with kids, is very approachable, and gives good detailed information regarding dental hygiene and any other questions you might have regarding your kids' dental health. She has a brand new office/equipment and televisions located overhead to keep your kids distracted if they are wary about dental procedures. We are taking both our kids to her and are extremely happy with her. read more

We love Dr. Purvi and Carlos the hygienist. Very good communication with both children and parents. They rely on TV screens to keep the kids entertained, which is fine with me but might not be for everyone. read more

Best Dentist a kid could have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very informed and thorough. She took efforts to inform me and my daughter how to improved her dental care. I am recommending her to all my friends and family. Office staff is very friendly. Viri at front desk always willing to fit the appointment to my schedule. read more

Fantastic! I greatly appreciate the time Dr. Zavery takes with me and my daughter. She is patient and thorough. My daughter talked about her experience the entire day. Highly recommend! read more

Dr. Zavery is a wonderful dentist, and my boys love going to see her. She does set expectations for the children (ex: to keep their mouth open, and not to pull at her hands when she is working in their mouth), but unlike some of the negative reviews, I believe that setting expectations and asking children to behave appropriately for that setting is a good thing. My son just had two baby teeth pulled in preparation for needed orthodontic work, and Dr. Zavery really helped to ease him through the process. He was terrified beforehand, but after the tooth came out, he declared "That was fun!" If you want your child coddled, Dr. Zavery may not be the dentist for you. But if you want a really good dentist who makes your child feel like a participant in the process and very accomplished afterwards, I highly recommend her. read more

My kids have been going to de Purvi for the last 3 years. She is extremely caring, very detailed and makes kids connect with him and listen to what needs to get done. I fully trust her and appreciate the services she provides. Thank you. Dr read more

Excellent personal style dentist. She really does a fabulous job of engaging your children and moving them through the process. She's a natural and the kids know it and respond well to her (we have a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old.) We've been going to her for 2 years. Very nice and big office space with easy parking. I can say that I'm going to be changing dental insurances and I'm going to make sure I can still go to her before I select another plan. read more

Dr Zavery is an excellent Pediatric Dentist. I wanted our kids, who are 5 and 3, to have good memories of going to the Dentist. To have that positive association of visiting the dentist goes a long way. Both our kids love Dr Zavery. She is kind, compassionate, listens to them and at the same time has a firmness which kids respond to in a good way. She explains what she is going to do, not just to the parents, but to the kids in a language they understand. Our kids actually have fun going to her and look forward to their dental appointments which is amazing in itself and says so much about the level of care Dr Zavery and her staff provide. Dr Zavery is an excellent clinician and I recommend her highly. read more

We had out first visit and I was delighted. Wonderful doctor and staff. Doctor spent a lot of time asking me question abut son overall health and explaining her treatment plan. The office has lovely decor and wonderful things for kids to play with while getting treated. read more

Most horrible dentist I have ever come across. She needs to improve her bedside manners. She also recommends treatments when it is really not needed. I realized this when I switched to another dentist. read more

I take my three young daughters to Dr. Zavery. We love this office so much that we are willing to make the drive from Half Moon Bay. Dr. Zavery puts your children's health and happiness first. Her team is also incredibly helpful in assisting parents with appointments, etc. The office, equipment, and facilities are all modern and clean. There is a nice play room and iPad for children to use while in the waiting room - though we have never had to wait. She's the best around...and she always remembers you and your children on a personal level. My girls are not afraid of the dentist, because of Dr. Zavery and her team. read more

I have been bringing my son to Dr. Zavery for more than 3 years now. She and her team are excellent and caring. My son has autism and has a lot of anxiety going to the dentist. She and her staff are very patient. When we first visited her office, my son would not even sit on that chair. Now he is able to let her do the basic cleaning. She is doing above and beyond to help my son to overcome his anxiety. My son still gets a little nervous when going there but he is feeling very proud of himself after every cleaning. Thank you Dr. Zavery and your team. read more

been 3 times total with my two children. beautiful office, lots of toys in the waiting room, super friendly front desk person and hygienist. unfortunately, dr. purvi zavery herself seems very nice on the surface, but in reality is quite judgmental, inpatient, and, therefore, rude. my 3 year old son actually did amazingly well for any age - calm and cooperative. the ONE time he even made a peep was when i stepped away for maybe 20 seconds to go check on my older son sitting by himself in the next seat over (same room) and he quietly called out for me once ("mommy"). dr. zavery made me feel like an irresponsible mother by saying, "see, i told you..." then when it was time to check out and schedule our next appointment, she said, "maybe he'll do better next time." my 5 year old son was trying his very hardest not to gag on the large things in his mouth (that i myself sometimes gag on as an adult) while trying to take x-rays, but was having a tough time, so she had to try multiple times. i could tell by the tone of her voice that she was annoyed as she said repeatedly, "don't bite my finger, don't bite my finger..." she only softened her tone and appeared empathetic when he started to tear up. i'm sure she's a skilled dentist, but i don't believe her specialty should be pediatrics...unless you have children who can nail all that she asks of them on the first try...perfectly. read more

I have been taking my two boys to Dr. Zavery's office for two years and they love her. My almost 4 yr old recently had a cavity filled by her. At the end of the appointment he exclaimed 'this was fun'! I wish I could say the same after my dental appointments :) Dr. Zavery is thorough and skillful. She has a kid-friendly office so the kids actually look forward to their cleaning sessions. I recommend her to all my friends. read more