My husband, who is 85, recently had a tooth extracted by Dr. Tarsitano. He was very concerned that it would be tramatic and hurtful. Indeed, he did not feel any pain and had no complications. We both felt that Dr. Tarsitano was extremly kind and caring and would highly recommend him. read more

Worst experience of my life the two receptionist that are usually up front are SOO rude. Have no desire to help or give clients information rather they smart talk back. What I thought was super unprofessional was a dental assistant I wish I would have got her name but her being a DENTAL assistant tried to give me an ORTHODONTIST point of view and suggested I get all of my wisdom teeth out because according to her "I wouldn't be able to get braces without them pulled out." Which is not true because some people have room for them and some don't. Also let me not forget to mention double check they have the accurate information down because they almost took the wrong 2 extractions out all due to the receptionist distracted on the phone talking to her son on duty ! The dental assistant who gave me orthodontist advice kept a smirk on her face and attempted to make me feel as if I was any less of her . (She usually wears cap around her head female Mexican I believe) although I had a terrible first experience Irma took me into a room where I began to break down due to anxiety and made me feel welcomed and comfortable again ! They should hire more people like Irma she is genuinely such a beautiful soul & so quick to help you out ! Love her ! read more

The office staff is very courteous and informative they make sure you know everything that's getting ready to happen, which make your visit much more pleasant ,and they're just so damn kind. On the day of my tooth extraction I was in and out like a breeze no problem Dr.Tarsitano was very quick with the extraction. My hygienist was awesome she made me feel so relaxed ,thanks to everyone in the office, you guys are amazing. read more

Tarsitano; Appts are never on time usually about 30 minutes late, he and his staff always seem to be in a hurry, nerve damage causing #17 and #18 to feel somewhat numb. He is in such a hurry he was sloppy removing drill when drilling a hole for the implant caused some discomfort but was more disconcerting, bit fell out of the drill onto floor, and me, several times when drilling for the implant. Shaking when installing the healing abutment. On my appt for the abutment installation he arrived to the office in his exercise cloths about 8:45a. My appt was 8:30a. I wasn't called into the procedure room until nearly 9a. He is very rough and while he does try to explain things fairly well he is on his way out of the room as the last words leave his mouth. read more

My son had an appointment for all 4 wisdom teeth to be removed and I can not express enough what a great experience it was. I have 4 kids and have been through this a few times with the other ones and this by far was the best experience. These were NO easy teeth to be removed they were coming in sideways and needed to be sectioned to be removed. My son had NO bruising or swelling it was amazing. His jaw was a little sore for about 3 days but back to eating normal food in 2-3 days. Highly recommend!!! read more

I went today to get my wisdom teeth removed. I was super scared, thinking it was going to hurt and I was going to have a horrible experience. It was the total the opposite, at first I was feeling anxious but Irma the nurse at the office helped me so much feel super comfortable and not scared. She provided me a great sense of comfort. The Dr. was fast and to the point, I would definitely recommend getting your Dental work here. read more

My younger son had supernumerary teeth (2 additional permanent teeth coming in upside down on top of his 2 front permanent teeth) removed by Dr. Tarsitano 7 years ago and we were very pleased. No complications, very nice staff! Now, his older brother will be getting his wisdom teeth extracted with Dr. Tarsitano next month. Consult visit was good! Again, very kind staff, clean operatories, no complaints at all! read more

Loved this office. Great front and back office staff. I Had emergency extraction this morning and everyone was great. Dr Tarsitano is on the quiet side, but very professional and I didn't feel a thing. Thank you all for a great experience. read more

Generally I had a great experience with Dr. Tarsitano. He is a wise man with years of military experience. His rooms are stark and white. No pictures of trees or flowers. The dental chair is very uncomfortable, No Lazy Boy. The doctor works fast and efficiently. A man of few words. My only complaint are the assistants who freak out about blood getting on the walls. "Wash your hands. Don't leave your coodies." I haven't heard that since fourth grade. All in all, a good experience from a no nonsence office. read more

Dr Tarsitano himself was amiable and offered a reasonable price for the medical implant services I was looking for, but this email is about the nightmare I went through at the front desk each time I came in for an appointment. Appointment 1.) I arrived and waited over 30mins (sometimes happens no problem) for an appointment only to be told that the front desk person had forgotten to send back my approval and so I could not be seen at that time. I was upset but was livid that the girl lied and said she had sent it -trying to deflect any balm off of herself. I had to leave after almost two hours of wasted time... Ok deep breath. Appointment 2.) I came in and saw Dr Tarsitano- he was amiable and talked about the range of my options- he saw that I had a root canal (tooth still intact) that needed to be removed and then an implant put in. A few weeks later I called the front desk to get the ball rolling on my implant, I explained my situation and was told to come in to have an initial screening done for having an implant put in. Appointment 3.) I arrived, again waited about 30 minutes before anyone talked with me. It was only after I asked about insurance coverage for my having the first step of my implant (removal of the old tooth) was I told that actually I needed to have the tooth out before I could do the initial screening for the implant. Thus, again I had wasted a lot of time taking off work driving to the appointment, waiting and then being told I could not be seen for another number of weeks. So I was upset and let the front desk folks know that its hard to take time off work to come in and because of their struggle to communicate, coordinate and overall do what they needed to do to set their patient up for success (me) I had wasted a ton of time and been stressed out for not good reason. Im not proud that I got upset and wish I hadn't but a stress can sometimes take over. Appointment 4.) Funny thing, this appointment did not happen. I was sent an email from the front desk coordinator (see actual letter below) that they could not meet my needs and that they would forward my information to a new provider. So after all that hassle they put me through, their answer was to fired me. Its really sad and a poor reflection on their administrative staff. I'm sure they are good people but they just don't have it together. If you have another choice in Oral Surgery I suggest you go there... read more

My entire experience at this doctor's office was completely unacceptable and entirely unbelievable. I have never had the displeasure of dealing with so-called "professionals" as rude and unfeeling as the employees at this oral surgery office. I was scheduled to get my wisdom teeth removed here my experience could not have been more infuriating and frustrating. Firstly, I came in for a consultation appointment, which I assumed meant meeting the doctor and having him look at my teeth and/or x-rays. After waiting over an hour past my appointment time, they took me into a room where they gave me a fill in the blanks worksheet (WTF? I am not 5) and made me watch a video about wisdom teeth that looked like it was produced in the 1980s. I did all of this completely alone, and when I asked if I was going to be able to meet the doctor they told me they would charge me another $50 just to see him and they really advised against it. Flash forward a whopping 2 months that I had to wait to actually get the procedure done. They called me 6 days before the surgery to tell me not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before the surgery. This was a casual thing they mentioned briefly during the 10 second phone conversation we had. I should preface this by saying I have never undergone surgery before and have never been under any type of anesthesia. The morning of the surgery I arrived 15 minutes before my appointment time. When they asked whether or not I had eaten or drank anything in the last 6 hours I admitted that I had 2 SIPS of water upon waking up - 3 hours before the surgery. Sometimes I have cotton mouth in the morning. They gave me the rest of the paperwork I was to fill out and sent me back to the waiting room. 15 minutes later, the "office manager" or whatever her title is, came to where my dad and I were seated (he was there to give me a ride after the surgery) and told us to go home because they were refusing to do the surgery. No explanation, nothing. I was confused and angry. I had already taken time off of work to have this done and now they were refusing to do it? After I had waited 2 months and taken the time off? When I asked to please speak with the doctor (who I had still never even laid eyes on) they were rude and angry that I should even ask such a thing, but I insisted. When Dr. Torsitano met with me he told me that because I had 2 sips of water I "could die" and he "didn't and couldn't explain that to anybody". His explanation was something to the effect of "these drugs are dangerous. They are very powerful and people die on them. Look at Michael Jackson - he died! Look at Joan Rivers - she died!" OKAY GREAT! Thanks for the nonsensical and terrifying explanation, doc! If these drugs are that dangerous, DON'T FUCKING USE THEM. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, now! On top of that, he told me explicitly that I was wasting his time asking him these questions that I could "find out for myself on the internet". Then I left the room and went back to the lobby where my dad was waiting for me. I was upset, frustrated and offended and the ladies at the front desk basically told me to get the fuck out. When I asked for my file because I would not be returning for any reason whatsoever, they were rude and told me that I was a liar when I said they had called more than 48 hours before the appointment. They told me I was overreacting, that I was a liar and a waste of time. I would not wish these incompetent, sorry excuses for medical professionals on anyone. If you are looking for an oral surgeon who will waste your time, money and resources and then insult you on top of everything, look no further. There is absolutely no excuse for name calling, it is completely unprofessional and I am shocked that they are still in business. I now understand why having even a miniscule amount of water before a surgical procedure is dangerous and I am not upset that, in a round about way, they were looking out for my safety. HOWEVER, it is NEVER acceptable to call people names. We are not toddlers. Grow up and get some patience or find a new profession. I am disgusted. read more

My mother was scheduled with Dr. Tarsino for oral surgery. During her first appointment the medical assistant gave her medical advice that seemed incorrect and was contrary to what my mother's primary care doctor advised (and potentialy harmful). The MA was very rude during this initial visit, especially when questioned on her advice. When my mother returned for her scheduled surgery today she asked to speak to the doctor first because she wanted to place a formal complaint. Five minutes later an assistant came in and told her to leave; she was informed that the doctor was refusing to do her surgery because of the complaint. My mother was already in the chair and prepped for surgery. Unbelievable! read more

I went in to get my 4 wisdom teeth removed yesterday and I couldn't of asked for a better experience. Everything was terrific right when I entered through the door. Very friendly staff and Dr. Tarsitano is really great at what he does. The nurse Erma also did a wonderful job made me feel comfortable as I was getting the anesthesia. Overall a great experience and definitely recommend anyone who needs oral surgery to get it done here! read more

Do not under any circumstances go to this dentist. He needs to retire. He and his staff do not know how to treat humans, much less patients. They are very unprofessional in their conduct. They don't seem to understand there is another human in the room when they are gossiping or other inappropriate behaviors. Every patient should be treated like they are the doctor's family. Respect, kindness, and empathy should be the most on their minds. They are so rude it is unbelievable. There are other choices for oral surgery in the area. Pick someone else! read more

Very rude staff. Came in for a consultation and they tried to pressure me into getting the procedure that day. Never saw a doctor as he was on vacation and the full in wouldn't see me unless I was getting the procedure done. I was upfront with the office staff about only wanting a consultation and after waiting 45 minutes had to tell the nurse three times I was sure I didn't want it done that day. Horrible customer service and horrible staff. Watched a video from the 80's and then the nurse rolled her eyes at me when I asked a question. Told my dentist to never refer anyone here again. This was the worst experience of my life. Felt like they only wanted the money and didn't care about my well being at all. Never saw my X-ray or anything until I showed up that day. I do not recommend this place and will make sure none of my family ever goes. read more

My daughter had her first appointment here today and I was very disappointed. The doctors assistant was very rude to me. Never introduced herself to either of us and said she already went over our situation with the doctor. We never saw the doctor and was out in less than five minutes. I received bad attitude from the assistant after asking a question. Very rude. read more

My son had an extraction there today. He's 7, and we were both nervous. The receptionist was nice and helpful, even though we were her first patients in there and were asking questions before she even turned on the computers. They got us in there pretty close to on-time and, here's my glowing part of the review, Lety was wonderful. She was the assistant that took us back and got him all set up. She answered all of my questions without getting impatient and was reassuring to us through the whole thing. She came out as soon as the procedure was over (I wasn't allowed to stay as it was a surgery and a sterile environment, plus there was no room for extra people) and told me how he did - he did great - and gave me an estimate of waiting time for him to come out of anesthesia. She was just super friendly and helpful. I saw a lot of bad yelps on here and I really don't understand. I guess everyone's experience is different but ours was great! read more

An Angry Dentist. Everybody in the office was very nice and there were no other patients in the waiting room with me. We saw the silly video from the early 80's and then the doctor walked in. Did not introduced himself, just stood there. I introduced myself and started to ask my questions. He cut me off told my daughter to pay attention and went on how bad my insurance was, blamed it on Obama care. Quizzed me about if I knew who my assemblyman was and then told me to go write a letter to him. After about five minutes of this monolog he abruptly walked out. He never did answered my questions. I guess I was not the type of "customer" he wanted The assistant told me we will contact you. At that point I thought no thank you. I did not want a person with that many issues working on my child. read more

I have had issues with dentists my whole adult life. I've had 6 teeth pulled in the past, before I saw this dentist and I am utterly amazed at how quick he pulled lucky number 7 out! I believe it was about a minute, possibly a minute and a half, total. With the other 6 it has taken WAY longer and I was in complete agony with all the sounds going on in my head(mouth). This morning it was just some intense pressure and then BAM! he was done. What I also really appreciated was the fact he didn't make me feel bad about my teeth. I'm very sensitive about them and I loathe the way all other dentists I've seen has made me feel bad about it. I take care of my teeth as much as I can, I just have bad genes (thanks mom, dad and both sets of grandparents!) Not much more I can do! Dr. Tarsitano was very perfunctory (in a good way) and professional and just got the job DONE! Extremely grateful!! Oh and his staff is very sweet and knowledgable! Thank you! read more

(Salinas Office) I went in for my wisdom teeth extraction and there were post op complications (nothing major) that are typical when recovering from the procedure and so far I've had a great experience. The receptionist is awesome. She is extremely helpful, friendly, and has a welcoming attitude. The dental assistants and others who work there displayed a high level of professionalism. They were also welcoming, respectful and reassuring. I was anxious and nervous before the procedure and they did their best to make me feel comfortable. As for Dr. Tarsitano, he did an amazing job. In regards to those that complained about his bedside manner, I strongly disagree with them. I went back to his office for the post op complication and he did what he had to do and reassured me that everything looked great and that everything was going to be taken care of. He didn't ask me irrelevant questions that did not pertain to my purpose of being there, instead he and his assistant did what they were supposed to do. They found out what was wrong and they fixed it. The only thing I can complain is the wait. It's normal and occurs else where but it's a tad annoying. I highly recommend this Doctor. read more

I have read the prior reviews for Dr. Tarsitano and his staff and am frankly surprised and disappointed to see such negative commentary with regard to Dr. Tarsitano. We have been referred to Dr. Tarsitano by our family dentist over the past four years or so and have been more than satisfied with the dental services we have received upon our referral to Dr. Tarsitano's office. I called for the appointment and was given a 09:00 appointment for Tuesday. On Monday, just after Maria called to confirm the appointment-she called back to ask if I could come in at 10:30 instead. She did not insist I change it or give reasons why they had no choice but to change it-she asked nicely if I would mind, and not being inconvenienced by the change, I agreed to come in at 10:30. We have never felt in any way inconvenienced or mistreated by Dr. Tarsitano or his staff; our experience has been quite the opposite and we thank one and all at Dr. Tarsitano's office for their kindness and professionalism. Today I had three teeth pulled by Dr. Tarsitano and am extremely pleased and grateful to have had him perform these extractions for me. He is extremely competent and a very talented oral surgeon; I have very little use for flowery introductions or political and social commentary-not that he has ever offered any. I go there to have professional, efficient, affordable dental care and it is exactly what I receive. It is my personal opinion that Dr. Tarsitano is one of the finest maxillofacial/oral surgeons in the Monterey Bay area and it is our hope that he will not be retiring any time soon. read more

At my first consultation I was not seen by the doctor only questioned by an assistant from the doorway as I sat in a chair in a dark room. After waiting nearly 2 months for my surgery I was called the day before and told not to eat 12 hours prior as usual. When I showed up for my appointment to check in the receptionist was arguing with an upset customer I say customer because she was not treated like a patient nor was I. After signing the final forms and paying my co-pay I sat in the waiting room with my driver for an additional hour. Then I was called up and told that as of today the doctor will no longer accept my insurance. I asked why they had not informed me of this sooner and they said they should have and it was their mistake and refunded me my co-pay. Then I was told I had to go to Oakland in order to make another appointment. The staff clearly has communication issues. I should have read the reviews before going here I never even saw the Dr. clearly just a hatchet man anyway. Unprofessional Incompetent Wasting a lot of peoples time and a burden to society read more

I had my wisdom tooth pulled recently, at my first visit I was nervous and the Receptionist didn't help ease my fear, then she took forever to take my x-ray which only increased my anxiety..anyhow..on my surgery date, I had a good experience, the girls in the back office were great and eased me right in..i went back a week later for some debris that built up in the surgical site and the girl who helped me (thin, long dark hair) was super nice, and helpful..i totally give her a 10..i don't know her name but she made it all worth while; That's what an Assistant should be....Thank You. read more

I am extremely pleased with the level of service at Dr. Tarsitano's office. I was able to get an appointment for an extraction of a painful wisdom tooth on fairly short notice, when other offices were telling me it would take weeks. When I arrived for my appointment, the receptionists were very pleasant and extremely helpful. There was an issue with the waiting period for my insurance, and they got it handled promptly. I was taken in for an X-ray shortly after, and the nurse that took it was sweet, and ended up getting an awesome shot on the first try. I was then guided to the back to prep for the extraction, and the nurse that helped me out was super nice and knowledgeable. Dr. Tarsitano was also awesome, and immediately got me going with some local, and extracted that tooth expertly. Couldn't have been more than a minute or two and that baby was out! I was then helped by another nice nurse, who quickly got me my script and some extra gauze to go home. All around a really positive experience. Efficient and professional! I will definitely be coming back to have my other wisdom teeth extracted. read more

I went in to get my bottom two wisdom teeth removed a few days ago. Regarding the surgery, I think it went well and have had minimum swelling and pain. This review is based primarily on my experience and care from the nurses and Dr. Tarsitano. I was already very nervous for the oral surgery as I had never been put asleep or had a large procedure. On top of it I was facing some family troubles and my anxiety was a bit high. Anyways, I went in, waited about 15 minutes and was put into a small room. The nurse put on the laughing gas to make me relax. She then said she would inject an IV and I said that my veins were a bit damaged since I had just donated blood and a few had blown in the process. She tied the rubber band around my arm tighter than anyone had ever done as if she was mad. She couldn't find a vein, so she used my hand instead and as a reflex tears ran down my face since my hands. She told me I was just being hypersensitive and that she did these better on 3 years old. Dr. Tarsitano then walked in and I was still awake. He never acknowledged me or even said hi. Having past experience working with doctors and dentists, I had never seen anyone have less respect for their patient's comfort and professionalism. The only words I remember him saying when the nurse told me she was injecting something that would burn was "don't be a wimp." It made me so mad that he could say that but couldn't say a simple hello. Before I could respond I passed out. It seemed like a few seconds passed and I then woke up. Once I opened my eyes the nurse said "oh your awake time to go." I was so confused that I did not get time to even relax after awaking from the anesthesia. I sat up and was so shaky and dizzy. They put me in another room to lay down. My fiancé was a bit upset that they tried to get me out once I woke up and the lack of care from the dentist. He talked to the nurse about my discomfort and all she said was I was acting like a child and kids took these procedures better. I was so offended. The nurse then came in and told me if I was ready. I got up and still felt really dizzy. I laid down again for a couple minutes. My fiancé was sitting next to me and then Dr. Tarsitano walked in and told him he needed to talk to my fiancé. They walked to another room and all I heard was yelling and cussing from the Dr. The nurse came in and told me I had to exit through a back door. As I got in the car my fiancé told me what had happened. I guess the Dr. was upset that we had complained. He took him to a room and my fiancé sat down. He yelled at my fiancé that I was being hypersensitive and exaggerated. He also stated that he "fucking hates it when people with medi-cal complain." He is the "only dr who serves these types of people and doesn't think they should be complaining of his service." He asked my fiancé if he was a dr or had a PhD. He responded "no", but that he wasn't stupid enough to understand the privatization of health care and how he was paid less through medi-cal. My fiancé then stood up and asked "people like me?" Dr. then yelled at him that people like us ruin it for everyone and that he needed to sit down. My fiancé said "no" that he would not stand for his bullying and stereotyping. The dr then told him to get the "fuck out of his office." My fiancé tried to shake his hand but the dr refused and said get out. They were actually in a room with the door open and all the nurses and patients waiting heard. I was really upset at how badly the situation ended. I never got to even ask questions about my procedure as I was rushed out once my fiancé stepped out. I was not aware of anything going on till i talked to my fiancé. It takes a lot for him to get mad but I think Dr. Tartisano refusing to accept that I was uncomfortable and telling us basically that people with medi-cal were not worthy of his service crossed the line. Yes my surgery turned out fine so far, but just because of our insurance we didn't have the same rights as other patients. Both me and my fiancé work full time and go to UCSC but sadly can't afford to pay for our insurance at this time. If you have medi-cal I highly recommend going somewhere else, and also anyone who is paying or using any other insurance. I am sure this man knows his stuff and has treated many people, but he needs to work on making his patients comfortable and treating everyone equal. It seems he is more worried about getting as much patients in and out as possible and getting their money. I read these yelp reviews prior to going and I really hate myself for ignoring them. I will never go back to this doctor again. Even when I called back the nurse at first who answered didn't want to answer my questions. I called back and she finally heard me out. She responded that the way the dr works is he just comes in and pulls teeth out and doesn't like to add the fluff of introducing himself to patients and making them feel comfortable. Poor excuse for serving humanity. read more

I would give this Dr. a zero if possible! I too had my wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Tarsitano and should have left when I started second guessing the visit. Firstly after being placed in the exam room I felt the staff was very rushed. The doctor had 4 rooms with patients he was seeing all at the same time. The feel from the nursing assistants was flustered and nervous. My nurse although very pleasant could not find a vein to administer anesthesia. After trying for what seemed like an eternity she decided to ask the doc for help. A few moments later he entered my room obviously irritated and annoyed. he proceeded to yank my arms around looking for a good vein. For at least 10 minutes he smacked and aggressively rubbed my arms and wrists in hopes of a vein popping up to no avail. The nurse agreed to give it another try and proceeded to inject 2 IVs in each of my arms with no luck. Frustrating to say the least. Let me see your feet she said...... removing my socks and glancing over my feet and ankles she saw no opportunity. I could put the IV in your neck she says!!!!! Are you kidding me ? No thanks was my reply!! At this point I was both nervous and a bit scared but brushed it off for some reason. Doctor Tarsitano returned to my room and agreed to give it 1 last shot. He informed me it would hurt and proceeded to shove to IV in my wrist and dig around til hit . I was out instantly. I woke after surgery and was escorted out immediately to my awaiting ride. For the next 36 hours or so everything seemed ok, until I noticed the anesthesia was definitely waring off and my lip, jaw, and chin were still completely numb. I called the office on Wednesday morning ( surgery was Monday morning) and told the nurse of my concerns. Her response was " oh don't worry we gave you a lot of anesthesia, you will be fine in a couple days." Today is now Friday and my lip, jaw, and chin are still numb. I have spoken to the nurse once again this morning and she has assured me this happens all the time??!! I have had many surgeries in my life and this by far was the worst doctor/patient experience I have had and the only time I have felt that I may be left with permanent damage. I'm hoping this will dissipate over time but who knows. I am heading to Doctor Tarsitanos office TODAY to confront him and convey my concerns. Let me also say the doctor was so unprofessional at the time of my visit he openly cussed twice in front of me! Using the F word to show frustration to his staff for not being able to find a vein. He also cussed when having an inappropriate personal conversation with 2 of his nurses in my presence. This guys a joke! read more

Dr Tarsitano is a complete jerk . He should retire from his dentist mill his office manager sara is a very angry person who should not deal with real humans!!! I called and complain to Taristano about her, how did he handle it? he cancel my sons surgery !! he said what can I do about it, I work for her REALLY?? do the people a favor and retire! read more

This is BEYOND the WOST dental office EVER!! I had a gut feeling and should have went with it!! DO NOT bring your Children here!! They're ALL uneducated I have no idea how or where they got their degrees. I'm going to leave it at that. I'd give them ZERO if it was an option! read more

We were referred to Tarsitano by our primary dentist for my husband who had a decayed tooth due to Chemo Therapy. Our dentist was vague about which tooth it was but we knew it was on the upper left hand side. We made the appointment and waited 45 days to get in to see Tarsitano. The receptionist never told us to bring in any Xrays we had but told us to come early to fill out paper work. We waited about 40 minutes to get in.....The assistant started by asking which tooth it was and where were our Xrays we brought? We said we aren't sure but it's on the top left. I said won't you be able to look inside and see and aren't you going to take your own Xrays? She said Tarsitano works off the referring dentists Xrays and direction.....Tarsitano came in and said he couldn't treat my husband until the referral was more exact. I said isn't that why you went to dental school ? At that point he got up left and said GOOD LUCK and left. His assistant insisted we leave immediately.....Apparently Tarsitano can not find a decayed tooth unless some other dentist points it out. He was aristocratic.....aloof and a complete jerk. He had absolutely no compassion for my husband. When I called next day to say the dentist would be calling with a new referral. I was informed Tarsitano would not treat my husband......We have been to UCSF......Stanford......Mountian View Palo Alto PAMF and have always been treated with caring compassion. The utmost of professionalism and respect. Tarsitano's staff mirrors his cold uncaring and unprofessional attitude. We had to go all the way to Watsonville to be treated like dirt. I believe we were discriminated against because by husband has Alzheimers and our age. I am seeking legal advise and have started the process to complain to the Dental Board.......Since our experience we have not heard one good thing about that office. Thanks for listening and Please let the Board know if you have a bad experience. Susan M. read more

I must say, this experience was pleasant, the staff seemed busy just trying to maintain the chart fool. After all I discovered in my quest for a Specialized that this Dr. is the only Dr. that takes Medical/ Medicare in the area . I did meet with other Dr's in the ares and I was not impressed with them at all. Sure they had very nice offices with the latest technology. But they where not Dr. Ben Tarsitano, This Dr. is very busy, but is direct and amazing with the needles I did not even feel the needle go in . He was thought full and kind to me. I felt a sense of care. and relief. I'm also very impressed with the staff. Sara the office manager runs a tight crew. and is no nonsense. which works well with me, but she is also very fare and hard working and always looking after all the details in the office. The quotes I received from the other local office was outrageous. even with me paying CASH. This office rate is fare and just might be he lowest in the county. And this Dr. is experienced and a god with the needle. I will be taking my family to him for any extractions moving forward. read more

When my daughter had broken three front teeth in a bicycling accident, his office saw her right away. His agile use of interspersing specific dental vocabulary with his use of layman terms quickly gave me a sense of how serious her injuries were and also gave us a sense how lucky we were that her injuries were not worse. My daughter is new to the Santa Cruz area and did not have a regular dentist. Dr. Tarsitano not only recommended a good dentist for her, but one that is in the area where my daughter lives. His staff got her an walk-in appointment for the same day and in the same hour we saw Dr. Tarsitano. They also printed out a map and had the new office give a call us to confirm that they were expecting to see us in the next 30 minutes. All this happened in twenty minutes with Dr. Tarsitano himself taking the time to allay our fears over the injuries. I am very thankful that my daughter's primary physician referred her to this oral surgeon. read more

Dr. Tarsitano is a physician, an oral surgeon and a dentist. He is direct, efficient, and straightforward. He removed my 8 year old daughter's tooth with local anesthesia only without any significant pain. The Santa Cruz oral surgeons recommended IV general anesthesia of which I did not want to subject my daughter. No nonsense, ex-military, low risk. His style does not fit everyone. read more

Terrible experience...Don't go there! I have been trying to locate a dentist in town that deals with sedation dentistry for my elderly, special needs mother. I was referred by Dientes to Dr Tarsitano and another dentist in Hollister. My mom lives in Freedom. Two miles away. The receptionist was helpful! I explained my mom's history and medical issues. She emailed me all there paperwork right away. Including that I might need a note from her physician that she could handle sedation dentistry. That is the only positive thing I can say about this experience. After contacting the office to get all the paperwork taken care of, a doctors physical from her primary care physician giving the green light for sedation, I went to Dr. Tarsitano's office for the "initial exam". Because of my mother's extensive medical issues (strokes, brain surgeries, knee replacement) we have been to see several dentists. I have tried to coordinate all the information so that she would have an uncomplicated experience and actually get the 5 to 6 teeth extracted that has been recommended. Upon entering the office, we waited 45 minutes until being seen. Then the assistant, Sara, tells us that Dr. Tarsitano doesn't just sedate his patient's for simple teeth extractions. I said I understood the concern, but that we were told by one dentist that they wouldn't pull her teeth without sedation. That was who referred us to him. We all understood that this was an "initial exam"--sort of a meet and greet. So, I tried to find out if it wasn't clear from the xrays that my mom wasn't a candidate, or that the dentist didn't agree with the other dentists assessment that that many teeth needed to be pulled. I tried to contact the other dentist so that I could get them to fax over their recommendations for the two dentists to confer. Dr. Tarsitano came in exasperated. He said he overheard everything and that he is not a "dumping ground" for medical patients. He didn't want my mom to over hear our conversation so i was taken to a different room. I tried to talk/reason with him, but he wouldn't hear one word from me. He shut me down before any discussion could take place. He told us we needed to go somewhere else. HE ISN'T A DUMPING GROUND for people like my mom! All I can say is DON'T GO THERE! Then I came home to read Yelp. I guess I am not the only one! If he doesn't want to deal with Medical patients and the low income he shouldn't do it! read more

I was treated by Dr. Tarsitano and it was a great experience! Doctor was very professional, I did not feel any pain, surgery was done quickly and with high precision. His staff very helpful in getting me situated for the surgery. I find Dr. Tarsitano to be a highly professional and knowledgeable doctor and I highly recommend him for oral surgery. read more

My son had his wisdom teeth removed two days ago. Today he went to work! He was very nervous about the procedure. Sara and Gabby immediately put him at ease with funny comforting support. Dr. Tarsitano then explained the procedures and what to expect. Before he knew it... it was all complete. His teeth were very impacted so I was even surprised that he had minimal ache yesterday and today he is almost 100 percent normal. From beginning to end... a great comforting experience! Thank you. read more

I absolutely 100% recommend Dr. Tarsitano. I see all these bad reviews but he and his entire staff have been nothing but courteous and very helpful. I got my wisdom teeth removed and was freaking out a bit. Dr. Tarsitano helped calm me down before the procedure while his assistant kept me calm during the procedure. Afterwards, I got up too fast after the procedure (because I had a mini panic attack), and started feeling faint at the front desk, Dr Tarsitano somehow saw me in this state and rushed up to me, and pretty much carried me into a spare room, put a cold towel on my head, laid me down with my feet up (to help rush blood back to my head), and one of the assistants stayed with me watching my heart rate and engaging in casual conversation to help get my attention off what had just happened. The procedure ALSO went faster than expected so he cut the price nearly in half. I was alerted to the price reduction before I nearly fainted. Even after all this, his staff was very friendly and accommodating. Thank you all very much for the friendly professional service. He doesn't get enough credit for his work. He's also loads cheaper than any oral surgeon in Santa Cruz, who wanted to charge me upwards of $2500 for the removal of three teeth. He charged me less than a quarter of that price read more

I was referred to Dr. Taristano by my regular dentist. This was the worst dental experience I have ever had. It started with the numbing shots, this doctor did not care, came across agressive and in a hurry and it hurt like hell. That was just the beginning of the procedure. As I sat there waiting for my mouth to get numb. I found out the doctor had just gotten back from vacation, there was a problem with him home so one of his assistants was trying to make an appointment to have someone come out and fix whatever it was and to make matters worse he was in another room having trouble finding a vein on one of his patients. When he got to me, he had trouble extracting my teeth, at one point he was pressing down on the side of my face and mouth. I finally let him know he was hurting me and his response was : "your mouth is too small and I need to apply pressure". Pretty much, I need to deal with it, and I did. Well here I am 4 days later, in pain due to what I think is a dry socket, really dreading to call his office. I will never go to this doctor again and I caution anyone that even thinks about going. read more

Be very afraid of this person! This was the worst experience I have ever seen. I went with my daughter's boyfriend to have his broken jaw and torn roots from his incisor fracture set and his jaw wired shut. When this young man awoke in the middle of the procedure, this "doctor" from somewhere lost from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and his nurse from the Rocky Horror picture show started screaming at him to stop crying in pain, stop being a baby or they would throw him out in the streets, and to be a "man" and shut up! We heard him screaming from the waiting room. When brought in to the procedure room we were told if he was given any more pain medication he might not wake up, I pleaded for him to stop and release him to an ambulance so we could get him out of there and into a hospital where he could receive care from a doctor that actually has compassion for his patients.. He screamed and yelled while his nurse threaten to kick him, full of blood and a half wired jaw, on the streets. Then we were locked out, while this boy cried out in pain. We were escorted from the building and not allowed to return, while we actually feared for his life. Needless to say we are reporting him to every regulatory agency possible. But heads up! Stay away from DR. Tarsitano if you value your life! read more

I had a wisdom tooth out at this guy's office (Ben Tarsitano). When he was injecting the novocaine needle I felt a jolt and reacted. Very soon after, my tongue was very numb. I remarked to the dental assistant at how quickly my tongue went numb and she brushed it off say it was just the topical kicking in. (Dr Tarsitano himself was working on many patients in a rushed manner and was not in the room at that moment.) Wisdom tooth came out OK, but the following morning my tongue was still numb. So I called his office, hoping to speak with him on the phone. I was told by the receptionist that I had "too many questions" and that I would have to make an appointment to come in if I wanted to talk to the doctor. I refused (living 30 minutes away). I was worried my tongue would stay numb the rest of my life! I read up on the subject and determined that he had damaged my nerve with the novocaine needle. A week later I called again and got him on the phone since my tongue was still numb and I was worried about the healing of the tooth as well. He said the tongue issue was "no big to-do" and that if I have any tingling that it would eventually heal. Its been over three weeks now and I still have a partially numb tongue and a painful swollen area in my jaw where he stabbed my nerve with his novocaine needle. I think this will get better eventually, but it definitely is a big deal, and could have been a lot worse. Shabby work, and shabby follow-up to shabby work. I wouldn't trust him again. read more

i read the reviews som e are good, some are bad but if you go to this place please ask for my dear friend MARTHA AGUILERA,she will treat you like family and she is very kind ,honest and profesional.best of luck:) read more