Dr. Denise Bass Allen was incredibly patient and took the time to introduce every step of the exam in a gentle, reassuring way. From the gloves and mirror to counting her teeth, brushing, and even choosing her toothpaste flavor, everything was explained so thoughtfully. My daughter even put on the sunglasses to protect her eyes from the bright lights, which made her feel more comfortable. By the end of the visit, she was calm and engaged. She received a new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and two tokens--which she happily used to get a gem and a necklace that she proudly wore for the rest of the day. Afterward, I asked what she thought of Dr. Denise. She said, "She's so nice--and Donna too!" Donna, the dental hygienist, was wonderful as well. I'm so grateful for such a positive and supportive experience. It made a lasting impression--my daughter even said she loved going to the dentist when we talked about our day at dinner. Truly thankful for the care and kindness shown here. read more

Amazing! From the moment we walked in we felt like this office REALLY loved and understood kids. Our little one's nervous mind was put at ease with a tooth fairy tree in the waiting area, fish tank (complete with Nemo) and a play castle. The exam area is open and parents sit with their kids. The front desk went above and beyond to help navigate insurance questions. Dr. Carl is a GEM! read more

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Everything about this place was excellent! My daughter had a few bad experiences with her primary dentist and I ended up running across this place and even though I had to pay out of pocket I do not regret it! The doctor's name was Denise and I cannot thank her enough for my daughter's treatment and experience! I highly recommend. read more

My kid has been going here since they were 4 years old. They had a check-up appointment today, more than 10 years later, and is about to grow out of pediatric care. But we don't want to find another dentist. This team is amazing. The dentists are awesome, almost as awesome as the billing lady, reception clerk, hygienists, etc. The happiness, love, care, and professionalism here are outstanding. Taking my kid here has been a highlight of raising them in Oakland. read more

This dental clinic is amazing. Before coming here we had tried at least two other pediatric dentist groups in the Lamorinda area-none of them expressed the expertise, kindness, thoughtfulness and diversity of people like Uptown Pediatric Dentistry. My oldest is currently 4 yo and is terrified of all things medical, I should now say "was" since after her visits with Dr Carl she is actually now looking forward to these appointments. Dr. Carl did many "friendly visits" to allow for her to get used to him, the staff, the space the tools and it paid off. She comfortably sat through an examination and came home excited to share with her sister and friends how much she likes the dentist office. This place is wonderful. A true gem. Come here and if you are lucky get Dr. Carl :) read more

I don't know why I haven't written a review before because my kids have been coming here for years now. Love Dr. Denise and all the dentists (Dr. Cheng, Dr. Franklin, and Dr. Smith) that we have seen here. They are wonderful with kids. Dr. Denise was so patient back when one of my kids was younger and screamed and cried during her exams. The hygienists and other office staff are friendly and great as well. I've yet to have a problem getting appointments, even on short notice. I have felt safe bringing them in throughout the COVID pandemic. Highly recommend, especially if you have younger kids. Both my kids get excited when I say we're going to the dentist because they love getting their prizes. And the older one even told me recently she enjoys getting her teeth cleaned! Very positive for setting up healthy dental habits early. read more

They love kids and sing a mean twinkle twinkle little star. Busy but effective. I appreciate it. They have after hours consulting service. It was very helpful when our daughter had an ear infection. read more

I'm updating my review because the amazing Dr. Denise is now working with the amazing Dr. Carl. I never thought anyone would come close to matching Dr. Denise, but he definitely does. My kids loved him. He was attentive, kind, and a true master of his craft. Being good with kids in a dentist chair? A hero in my eyes, a Saint. Don't go to these large dental corporate places. Go see these two. You won't regret it. read more

All three of our boys have been going here since they were very little. We had a bad experience with a different Pediatric Dentist nearby and are so glad we found Dr. Bass Allen. She even came in for an emergency tooth issue on the weekend once. The whole staff is professional and kind. They are kids centric but they know what they're doing. read more

Today I took my son to this office for the first time. Outside was instructions to call to be buzzed in. I was greeted by a friendly woman who took my son and I temperature and provided me with the requested mask. I was able to schedule a follow up visit right away. The friendly woman thanked me for completing all forms before arriving and that Ms. Donna is setting up the station but will be with me soon. While waiting in the lobby, more Dental assistants came out to follow up with another family. Observing I notice how friendly they were as well. My son and I was then greeted by Ms.Donna. She was also very friendly, very welcoming, and made us feel apart of the Uptown Pediatrics Family. Dr.Cheng was awesome as well even the woman located in the records part of the office that deal with payments. To some this all up I would love to write more but I wish my mom brought me here when I was younger I swear I thought this hospitality only happens in movies, felt like I was at the happiest place on earth! P.S. You ladies Rock & I'm thankful. read more

I began calling their office on a Monday to schedule my soon to be two year old her first dental appointment. The lady that answered the phone advised that in order to schedule my child's first visit that I would have to go on their website, complete some forms and their receptionist would follow up to schedule an appointment. I completed the forms, and waited 24 hours before following up. At this time, the person that answered the phone transferred me to the receptionist, and guess what?..... You guessed right, no answer. I left a very detailed voicemail requesting a call back only to not have my request fulfilled. Day 3 I called again only to not receive an answer at all (no it was not during their lunch hour). Day 4 I went back on their website and completed a form requesting someone to contact me as well as submitted a message through their text option. The only reason why I was so persistent is because I brought my son here when he was a child and we had an awesome experience. That was over 15 years ago so it's possible the awesome experience I had is no longer being offered. Being that they have the inability to offer great customer service I'm sure my child's dental experience would've been comparable. read more

My daughter has been a patient here for 7 years. Love Dr. Denise and Dr. Susanna. They both have a very calm demeanor and the atmosphere of the office is calm and welcoming. They use language that makes younger children comfortable with the instruments and procedures and that they can understand. They also go out of their way to tell their patient's what they are doing every step of the way. I highly recommend! read more

Dr. Denise and the entire staff were so kind and gentle with my 3 year old at her appointment! So grateful to them for making her comfortable during xrays and her cleaning. Highly recommend! read more

Been taking the kiddo here since they were a wee one. They are always so thoughtful and kind and gentle with cleanings. They explain everything to both parents and kiddo in an easy to understand way. Would give it 11 stars if I could. read more

What an awesome place. My family has been a client for 6 years. Dr. Denise and her staff are wonderful. My son loves this place as well as the services that he has received. They really take the fear out of dentistry for children!!!! read more

My child went from being traumatized at a poorly ran practice to actually looking forward to dental appointments. This practice is simply the best. Our dentist, Dr. Smith, is absolutely wonderful. He has excellent bedside manner and was able to alleviate my son's fears and is a thorough, gentle dentist. The staff is amazing as well and every hygienist is kind, patient and very professional. Need a pediatric dentist? Come here! read more

Words cannot express the gratitude I have towards Denise Allen. I LOVE this lady, I mean absolutely LOVE HER. Let me start off by telling you our situation. My 2.5 year old was told by another dentist (one who shall not be named at the moment) that he would need 3 root canals and 1 cavity and for this procedure and that he would need to be put under general anesthesia (sedation). Oh and mind you this is BEFORE she even got any x-rays. She even said he would need x-rays prior to the root canal just to make sure there wasn't more "work" that needed to be done. This would cost us over $2000 for the entire procedure. Terrified and feeling like a failure as parents - we went all the way to Oakland (1 hour drive) to see Dr. Denise Allen after seeing her positive reviews and her use of the least invasive methods possible. Let me tell you - this trip has made all the difference in the world to us. As parents, the most important thing is the safety and well being of our children. You should ALWAYS seek out a second opinion before considering any major surgery. It is our duty to seek out the best source of medical care for them. Anyhow...after going to Dr. Denise Allen she told us that he only needed cavities filled- not root canals. She didn't need an x-ray to tell us that and she told us that the cavities had only gone 1/4 of the way through and that a root canal was completely unnecessary. She also told us that because of the way the top of my son's teeth are shaped - he is more susceptible to cavities. Thus we should be more diligent about his brushing and avoiding sugary foods. She told us the procedure would just require some nitrous oxide (laughing gas) not general anesthesia. The day of the cavities - she said we should start without the nitrous and see how he did. Needless to say, 5 minutes into we did and he did yell, cry and kick so we had to use the laughing gas and it was still hard work. AMAZINGLY Dr. Denise Allen was able to take care of all 4 teeth - how she did it and why she would do so without anesthesia is beyond me. But I have a feeling it's because she actually cares about the kids she takes care of. General Anesthesia on kids should only be given when absolutely necessary. It's not a thing to be taken lightly: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20111003/anesthesia-before-age-2-linked-to-learning-problems . After the surgery my son is doing great - no issues and it went by fairly quickly. All in all, we HIGHLY recommend Dr. Denise Allen. She is SIMPLY the BEST. She's not there to take your money but to help your children. There's some dentists out there that will do unnecessary procedures to make money, but Dr. Denise Allen is so different. With dentists like her I have hope for humanity - seriously. So if you're thinking about visiting Dr. Denise Allen - do not hesitate. RUN don't walk to her office. WE live 45 min - 1 hr away but will be doing so for all of our children. Oh, I forgot to mention - she has no fancy schmancy stuff at her office (no TVs, videos, etc.) but she has this incredible playhouse that my son LOVES. She really is a no gimmicks type of dentist and for that we love her even more. :) oh, I forgot to mention she has an incredibly calm and warm personality. She is great with kids AND parents. She kept us involved with the whole process and explained everything to us and to my son! She even called us the next day to check up on her son - who does that?! Thumbs up for Dr. Denise Allen!!! read more

My son, who went to another dentist until this year (age 9), was diagnosed as having yet another cavity-between-molars that would need to be drilled out, plus another push for 4 pricey sealants. Dentist recommends we repeat the sedation-nitrous-pappoose (yes, exactly what you're imagining) nightmare of last time (complete with partial choking, maybe? no thanks), and adds that my son may not cooperate enough for that $1400 venture to even be successful. Don't get me wrong, that other dental office in my home town did very well with my son--it seemed to be the dentist himself who didn't work well with my anxious, not always cooperative son. Color me depressed, anxious, and freaked out. Another mom friend to the rescue! She suggested we try out Dr. Bass Allen's office. Why not? I'm thinking. We meet her for a consultation and she says, "I think we can do the whole thing with nitrous." Total bill? $564. I'll wait here while you do the math. Done? OK, let's continue... I bring my son back in, but have to go feed the meter (at least the street parking has meters that take credit cards). By the time I get back, he's already in the chair, being prepped. He's relaxed, enthusiastic, and completely cooperative. She explains each and every step to him, not as a baby nor as an adult, demos each tool she uses ("See? This washes away your cavities" as she squirts some of the water from the drill on the back of his hand), skilfully skipping the part where she uses the novicaine hypodermic on his already-numbed gums. She checks in with him constantly, and even when we can see he's uncomfortable, her attitude spurs him on to be brave and cooperative. She finishes and he practically leaps from the chair, incredibly pleased at how cooperative he's been. He gets an extra token for the prize machines, and 'buys' me a little plastic ring. I hug the doctor and blink back tears of gratitude and relief. (And they were willing to split the payments!) We are sold, sold, sold. read more

We have been with Dr. Denise for over 20 years. She is so wonderful with my boys. Thank goodness they can be with her through college

In light of the recent publicity surrounding another pediatric dentist, I want to bring to light a wonderful pediatric dentist who has been providing dental care to my children. Doctor Denise, as the kids call her, has a magical way with kids. She is patient and flexible and allows the parents to be involved as much as we want during exams and procedures. My son sits on my lap during some visits. Her office is a wondrous place for kids, with an aquarium, an indoor play structure, creatures of the ocean hanging throughout, a video game station, and vending machines that dispense toys using coins that the kids are given at the end of their visits. Her assisting staff are also wonderful with kids. Unfortunately, my son inherited my genes for bad teeth and required a crown and a filling at the age of 3. To my surprise, he fared very well. He was given nitrous oxide which sedated him while enabling him to be perfectly compliant throughout the 45 minute procedure. I was very proud of him but I also know that most of the credit should be given to Doctor Denise and her expertise. She spotted the cavities at the very early stage (he was only 18 months) and closely monitored them and provided temporary patches until he was old enough to sit through a procedure. My daughter, who so far has not required anything other than regular checkups and cleanings, loves the dentist as well. I feel so fortunate to have found Doctor Denise. While my friends and I don't necessarily share doctors or even pediatricians, Doctor Denise is the pediatric dentist for all of my local friends' children. read more

Dr. Bass Allen has been my children's dentist since they were 2 years old, and they are now aging out of her pediatric practice so I feel the need to put in a good word for Dr. Denise and her staff. After 16 years, we have had no complaints with access, hygiene appts and billing. The whole operation runs smoothly, is kid-focused and pleasant to deal with. My children have never had a bad or scary experience. Dr. Denise is a skilled, professional, and down-to-earth dentist . I have appreciated her laid back, non-sell attitude. Many of my children's friends seem to have been over -dentalized, if that is a word, while Dr. Denise has always taken care of the important issues and not tried to sell "vanity" dental services. read more

This is a long overdue review for Dr. Eric Smith, but he is an excellent dentist, very gentle and kind to children. He gave me some good tips for getting my 3 year old adjusted to flossing with the little kid flossers. I hope that he will be back in the office soon! read more

Dr. Denise is our favorite. My young son (currently 6) has been going to her for three years, and is always treated with kindness and respect. He used to cry hard when we'd come in, so my husband would hold and comfort him through the process. Dr. Denise would show him the tools, explain what was happening and even sing to him through the tears. It calmed him long enough to get through the process. Now, our big boy knows he won't have pain during his cleaning and is cool and calm. He knows if we are going to Dr. Denise he won't have to be scared. Great dental work and service all around. read more

We tried another dentist for my son's first dental experience and I was not impressed. Even though they were a pediatric dentist, I felt that the dentist and staff were not very friendly or warm toward my son. So I went in search of a new one. My awesome dentist, Dr. Fred Pockrass of Transcendentist, recommended Denise Bass. And I am SO glad he did. The entire staff is made up of people who seem to truly enjoy the job and the kids. There is lively music playing, a nice waiting room with interesting toys and a laid back, friendly and sweet environment in the exam room. My little guy (almost 4 yrs old) got 3 little fillings and came away happy and even said Thank you to Denise and her staff. I highly recommend this wonderful business! read more

We always have an amazing experience. Everyone from the doctor to the staff make my 4 year old look forward to going to the dentist. Dr. Allen is extremely talented at what she does. I wish she could give some pointers to my daughter's primary care physician. Ms. Desiree always makes checking out and settling the bill very seemless and easy to understand. My daughter loves her hugs. Overall, you won't find a better place to bring your child. Thank you for all for making the dentist an enjoyable place for my tot. read more

We had our first visit yesterday, and everyone was warm and inviting and so wonderful with my child. These dentists are far far superior to the other dentists I have taken my kids to. read more

Great Service and Friendly Atmosphere! My son had a wonderful Dentist experience! Our Dentist is Dr. Smith and he is very patient and kind. The staff is very professional and the atmosphere is friendly to children, even those that think they don't like Dentist! It is near the BART station so it is very convenient for people on both sides of the Bay!!! Can't wait to see you there! MBROOKS read more

We've been going there for 2 years, every six months and love it. Dr. Denise and her staff are wonderful! My 3 1/2 year old daughter actually looks forward to going...once she gets there she's pretty shy and won't sit in the chair without me, so, Doctor Denise lets her sit on my lap with her head in Dr. Denise's lap and does the cleaning this way. I imagine we'll be using this technique for a long time to come! She's quick and thorough and helps to soothe my daughters nervousness with her kind demeanor and explanation of everything she's doing. Oh, and it makes my daughter extra happy when she gets a princess toothbrush and a coin for the toy machine. Parking is easy - right out front. By the way, if you go to her website, there is a video under "first visit" that we watched over and over prior to our first dental apt. http://www.denisebassallendds.com/firstvisit.html It helped my daughter see who she was and what was going to happen. I highly recommend doing the same! read more

My 6 year old has been here twice. Once with Dr. Cheng and once with Dr. Denise. Both Dr's are great. My issue with the last visit was with the dental hygienist (Ruby). She did not speak to my son or myself, she pointed to the chair for my son to sit. I had to finally ask her what her name was and what she was doing. She hadn't said a word until then. She barely spoke to my son through the cleaning. She didn't ask if he was ok. She didn't have a problem speaking with the parent across the room, she was very friendly with her. I will never let her work on my son again. read more

Love her! She was so attentive to my son. Her energy is perfect for children. Her staff was also friendly and professional. My son had fillings and they were done with care and exceptional technique. She called the next day to check on him and make sure he was doing great, and he was. I would recommend her to any one looking for a pediatric dentist. read more

Dr. Denise and her team are the best. My son had to have some serious dental work done and she was super fast and professional. She explained everything as it was happening and comforted me when I cried! Ha! Thanks, Dr. Denise and Donna for your help. Looking forward to seeing you in 6 months! read more

Dr. Denise is magic! My 5yo had a million questions and some anxious tears. Everyone she talked with was attentive, kind and patient. My kid is sensitive to flavors and had some bad experiences at a different pediatric dentist in the East Bay before we came to Dr. Denise. I mentioned all of this in our new patient form, and I commend Dr. Denise for reading the intake forms carefully and being prepared to accommodate my daughter's requests and sensitivities. Dr. Denise responds warmly to my kid's anxiety, and knows just how to help her feel empowered and comforted. I feel so blessed for my daughter to have her as a care provider. read more

You can stop here in your search for a dentist. We visited Dr. Denise today and I left grateful that she was recommended to us by a friend. She and her entire staff made us feel welcomed. My 2 and 4 year old were telling other kids how much fun the dentist is on our way out (both because everyone is wonderful and because the kids get toys). Dr. Denise is thorough, kind, communicative, and fun. The same can be said for everyone in the office. read more

Best pediatric dentist in the Bay Area! Great staff, pleasing and very efficient and professional office! read more

Uptown Pediatric Dentistry - Pediatric Dentists Near Me - Oakland, California

Great Place!!! Wonderful staff been coming here for over 20 years as a child and now my daughter comes here, and she loves it!!

We went twice based on yelp reviews, but we won't be back. I'm sure it's a fine practice and the care from the dentist and technicians was fine, but I think they are too busy or way too overbooked. You expect to wait your turn at the dentist office, but it was at least 45 minutes to 1 hour after our appointment time until we finally got seen. The care was fine and they were nice, but then to also have to wait 15 minutes afterwards in order to deal with the insurance person it pushed it to 2+ hours all together. When it's only street/metered parking, it just makes the experience all the more stressful and nerve wracking. Hey - my time is valuable too! I found the whole office to have nice enough employees but was just way too chaotic. We've since gone elsewhere and are thrilled with a calmer office that actually sees us near our appointment time. read more

I was late for the first time to my appointment and get charged for $75 dollars and was preached by the front desk lady (African American lady, they have a couple ladies working in the front) admin about time management. If you already determined to charge me regardless, don't rub it in any further. So I said sure, charge the $75 for my tardiness and cancel the rest of my 3 kids appointments. I'll take all my 3 kids somewhere else. There it is to your business, but I'm sure you can afford to lose another 3 clients. As a client, I can always go somewhere else where I will be treated better. P.S. This is a street parking office, in a financial district area... so good luck with finding a parking. My last appointment with just 1 kid, we arrived at 7:15AM for our 7:30AM, but they wouldn't buzzed us in. You don't have to start your service at 7:30AM, but at least let the children in, it's cold at 7:15 in the Morning. read more

So my kids needed some fillings and I ended up here after having initially gone to a very large pediatric dental practice in Alameda. Since my little one was a bit squeamish during the very brief exam, the dentist in Alameda immediately concluded that he would require general anesthesia and I was then ushered to one of their finance folks to discuss payment for the anesthesiologist - we had spent more time with the finance person than with the actual dentist. And the idea of using general anesthesia for some simple fillings didn't sit right with me. So I thought I'd get a second assessment and remembered some parents in the past had recommended this office. I'm so glad we ended up here since the difference was night and day compared to the Alameda practice. From the front desk to the dental hygienists, everyone was warm and inviting. I've also had to change our appointment times on a couple occasions and they were always very accommodating. So thanks for that! And Dr. Cheng who worked on both my kids was very patient and simply amazing. At no time did she even bring up the possibility that general anesthesia would be required for the work my kids needed. And when my kids required a couple follow up visits, they actually weren't afraid to go to the dentist. Go figure since I'm still terrified of my dental visits. So kudos to Dr. Cheng and all the staff! read more

Dr. Eric Smith and the staff were very patient with my 5 year old son. There are dentist in more convenient areas in regards to my location, but I specifically chose this office based on its reviews for their handling of children with special needs. Initially, I was anxious being that my son screams bloody murder just getting his hair cut. However, every one in the office took great care to cover our needs. Each person in the office was attentive from the initial call in making the appointment to billing to the doctor himself. My son really took to Dr. Smith and Keyon who played with him the entire time I spoke with Desiree in the billing department. Monica was very patient bringing my son into the room and explained in detail what was going to occur so that we were prepared. My son had to have a procedure done and we received a call Pre-call and a Post-call from Dr. Smith to see how we were doing. This experience was above and beyond what was expected. This office is truly a gem. read more

Dr. Denise Bass Allen is one of the worst pediatric dentist out there. Don't let her kindness fool you. She is inpatient and can't tolerate kids that cry. My daughter came in today for a check up, she always have a problem with her teeth and so she never feel comfortable going in. After reading yelp, they highly recommended Denise so i thought I'd give her a try and after today's experience, I wish I have never took her in. My daughter was left in the hands of her care and I step out to feed the meter (was not gone for long). When I came back. I heard my daughter crying, in pain, and was scared. This is the worst fear a mother can experience. I never see the look on my daughter's face, she was in fear and was shaking up. My daughter told me the doctor poke her with a needle and it was hurting. She started to move and that's when Denise yelled at her, hold her and press her mouth tightly. My daughter is traumatized now and she don't trust any dentist. How can someone like Denise can do something to my innocent daughter. Even if my daughter was crying or moving, shouldn't you had stop and calm her first and not "force" your way to hold her down. This is intolerable and bad care. You should never practice in pediatric dentistry if you are inpatient with children. I highly do not recommend your daughter to this horrible dentist. Her looks can be deceiving. She is not true to herself and to her clients. If i have to pay out of my pocket, this is not the service I want for my daughter. I don't even want to give Denise is 1 star but I have no option for 0 rating. read more