Dental Studio San Francisco — Local services in San Francisco

I hate to write this because we've been a client for 10+ years and only recently decided to cut ties, but here's what happened:

1. We haven't seen our original dentist, Dr. Cornehl in years, as new dentists have started to run the day-to-day for him (we've seen at least two different people in the past two years). The hygienists have also turned over a couple of times. We've lost a lot of the feeling of personalized care in the process from a dental practice that "knows us."

2. This also seems to have led them away more generally from a care-focused practice to really just trying to maximize the dollars they make on their patients. Everything is more expensive, and most importantly for a trusted provider whose expertise you rely on, they've started recommending a lot of care that doesn't seem strictly necessary.

3. This finally culminated for us when my wife's relatively new (less than 5yrs old) crown shattered. We had replaced it with them on their recommendation a few years earlier. It happens. They told us the replacement to the replacement would be covered by insurance and did the procedure.

Imagine everyone's surprise when it then wasn't covered by insurance because crowns are supposed to last 10-15+ years and this one didn't. Since they put in this failed crown, we asked for a discount on the remaining balance of the bill. They refused. They basically refused to take any responsibility for a crown they put in that didn't last nearly as long as they should.

4. We've spent literally thousands of dollars with them over 10 years, and even a small 10-20% discount would have made a difference, but when they refused to accept any responsibility for their work and really treated us like a blank check, we knew it was time to move on.

We'll miss them actually, they were nice to work with, but once you start feeling like a cash machine it's probably better to find a new dentist -- particularly when it didn't used to be that way under Dr. Cornehl.

TL;DR: care has declined recently, they over-recommend procedures, and have become very expensive (even...

Update 7/2/2024: Changing review from 5 to 3 stars due to lack of clarity re: billing and insurance. The customer service has still been wonderful after multiple visits; however, getting an unexpected bill for $200+ for a routine cleaning while insured is not ok. When I asked which insurance they are "in-network" with, I was told that technically they are considered "out-of-network" with every kind of insurance. Also, I was referred out of the office to a specialist, who happens to only take the one insurance that Dental Studio SF doesn't recommend. I understand some of these frustrations are due to our health care insurance system, but it would really help clients to have more transparency about costs involved in care. I really appreciate the terrific service - I just wish their insurance partnerships made it affordable.

Original review: Without exception, this was the best dental care experience I've ever had. Dr. Desiree Record and the entire Dental Studio team went above and beyond to welcome me as a new patient. They asked thoughtful questions (both before and during the appointment) to learn more about me and my dental history, listened carefully to what was shared, and responded in ways that validated and addressed my concerns.

Dr. Record's approach is strengths-based and she helped me understand the things I was doing well relative to my dental care, in addition to making personalized recommendations that considered both my dental and financial situation.

More than just a health check-up, this visit really embodied a kind of care and connection rarely experienced in a routine appointment. Staff and clients were humming or tapping to the music, talking with one another about their interests, and genuinely seemed to enjoy spending time together. My thanks to the whole team for making this appointment so informative,...

For TMJ Botox Treatment:

Upon my initial consultation, Dr. Cornehl provided a thorough assessment that went beyond just my symptoms, but also sought to identify any underlying causes of my discomfort. He patiently explained the potential causes and various treatment options available to me, including the Botox treatment. His approach was both informative and empathetic, which helped to put me at ease and gave me confidence in his expertise.

During the Botox treatment, Dr. Cornehl took the time to walk me through each step, ensuring that I understood what to expect and where the treatment would be applied to address my specific symptoms. The level of care he provided was exceptional and left me feeling confident in his ability to provide effective relief.

Now, three weeks later, I can confidently say that the treatment has made a tremendous difference in my overall well-being. The tension in my jaw, head, and neck has significantly reduced, and I am experiencing no headaches. I am thrilled with the results of the treatment and grateful to Dr. Cornehl for his expertise and...