Endodontic Care Center

Dr Ho is very straightforward and efficient, thanks…

Writing a review for this place has been long over due.
What can I say about Dr. Nealon? Excellent endodontist and overall a very kind person. He always has a smile on his face, and makes you feel very at ease about any procedure that is about to be performed. He is also very empathetic, and his goal is for his patients to leave with no pain. A few months ago, I had a horrible toothache. I do not at all tolerate dental pain well, and I was desperate for it to go away. My dentist referred me to Nealon, and he immediately went over the plan for the procedures. The root canal was very quick and painless as he was quite generous with the anesthetic. A about a month later, the toothache returned much to my frustration. I came back to Dr. Nealon distressed by the insurmountable pain. He ended up retreating the root canal entirely, and at no cost. This helped the tooth quite a bit at first, but again the pain returned, and worse than before. Dr Nealon referred me to a maxillofacial surgeon, and during the entire process, he called and checked on me to make sure that I was okay. In the end, the tooth had to be pulled as it just was infected beyond any repair, but all of this is to say you cannot find an endodontist more caring than Matthew Nealon. Should I ever need another root canal, will definitely be returning to this gem

Dr. Nealon has a gentle confidence that is reassuring. After suffering in need of a root canal he set me at ease. I would highly recommend Endodontic Care Center.

Despite my crazy dental care routine, I have managed to fall victim to multiple root canals in the past year (I believe today was #4)
My regular dentist referred me to them with my first root canal…
Let me start by saying the office is not only beautiful, but clean and calming! You can tell that they are really trying to create a nice soothing atmosphere!
The front staff is fabulous! They are friendly and sympathetic from the minute you walk in the door! They are very personable. Absolute DOLLS! They even remember little details about things from previous visits (I’m a little obsessed with nail polish and they always ask to see my nails.) I also hate driving after a procedure and since my mom works just around the corner, she usually picks me up afterwards. These ladies always know who she is when she walks in and chat with her, even though she usually shows up well after my appointment has started (which I think proves they are great at remembering people and not memorizing the appointment schedule)
The dental assistants are nice. They always ask if you would like to use the restroom before they start (sounds silly but it’s a great reminder when you are in pain and not thinking about how long you will be in the chair!) and they always let you know where you can put down your things (as a woman with a large purse I find this helpful and surprised more medical offices don’t let you know… leaving you awkwardly clutching your purse or worried that it’s in the way) They are good about keeping you updated on what’s going on.
Finally, Dr. Nealon and Dr. Ho.
I’ve had three root canals with Dr. Nealon and he is GREAT! He talks you through everything, lets you know what is going on and is incredibly compassionate. I’ve seen Dr. Ho for one root canal (and it was a doozy!) and he is also wonderful, warm and friendly.
My whole life I have had bad teeth. Despite the floss and sonicare and rx toothpaste and rinses… it’s genetic. I have also had issues with my mouth being resistant to the numbing agents used. Yea. It’s an awful combination. Despite these challenges, (and a few others… extra long roots, extra anatomy and nerves… my mouth is a crazy beast to work with!) BOTH of them were just amazing. They were both careful, thinking about how to change things to make them work for me. 2 of the root canals required several follow up appointments because of my issues so 4 root canals has equaled 6+ visits, but every detail of my treatment was explained to me. They check in during the procedures and talk to me about what is going on, why it is taking a little longer and they have even given me options (today was an awful one and he gave me the option of splitting the appointment up if I was in too much pain and needed a break).
In addition their amazing endodontic skills, they are genuine, friendly guys. Today while in the chair, starting my appointment with Dr. Nealon, Dr. Ho took the time to lean over and say «hi» and joke a little from the next room over (which was totally appropriate and fits my personality). They talk about what’s going on and answer every question. The way they talk to you makes you feel at ease right away.
They take pain management seriously (which I really appreciate because lemme tell you… extra long appointments and extra injects can cause a lot of sore sleepless nights). I also love that they keep 600mg ibprophen at the office so that you can take it with you and start it before the numbness goes away (I live 30 min away and you have to take 80 to get there… in traffic it can take over an hour to get home so the fact that I don’t have to stop for pain meds is great). They also call in the evening to check in on you and make sure everything is still ok! (and I mean they call… not the office, not the assistant, but the Dr. personally calls!)
If I could give this practice 10 stars, I would! I do not have a single complaint. I would never take a root canal anywhere else!!!

This review has been a long time coming and very much deserved. I work in dental as a Field Sales Consultant and as such see a lot of dental practices. I have an in depth understanding of the procedures they perform and have an inside view of the quality of the doctors and their work. Dr. James Ho and Dr. Matthew Nealon are both at the top of their game and who I have chosen twice to perform root canals on me.
Both of the doctors are professional and personable. They are sticklers on infection control. I’ve even been scolded for touching a clean surface in one of the operatories without first gloving up during one of my business visits to the practice. The office is beautiful and calming. The staff is warm, friendly never miss a beat and have all been there for a long time. They are a pleasure to work with on all levels.
Ultimately if you are trying to decide on an Endodontist, look no further. This is the place to go, period.

Quick note: I left a review for one of the two endodontists working here, James Ho DMD. (The other one is Matthew Nealon, DMD). They each have their own separate Unilocal pages, so look ‘em up if you want to see more feedback! If you were anything like me, you’re probably trying to ignore the throbbing pain in your mouth right now as you gather information about which people are *not* going to leave you with more pain than you began with. I’m just trying to shave off a few seconds of Unilocal time for y’all, cuz gurl, I’ve been there.
I wrote a review on this page so I could leave that note, and also because I had to [unfortunately] get a *second* root canal. I definitely came back here! When I told Alicia (front desk receptionist) who I was over the phone, she was like «Oh, we haven’t seen you in over a year!» I mean, she had my record looked-​up on the computer and all, but she also remembered other small details about my visit like how I had a credit card with my cat’s picture on it. I thought that was so nice! Also, shout-​out to Alicia’s partner-​in-​crime Sandy, who I bonded with over our cats as well (give your white fluffy ball of love some extra hugs for me: D)*
Since I had been in before, Alicia set me up with Dr. Ho again. He and his assistant Dunja actually also remembered me from the bike accident I had over a year ago! That is amazing to me, since they see so many new faces on the day to day.
When I went in to my regular dentist a few days later to get my crown, he kept on telling me how pleased he was with Dr. Ho’s crown buildup, which made me feel even better about my experience at ECC.
One last example of the kind of excellent care I received: Dr. Ho found another cavity on the opposite side of my mouth, and he recommended that I act to get it filled *fast*. He notified my regular dentist, who agreed that if I didn’t take action ASAP, I would have needed root canal #3. Seeing as fillings are ~$ 200 and root canals ~$ 1000+, you can imagine how grateful I was for Dr. Ho’s shrewd and considerate care — because, honestly, I wouldn’t have scheduled a dentist appointment so soon after my procedure otherwise. Because of him, I probably don’t have to go back!**
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* FYI, this whole office with the exception of one person adores kitties. Cat ladies like myself*** are going to want to stay forever chatting about their own ~precious furballs of love~.
** Is it weird that I feel disappointed about this? I kind of want more dying teeth so I can see everyone again. I think this shows how great everyone there is. Or maybe I just need friends outside of my cat. :”””’(
*** Did I just self-​identify as a cat lady? Oh no…

So a root canal is not your first choice in Best of… anything. But this group — every one of them! — makes you wonder if it really gets any better than this. They are cheerful, attentive, and I even got to wear sunglasses and a blanket during the procedure. Dr. Ho was fabulous — and actually enjoys his work (thank God!)

I was having some pain from a crown that fell out while I was flossing. I went to my general dentist to have it reattached and it was excruciatingly painful. They said I might need a root canal. Yikes! I never had one before :(
They referred me to the Endodontic Care Center. They were kind enough to squeeze me in the same day. Before I even arrived, the office staff called me to let me know my endodontist was running a ittle late — if only doctors and dentists everywhere did this! The only (minor) drawback of my experience was trying to find parking — ended up parking in the Alta Bates garage because I knew I might go over the 2 hour limit of the local meters on the street.
The office itself was lovely, evoking a sense of calm serenity. The office staff was friendly and efficient. Dr. Nealon came out to introduce himself, said it would be a few more minutes. When I did get to go back, the dental assistant was friendly and supportive. Dr. Nealon was calm, gentle and very, very kind — a «chair-​side» manner that I’ve rarely encountered among dentists. He tested my tooth, said we could watch and wait or could do a root canal. I appreciated having a choice, but decided to go ahead with it.
The procedure itself took a little while, but one of my roots was complicated and we needed to break a lot to re-​administer anesthetic (it wore off quickly because they used a different version to accommodate me while I am pregnant). As soon as I felt any pain, he was quick to get it readministered.
I was extremely pleased overall with the whole experience — and would highly recommend this office (and especially Dr. Nealon) to anyone. If you have to have a root canal, I can’t think of another place you’d want to have one done.

I had been experiencing pain in my mouth for close to a year, but was a broke college student and completely in denial about how bad it was. When I got a pretty serious sinus infection and finally made an appointment to see a dentist for the first time in a few years, the news was daunting– I needed 3 root canals and several cavities.
I immediately made an appointment with the Endodontic Care center and was thrilled with the experience. Sandy at the front counter patiently explained how the payment process would work and was very honest about what my student health insurance would (and wouldn’t cover).
When I sat down with Doctor Ho he was also honest about the sad state of mouth and explained in great detail (using computer images and hand drawn sketches) what would need to be done. We made a series of appointments for the 3 root canals that were needed and I was in and out of their office several times over the next few months. I was always greeted with kindness, made to feel comfortable, and educated about what would be done that day. The chairs were comfortable and the office had a nice view over Telegraph Ave with windows to let the sun shine in. The drilling and scraping was very uncomfortable, but Dr Ho and his assistants always made sure my mouth was numb and responded quickly and with sympathy if I ever experienced pain. Dr Ho was very precise and I couldn’t help but feel safe and relaxed under his care. At the end of the whole process, I even felt a little bit sad I wouldn’t be seeing the staff again on a regular basis.
By far the best dental experience I’ve ever had. Go there now and get it taken care of, you won’t regret it!

Incredibly painless, non-​intrusive microsurgery. Who knew a root canal could be so easy?
Dr. Nealon is a calm, soft-​spoken professional who makes you feel comfortable at once. He patiently assuaged my fears ahead of time and kept me relaxed by explaining what was happening inside my mouth throughout the procedure.
When it was all over –a mere 1.5 hours later– I asked him why root canals have such a bad rap. He said it’s because most people wait too long and come in after they’re already in extreme pain. At that point, it’s impossible to make a root canal feel good.
So if you need a root canal, don’t put it off. Go to this place, get it done, and get on with your day.

Having to get a root canal sucks. Yes, they pull out a needle and shoot you up. Yes, the sound of the drill is scary and awful. Yes, your mouth is propped open for what seems like a very very long time.
But really, Dr. Ho walked me through each move he made and made me feel really comfortable.
I had the worse experience getting a crown a few months ago with another doctor and was expecting pain and suffering afterwards for weeks. But with my root canal, I felt no pain afterwards, no swelling… seriously NOTHING. I had not felt normal since before my awful crown experience.
Thank you Dr. Ho and your staff for my root canal. I would recommend you to anyone!

I’m over 60. I’ve seen the devolution of «personal service». This office is «old school» professionalism and ambiance in a beautiful and calming setting. Both Ho and Nealon are impeccably trained, marvelously equipped, and very professionally staffed. Every aspect of their practice is top-​drawer. All the bells and whistles are there, but the reason to put oneself in their hands is the personal competence and patient-​focused attention, top to bottom.

I live in San Francisco, but could not find a endodontists that could see me for my emergency Root Canal that both was affordable and close by. I eventually Unilocaled around the bay area and found reviews for Dr James Ho and Dr. Neally in Berkeley. I called his office and told them this was urgent and they fitted me in right away.
The office staff was super nice. My experience with Dr Nealon was wonderful. He was very gentle and informative. It was the best dental experience I’ve had in a while. He went over all the options I had for a tooth that was throbbing with pain. Including a clean up of the root so the pain would be relieved. Just so I could look around for some dental insurance (which I do not have). I wanted it over with, so i gave him the go, and he finished the entire root canal in about an hour.
The entire time him and his staff made sure I was comfortable letting me stretch whenever I needed. He also went step by step on what he was doing in my mouth.
Over all, the experience was a class act. Even his business partner Dr. James Ho came over and introduced himself to me and chatted it up.
Front Office– Very friendly, modern and clean waiting room. They even offered to put more money in the parking meter for me.
Dr. Neally and Dr. Ho– wonderful and comforting
Price– they gave me plenty of options-​was not concerned about the money at all, just wanted to take care of me. CLASS ACT!!!
Equipment-​New and State of the art