George M Oldenbourg Jr, DDS

Oh my gosh I feel like such an ass. The woman I thought was a hygienist? That’s Dr. Singh! She’s taking over the practice. I love her.
And after years of being their patient, she finally told me there’s something I need to do to my teeth, eventually, and she’d be happy to do it whenever I want. Gotta love a dentist who doesn’t pressure you. I feel like they’re usually all «Are you happy with the color of your teeth?» But not Dr. Singh!

I have been here for 2 or 3 teeth cleanings and my experiences have been fine, not to mention the best view in a dental chair. However, when the receptionist forgets to call me back to schedule an appointment due to an earlier miscommunication about my appointment, it’s not too cool. I realize they have a ton of patients, but don’t forget about people. I expressed that I have had jaw pain and I’m very concerned about it. I would have expected appropriate follow-​up to my concern, as in scheduling an appointment, in order to not have wasted more time with this pain.
I was also never seen by Oldenbourg, but the woman I was seen by was professional and knowledgeable. Any concerns about iffy cavities were run by Oldenbourg.
I’d give scheduling/​receptionist 2 stars and the dentist experience 4 stars, so I’ll give them a 3 overall.

I started this review a while ago, and I just got a letter saying he is retiring. I’ve decided to write it anyway. I love him. My Dad, and I, has been going to him for years. He’s one of those dentists who doesn’t want you to be in any pain. Just a real nice guy. He will be missed.

After getting a root canal (not here, since Dr. Oldenbourg doesn’t do them) Oldenbourg recommended that the tooth didn’t need capped. Six weeks later it broke while I was eating pasta. Went elsewhere to get it repaired and a second opinion, where the dentist was pretty surprised that it hadn’t been capped to start with. Not impressed.
Plus the dental hygienist here is rude and I usually feel rushed in and out the door. Go elsewhere.

I’ve been going to see the dental hygienist, Dr. Sheema (spelling?), for many years now. She has all the qualities that you want in a dentist: she’s non-​judgemental, gentle, and she has small hands and thus the capacity to do really fine work.

Don’t go here. I had a filling done by the woman who works here. I don’t know if she’s also a DDS but I never actually saw Dr. Oldenbourg. I was told he’d take a look at my xrays, and they’d call me. They did, told me I needed a filling, so I had it filled by the woman whose name I don’t know.
A year later I finally switched to Robin Nadan Whitley in south Berkeley. She found a ton of decay under the lame filling they’d put in before, and nearly had to do a root canal. Go to a real dentist. Dr. Whitley also has rad digital xrays so you can see your teeth on screen, and you get way less radiation exposure than the pre-​war stuff they use at Oldenbourg’s.

The staff is kind and willing to explain anything you have questions about, including the procedure they’ll be performing. I’ve gotten checkups done here as well as two fillings. They took their time with setting the filling in so that it didn’t bother me when I closed my mouth. Best dentist I’ve had since I was a kid. Also, the view out over town from the 7^th floor is pretty awesome.

Went to Dr. Oldenbourg office I did not see him but the female dentist in the office. She was great… professional, nice, and explained things well. I hadn’t been to the dentist in a couple of years so I was neverous about going. I did plenty of research and was pleased with my experience I will be going back in 6 months for my check up and cleaning and will recommend them to other people.

I’ve been going to Dr. Oldenbourg’s office for 6 years and think everyone is polite, professional and highly competent. It’s true that the building and facilities look dated, but the service is great.

I went here while I was at UC (the basics are free on SHIP, fwiw) and had a good experience. The dentist’s manner was a bit hurried and brusque, but he did appear thorough and competent. Offered to take out my wisdom teeth, but didn’t do the hard sell for extras that others have tried. The cleanings were always friendly and well done, and the 7^th floor window toward campus is by far the most relaxing view from a dental chair ever.
Bonus points for the front desk: I missed an appointment and was feeling guilty about not calling to reschedule. One day a couple months later, out of the blue I get a call asking if I could come in in two days for a cleaning. If only more services called me to suggest appointments!

This is probably one of the best dental office I’ve been to, and I’ve seen A LOT of dentists. First impression, I thought the office was kind of weirdly located, it was a suite in a high rise building, and it was surprisingly small. But besides that, this was probably the best experience I’ve had at the dentist’s. I’ve been to lots of dentists before, and basically each time they just talk trash about my teeth, that I am starting to show the signs of periodontal disease, I have cavities, that I need to get deep clean and not just the regular cleaning, blah blah blah… I mean the list goes on. Honestly, I think those dentists are just trying to get me to do unnecessary procedures just so they can earn more money. Each time I have to refuse the procedures, and man do the dentists get pissed, they start scaring you by saying that my teeth are going to fall off… PUH LEZ… my teeth are fine. The dental assistant at the Oldenbourg office was very nice, they took x-​rays of my teeth and said I have no cavities what so ever. She also asked me when was the last time I’ve seen the dentist, and I replied about 2 years. Even with that long period of time, she said my teeth were in very good shape and just needed some routine cleaning. The cleaning took around 30 mins. I went into the office and got out of the office in around a hour. AWESOME! The receptionist was also very nice, she brought me magazines when I was sitting in the chair waiting, she also brought me a box of Kleenex since I was a little sick. GO TO THIS OFFICE!

Dr. Oldenbourg himself was very helpful and professional. He did well explaining what he was doing, and the best course for care of my teeth, but the rest of his staff leave something to be desired.
First off his dental hygienist, who never game me her name after two visits, communicated in a way that left me feeling berated. I know I don’t have perfect teeth, but you could tell by the way she acted that she was quite judgmental by my lack of orthodontic work. Even worse was coming in for a cleaning six months ago and bringing up the concern of what was to be an abscess and being told that my gums were just tender and I needed to mouthwash twice a day for a period of a week and daily after that. Six months later when I go in for another cleaning and I show her my gums again, she essentially says it wasn’t that bad before, when it hadn’t changed at all in those six months.
And then the receptionist, very nice and helpful, except when she schedules my cleaning within a six month period leaving me to pay the amount for my cleaning which should have been covered by my insurance. Given she has been there for awhile she should know better, and now that it’s happened to me once will not happen again.
The one star is worth just that. The best thing I got out of the experience was being more of an advocate in my dental care and learning more about the insurance claims system.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Oldenbourg for about 10 years and I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with both him and his staff. The staff is very courteous and personable, and make an effort to remember you from visit to visit, even though you only see them 2x in a regular year. Dr. O is really friendly and professional too.
Most importantly, Dr. Oldenbourg is not going to try to tell you need something that you don’t. I’ve been to multiple dentists in the past that had told me I have ‘cavities’ when I didn’t, just so that they could make a few extra bucks on doing the fillings. Dr. O is one of the good guys.
Other bonus points are that (1) they don’t make me feel bad about not flossing daily. In fact they just tell me, «Hey, you teeth are great, whatever your doing, just keep it up», and (2) you have a great view of the Berkeley hills during the appointment.

I pretty much agree with the previous Unilocaler. I had the kindest hygienist clean my teeth — she was very gentle and did a great job. Dr. Oldenbourg came in for a minute to check everything over and reassure me that the spot on my tooth wasn’t a cavity, just a stain and that I shouldn’t freak out.
Minus a star for the kinda dark and creepy office (seriously, more light!) and for the fact that there was no receptionist when I came in and I just sat around for like 15 minutes with no one telling me which paperwork to fill out. Other than that, I’ll be going back!

this was everything i want from a yearly cleaning. no waiting, sweet receptionist, great doctor, no pressure. after years and years of being told every time i *needed* some minor work done it was refreshing to meet someone who said the only work i *needed* doing was to work on my flossing, and take care of those wisdom teeth. ‘what?’ i said, ‘what about this? is this a cavity?’ no. ‘how about this?’ no. you’re fine. floss more. i confided in the doctor that i didn’t like mint and she sent the receptionist to get the strawberry flavored tooth goo that they whisk onto your teeth. plus, free toothbrush.
i didn’t actually meet dr. oldenbourg himself, but the entire operation is exactly what i would recommend if you are looking for a utilitarian style check up: cleaning, work if you need it, no frills.