Joseph Sarkosh, DDS

I have never written a review but I feel this is important to protect other possible patients of this dentist.
Dr Sarkosh (our prior dentist) does not seem trustworthy and competent as a dentist. He placed sealants on our children’s teeth improperly and using a sealant type not recommended by other dentists. Several of the sealants had flaked off (after less than ½ year) and some of them had «disappeared». Worse though was that one sealant had caused a tooth to start decay because it was open in one side letting food and bacteria come in. Furthermore he «diagnosed» two non existing cavities and filled these although this wasn’t detectable by our new dentist. The cavities weren’t there either! Please consider going to this dentist! I am very glad I had a suspicious feeling after our treatment and went to another dentist still in time in order to repair and fix the mess this dentist had caused.

I just went in to get my old fillings replaced with white ones. The process was swift and easy. Dr. Sarkosh knows what he’s doing and the Hygienist was very pleasant to work with.
Thank you again Staff! You’re always wonderful!

I saw this Dentist for about 5 years. On each visit he and his staff tried to sell me procedures and supplies I knew I didn’t need. I mostly came to ignore this and the staff started to treat me like I didn’t exist. The last couple of contacts were pretty hostile. I gave them feedback which was ignored. I’ve seen 2 dentists since my last visit to him and they have been reasonable about their recommendations.

Please read before you consider going to this dental office. We have been patients of Dr Sarkosh for about 2 years. My Husband has had regular cleanings and a few fillings done. Myself and daughters have just had regular cleanings. Every time we visit there are added costs, office visit $ 10 each, sterilization costs etc… Before I just kind of paid them and chalked it up to our crappy insurance. This visit went a bit different. They tried to tell me I needed a deep cleaning $ 350. When I told them I didn’t want it, that I have never had a cavity and I brush and floss regularly. They kept insisting that I needed it and that if I didn’t get it done my «TEETH WERE GOING TO FALL OUT» excuse me???
Five minuets later Dr. Sarkosh enters the room and says «I DON’T KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH YOUR YOUNGER DAUGHTER» he proceeds to tell me that My older daughter is clear but my 11 year old has 14 cavities. YES 14!!! I ask him how that’s possible she was just in not long ago. I am a bit perplexed at this point and tell him we will schedule her to get it taken care of another time. I leave his office very uncomfortable and head straight for a second opinion. I went to Unilocal and looked for a Dr. with good reviews. Fast forward 2 weeks to our appointment with Dr. SING 4+ star reviews. NO CAVITIES! From 14 to 0 is a bit hard to believe. I am not sure if they were trying to scam me or if he just doesn’t know how to diagnose a cavity. Needless to say we will not be going back to This office.
What would he have done to my 11 year old daughters teeth if I would have let him do what he wanted?
BE WARNED!!!

My beau went to this dentist. Ripped him off. He got a 5 CC of irrigation? Because he needs it and charged him $ 80!!! When the bottle itself cost $ 30. Easy money by ripping peeps off! Not cool! I dont recommend this dentist!

I hate to do this — because everyone has to make a living, but really, having just switched to another practice, and the enormous change in quality and the relief that I feel to not dread going to the dentist/​hygienist is just unacceptable. I originally went to Dr. Sarkosh because I was in school and he was the only dentist around who took my insurance. I’m afraid I’ve experienced most of the things people have complained about on here. When I joined Dr. Sarkosh’s practice, he told me I had to have ten fillings straight up?! Ten at a cost of $ 3k over and above my insurance! And most of those are already leaking and coming apart 2 years later. Dr. Sarkosh s usually running 30 minutes late, then rushes you, is careless about pain management (injections of anesthetic were a terror, and half the time he under-​dosed me), brutal, rude, snotty and always seems to cost a bomb, even on my new work insurance. He sometimes has a hygenist and sometimes doesn’t — I don’t know what’s worse, him hacking away at my gums or the maniacs he’s hired as hygienists over the years. This isn’t money for good service, I’m completely fine with paying a lot for good dental care — this is a lot of money for very shoddy service. Seriously — pick another dentist unless you have no option at all.

I have been a patient for the past 4 years and have always had great service. The staff is friendly. Dr Sarkosh is very through with his work and has a pleasant demeanor. I enjoy my dentist visits here and highly recommend this dental office to anyone looking for a dentist in the Bay Area.

This guy is really a crook. We got suckered for a couple years (because our insurance assigned us to his office), and after visiting other dentists in the meantime we found out we’ve spent $ 3,000 on gum disease treatments for gum disease. .. that doesn’t exist! There are «sterilization» fees, «irrigation of gums» fees, and soooo many fees that are insane. He also finds «hidden cavities» that, when we checked with our old family dentist, turned out are nothing at all — not even pre-​cavities. For a while we really wrestled with this, thinking out perhaps he was just extra thorough, but we finally decided to write this review when we had a friend have the same experience. She was told she had five cavities and gum disease, then checked with her old family dentist and he said she was absolutely fine. A used car salesman in a dentist’s coat.

Took my dad here because his insurance had limited options. Then as everybody else states, there were quite a few extra charges such as 3 month cleaning and irrigation-​everything just seemed to cost more, but we paid anyway. The first thing they did was tell us two crowns had to be removed and redone which we did at significant expense and hardship. After taking him in for some tooth pain, we were told he would need a root canal. Anyway I had enough and took him to another dentist. The new dentist found that the crown job was botched with glue overflowing and a sloppy fitting. When the new dentist started cleaning up the excess glue, the crown that Sarkosh put in actually fell off (what this never happens!!!). So the new dentist cleaned it up and did a proper fitting for me. And about that root canal, it was just some food stuck in his gums that was cleaned out.

Yup, joining the bandwagon of people who would like to warn other people about his yucky price-​jacking practices and tendency to recommend unnecessary procedures. Had no cavities for about 20 years, then all of a sudden, moved and had a new dentist and had SIX cavities!!! And then another dentist can’t find a single one at my next checkup? Right, they magically disappeared. This guy should have his license revoked.

Aside from his fingernails being bitten down to the quick, he seemed alright at first, but then came time to schedule the follow-​up. I was told I had a host of issues that needed follow-​up on four separate appts. When I questioned the price tag ($ 700 — just my co-​pay), the junior receptionist called over the senior receptionist, who acted like a used car salesperson. She tried to talk me into upgrading my insurance at work so they could perform elective service ‘that my teeth deserved.’ I left the office wondering if the field of dentistry had just changed into more of a for profit beast. Then I checked Unilocal.Nope, this Sarkosh guy is just a crook. I went to a real dentist subsequently and found that I had nothing wrong with my teeth.

This man is a crook! And the fraud seems systematic.
We have insurance. We went to Dr Sarkosh our Primary Dentist. Had very expensive root canal and temp crown. Insurance said the copay on a RC and crown is $ 60. Dr Sarkosh said our copay was $ 500 for the temporary and $ 1500 for the permanent. This is in addition to what the insurance pays. (Huh? Head scratch.) Called the insurance verified my copay for a permanent crown was $ 60, called the dentists office got more information, called the insurance back. Turns out 90% of the proposed Treatment Plan for the permanent crown was «Optional, Cosmetic and not medically necessary and could do more harm then good» (words straight from the ADA via our insurance) hence, the reason why insurance doesn’t cover it.
We were never given any other options and had never asked for anything cosmetic. In fact we were led to believe that the plan given was THE only option and was necessary.
So, my next question is; Can Dr Sarkosh do a standard crown?
Answer from office, very hesitant, ‘he will do it but doesn’t guarantee it cuz something will probably happen. And the insurance will not cover it to be fixed.’ Huh? My husband has a standard crown that is over 25 years old and is a champ, so what gives?
Bottom Line:
Why would anyone want to go to a dentist who is not confident nor even capable of Standard Treatment?
If YOU have a bad experience YOU are obligated to report it to the ADA and your insurance (not just Unilocal) cause it really SUCKS finding out after the fact that this guy sticks it to everybody.

I really like the entire staff at Dr. Sarkosh’s office. I read the reviews here and expected the worse but I gave him a shot. The staff is very professional and caring and they care about the patient’s well being. The prices might be a little higher, but for me, it was worth it.
Thumbs up!

I have had three visits with Dr Sarkosh. His work is beautiful but he overcharges, makes you wait lengthy periods of time while he works on other patients (or comes back late from lunch) and he suggests unnecessary procedures. His office is clean and staff could be more friendly and smile once in a while. I would give a higher rating for timely kept appointments and for less painful procedures.

WOW!!! My wife went to Dr. Sarkosh yesterday for a regular cleaning. (We have had regular insurance for 12 continuous yrs and have regular cleanings every 6 months.)
We just switched to Delta Dental and went with Dr Sarkosh (Before we read Unilocal reviews)
We knew ahead of time we had to pay $ 5 for the office visit + $ 20 co-​pay for cleaning. When my wife came out she was presented with a bill for $ 78 ($ 53 over the expected fee).
My wife’s appointment only lasted about 30 minutes as she had a regular cleaning and x-​rays.
When we looked at the bill they charged her for «Perio root planing. «
We looked it up and that is a procedure that takes longer, is for people with periodontal disease, and was CERTAINLY not done.
If they in fact did the «Perio root planing»… since it is not part of regular cleaning… How come they did not even mention it before the procedure (Which I stress, they did not do!)
BEWARE AND BE INFORMED!!! Something smells in that office, and it is not periodontal disease.

First off, I have dental insurance. Second, I had a cavity requiring a root canal. Dr. Sarkosh (ok, I’m not crazy about calling dentists doctors, because I’m married to a doctor, and to me, 4 years of med school plus at least 3 years of residency = doctor, and that’s it) spotted the cavity, told me to get the root canal and then to return to his office to get a crown in. On the day I came in to get the crown done, the friendly receptionist casually mentioned that my co-​pay was «nine-​oh-​five.» I thought, ok, that’s weird, nine bucks and five cents, but fine. But no, WITH insurance this crown was gonna cost me NINE HUNDRED FIVE dollars. At no time during the month I set up the initial and second appointment did anyone at this office mention I would need to shell out nearly one thousand dollars for this guy to spackle my tooth and slap some metal on it, all of which will maybe last me 10 years, tops. Give me a break. I’m all for universal health care, but to me, the excessive costs of dental care is rotten and unjust and completely overlooked in our ongoing health care debate.
UPDATE: I contacted my dental insurance company and they called the office. Turns out that the $ 905 quote was a mere RECOMMENDATION. Interesting, because they presented me with NO OTHER OPTIONS when I made that first visit. Please be sure to see other Unilocal posts for «Joseph Sarkosh.» We all seem to have had the same experience with this money grubbing pseudo doctor.

Dr. Sarkosh was nice and the office clean, HOWEVER I also believe, as many other Unilocalers, that he is a total CROOK.
Here is the story: On my first visit Dr. Sarkosh said I had many cavities (on almost all my teeth). He wanted me to set up 5 appointments with him to work on all my teeth.
I was surprised because all the dentists I have been to so far told me I had excellent teeth and I have only had 2 cavities since I was born.
So I went to 2 other dentists who both told me I didn’t have any cavities and I had great teeth.
I would NOT recommend this dentist to anyone!!! It looks like his only objective is to make money (cf. $ 15 «sterilization fees… isn’t any dentist supposed to sterilize his material anyways?)

Dr. Sarkosh seemed like a nice guy at first, but he went way over the line trying to squeeze my wife and I for money. He tried to talk us into changing insurance plans, which I found bizarre.
My wife and I have full dental coverage with no copays and no deductible, so I didn’t expect to pay anything. Well, he tried to charge us a «sterilization fee» and signed us up for services that our insurance doesn’t cover: «irrigation» and resin molar fillings. We refused the extra services, but we made the mistake of paying the «sterilization» fee.
We talked to our insurance agent who told us to demand a refund. I was insistent with his secretary, so he did refund us every penny that we paid him. He gets two starts for not being one-​star sleazy.
My wife got half of her cavities filled before we got a letter telling us that Sarkosh had kicked us off of his patient list. I’m wasn’t disappointed, but we do have to find another dentist. The whole experience has been very strange.

This office and the people in it are nice and thorough. My problem is Dr. Sarkosh’s extra «fees» not covered by my insurance. How is it that insurance covers my cleaning but there is a $ 15 «Sterilization Fee» per visit and an $ 80 «Irrigation Fee» that are to be paid out of pocket??? He may be a good dentist with a nice staff but I’m not getting the fees. If he feels ripped off by the insurance companies he shouldn’t be taking it out on the patients.
Just wanted to add that I was trying to schedule a follow up visit and was hung up on twice in a 20 second period and put on hold and forgotten, all in the same day. Nice customer service.

I sought this place as a haven after suffering the trials and tribulations of *shudder* Birch Dental.
I was nervous, scarred (literally and figuratively), and boasting a botched filling that desperately needed some help.
Dr. Sarkosh was nice, professional and actually talked to me a bit, unlike the beast at Birch Dental who didn’t even make eye contact with me, let alone speak one word to me (and then destroyed my tooth). Dr. Sarkosh took his time and I could tell he was actually concerned about his patients.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience, especially considering the nightmare I hope to forget that was Birch Dental.