Jeffrey Katz, DDS – Jackson Square Dentistry

I’m a super-​fussy former L.A. Times staff writer and Lonely Planet author. I have a long history of reviewing cars, outdoors gear, cities and countries for a living. It’s in my blood to critique and be critical. So it pains me to report that I’ve got nothing negative to say about the service I’ve received over the past few years from Dr. Katz and his staff at Jackson Square Dentistry. I even like the eclectic art on the walls. As for the care they’ve shown for my teeth: I couldn’t be happier. I’m 55 and until a few years ago I was one of the lucky few to be born with near-​perfect teeth. I’ve had only one cavity my entire life and, until I turned 50, I had perfectly straight teeth, no space between any of them and a perfect bite. But for no good reason, my teeth got squirrelly on me five years ago. The lower and upper front teeth started turning on (and dare I say, against) me. One of my large front teeth began overlapping the tooth beside it. Down a story, two teeth started retreating from their once-​perfect position on the front line and the two teeth in between them began rotating. Over a period of five years, my beautiful smile had become a train wreck. Stuff happens, and it happened to my smile in a big ugly way. The good doctor advised me numerous times to invest some money in a high-​tech product called Invisalign to keep the damage from getting worse. I ignored his advice a couple of years thinking, stupidly, that it was just part of the aging process. (You know, like letting your arteries clog with crap and then one day you die of a heart attack.) Kinda dumb letting yourself go like that and just writing it off to old age, don’t you think? I realized that a few months ago and said Yes to the Invisalign process. The process involves wearing some near-​invisible plastic teeth covers that ever-​so-​gently push the teeth back into their upright and proper positions. It’s actually more complicated than that – temporary tabs are placed on some of the teeth to ensure they move exactly where they’re supposed to, for instance – but that’s basically the process. I’m weeks away from completing it and, OMG, do my teeth look great! I don’t need to see the final results to already appreciate the tremendous improvement in my smile. And it’s more than my smashing good looks that were at stake (I’m writing with a smile). Had I allowed my teeth to continue migrating, gaps undoubtedly would have developed between some of my teeth and gums and food scraps would have worked their way down to the roots and all hell would have broken loose. Bacteria would have had a feeding frenzy, infection would have developed, they’d have been lots of pain. Think root canal. Think surgery. Very. Bad. Stuff. I got great advice from Dr. Katz regarding Invisalign, he and his staff have done a superlative job applying the tabs and monitoring the progress, and in a few weeks I’ll have my perfect smile back. Whoo hoo! But I want to say more about his practice. I’ve been seen by four or five hygientists at Katz Korner, as I call his practice, and I’ve always been impressed by the extraordinary care they take cleaning my teeth. I use a Sonic toothbrush twice a day and I floss, so I always go into a teeth-​cleaning at Katz Corner thinking, «This is a waste of money.» Wrong. The hygientist ALWAYS mines a couple tons of plaque and tartar and taco bits and whatever and then polishes my mouthful of gems. I’m always stunned at how much cleaner and smoother they are when I leave. I’m also always surprised by the care they take to remember things I’ve said on previous visits. You aren’t just another patient at Katz Korner; you’re somebody they take the time to get to know. I feel I’ve got friends there and look forward to my appointments.

For the other Unilocalers who find the mish-​mash of 1 and 5 star reviews confusing–
I went to Dr Katz (first time) about a month ago, everything was good. I normally expect a dental visit to be as pleasant as a DMV visit, but everybody seemed nice and professional. The receptionist particularly was quite friendly and managed to squeeze me in with only one day’s notice.
Though I was asked a couple times about cosmetic surgery (I indicated I liked my smile on the form, being asked that a lot makes me feel like there’s something wrong with my teeth) I don’t think it detracted from the overall experience. And the office is quite nice, just like in the pictures.

I’ve had a few questionable encounters at this Dental office. I’ve had perfectly healthy teeth until visiting Dr.Katz. Suddenly each visit was something new, refillings, cavities, etc. My last cavity filling resulted in the Dentist hitting a facial nerve. Not a pleasant experience to have Novocain shot into into the whole left side of your face.
My final negative experience was actually in the administration side of the business. My insurance changed and I was told my new carrier was in-​network. This was not the case when I received a bill for the cleaning which should have been free. After consulting both the insurance company and the office (Sharon– who was actually very nice but ultimately did not help my case), I had to pay for out of network services due to misinformation from Dr. Katz’s office.
Ultimately if your here looking for a new dentist, don’t take the chance– keep looking!

Dr. Jeff Katz is the best dentist in California, and probably among the top 10 in the country. He is brilliant at what he does, absolutely! Even though I have a great dentist here in Beverly Hills, Dr. Katz is even better. I met him when the veneers on my two front teeth broke at a restaurant in San Francisco. I called my dentist in Beverly Hills, and he told me about Dr. Katz. In the past, I used to have so much trouble with cracked and broken veneers on my two front teeth. My Beverly Hills dentist repeatedly fixed them. But Dr. Jeff Katz finally did them over again a few years ago, and I haven’t had any problems since. I get so many compliments on my teeth and my smile. I have flown to San Francisco to see him, and it is definitely worth it! Dr. Katz is kind and gentle, and his work is done to perfection! I can’t recommend anyone more!

I have gone to the same dentist for 20 years. However, since I just moved to San Francisco, I went on Unilocal to find a new dentist. I figured because Dr. Katz had good ratings, he would take good care of my teeth. Unfortunately, my experience was truly disappointing. My hygienist was rude, her hands were not gentle, and she was unsatisfied that she couldn’t find any tooth decay. I have never had a single filling in my life (I was blessed with great teeth.)
After Dr. Katz said I had no decay in my mouth, the hygienist insisted that there was in fact some decay and brought the dentist back in. He then «changed his mind» and determined that I’d need to come back for (my first ever) filling. LUCKILY, I ignored this, and got a second opinion who said that Dr. Katz was incorrect and that the tooth was perfectly healthy. It saddens me to think that a professional dentist would misdiagnose tooth decay either for profi of incompetence.
I strongly discourage anyone from seeing Dr. Katz.

Dr. Katz recently did a set of (6) veneers for me. I could not be happier. The process certainly took a long time, but I really felt that Dr. Katz would take as long as he needed to get it right. And boy did he! My new veneers look incredible. I would recommend him to anyone who is thinking about getting htem done.

There always seems to be something wrong in my mouth. There’s a lot of up selling going on, by everyone who works there. He referred me to a specialist who doesn’t take insurance, which I think is odd because I pay for his service with insurance. I’m going to look elsewhere and find someone who makes me comfortable when I come in. I have been coming here for a little over two years.

great people, clean office :)

I wish Unilocal existed years ago when I went to Dr. Katz’ office for a simple tooth cleaning! A tooth cleaning that he managed to turn into major work. Several root canals and molar extractions later. He saw my teeth caped with gold and an insurance plan he could tap into, so he went for it. When I asked him what he was doing, feeling no tooth pain, he explained the cavity was about to erupt like an oil well. To which my father replied, «Yes, his.»
What tipped me off to his carefree, free-​for-​all was when I asked that my file be mailed to my dentist back in NY. After several attempts with the office to get them to mail it, the staff finally said the reports and x-​rays must have gotten lost in the mail!
Years later and his effects of bad work never go away but only become more pronounced.
So do yourself a favor and find a professional who’s on your side, not in your pocket.

Dr. Katz has been my dentist since he left dental school… thats quite awhile now and during all those years he has been someone who has maintained his skills and integrity at the highest level. He has always been someone who cares about me and for me. I don’t like having my teeth cleaned with electric instruments so his hygienist only uses hand tools. my preference. After having gum surgery Dr. Katz has monitored my dental care to insure that I continue to retain my teeth. He has filled cavities and fixed a crown and a chipped tooth. He is as close to a pain free dentist that is possible and will also provide cosmetic dental care.

i’ve been asked to write this review by several people and as much as i’d like to move along in life and forget i ever met katz i suppose it’s what Unilocal is really for so… beware
apparently paperwork was confused. the office is a mess or run wrong and so the wrong procedure was setup and performed without confirmation or notice. katz chatted a lot about random stuff, perhaps trying to make me feel comfortable, but not once did anyone say «we’re going to do this today» or «here’s what we agreed».
so i went in for a basic checkup and to see if i would need a quick composite. instead we made small talk and the next thing i know i’m being operated on for what seems like forever. hours literally pass and then i’m told i have to come back for more. more? wtf just happened?
in short an unnecessary procedure was performed without any consent at all and it was completely botched. for example katz squeezed a needle too soon and straight down my throat went a big spray of pain killer, which seems to have caused me breathing complications months later. another example, a filling was fumbled as he had trouble holding on to it with his fingers. he dropped it straight into the back of my throat and by some miracle, in an extremely tense moment with everyone frozen, i managed to avoid swallowing or breathing it in.
an unauthorized, unexpected horrible procedures was bad enough. then confusion ensued about thousands of dollars in costs. instead of a little checkup, this was a very expensive unnecessary procedure.
the only good thing, perhaps because i was EXTREMELY ANGRY at what happened, i was told to not worry about the complicated bill. it would be taken care of. they admitted it being a mistake, which made sense since there was no paperwork, no approvals nothing to say i wanted or needed anything they had done.
then i started getting insurance company rejection notices every week.
i called the insurance company and they said it was just wasted time because the dentist shouldn’t be submitting these claims. i called katz office and they said the computer does whatever it wants, can’t be controlled, so they just wait until all the letters and warnings stop happening. it went on for weeks.
what can i say? i never would go back here or send anyone else here. perhaps that’s why my friends who have had to see me in pain want me to post this. i still have lingering trouble using the teeth after that unnecessary procedure almost a year ago. i still have some trace of reaction to that painkiller poured into my throat. i never had any pain before and am working with a new dentist now to fix things. so there you have a new Unilocal

I feel super awkward writing a bad review as I am not at all one to complain, but in this case I feel obliged to have a voice. This is strictly regarding the business side Jackson Square Dentistry, not regarding the DDS. Awhile back I had purchased a groupon for «an exam and cleaning». The original appt was a headache to get on the schedule as they had clearly sold a ton of coupons. When I did finally get in I ended up having to leave after the ‘exam’ portion because it took 1.5 hours more than I was told to get in the chair and I had to leave to teach a class. I was told ‘so sorry for the wait, no problem, come back at your convenience for the cleaning’. For the next several months I tried to get in, but the schedule on their end always seemed so tight. Life goes on of course and I forgot about the whole escapade until recently last week I received a blanket email from the establishment wishing me well and reminding me it was ‘time for a cleaning’. I was able to get a brief hold of the office manager, Krystal, to explain my situation and she passive aggressively said «of course we’ll grant you a free cleaning SO LONG AS you come in for an exam». um, no thanks! $ 270 later?! I feel pretty jipped and it is sad to see how much of a biz rather than service facility this spot actually is.

I don’t doubt that Dr. Katz is a good dentist but my experience with his practice left a bad taste in my mouth.
STRIKE ONE: When I made my initial appointment for a cleaning, I requested Dr. Mina Levi who used to share Dr. Katz’s office. When I arrived for my appointment I was told I’d be seeing Dr. Katz with no explanation. I later found out that Dr. Levi had moved to her own office. Since I specifically requested her I should have been informed of that at the time of booking. #shady
STRIKE TWO: After some routine x-​rays, I thought I would have my cleaning. Nope! Dr. Katz introduced himself, outlined the cosmetic dental procedures he offers and then recommended I get a crown for tooth that I had previously gotten filled but didn’t have current discomfort in. Then I was told to make additional appointments for the cleaning and the crown. Huh? The whole time I felt like I was being up-​sold so I decided to get a second opinion. #shadyx2
***Two independent dentists confirmed that I did not need a crown and in their professional opinion it would be odd for anyone to suggest that procedure.***
STRIKE THREE: When I got my bill for the x-​rays, it was the full amount and had not been submitted to insurance. I called to ask about the charges and the receptionist confirmed it had not been submitted. #disorganized
STRIKE FOUR aka «I should have known better»: I transferred to Dr. Levi’s new practice. At my first appointment, I signed release forms for my x-​ray records from Dr. Katz. Her receptionist called Katz’s office in front of me and confirmed they would be sent electronically via email. The next day, Dr. Levi’s office still had not received the digital records so I called Dr. Katz’s office, signed another release and copied both offices on my signed form. When I returned to Dr. Levi’s for an appointment 6 WEEKS later, Dr. Katz’s office still had not sent the digital records needed for my procedure even though it takes 2mins to send. When Dr. Levi’s office called to ask what caused the delay, they said they «forgot». #SMH.
tl;dr: Tried to up-​sell, recommended procedures that weren’t medically necessary, tried to bill w/​o submitting to insurance first and didn’t transfer records when I’d decided I’d had enough.
Stay away from this place.

Going to Jackson Square Dentistry is a wonderful experience. Dr Katz, with his trendy contemporary designed office has created a new kind of dentist office and a new kind of customer experience. The office is truly beautiful with skylights, mini halogen lighting, art, photography, wood floors and minimalist design. No carpet, no advertising, minimal signage, no anatomical models or diagrams of teeth out in the open. I was impressed with the battery operated UV curing light. There is alot of attention to detail and you don’t feel like you are in a medical facilty like most dental offices. Coupled with his excellent work and professional, courteous intelligent staff, I look forward to going to the dentist now a lot more.

I am always so very happy their. The staff is so personable and they clean my teeth so good, especially when they get my coffee stains out of my pearly’s… Thanks Dr. Kats and team !

Dr. Katz is an amazing dentist ! He saved a tooth that I thought was beyond repair.
The team there is wonderful. It seems strange to look forward to my next visit but they are great.
Look no further !

This is actually a review for the practice, and for Dr. Mina Levi in particular, not for Dr. Katz.
I got a Living Social coupon for Right Dental Group here in the Bay Area — $ 39 for cleaning, exam, and bite wing x-​rays. You can go to any practice in their group — I found that two of them had hideously bad Unilocal ratings but Dr. Katz’s practice has pretty good ratings, so I decided to go there.
Apparently they just moved from shared space on Van Ness Avenue to this really cool historic exposed-​brick building on Washington across from the Transamerica Pyramid. Certainly the nicest dentist’s office I’ve ever been to. Their practice is light, airy, attractively furnished, and very high tech. I could see the x-​rays instantly on the screen, Dr. Levi took photos of a cracked tooth and I could see those right away (beats looking at a foggy mirror!), the tech input all the dentist’s comments and my plan of treatment (including $$$) was waiting for me before I had my coat on, etc.
Dr. Levi was very communicative and efficient and thorough. She worked so fast that I wondered if she was being thorough, but I think she was. She was very focused on my mouth while she was working. She did the cleaning herself, which surprised me, I thought a technician would be doing it. She did a very thorough exam. An assistant sat there throughout the procedure taking notes.
I learned a bunch of stuff from Dr. Levi. Such as, amalgam fillings expand over time, which is why that tooth was cracked. She went over the issues that needed addressing, and triaged them for me — first the cracked tooth, then a filling at the gum line, then some cosmetic fillings in my canine teeth. She also explained what would happen if I didn’t address these problems — such as, if the cracking got worse, I’d need an implant as opposed to a ¾ crown, and if we didn’t take care of the gum-​line cavity, they might have to cut my gum away to get to it.
Very good value for $ 39 even if you don’t become a patient!

Just went in for my initial appt yesterday. Dr. Katz fully explained what was happening with my bite and and laid out a plan for short, medium and long term goals. His staff was extremely personable, friendly, attentive and genuinely cared about the condition of my teeth.
The location in Jackson Square is pretty sick. Super modern, track lighting, skylights, exposed brick, comfortable dentist chairs, all new dental equip, digital high rez x-​rays. I came in and they gave me an IPAD to fill out my medical history and contact information. Saving paper and cool factor, check.
Last note, this was all on a $ 35 Groupon, x-​rays, cleaning, planning, 1.5hrs of Dr. Katz’s time. I will definitely be back and will highly recommend them to friends.
Note: the photos in their profile don’t yet show the new office location

I had an old crown fall out and Dr. Katz installed a new one for $ 3,000 plus consulting costs upfront. Two years later, his crown fell out and I was in serious pain. Dentists don’t make comments about other dentists but I’ve had a dentist and a periodontist tell me that Dr. Katz made the post too long and it eventually cracked my tooth. So I need to have the tooth extracted for $ 525 then I need a bone replacement graft ridge preserver for $ 995. Then I need an implant post for $ 2,400 and a crown on the implant for $ 3,000. That’s just shy of $ 7,000, add on the original crown by Katz and I’ve spent or will spend over $ 10,000 on one tooth that started with a botched job by Dr. Katz.

I tried to set up an appointment with Dr. Katz last year (July, 2009) early in the morning. On the day of my appointment I slept through my alarm and I was woken up by a call from the office. When I apologized for missing the appointment, instead of being understanding and rescheduling, the attendant was abrasive, rude and told me to call back later.
Today I was able to make another appointment with a different attendant, and I was determined not to miss it this time. However, I get a call later from the same rude attendant that I talked to for my other appointment saying that my appointment has been cancelled.
I understand having policies against repeat offenders who fail to show up to appointments, but I wasn’t even give me one chance to redeem myself.
Being rude and callous to potential customers is no way to run a business.

Very professional yet very approachable.
I hadn’t been to the dentist in YEARS… like…7 or so…
Dr. Katz and his staff made me feel super comfortable! Seeing as I hadn’t been to a dentist for years and was (rightfully) a little scared, they assured me that I am not a horrible person and that with a little help, I could get back on track.
Everything seemed organized and the appointment went very smoothly. Dr. Katz took his time to explain everything in layman’s terms so I could make my own decisions as to what treatment I would prefer. My dental hygienist was very thorough and gentle. They staff even recommended insurance providers for me to check out since I was leaving my current employer. I kinda feel like I’m gushing but I really really appreciate the genuineness from the staff. Every single person I bumped into was extremely nice. Hell, even setting up my appointment was a pleasant surprise, lol.
I will be recommending Dr. Katz and his staff to everyone!

Fantastic dentist, so glad I found him after changing dentists 3 times in 2 years. This review is over-​due I have going to Dr. Katz now for about 5 years.
Jeff himself is a great guy and a really good dentist. He has great ‘chair side’ skills and does a very thorough job of explaining what is going on with my oral health. He has done a number of fillings for me and my wife and they have been completely trouble free for years now.
He even helped out my mom when she was in town with a tooth ache– that’s Jeff– classy and caring
The hygenists are also very good, I just had a cleaning and they do a very thorough job.