Kenneth A Shimizu, DDS MSD

Treatment was really good and staff was friendly.
Unfortunately, billing is lame and they start nagging and charging you every chance they get. I was making full balance payments on every visit with my HSA card and because the appointments didn’t line up with their billing dates, they charge late fees. So I started making payments online. I last made a payment on ¹¹⁄₂₃. Then, last night I made an online payment to pay off the entire balance (again with a late charge for 30 day balance). What happens today? They call and nag my wife about overdue payments saying we are 2 months past due. We paid in FULL last night!
Funny thing is that while making this payment, I came up with a plan to pay for my daughter’s more expensive treatment and was ready to move forward with Dr. Shimizu later this year. Unless the billing practices change, I will take my daughter elsewhere for her full treatment and do the same for my son’s phase 2.

I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Shimizu and his staff. Both my sons are patients and NEVER resist going to their appointments. The operation is smooth, efficient, highly professional and FUN! It’s a pleasure to be a patient and I know we are in the best of hands. Literally.

I remember Dr. Shimizu while he was partnering with Dr. Tacy. My first consultation was standard, nothing unusual except that he automatically offered me clear braces because I was a «young lady»? My second consultation was the one I never forget.
I came on the heels of a disastrous TMJ treatment and had just started braces off the referral of that dentist. I was experiencing excruciating pain and wanted a second opinion. I didn’t have the professional jargons to explain what happened, so I used laymen’s language. He laughed and dismissed me! I broke down in tears. His partner came over to comfort him as I tried to wipe off my tears and leave. A brunette staff was kind enough to help… or to get me out of other patients’ sight. Those doctors think of no one but themselves.

My daughter did the whole braces process here. Dr. Shimizu is the best there is. His staff is amazing. Everyone there is always smiling and you can tell they all love there job. My daughter’s teeth are now perfect. A big thanks to Dr. Shimizu and his staff!!!

Dr Shimizu is an excellent orthodontist. Very calm, competent and professional. His office, the staff are all top notch. We visited a few orthodontists before making our selection — We were very impressed with the doctor and his team, and were pleasantly surprised when the price quote came in lower than the others. We have been very pleased with the high level of care provided. A wonderful office to work with, always responsive, easy to get in for an appointment in case of emergency. He does not nickel and dime you — they charge you a flat rate upfront, but offer the cadillac of care for what they charge. Some orthos charge extra for xrays (or send you to a third party where you have to pay extra). Here we paid a flat, pre arranged amount up front, and a year later (endless appointments later) we have not had to pay a dime more for anything.
What we love:
— Dr Shimizu and his staff are experienced, friendly, calm and very professional. Everything seems very calm and organized.
— They charges were fair, and in line with other quotes we received — you never feel nickel and dimed — in fact the price seems fair for all the time they give you.
— Doctor is very experienced and competent. He knows his stuff! His staff is also excellent. Friendly, caring and good at their work
— They never push extra treatment or services
— With the ortho treatment, we find ourselves here at least once a month — and love how clean, calm and modern the office is. They always have fresh coffee, tea. cocoa and warm cookies (ironic for a dentist!). These little touches make the kids excited about coming in — and are a convenient and thoughtful touch for parents on the go. Lots of little touches make this a special place.
We have been very pleased with our experience here. I wish all doctors were as pleasant and wise as Dr Shimizu. Highly recommend.

Both of my children have been treated by Dr. Shimizu. I appreciate the openness of the office and the fact that I can go back and sit with my child (ren) during the appointment. I feel like I really had a chance to get to know the entire office team.
From the moment that you walk in the door, Dr. Shimizu’s office feels different from other offices. It feels very comfortable and welcoming.
While the coffee bar and warm cookies are a definite bonus, the bottom line is that Dr. Shimizu is an excellent orthodontist.

Dr. Shimizu is the best orthodontist! Along with his team of wonderful assistants my teeth 12 YEARS later are still perfect!
As a 9 year old back in 2002 I was not thinking of braces at all. But I had no choice as my parents dragged me to get them put on. I had pretty messed up teeth because my baby teeth never voluntarily fell out; I had to get one surgically removed & as a result I had crowding and then crooked teeth. I had braces for 9 months to help with the overcrowding & then in 9^th grade I would get braces again.
In 9^th grade as a freshman in high school I was like oh goodness no, so embarrassing! But I’d rather get it over with as soon as possible. 9 months later I had perfect beautiful teeth!
Only 18 months total of braces & my teeth are exactly the way I want them to be! I see so many people get braces and then NOT wear their retainers because they are «not cool» or they are «ugly & inconvenient». But honestly, in today’s society, having straight white teeth is important when making friends, getting a job, & looking presentable. Having braces is not too fun but at a young age I’d recommend it. Braces are a very good investment; but only if you choose to wear that $ 300 retainer EVERYDAY! I’m glad I chose (glad my parents chose) Dr. Shimizu as my orthodontist.

My son had his first orthodontic visit in this practice and I was very impressed with the staff, the doctor and the cleanliness of the office. Upon our entry we were greeted happily and felt welcomed into the office. Jaime the treatment coordinator was amazing. She carefully explained a treatment plan for my son. I was intrigued by how an orthodontic office worked and she happily gave me a tour of the office. The clinical staff were very friendly and most importantly my son felt very comfortable in the environment. I was especially impressed that Dr. Shimizu took time to get to know my son. He talked to him about his grade and subjects he is learning in school. My son openly talked to him about his interests and that made an impression on me. I am excited to start treatment in this practice and would recommend this office to any of my friends.

I took my 10 year old son to Dr. Shimizu and I was very pleased with the great customer service from the entire staff. His practice has exceeded my expectations and I would wholeheartedly endorse their services for any family in the market for braces. Good value for this investment!

Looking for a great orthodontist? Well look no further, Dr. Shimizu is best. Our son had his braces on and off in 9 months! He had a great experience and was so happy to have his braces off before starting high school. Our daughter is now in her second phase of braces. She started there when she was 9 and had her braces on for 12 mos. Even though she was a little scared at first all the assistants made her feel so special and Dr. Shimizu was so gentle with her, she would get excited to go to the office. Her treatment went so great the first time that when it came time for her second phase she wasn’t worried at all. Dr. Shimizu and his staff are amazing! I have referred several of my friends and family and they all love him too. This office is top notch and we are glad to have found Dr. Shimizu. Oh and they have a great little coffee bar for the parents and cookies too!

DO NOT COME HERE!!!
Dr. Shimizu was my orthodontist for 2 years and actually made my teeth worse and caused terrible pain. As a result of his poor work I had to get braces for an additional 4 years. He does not know what he is doing and the staff was highly unprofessional. Whatever you do, stay away from here.

The doctor seem professional and the office surroundings are pleasant. However, the office failed to tell me that they were out of network for me and I got a real shock when I heard from the insurance company. They paid a fraction of the total bill and the agent told me that the charges for braces were about the highest they had ever seen for a girl my daughter’s age.
I would make sure you ask detailed questions about coverage and charges before getting any work done. I wish I had — it would have saved me some stress and money. I tried speaking to the office about the charges but they were less than helpful.

My son had his braces put on here and is now going through the motions of his appointments and adjustments and such. The initial consultation was great. I met with Jamie and she was professional and knowledgeable. She explained all options and what treatment would be best for my son. She was very helpful. Dr. Shimizu is also great and a pleasure to deal with. He is great with the kids and tells them exactly what he is going to do. Front desk staff is also friendly. The whole staff is really great and accomodating when it comes to booking appointments. Forrunately, I have dual insurance with the hubs so the fee was less.
A big plus is they have a fully stocked coffee bar! They have a keurig with an array of coffee, chai, teas… hot water for hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies for the kids after their appointment. I can’t help but to indulge in a coffee or chai when I take my son to his appontments. I highly recommend this place to anyone!

Dr Shimizu is the absolute best!
We have been extremely happy with his and his staff’s services for my 3 children and myself, but the most amazing part of all is the work that he did on my nephew who arrived from France 2 years ago with severe jaw and bite problems. After over a year of treatment with Dr. Shimizu, my nephew has now returned to France and the local dentists over there are totally blown away by the results. Thanks Dr. Shimizu for all your help and patience, and we’ll see you again soon with additional family members and friends!

Used to work for dr Robert tacy and dr shimizu from 1982 – 1991 as an RDA. (Orginally with dr Walters and dr tacy) After not keeping up with googling anyone was so happy to find dr shimizus website and was completely shocked at how beautiful the office looks now! So happy to see 3 beautiful woman i know still working there, terry, denise and pam. I live in tracy and don’t come back to Bay Area much anymore but would love to make contact with any of the staff. I still work in the dental field as a receptionist for dr Arthur solomon in tracy. Had many great years and memories working there…

My daughter has been a patient of Dr Shimizu for two years now. His staff are excellent and his practice is like a well oiled machine. They manage to make moving teeth fun for adults and kids alike. Dr Shimizu is very personable and always puts her at ease. His assistants are all very professional and friendly. Scheduling appointments is easy and their e-​mail reminder system makes it impossible for me to miss an appointment. I would definitely recommend Dr Shimizu to anyone embarking on orthodontic treatment.

I am so happy to have found Dr. Shimizu. My son has been going there for over 6 months and loves it. He listens and always give us full attention. As for the price, he is very fair and willing to work with you. I highly recommend him and refer him to all of our friends.
The Lee Family

I first saw Dr. Shimizu back in 1993 for my first round of braces in an attempt to correct the «Madonna-​sized» gap between my front teeth. Five some odd years later I emerged a beautiful butterfly, with a totally awesome mouth full of perfectly straight teeth.
Six years later I returned to Dr. Shimizu’s office to have a permanent retainer fixed, he did so promptly and efficiently. Now another six years later I returned for the same broken retainer (likely a result of my hygienists scraping too hard on the cement holding it on!)… AGAIN today, he fixed it with no questions asked.
The things I love about this office:
–Super cool, updated office, full of fancy toys, and plasma screens that enchant you while you wait.
–A receptionist that really likes her job, and knows her stuff. she’s not just an appointment setter, which I love.
–I practically feel like family when I’m in there, and I LOVE the Dr. Shimizu remembers from me as a kid.
–The technicians are all super up-​beat, and seem like they really love what they do.
–Dr. Shimizu’s knowledge, and experience. The man is a genius, and he really cares about his patients.
–Lastly, There are cookies for you when you leave!!! LOVE THAT! Any child coming to this office is going to have a hay-​day with the cookies, gum, and pencils coming home with them. Any parents (or adult) coming to this office will have the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while they wait… The hospitality is better than most hotels!!!
Overall, if you are looking for an orthodontist for yourself, or your child, look no further! This is the only office I’ll ever come to for Ortho work. Hopefully one day when I have kids, Dr. Shimizu will still be practicing, and knowing my husband’s teeth, not to mention my own, we’ll be taking our kids over the hill to see Dr. Shimizu!

3 stars.
I think the one thing all orthodontist Unilocal reviews need and is missing is PRICES.
Welcome to 2011 when unemployment is up and spending is down. Yes, pricing does matter.
As a young working professional, I don’t have the luxury of having my parents pay for my braces anymore. My mom asked if I wanted braces in high school but I had a boyfriend at the time so that wouldn’t have worked. In between trying to fit in and not looking so metal-​mouthy was a big no-​no then. And again, my mother asked me if I wanted braces, this time in college. I mean, REALLY. Braces in COLLEGE? Again, negatory.
By the time I realized that I really did need braces (despite this beautiful smile, ka-​ching :D), I was financially on my own. I was in the middle of trying to figure out how much to put aside in my FSA (Flex Spending Account for all you youngins — google it) and needed to get quotes asap.
I Unilocaled 4 different orthodontists and Dr. Kenneth Shimizu was the third one I visited. See my «Braces Suck But Someone’s Gotta Do It» list:
After literally finishing up my second ortho consultation (See list above), I rushed over to Dr. Kenneth Shimizu’s office.
The office is very spacious, clean, modern and had a freakin’ coffee bar! Front desk staff were really nice. I waited a few minutes when Jamie called my name.
She was very thorough in explaining everything to me. Consultation was straight-​forward. Prior to the consultation, you fill out several forms. They take pictures of your teeth, profile and face. They examine them and recommend the best treatment they think is best for you.
Dr. Shimizu came in and he was really nice. He examined my teeth, asked me several questions and thoroughly explained to me why I needed braces. I had inquired about Invisalign but he did not recommend it.
After he left, Jamie went over the details with me (priced without insurance):
— Recommended Treatment: Braces for 15 months
— Price: $ 8350.00
— Includes: All treatment appliances, orthodontic adjustments, removal of appliances and delivery of retainers.
— Does NOT include: Diagnostic Records (additional $ 520)
Payment options were so-​so. Only 3% courtesy if you pay in full (another orthodontist gave 5%).
I’ve seen 4 different orthodontists and Dr. Shimizu was the most expensive, even after seeing one in San Francisco.
All in all, a great consultation and worth a shot if you got the money to burn or if you’re still covered by your parent’s insurance. In which case, get diamond-​encrusted braces or gold plated or something. TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

I went to Dr. Shimizu mid-​treatment because my previous orthodontist «fired me» (because she didn’t know what she was doing). Left without an orthodontist and in braces, I didn’t know what to do. I was a surgical case so I asked my surgeon for a referral. He very quickly handed me Dr. Shimizu’s information and said he was great.
Dr. Shimizu doesn’t usually take patients mid-​treatment like this but I’m very grateful that he took me on as a patient. He corrected the things my previous orthodontist did wrong and most importantly worked closely with my surgeon so things could go smoothly.
I had a complicated case so sometimes I got frustrated, but I never regretted my decision to see Dr. Shimizu! He’s a great orthodontist — knows his stuff, is very friendly, honest, patient, etc. All around he’s just awesome. If you need an orthodontist for a child or adult, he’s a great one to pick! You’ll be in excellent hands.
His staff is also great!