James A Olson, DDS

Dr. Olson and his staff are have best! My whole family and I have been going here since 2001.
They are sweet and low-​pressure.
My last dentist was in the Emeryville market. Every 6 months I came in I suddenly had another cavity! Since coming to Dr. Olson I have had 1 cavity…
In 2009 I fell at work and chipped 3 of my teeth on a Friday afternoon. Now Dr. Olson doesn’t come in on Fridays, but he made a special trip Saturday morning to patch up my teeth until I could get a permanent cover on a Monday. They were sweet and quick and because my root wasn’t exposed I didn’t have to have it pulled and replaced with an artificial one!
They took care of everything, including billing worker’s compensation. I didn’t pay a penny and my teeth were as good as new (well, I’m not supposed to eat meat off the bone anymore, but other than that)!
Just wish they took my new health care plan :(

I’ve been seeing Dr. Olson since I was 3 and have never gone to any other dentist. He and all of the hygienists that work with him are wonderful. I haven’t been for a year, but the front desk receptionist still remembered me, and they’re always very encouraging and forgiving if you have a lapse in teeth hygiene… which is not to say that you should, but they don’t make you feel like a horrible person if you skip a few days of flossing.

Dr. Olson is wonderful. I’ve referred many people to him, and all love him as much as I do. He is gentle and kind. I have a friend who is very scared of any dental work, and he is the first dentist she has stayed with long-​term. He suggests only necessary treatment, his fees are fair, his work excellent. Lovely office space too, upstairs in an old house.

I’d been away from modern dentistry for much too long. I had such a phobia that even after I decided to go back, I actually took a couple more years soliciting recommendations from friends – I really didn’t want my first time back to be with the same kind of dentist who had instilled such a wariness in me in the first place.
Two friends independently recommended Dr. Olson as a straight shooter who didn’t try to put the shine on anything but your teeth. The whole staff is excellent. Several of the techs have been there for decades (although they sure don’t look it!) and they made me feel comfortable and at ease instantly. It’s true that Dr. Olson doesn’t try to push anything on you that you don’t need. This place is really just about doing the best thing for your teeth.

I am especially particular about my dentist and Dr Olson is wonderful. There are no gimmicks in this office, no pushing unnecessary treatments, just outstanding care. I really could not be more pleased.

I had a great dentist as a child but I remember distinctly going in there at age 19 and seeing the Sesame Street wallpaper, the banana colored chair and the coloring books in the waiting room, and thinking to myself, «I am too old for this.» The last straw was when the dental assistant asked me what grade I was in because I was «getting so big.» Yep, I have weight issues like most insecure girls, and I attribute mine to my former dentists’ office.
Fast forward to the present…
Dr. Olson is great, and so is everyone in his office!
They’ve always been very friendly, and knowing that I am a perpetual student they never try to convince me to do any more than my insurance covers.
Since I haven’t gotten any cavities or had any problems with my teeth in the past 6 years I’ve been going to Dr. Olson, I’d say he does a pretty good job. His receptionist is also really nice about calling me a week in advance for my appointments because she knows I’ll forget.

With memories of dental terror both real and imagined I had no desire to see a dentist ever again. However, wanting to keep my teeth for a few more decades I finally made an appointment for a cleaning and checkup. Dr. Olsen’s office is really near UC Berkeley (with off-​street parking!) in a nice building surrounded by big shade trees. Many of the examination rooms are bright with sunshine from the large windows that look out through the trees. The place feels clean, airy and calm. The hygienist who cleaned my teeth was awesome, really, really awesome. There was no pain, no flying bits o’ gunk, or a need to try to speak when my mouth was full of tools. Then Dr. Olsen came in, took a look, replaced two fillings and coated a couple of sensitive teeth with some miracle goo all in less than an hour and with no pain. The fillings are the same color as my teeth and I swear those teeth fit together better when I bite down. Dr. Olsen was quick, efficient, thorough and friendly. Miracle of miracles, he’s even got me flossing regularly.