Joseph L Cortese, DDS

I hadn’t been to the dentist in years, I had an infected tooth. They took me in the next day, everyone in the office is so friendly and made me feel so comfortable. I’ve been back several times since May and I will never go to another dentist, I’ve also taken my son in to be seen. They’re the best!

So happy to have found this family practice in Albany. I just came from my first exam/​cleaning and the office was wonderful. The front desk was warm and welcoming and my hygienist Nancy was thorough, skilled, and hilarious. Never have I felt so at ease in the dentist chair. It’s a family practice and everyone is chatting and talking, all while maintaining very professional standards. Billing was fair and transparent as well, I didn’t feel like I was being taken for a ride. After one visit, I can’t recommend this office enough!

They have been my dentists for over a year now and I have been happy with their service so far, regarding regular cleanings and especially explaining everything going on and how to best do preventative care for my teeth. I will continue to use them in the future.

Fantastic dentist. My husband and I have been coming here for years, even after we moved to the city. We still make the drive every 6 months. Dr. Cortese is warm and friendly and the hygienists are thorough and friendly as well. Couldn’t recommend it more.

This place is a class act. I had a first checkup for my 3.5 year old scheduled with this office, but she was not yet an established patient when she needed an emergency extraction. Dr. Frank talked me through it after hours, so I knew how to get her help right away. She will be their patient for regular dental maintenance, and I might switch to their office as well. This office has an old school family/​community feel, at least from my phone calls with them.

Best dentist! My family has been coming here for over two decades. I drive about 45 minutes each way to get here from where I live now, and before that, throughout college and law school I’d drive an hour and a half each way. This should give you an idea of how much I trust, and love these guys! I will continue to come here, and my children will come here, as long as this office is around! I have had everything one could have done in their mouth done by these guys. They’re honest, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone!

Thanks again to Dr. Joe Cortese and Staff, just back from my 6 month check up and cleaning. Love seeing you all, Kudos to Nancy on a great cleaning, Dr. Joe for a great exam and Isabelle for always taking care of the follow up appointments.
If you haven’t been to a Dentist in years, reward yourself. This is a wonderful Family practice who will provide excellent Dental care, make you feel good and brighten your smile.

After having some lousy dental care in Berkeley, we were so happy to have a friend recommend Dr. Cortese’s office. The entire staff is involved, caring, and great at what they do. I love the atmosphere — the humor. Everyone genuinely seems happy to be doing their jobs. They are STELLAR with my small child. They entertain her and are amused by her antics. They have fun with her so she isn’t afraid of the dentist. They filled a cavity of hers in 5 minutes tops without any need for numbing. And I have been pleased with all of my dental work as well. I can’t say enough good things about this place!

I’ve only been to one dentist my entire life so I don’t have anything to compare to, but I do know that the people who work here are some of the nicest and humorous people I have met. Dentist or not. I have never had a bad experience here and I don’t think I will. While everyone who works at Dr Cortese is talking and joking to customers and among themselves, they never loose their professionalism.

The best dentists ever. I have referred friends and family to Dr. Cortese for years and years. If you don’t like your dentist or don’t have one, give them a call. You won’t be disappointed.

I’m brutal with my teeth! I grind them all day long and they’re wearing away. And I have a 5 tooth bridge. In the past my bridge came loose a few times because I «click» my teeth a lot. He took the time to make sure that the bridge fit my bite (and that took a lot of patience on his part). It hasn’t come out in over a year… that’s a record.
I went there for a cleaning yesterday and got Maryanne (sp?). I complemented her on how gentle she was. Very friendly office all around and «old» Dr. Cortese and Nancy «sparring» keep me in stitches. The worst part is laughing with tools in my mouth.

My family and I have been going to this dental office for a few years now — and we have had nothing but positive experiences. The staff make an effort to know their patients, and strive hard to create a comfortable atmosphere. My children, who have never been thrilled to come to the dentist, love coming to this office. Recently my 12 year old stopped into the office after school, to have the dentist check out an issue he was having — by himself! That alone should tell you that this place is great!

Okay– I will admit it is hard to laugh while someone is doing dentistry, but I would’t have it any other way. The office was just updated– COMPLETELY new and super nice, but it hasn’t gone to their heads, or anything. They are the same great people being great about dental care! I highly suggest them.

If you haven’t been to the dentist for a long time because you get nervous and tense up every time you even think about it; fear no more! Both Dr. Corteses (Father and Son) will put you at ease. They are smart, funny and they care about you and your teeth! They’re thorough, and do top notch work. Five stars for sure.
This is an entire family of dentists. I am positive dentistry is in their blood. The office is cozy, everyone is extremely friendly and there is street parking. You can’t ask for more.

Terrible.
They just want to charge me by carving my healthy teeth and taking too many x-​rays. I have no idea why some people write a good review on this place. They must be doctor’s friends or something.
I guess the reason why they did such a terrible treatment to me is because they thought I could not understand English and they could take advantage of me.
Also, equipments they are using are super primitive. Are you from 1970s? I was born in 80s and have never seen those primitive equipments.
They pretend to be very friendly but they just want to make money.
Terrible terrible.
I really regret that I used this place.

My 7 year old son was a patient at another «Children’s dentist» in El Cerrito. He became very fearful (okay totally out of control) and the dentist wanted to completely sedate him to fill a tiny cavity. I’m usually pretty compliant, but not with that extreme procedure and cost!
So, a friend recommended Dr. Cortese. Nancy and Dr. Cortese were amazingly gentle, calm, funny and gave my son enough feeling of control. They were willing to wait to fill the cavity until he got used to them. Over the course of a year, he completely changed his attitude and has absolutely no fear after 3 years.
I wish I had known about this office about 20 years ago so I could have taken all 7 of my kids! Give them a try.

It takes a good man to tell a bad joke…
I pretty much live in Pleasant Hill these days. But when it’s time for my regular dental appointment, you’ll find me enthusiastically back at Dr. Joe’s office. Actually his son has worked on me the last couple times, as the Senior Cortese is off teaching or otherwise doing the Lord’s work. I guess my travel stories of Fatima and Santiago de Compestela will have to wait.
I wrote the first 5 Star Unilocal Review for Dr. Joseph Cortese and he remains at the top of my list for quality Dental Care. He and his Family should be your Dentists too.

Been going to his practice since forever. I think I chose him because I was surprised he was in the area. I’m so used to being in sterile, all-​white dentist offices that it was refreshing to see this business based in a converted house in a residential neighborhood.
I usually get Nancy. I love hearing her banter with Dr. Cortese. Every single visit they one up each other on insults. Makes me feel at ease. It’s tough not to laugh when they have instruments poking around in your mouth.
And of course, the kids. I believe he was only on «Brady Bunch-​style» kid number 6 (or was it «Eight is Enough-​style» kid number 8?) when I first started to see him. He’s now at number 10 and also a grampa (but looks so much younger — he’d easily pass off as a guy in his mid 30s). Now one of his relatives is practicing in the office.
Waiting room is a converted living room. Same black leather couch. Small office — only 2 chairs. Very relaxed atmosphere. I’m in and out in 15 minutes.
I enjoy my visits here. Even my dentist-​phobe husband has changed his mind about dentists ever since I managed to get him to go to his first dentist visit in years.

Highly recommended. Joseph Cortese has 10 kids (!!); his son and son-​in-​law work with him, which is nice. The practice has been there for 30 years; the two hygienists (Julia and Nancy) for 20 and 15 years, and the front desk manager for something like 10 years — and her daughter just started working there, too. That definitely says a lot of about the practice itself.
Julia was the hygienist who worked with me, and she (and everyone else) was really friendly, warm, open, inviting, and also gave me a lot of good information about my teeth. Some advice was preventative (I apparently am blessed with nice chompers), and some was more for good general maintenance. She also very nicely removed some instruments from my mouth so that I could answer questions (rather than trying to talk with my mouth full of metal).
Other pros: free (easy) street parking, cozy environment (it looks like it used to be a house), efficient, not painful, awesome hours — evenings available!!, kid-​friendly (I saw toys in the waiting area), a window that overlooks Albany Hill, professional, clean, and DOES NOT SMELL LIKE A DENTIST’s OFFICE.
Tips — for the first visit, arrive early — the history form is decently long. They take Delta Dental. Mastercard or Visa only.
I love having such a nice neighborhood dentist!

I recommend Dr. Cortese for a dentist. You may not get him but probably one of his other family members to check your teeth. His son, daughter-​in-​law, and son-​in-​law are all dentists. It’s a pretty informal environment-​joking goes on between the dentists and front office staff.
What I really like about the office is their evening hours. I’ve always scheduled to come in at 7 pm so I don’t have to take off from work.