Robin T Levi,DDS

I’m new to the area. A friend recommended dr. Levi. The hygienist that saw me was friendly but much rougher than I’m used to. Dr. Levi is also nice but I didn’t seem to get careful attention resulting in my loosing a tooth. My new dentist is much much better.

Avoid avoid avoid! My wife and I put up with this awful place for too long — we’re hoping others can learn from our experience.
Dr. Levi is almost always running late. The office will give you a number of plausible explanations, but it’s all down to overbooking and general tardiness by the doctor herself. I often made it a point to book the first appointment of the day with her (8a.m.) in order to not be late to work, but I lost count how many times I sat in that dark hallway outside her office as she walked in 10, 15, sometimes 30 mins late. «Oh, traffic was awful today,» «We just got back from Tahoe and my kid broke his leg,» «Car wouldn’t start,» «Couldn’t find my keys.» Amazing for a practice that had the nerve to charge for late arrivals and cancellations!
The knock-​on effect of her tardiness and overbooking (mentioned in other reviews) is that your procedure *will* be rushed, care will not be taken, you will not get the attention you deserve, and mistakes will occur. Numerous times I endured pain before anesthesia took effect, or sat with an open cavity in my jaw because my doctor was on a call or with one of several other patients. Once she couldn’t recall whether anesthesia had been administered at all. When I pointed out it hadn’t they actually argued with me about it, then rushed to start work before it had taken effect because they «were running behind now.» Numerous times I was late to work or other appointments because of the way this office operated. The juggling was constant and disorganization was the norm.
The final straw for us was the day I went in to have a crown put in, and Dr. Levi was pulled away more than once to see to other patients. She was harried and frantic and told the assistant (her daughter, I think?) to finish. This unqualified hack spent 15 excruciating minutes sliding that temp crown in and out of place to try to get the bite correct on the real thing. After rinsing I went to reception and requested all my files be sent to our new dentist, and never looked back.
I echo the other comments on here about billing for unnecessary procedures and upselling, and the overall quality of her work. Because I’m not a dentist, though, it’s a more difficult assessment to make. I will say that she recommended things that my current doc calls «questionable,» and he has referred to some of her work as «sub-​par.»

My husband and I have seen Dr. Levi for 10+ years and always been very happy. I love David, hygienist, and especially appreciate that he smears Vaseline on my lips before making me hold my mouth open for 30 minutes.
I have no real dental problems, but Dr. Levi is always great when I see her. A few years ago she replaced a false tooth that was made for me when I was a kid and it looks great. Her staff are super friendly. All in all, you can’t ask for me in a dentist.

I went to Dr. Levy for many years and I was somewhat lukewarm, though I actually did refer her to one friend. That friend was unhappy and through her complaint I was able to better understand my hesitation and eventually to decide to look for another dentist.
Now, that I finally made the plunge and have been going to another dentist for a few years (and I am VERY happy with him) I feel like I have enough perspective to comment on her.
I think she is a competent dentist but not an excellent dentist — over the years I had some issues with the work she did having to be re-​done — not often but it did happen. My friend also had a technical complaint about the work — again not egregious — but also not great…
She does not have much patience for pain sensitive patients. She gives her novacaine shots quickly, she doesn’t allow for much «stopping» during the procedure when you are feeling pain or anxiety. She is definitely NOT for patients that want a touchy-​feely type…
And her policy for charging you for a missed appt EVEN if you have a valid excuse — like you are sick and EVEN if you are a long-​time patient — is really over the top.
Overall though she is pleasant and her office staff is nice. Her offices are have a gorgeous view of the hills. I found a hygienist there I really liked.
So if you go to her overall you will do okay. BUT I think you can do better, I know I have.

Okay, I guess I couldn’t believe the so-​so reviews for Dr. Levi. First of all, I am the biggest dental chicken in the world and wouldn’t go to anyone that caused me pain. I am still pleasantly surprised that in the 13 years I have gone to her, she has not caused me any pain. Even the novocaine shots because she knows that if you inject slowwwwwly, it does not hurt.
Secondly, I have had nothing but the best care. Fillings, Crowns replaced and at least one new crown. I have mediocre dental insurance and so sometimes I have to pay a little, but it’s never been much, and never a surprise.
Lastly, I have found her and her staff to be extremely open and friendly. But then I think that if you don’t have the friendly karma thing going on, it is harder for others to be friendly towards you.
I do and have recommended Dr. Levi to all my friends and family, and even strangers because I really appreciate the care I have received from her.

She is definitely no nonsense and aims to be efficient and has a lot of experience. I sometimes do wish she would explain more, and some things are charged extra without being explained to me, there should be a warning! Unfortunately, my fillings weren’t the smoothest (pain and efficiency wise) and I have definitely experienced better (i have been to dentists a lot!). The hygienists are hit or miss too.

Well, first of all I went for a check up that ended in an ultrasonic teeth cleaning and an x ray. She did not once asked if I wanted them or not.
She was ok, not too talkative. She did not share much information about how my teeth are during the check up. I had to interrogate her in the last 2 minute that she dedicated for me. I felt like in a game show where I will be kicked out when the time is up.
The thing that kind of pissed me off is that she chipped my tooth and she didn’t tell me. Instead, she asked me if I grind my teeth (I guess she figured when I go home and see, I may think that it was like that before the cleaning) Well, my tooth was not chipped before the cleaning. Anyway. I thought that was not very ethical. Other than that I have no experience with her.

i have gone to dr. levi’s for at least 5 years now. i like the staff — they are all very kind, friendly, and warm.
i do get annoyed though that often times they seem to be quite behind schedule even though i arrive on time, which makes me wonder if they take on way too many patients than they can really handle. dr. levi is nice, but seems a little too busy, always moving from patient to patient.
although i understand the motivation (lost time, many patients), i don’t like how there is a fee/​fine imposed on you if you do not give 2 days notice of cancellation. it seems 1 day should suffice. on the other hand, it seems that if you are sick the day of your appointment and must cancel, the usual cancellation fee is not imposed.
i wish the overhead music was classical, rather than cheesy ‘love hits from the 80s, 90s, and today’ sort of thing.
that said, they seem to do fabulous, thorough work on my teeth, and seem honest.
they accepted my ppo insurance.

I don’t know why the building manager put a «Beware of Pickpockets» sign in the elevator – the office is in a perfectly fine area of Berkeley – but that’s the only puzzling aspect of the Dr. Levi dental experience.
Dr. Levi has an extreme command of everything technical and she doesn’t waste your time with anything unnecessary. This results in you getting in and out with time to spare before you are supposed to be back at the office.
Her staff will even try to explain to you how dental insurance works, but you still won’t understand.
I had all my toxic fillings replaced with good-​tasting and good-​for-​you ceramics over the course of six months. Also, I topped it all off with a crown. All of these normal procedures were accomplished with no tears.
I am lucky to count Dr. Levi amongst my stable of professional up keepers.