Vaksman Dental Group

I am so lucky I found Dr Vaksman! –I have been her patient for about 3 years and I have never been so happy with a dentist.
I had several different procedures and all of them have been a fantastic experience, starting with Invisalign. My teeth had shifted and created a gap which made stop smiling. After this treatment, now I can proudly smile!
Dr Vaksman has a gentle and caring bedside manner and I have never felt so comfortable and safe in the hands of a dentist.
Moreover, she has always thoroughly discussed procedure estimates and had never put any pressure on me, or recommended unnecessary procedures.
I always look forward to my visit to Dr Vaksman’s office.
Top professional.

This dental practice deserves 10 stars! I started seeing Dr. Vaksam and her team about two years ago. Despite living in New York, I’m in SF often enough to schedule routine cleanings twice per year. When one of her associates, Dr. Farwaha confirmed that I needed a crown, I looked for a dentist in New York (at Dr. Vaksam’s suggestion). Easier said then done since the first one I went to in NY wanted to charge me a fortune! I immediately checked in with Dr. Vaksam’s office and scheduled the two necessary appointments for a crown. Thankfully work flies me to SF routinely however I willingly covered my own flight for the second visit involving the permanent crown application and I would do it all over again! From Dr. Vaksam and Dr. Farwaha to Bernadette the dental hygienist, I feel blessed to have found a group of professionals who are well versed in the latest technologies, who were able to provide me the relief I needed and who offer fair pricing in addition to a clean and pleasant environment. Thank you Dr. Vaksam… I’ll be back!

I had such a great experience here. All the staff is really friendly. Dr khan did my consultation and she is great! I am really picky with dentist and i felt really comfortable with her. Monique was great, when she presented the proposed treatment plan to me, she explained everything and she didnt make me feel pressured into doing treatment. Not like some offices you go to. Im really happy that i chose to come here, i feel comfortable with the dr and the staff. Looks like i found my new favorite general office!!! Highly recommend this office if you are looking for an office in the city!!!

Where do I start?! This place is simply amazing and has given me the best customer service and dental help I have ever had. First, you walk into a beautiful serene office with smiling faces to help you with all your questions. The wonderful front desk ladies Lupe and Monique are so sweet and really go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable. Dr. Volfson is so profession and genuinely nice. She walks you through all the steps and even made sure to txt me when I was feeling sick. If I could give this establishment 10 stars I would. The whole staff is so friendly and I recommend them to anyone looking for a dentist!!! So much love and appreciation for such kind hearted people who are knowledgable and love their job!
–Carrie

Do NOT — I repeat NOT — ever go to this dental office. I was looking for a dentist 18 months ago and phoned this office due to the positive reviews on Unilocal and because I got one of those discount coupons they were offering for an initial visit. All of the reviews were based on Irena Vaksman, but when I arrived for the appointment I was informed that she was away and that I would be seeing another dentist (Dr. Khan). As I had already purchased the coupon I went ahead, and then the entire experience went downhill from there. All of the other staff/​dental assistants there (at least, at that time) seemed to be either learning on the job or simply slow. The x-​rays didn’t come out so they had to do them all twice (doubling the amount of radiation for me) — the girl said «sorry, I think I forgot to push a button — it’s a new machine for me». My initial visit ran 3 hours instead of 45 minutes because of constant delays and overbooked rooms. The woman who cleaned my teeth was rough and painful. They said that the x-​rays showed that I absolutely had to have a tooth filled (even though it was causing no pain), and then that one filling had me in the chair — nonstop — for five hours!!! It seemed like everyone was moving in slow motion and then two of the «assistants» couldn’t get the filling to be smooth and even — and also they seemed to schedule 3 – 4 patients all at the same time, in different rooms. I felt like I had gone the «savers route» and signed up to be a guinea pig at a dental school, but no, the astronomical bill was proof that I SHOULD have done that. In the end, they sent me to a root canal specialist in the same building, and HE was WONDERFUL and amazing, so that I guess was a silver lining.

Let’s face it, the dentist is not fun but having a great dentist can make all the difference. I saw Dr. Farwaha and she was amazing. There was no shaming me for not coming in sooner or not flossing enough. I even bit her a few times and she was so nice about it. Her chair side manner is great and she did a wonderful job with my cleaning and filling. The whole staff was great!

I went back for a follow-​up and it went really well. The staff there works with you to make sure you’re satisfied.
Office: The technology here is amazing. This is the first dentist I went to that took actual pictures of my teeth and showed me pictures if there was any issue with the tooth. It’s really hard for us as customers to believe what really needs work when we can’t see the actual damage.
Dr. Farwaha: Very professional and personable. She addressed all my questions and told me if there was any issue, to call back and they’ll do their best to fix whatever needs adjusting.
Hygienist — I think her name was Bernadette: She was also very personal and friendly. She assisted the front desk to make sure I wasn’t over charged since I signed up for a plan the office had offered.
My original concerns were addressed:
— Blue stain: The blue did disappear but it turns out the stain was where the tooth and the inlay met. The Dr. filled it and polished it out so that the stain was covered.
— tooth pain/​jaw soreness was my mouth adjusting to the new bite since I had 2 large tooth done.

I had x rays taken as a yearly check up on my teeth. First of all it was hard to make an appointment since I had to wait for over 9 weeks. When I had the X rays taken that day it took over 2 hours just for x rays and cleaning (they should have told me upfront).
After that they had made the total treatment plan, it was clear that they wanted to make business. I hadn’t had any caries over the last 10 years and had regularly check ups. Now they told me I had 8 cavities and needed a cap to put over a tooth. I was so silly to go ahead booking an appointment to fill a cavity. It looked nicely done, but there was a constant pain when I had to chew with that tooth. A total nightmare since I had to go again for adjusting the filling. It did that twice. Then after the second adjustment Dr Farwaha just said ‘well you will just have to live with that pain’. I was flabbergasted since I had never had experienced tooth pain before and suddenly after a cleaning, an x ray and one filling of a cavity, I experienced pain in my mouth for the first time. They must have had hit a nerve while filling since the nerves in that tooth reach out far. IT has been now over 2 months and I’m still experiencing pain when chewing on muesli, toast… anything solid that needs grinding with the back tooth. I don’t know what to do since it is a perfect healthy tooth and now it looks like only getting the roots out seem like the solution. But then i have a tooth that will be fragile for the rest of my life. A D I E U Vaksman.

5 stars for the treatment received by Dr. Nonna Volksman. She is in the loop on the latest treatment options, sensitive, conservative and not bad on the eyes. I was very impressed with the thoroughness of the examination and the recommendations. The office is very clean (which unfortunately isn’t common in San Francisco for some reason).
The office staff seemed very lovely and very nice; however, after 5 phone calls to the office, I was not able to get a copy of the recommended treatment plan and quote for work. I would have loved to schedule and continue treatment but I can’t seem to get past the front desk. Disappointing.

Dr. Vaksman is truly the best of the best. I have been going to her for over 7 years and have never had anything but exceptional treatments, service, and kind friendly interactions with her hygienists and staff.
I would highly recommend her practice to anyone. She deserves accolades for her great care and thorough explanation of options and treatment plans.
There’s not too many dentists out there that really show a deep level of caring about there patients — Dr. Vaksman is one of those rare gems.

The best dental practice in San Francisco. Excellent team and a great dental experience. Floss more!

I purchased the groupon for $ 59 for an exam, X-​rays, and standard cleaning. All of the office staff was kind, intelligent, and very welcoming. I had not been to the dentist in about 4 years and was very honest about this from the start. Instead of feeling «shame» or being «scolded» Dr. Vaksman smiled and simply stated, «well now is better than never.» Seriously, first time I have ever had a dentist not go into a 20min lecture, instead she explained my xrays in a cohesive manner, walked me through my future options, and made some strong recommendations of how to get back on track for my dental health. I will be returning in April for my deep cleaning and taking advantage of her in office savings plan. Again, I must say I had a great expirence in this office and plan on being with Dr. Vaksman’s group for the long haul. Once my open enrollment insurance comes around and I can then still have Dr. Vaksman as part of my PPO –Yay! If you are wondering why I didn’t give 5stars, my appt was rescheduled 4 times, not a huge thing just kind of frustrating — obviously not a deal breaker!
EDIT: 4÷19÷2015
Went through my deep cleaning process on April 2 2015 — it was EASY BREEZY! I could not believe the minimal amount of pain and the appropriate amount of numbing solution. Typically when you receiving numbing injections, you end up with a frozen drooly face for the next three to four hours; here I was able to talk, swallow, and not drool all over myself by the end of the cleaning. I really appreciated not being overly pumped up with Novocaine. Thank you!

Five stars for the hygienist. She was thorough and very nice!
But –3 for the late dentist. My appointment was at 8am, and Dr. Kahn didn’t even show up until 9:10am.
Everyone was texting and calling asking where she was, and when she finally arrived she didn’t even introduce herself, but just started telling me that my X-​rays looked great. I had to ask, «I’m sorry, who are you?» So unprofessional! She glanced at my teeth and said everything looked fine. Great, thanks doc.
Even if the other DDSs in the practice aren’t late, this is a reflection on how poorly they run their business. With so many dental offices to choose from, why would I go back here?

This place is a complete SCAM.
Do not trust them with ANY recommendations. I bought a groupon (don’t have insurance) for a cleaning with Irena Vaksman and was told that I should get about $ 500 in work done — two fillings: one pretty large cavity which was under a filling that needed to be replaced (which was the short-​term option instead of a crown) and one other filling for an indentation on one tooth near the gum.
Because something felt suspicious about being there, I decided to get the work done somewhere else. I got a referral from a friend. I arrived mentally preparing to get the cavity and the indentation filled… and to my surprise, the dentist told me that not only did i NOT HAVE A CAVITY, but that it’s actually a bad idea to fill the indentation because A) you have to carve out more of the tooth to put in a filling, and B) the tooth will be fine for at least 10 years… and it’s better to wait until much later to even consider filling an indentation like that.
He had me hold up a mirror and watch him poking around, showing me that he felt NO stickiness where the cavity should be. And he went over my ex rays in detail (which I had forwarded from Vaksman’s office) with me, showing me that the place where the cavity should be looked EXACTLY the same as all the other teeth that had fillings. And perhaps the most disturbing thing is that there is a little area on the side of my tooth (that I thought had a cavity), which looks a bit dark. I told Vaksman that I thought I had a cavity because it looked dark in that spot and and she said «yes, you were right». As if that darkness showed a cavity. I told this to the other dentist and he said, «no, that’s just a stain.»
I am appalled at medical professionals who’s business model includes taking advantage of patients. My new dentist sent me out the door with noting and he has earned a client for life.

Wonderful and competent staff! After walking in was immediately offered water.
I used a groupon and I couldn’t tell by the way they acted. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. My teeth were cleaned more extensively than they had been for a long time. The staff showed my X-​rays and photos on a screen in front of me and explained everything. Very knowledgable and not pushy.

They are making effort to correct my concerns. I expect people do explain how their company works the same way I explain how mine works.
When dealing with health & high ticket purchases I deserve to know how my bill is calculated & why I get charged the way I do. They called me back to explain it. That’s all I needed.
ALWAYS get a 2^nd opinion! I am the person who gets cavities regardless of brushing 2x a day and flossing before bed. I had a cavity on a tooth that already had 2 fillings, they recommended a crown (still gives me issues). I called my friend in Seattle who’s a dentist and he said he’d recommend the same. BE CAREFUL about cavities! Some cavities can re-​mineralize! Do you OWN research and stay informed.
I am NOT a dentist… Just someone who researches & has dentist friends outside on California. At the end of the day. Its your personal responsibility to stay informed. Even the best doctors make mistakes.

After receiving a private message from the Dr. Irena Vacksman I have decided to change my rating. She asked me to come in for a free exam and cleaning so she can give her personal evaluation of my oral health. I appreciate the offer and will reach out to her in the future when I am ready for my semi-​annual exam. Thanks Dr. Irena!

Great staff, efficient visit and a nice view! — I moved to SF 1.5 years ago and finally decided to get my annual cleaning. A friend recommended this office and I had a very solid experience. The staff was courteous, and explained each step of the cleaning process and what I needed to do to maintain my teeth on my own. My visit was very efficient — I was seen at my appointment time and was in and out in an hour. As an added bonus — the view of the city from the office is terrific!

THIS PLACE IS SUCH A SCAM!!!
I’ve honestly never felt more scammed by a business before. I found this dentist on Groupon for a cleaning and decided to go in February 2014 because my wisdom tooth was bothering me and I was due for a cleaning anyways. I had read all the «good» reviews on Unilocal so I figured it would be alright.
My actual in office experience here was alright… they recommended that I remove my wisdom teeth, which I agree with but also found that I needed over $ 7,000 worth of work (with no insurance) done! This included 3 cavities, two crowns and a root canal. I was so freaked out because at the time I didn’t have dental insurance. So because of their findings that I had to get all this work done, I got my own private dental insurance.
Fast forward to August 2014 and $ 200 dollars later in monthly insurance costs, I moved to Los Angeles and immediately found a dentist here to get a check up and figure out all the dental work I needed to get done. Come to find out I DON’T HAVE ANY CAVITIES OR NEED ANY WORK DONE!!! I was so surprised and shocked.
Moral of the story — Vaksman dental is a scam and are only looking to get your money. What kind of business, especially dentists, would recommend that much work to be done when it’s not even necessary. This business should be ashamed of itself.

I came here because I bought a Groupon deal. I liked how the place looked. Very clean. The front desk ladies were ok. The dentist and assistant were nice, very efficient. They did a good job. Part of the 3 stars was the prices. I wasn’t comfortable with the high estimate that they gave me. I gotta shop around before I decide.

I’m interested in Invisaligns and decided to turn to Google to find some possible orthodontists in the area. Dr. Vaksman’s promotional Google ad appeared at the top of the search results, so I clicked to it. Her webpage (which is nicely organized) advertises a very good Invisalign promo at her office: $ 3995 after scheduling a complimentary exam & Invisalign consultation; complimentary one-​hour parking validation; complimentary teeth whitening for eligible day patients; $ 1000 fee reduction for eligible patients or $ 2000 reduction with online form; and interest free repayment plans available. The text in the ad reiterated all these promotional benefits, ending with a cheerful, «So, what do you have to lose?» This seemed like a good promo by any angle, and so I made an appointment for today (I am posting screenshots of the web page so that it is clear that I’m not exaggerating or mis-​reading the promo). I did read reviews of Dr. Vaksman’s office before making the appointment, and even though there were a healthy number of negative reviews, I thought I would give it a shot. People on Unilocal either really love or really hate and there can be a lot of bias in reviews as a result, so it made sense to explore some more before deciding.
Pros: Dr. Vaksman’s office is aesthetically pleasing with a lot of nice natural light and soothing colors. The receptionist seemed nice enough (although she was unfortunately put in an awkward spot — more on that below). Dr. Vaksman herself was polite during our 20-​minute discussion. Jasmine, the person who goes over financial details with clients, also seemed pleasant. My email exchanges with Juliette were also cordial.
Cons: There seems to be a lack of attention to detail. Or at least that is what I would like to think, given the vast difference in what is promised online versus what the patient actually receives at the office visit (the less charitable view would be that this office is using bait-​and-​switch tactics to get potential patients to show up). I arrived the requested 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork. At that time, I asked the receptionist if she could validate my parking ticket before I forgot. She said that the office doesn’t validate because it does not have any parking spots in the garage below. I explained that the promo information clearly states that patients will receive complimentary 1-​hour parking validation. She said that the information I read was outdated and that she would inform her office manager. While I know web pages can have errors, it seems odd that someone managed to change the date on the promo page to reflect available appointments on August 22, but still failed to remove the two separate mentions of parking validation. The parking was only $ 11, so the money is not the point. The lack of attention to detail is what raised a red flag for me. Dr. Vaksman showing up 15 minutes late to our appointment without a word of acknowledgement, apology, or reason raised another. Sure, it was a complimentary consultation, but first impressions count. My impression was that she didn’t really value my time. To be fair, she was willing to answer questions, which I appreciated, but it was a pretty fast consultation, about 20 minutes total. I brought up the fact that the promo was incorrect online regarding the parking validation, and I asked her how much the cost for treatment would be, since it was possible that the online promo was entirely wrong. She explained that Jasmine would come in to talk with me about the financial details. Again, Dr. Vaksman seems just fine, but just not terribly interested. I’m sure complimentary consultations eat into her time for «real» appointments, but it made me ask myself if I wanted to enter a 9 – 12 month (or more) relationship with someone who seemed pretty disinterested.
Jasmine was pleasant, as I mentioned. The estimate she brought in, unfortunately, was not. The paper she brought in showed my fee at $ 5,000, after a $ 995 discount. She went over the three options for payment and had me initial the page to show that she had gone over it. After seeing the paperwork and the disparity between the numbers there and the advertised promo ($ 3995 vs $ 5000), I knew I wouldn’t be getting my Invisaligns with them, so I didn’t bother bringing up the promo. I figured I’d be told the website was incorrect, as I had been told with the parking validation, and I didn’t want to waste any more time.
I AM, however, taking time to write this up, because I hope to save other Unilocalers from a similarly strange, disappointing experience. I also hope the dental office changes the online advertisement so that potential patients aren’t misled.

First let me start by saying I love this office and my dentist.
When I first made my appointment for an Invisalign consultation I worked with the girl at the front desk who was super polite and scheduled me in right away.
Fast forward to my first appointment I was offered my choice of coffee while I waited since I arrived early like I try and normally do, which was very nice gesture since it was so early in the morning.
When I first met my Dr, Dr. Khan, my first thought was «holy crap she’s beautiful» and I proceeded to look at the floor while she introduced herself and provided me some information. I eventually relaxed and we went over what I wanted to correct with Invisalign and talk about a few small baby cavities that I had after neglecting my dental health for a few years.
We scheduled an appointment to get the cavities taken care of so I could have a fresh start before Invisalign.
Today I came in on Saturday to get the right side taken care of, and the whole process was amazing. Dr. Khan is the nicest person I know and does extremely proficient work. The filings were painless and she was there to offer positive support the whole time as we made our way through each part.
When I got home today I looked at the right side of my back teeth where she worked and it looks white and perfect. No more small dark spots. Absolutely no sign of filings, just like nice teeth.
I look forward to my future appointments and can’t recommend this dentists office enough.
They’re awesome!

I got a coupon off living social and the deal was just too good to pass up so I came in (w/​o insurance) for a cleaning, x-​rays and an in-​depth evaluation of my teeth. After years of dental work, I became rebellious and can sadly say I hadn’t been to a dentist in over 6 years. I knew I had cavities and was hoping to hear I didn’t have worse.
Jasmine at the front desk was welcoming and very easy to talk to. She didn’t make me feel weird for using a living social coupon and even knew my name before I told her who I was.
Milton my dental assistant was genital and yet efficient.
But it was Dr. Rihana Khan who really did a superb job explaining what she was doing to my teeth that has convinced me to continue with this office. She was informative and listened to me. She did a great job with my cleaning (I have super sensitive gums) and made sure to check in on the pain (there was barely any) the whole way through. She was intelligent and yet very personable and made my experience a great one.
The prices they gave me for the work I will need, assuming I don’t have insurance, are still pretty low for the quality of work they do. It helps that they have Unilocal coupons and living social coupons too.
I recommend this place to anyone shopping fir a new dentist
A++++