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Dr. Scott McKinzie, DMD
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Lower Hills, Grand Lake
3931 Grand Ave
(between Boulevard Way & Jean St)
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 654-3030
3931 Grand Ave
(between Boulevard Way & Jean St)
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 654-3030
We Support Education
When you visit our office as a new patient, we will make a $50 contribution to the school of your choice, public or private.
Announced 1 week ago
1 of 8
- Hours:
Mon. 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Mon. 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tue. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wed. 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
25 reviews for Dr. Scott McKinzie, DMD
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
8/21/2009
Updated - 10/5/2009
12/4/2009
1/13/2010
11/10/2009
Updated - 11/16/2009
3/14/2009
1/1/2009
7/24/2009
11/1/2008
7/20/2009
7/11/2009
6/24/2009
6/27/2009
2/10/2009
12/22/2008
9/11/2007
11/2/2008
9/19/2008
4/30/2009
4/29/2009
3/5/2009
2/11/2009
7/10/2008
4/9/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
The services are gentle and excellent AND they'll donate $50 to a school of your choice if you're a new patient! I think that's phenomenal. If you're a new patient and you don't know what school to pick, I'd like to recommend the Oakland elementary school Think College Now.
They are extremely kid friendly and my 6 year old son asked if we could go back the day after we left. highly recommended for single parents and/or if you're looking for a dentist for your child.
I had written a review last year but I definitely think I need a follow-up.
I'm an idiot. Despite having received a reminder slip from my last visit, a nice voicemail from Kate, AND a postcard from Dr. McKinzie's office, I somehow managed to still miss my 8am appointment (just moved to a new home so things were hectic). NOT ONLY did they reschedule me the NEXT DAY, but refused to charge me a penalty for my missed appointment.
5 stars all the way for sure... THANKS GUYS
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/24/2008
Was a new patient -- here is my experience:
Called on a Monday, got my appointment that Wednesday.… Read more »
Dr. McKinzie and his staff are outstanding. They are always professional, efficient and friendly. They use the most up-to-date equipment and are very thorough with my teeth cleanings and other needs. Even though I moved out of Oakland, I would not consider going anywhere else. It's worth it to come to a dentist you can trust.
This place is dental heaven. Freakin Awesome Dentist Office..If You need dental treatment call for an appointment asap. Suberb warm customer service and you can tell they really give a damn. I've dreaded dental visits all my life until I visited this place. 5 Stars
Thank you Yelpers for finding this gem. I hadn't been planning to switch dentists until I went in for a routine cleaning in July and was told my molar had a "suspicious pink halo.". Translation: cavity. Then the wench at the front desk proceeds to tell me they can't fit me in until November. WTF. With visions of root canals dancing in my head I turned to yelp and found Dr. Mckinzie. His lovely wife kate answered the phone. She told me they could fit me in the next day at 7:45. She took my insurance information over the phone and found out what would be covered, She called me back promptly with the information. Within less than 24 hourse, my tooth was fixed as promised. Not only does this office provide good, timely care, they provide excellent customer service. Who knew going to the dentists could be such a pleasant experience?
Best cleaning EVER!
This was my first cleaning at this office - I had scaling/root planing done a few months ago. They have a new hygienist, Marjan, who is super super gentle and friendly and gave me a 100% pain free cleaning. They also had little sunglasses so that the overhead light didn't shine in your eyes. I had changed insurance since my last visit and Kate handled it with no problem. LOVE this office!!!! They make me feel excited to go to the dentist.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2009
I can't even BEGIN to list all the wonderful things about Scott McKinzie's practice. I hadn't been… Read more »
All the 5-star reviews are justified. Dr. McKinzie and his staff have a great dentist-chair-side manner. You will be in competent, caring hands. His office is modern and comfortable. My visit went very smoothly.
I had to switch dentists because I moved, and it took me half a day to visit my former dentist's office. Dr. McKinzie's staff worked with my insurance company and former dentist so I wouldn't have to. I called around to other dentist, and they wanted me to do all the work, which I sort of expected. But Dr. McKinzie's front office person (and wife) Kate worked with my insurance company to get whatever clearances I needed and made sure my previous dentist sent my x-rays and chart in time for my visit. And she did all this for me on one-day's notice.
Dr. McKinzie takes care of all the things people hate about going to the dentist. You'll be in excellent hands. . .
Awesome people. Took my fiancee in right away and fixed her chipped tooth. I went to them later on and got my teeth cleaned before I went to meet the fiancees parents.
It was a delightful experience, the cleaning I got. But someone needs to invent more ergonomic oral x-ray bite downs. But other than that I will make them my place of choice for dental care.
The Eggnog was great.
I found Dr. Scott though a yelp search for 'pediatric dentists' and the five star ratings are right on! Called yesterday to set up my son's first cleaning and exam and Kate pulled out all the stops, verifying for me that my son's coverage was in place and was able to schedule me the next day (am sure that opening was pure luck, so don't get your hopes up!). Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned I found them on Yelp, but I doubt it would have been much different.
Little Leo was afraid to go, but after some explaining that this was a 'fun visit', to prevent having to make an 'ouch visit' we were ready to go.
My little guy was so nervous (a little quiver in the chin) but everyone was so warm and welcoming, Kate at the front desk, his hygienist Kathy, and Dr. M., before I knew it there were giggles from the teeth-cleaning and a pronouncement of 'I love you' to Kate at the front desk.
My guy does not toss affection out easily and can always tell genuine nice from fake, so that is the ultimate five-star rating from him.
Thanks to all for making my son's first dentist visit outstanding!!
BTW, any dentist who does not have a treasure-toy chest is missing out on the best reward for kids. You should have seen his eyes light up and mouth hit the floor. Plus his complimentary super-hero battery toothbrush was a huge hit!
I have lived in Oakland for over 2 years now, but until last week had insisted on keeping appointments with my childhood dentist in Orange County. I had always felt so welcome and taken care of, I couldn't imagine going to a new dentist.
I am SO GLAD I found Dr. McKinzie's office. From the first time I called to make an appointment I knew I was in good hands. Kate, the office manager/ Dr. McKinzie's wife was so friendly and warm on the phone. She said she was so happy that I called them. When she heard I was finally making a switch from my childhood dentist, she reassured me that they would take good care of me. I called on a Monday, and she scheduled my appointment for Wednesday. By Wed. she had called my former dentist and gotten all of my information.
Everyone I met in the office is absolutely wonderful. Dr. McKinzie is so approachable and kind. Mallory, who did my x-rays was gentle and kept checking to be sure that I was doing ok. Kathy, who did my cleaning was excellent and fun to talk to. And of course, Kate just made the whole experience run smoothly. They even donated $50 to my school since I am a new patient... awesome!
I have always enjoyed going to my former dentist, and I am happy to say I look forward to my next appointment in April at Dr. McKinzie's office!
YAY! BEST DENTIST EVER! At least in my 33 years. Nicest staff (Kate is a doll) and fantastic care. I have crappy teeth (thanks Mom and Dad!) and they pass no judgement, make no snarky remarks about flossing daily. Dr. McKinzie is a sweet, affable man who is accessible and warm- he never makes me feel intimidated or bad about the sad state of my teeth (they are not THAT bad- just full of fillings). My husband who, until he met me, had no dental insurance was petrified of going but they were SO good to him and even commended him on how nice his teeth were despite years of not seeing a dentist. Highest recommendation possible. I could not be happier with them. In fact, I totally enjoy going there- they offer me sparkling water or tea and the newest gossip filled magazines- yay!
A good dentist is a very hard thing to find, that Dr. McKinzie and his whole staff are the best. Try them, you will be glad you did. Great work, great people.
Wow!
The nicest dental practice ever! Truly!
I called literally right before Christmas to try and get me and the hunny in before the end of the year. Kate was extremely accommodating and fit us in on December 30th!
Now I've had my fair share of massage chairs in the waiting rooms, dvd's at the dental station and mini facials, and even though Dr. McKinzie's office doesn't offer any of these "amenities" they more than make up for it by being gracious, sincere, caring and competent.
Kate and the entire staff are exceedingly gracious. They offer herbal teas, sparkling water and diet soda. Fresh flowers can be found throughout the office. We received the ubiquitous toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss-a nice, thoughtful touch.
But what really blew me away is the lovely hand written thank you note we received from Dr. McKinzie after our visit. How many of your dentists do that?
I've had horrible dentists in the past, but Dr. Mckinzie rocks! Not only did they make me feel comfortable and welcome, they also hooked me up with an electronic little mermaid toothbrush. Kate, Dr. Mckinzie's wife, was just splendid. I plan to keep on going back to this office and you should too!
I love this dentist office. Its really quaint and the staff is VERY friendly, especially Kate at the front desk. I can't stress enough how warm she is. She explains everything to you clearly and precise and sends you a card in the mail after visiting. During my cleaning, Kathy kept asking if I was comfortable and also explained what she was doing as well. I highly recommend this office if you want an excellent dental experience with highly trained and personable people.
I just moved to Oakland at the end of the summer, and my dental insurance kicked in at the beginning of December. Since it had been a year since I last saw my beloved dentist in Seattle, it was time.
After a not-so-great experience of what felt like "assembly-line dentistry" at another Oakland dentist, I decided to give Dr. McKinzie's office a try based on Yelp reviews. Once again, the Yelpers have steered me in the right direction.
Everyone in the office is friendly, patient, and really listens. I had a cleaning last Friday and Dr. McKinzie confirmed what my Seattle dentist said - I needed a couple of crowns. Because my insurance is on a calendar-year basis, Kate heroically re-shuffled the schedule to get me in for one of the crowns this morning, before I leave for the holidays. I really appreciated the extra effort for a new patient so that I could minimize my out-of-pocket costs.
This dental office really has a wonderful team. I am happy to say that I have now found my dental home here in Oakland!
Anna C. couldn't be more right.
After having my first visit with Dr. McKinzie (who asked to be called Scott) I don't know how I had ever feared dentists. He has raised the bar so high that my previous dentists seem like monsters. Not only did he offer me coffee - with sugar no less - but we chatted about social affairs while the novacaine kicked in.
More importantly, his service is unparalleled. The people behind the desk systematically walked me through paying my bills, insurance and offered a reasonable pay schedule. In terms of dental care, my insurance only covers the cheapest options. Not for profits can't really afford quality care. Nonetheless, he explained why he won't use silver for fillings and let me know that it was okay if I couldn't afford it and needed to go somewhere else. But this guy is like the dad that everyone looks up to, so I told him to do the fillings. And the best part? He did them right away! No scheduling or anything, right then and there.
The cleaning was pretty straight forward, but he did measure my gums which was something I'd never had done. It seems that he's pretty on top of new techniques.
If you need a dentist, just skip the steps and go to this guy.
The entire staff of Dr. McKinzie's office is fantastic. My husband and I have both been seeing Dr. McKinzie for over a year now. We've had our share of bad experiences in the past--even coming to loathe trips to the dentist--but now we look forward to upoming visits (really!). The office is conveniently located on Grand Ave (near Safeway) and has pretty flexible hours. Early morning and late afternoon appointments are quickly accomodated.
We're both changing jobs soon and can only cross our fingers that our new insurance will allow us to continue seeing Dr. McKinzie. My husband says he doesn't care if the new insurance covers McKinzie or not--that he is going to continue seeing him anyhow. This office is so welcoming and genuinely friendly...check them out!
Kate, Dr. Scott's wife/office manager, is just the warmest, friendliest person I have ever met. She always remembers me and is super accomodating as far as appointments and payments. Dr. Scott is also friendly, but very professional and he does amazing work. He has never pressured me for very expensive or unnecessary work. As long as I live on the west coast Dr. Scott will be my dentist--I can't imagine seeing anyone else.
I LOVE MY DENTIST!!! And every member of my household loves him too! I've been going to Kate & Dr. McKinzie for a few years now and I have always been pleased with the quality of care and the wonderful way I am treated. Their rates are totally fair and they are flexible with folks like me who do not have dental insurance. Dr. McKinzie is also an excellent pediatric dentist; he's got a really great demeanor with kids (and 'fraidy cats!).
This office use to be run by Dr. Paula Roemer, who then sold the business to the McKinzie's in 2006. I had been a patient since 1997. When Dr. Roemer sold the business I decided to stay on and try the new doctor, mainly because I was very pleased with the hygienist, Kathy. There are not enough compliments that can be said about Kathy. When it comes to Dr. McKinzie I also had very little interaction. Only twice did I have oral exams with him. The first time he made a sarcastic joke about my name. The second time he was very polite. Kate McKinzie seemed very nice at first but when I began having some financial difficulties things started to change. In 2007 I lost my job and in 2008 things got more difficult for me. Unfortunately there are many Americans in my shoes and I thought Kate would understand when I carried a small balance for a few months. I told Kate I would pay as soon as I could. This was not good enough for her. She called me and called me and sent me bill after bill and even reported me to a collection agency. I thought this was a bit much, especially since I spent $8500 over the years there. Even so, when I was able to, I payed her what I owed and did not complain about the collections reporting. All I wanted was to get my teeth cleaned. For this I had to agree to full mouth x-rays and a doctor's exam, in addition to the teeth cleaning. This all added up to several hundred dollars, which was a lot for me at the time. I payed all except for a little over $100. Then the calls started again and the letters. I told her: "are you that hard up over $100 that you have to call me like this? I will pay as soon as I have the money." She did not take this well at all. I felt bad so I called her back, apologized and agreed to pay her $10/month, as she suggested. At the time I was going through bankruptcy and could have easily included the balance there but I wanted to honor my debt and maintain my relationship with them. I was also under a lot of stress and just wanted some understanding and extra patience. One does not go through bankruptcy every day, every year or even every decade. People go through bankruptcy once in a life time, maybe. I have sensitive gums and because of this meager balance Kate McKinzie has denied me service and that has accelerated my gum deterioration. In fact, I had gotten a project and was promised an advance in February 2009. I immediately called Kate and scheduled my cleaning. Unfortunately my client did not pay and I wouldn't have the money for two days after the appointment. I called Kate a few hours prior to the appointment but she got irritated, canceled my appointment and hung up on me, saying she had another call just as I was trying to explain. Then I got a bill in the mail and I sent in my $10 check with a note complaining about her decision. My gums are really sensitive, particularly because I have not been able to have a cleaning since July 2008. Kate, took offense to this civil note of complaint and would not schedule me further. I had the money to pay what now was an $80 balance and the $125 for the cleaning. First she was on vacation and coincidentally her staff could not give me what at first they said was a cancellation by another patient. I believe she asked her staff to lie to me and put me off but I have no proof of this other than my gut feeling. When she came back from vacation she said I had to pay the $80 plus the $125 cleaning in advance to schedule. I agreed to it and said I would come by. At this point she insisted I mail it. When I insisted I would drop it off, she changed her mind and decided to deny me service and cancel me as a patient. Oh, she also took offense when I asked her if she would consider giving me a reduced rate. She said no, and I said ok but somehow she felt "extremely uncomfortable" with this question and also used it as an argument against me to kick me out of the office. To me she proved incapable of dealing with relatively minor conflicts. This is not the treatment I expected after 13 years of being a patient in that office and spending a lot of money. I had a managerial job, was paid very well and fell on hard times. I, like many other Americans, hope to be back on my feet soon. I just didn't expect my dentist to be so callous and financially driven, particularly at a time when I was financially vulnerable. Competence is not everything, I care about people's worth as human beings. I was let down by the office of Dr. Scott McKinzie when I needed them most. I would not recommend the McKinzies to anyone because you never know when you may need them to go the extra mile for you. Better establish a relationship with an office that truly shows that they care for you as a person. Dentistry is health care. I read somewhere that a healthy mouth and gums can extend a person's life. This is why Kate McKinzie's decision to deny me service after 13 years of loyal patronage over a meager balance is so shocking.
I signed up to yelp just to say that I am very pleased with Dr. Scott and Kate--a dynamic duo. My previous dentist office had a lot to be desired so I turned to yelp for advice and found Dr. McKinzie. Friendly, welcoming and very helpful staff.
Dr. McKinzie and his staff are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I went to their office yesterday and had the BEST experience I have ever had at a dentist. Kathy, one of the hygienists, was amazingly gentle and thorough and Dr. McKinzie was so nice. His wife, Kate sets up appointments and does the billing and is very responsive and an all around lovely person. I love that she emails (my previous dental offices refuse to email and I find this frustrating). And, there are early morning and mid day appointments. If only the rest of the health care system was as consumer-friendly as Dr. McKinzie's office. I am so grateful that I've found this amazing office.
Wonderful. Scott, the dentist is great, and his wife Kate, the office manager, is a hoot. Run toward the dentist, not away!
Oh my gosh, what can I say? I had to get two "silver" fillings replaced and hate needles! So the novacane shot itself took a while but Dr. M explained that the slower he does it, the less painful. Apparently we have 3 different nerves in/near our teeth. Everything else was a breeze, I was comfy - they heated a blankie for me! Twice! And it was relatively easy. He's a smart dentist, won't do anything that you don't need and will refer you to a specialist if you have questions. Very convenient, parking behind the building - its near the Safeway on Grand (same side of the street) a couple blocks up towards Piedmont Ave.
