Roderick Place was named COO of InterDent in 2017 and assumed Co-Leadership as Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Mr. Place has extensive experience transforming private equity backed healthcare companies through his strategic leadership, focus on operational excellence, clinical leadership collaboration, and structuring of field operations and corporate support teams. Mr. Place is also accomplished in leading boards and executive teams through expansive growth in mergers & acquisitions, DeNovo, due diligence and market consolidation. Before joining InterDent, Mr. Place served in executive level operations roles with Western Dental, MedQuest Associates and Alliance Healthcare. Mr. Place is also the Managing Director and Co-Founder of MedSummit Solutions, LLC. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Grand Valley State University.
Matthew Wickesberg joined InterDent as EVP/CFO in 2016 and assumed Co-Leadership as Executive Vice Chairman two years later. In 2019, he was further elevated to Co-Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wickesberg is an experienced board member, executive officer, and lender with a deep background in multi-site hospitality and healthcare industries. He is also experienced working with lending institutions and private equity firms through structuring capital, due diligence, mergers & acquisitions, and uncovering portfolio synergies. Prior to joining InterDent, Mr. Wickesberg served in various senior finance roles with HOA Restaurant Group, ZTejas, Inc., and GE Capital. Mr. Wickesberg received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Oklahoma State University and his MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Dr. Heather Hawkins has committed her career to patient care while understanding current healthcare trends and value-based comprehensive care. Dr. Hawkins has an expansive clinical, academic and operational background, including leading medical-dental integration as well as quality and risk management for multi-site healthcare organizations. After 12 years of practicing general dentistry, she expanded her skills with several key roles in academia. In 2012 she joined the team at Adventist Health in Northern California, a multi-site health care organization with over 5,000 medical and dental staff physicians, as the Director of Quality. In her leadership role there, Dr. Hawkins led expansion and integration across the health system with medical and dental clinic management and an emphasis on comprehensive care models addressing patient risk factors, active disease and preventative measures. Dr. Hawkins earned her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and her Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certification from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Manu Chaudhry has dedicated his career in the pursuit of dental health care, improving clinical quality and access to care, and transforming delivery of care to improve overall health outcomes. He is a dynamic and mission-driven leader with extensive leadership experience over multi-region dental practices, and has also founded multiple collaborative organizations that reduce oral and overall health disparities. Dr. Chaudhry is a board member of Healthier Kids Foundation and holds a Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of the Pacific.
Sandra Lau is a seasoned legal adviser with over fourteen years experience acting as General Counsel of multiple dental healthcare corporations. Ms. Laus responsibilities include advising executive management, supporting strategic growth initiatives, overseeing all aspects of the corporate legal function including HIPAA, state and federal regulatory compliance, corporate transactions and governance, mergers and acquisitions, and risk and litigation management. Before Joining InterDent, Ms. Lau served as General Counsel at Western Dental. Ms. Lau holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Juris Doctor from Loyola Marymount University.
Bernard Piccione has extensive experience across a wide range of industries delivering complex enterprise-scale information technology solutions to achieve major global business value and objectives. Mr. Piccione excels at driving sustainable business growth through IT modernization, solution development, and global transformation initiatives while building strong partnerships to better leverage technology solutions. Prior to joining InterDent, Mr. Piccione served as CIO for Ingenuity Advisory Partners, Inc., Complex Care Solutions, Inc., and MagnaCare. Mr. Piccione holds a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from Boston University.
Darrin Kellaris is a senior marketing executive with over 20 years experience specializing in digital marketing, social media, and brand strategy. Mr. Kellaris offers a record of success in creating and driving marketing strategies that strengthen revenue, margins, and market share by elevating brand authenticity and relevance. At InterDent, he leads all aspects of marketing including digital and social media, brand positioning, and performance analytics. Prior to joining InterDent, he led marketing efforts at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and IHOP. Mr. Kellaris holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from San Diego State University.
Diane Stern brings almost 20 years of dental services organizational experience specializing in organizational design and strategic partnering. Ms. Stern is responsible for Human Resources planning and strategy for recruiting, retention, benefits and performance management. She built her HR leadership experience through roles at Coast Dental, PrimeCo Wireless Communications and LabCorp where she focused on employee programs to increase engagement and satisfaction along with operational efficiencies. Ms. Stern holds a Bachelors degree in English Literature, Education, and Business from the University of Tampa and volunteers at KMR Group Foundation.
Reviews
Rating 3.0 out of 5 based on 40 reviews
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2 years ago
This place make me feel so uneasy. The young girl at the office have bad attitude when I told her I don't feel comfortable doing it today. I can see that she was try hard not to give attitude. This place is ruthless. I would recommend everyone do their research first. My experience here was so bad. The lady that help check me in with X-Ray was a sweet heart. But everything went south after. All I can see or hear is them trying to have hella extra stuff done when I just wanted the basic things done.
Murugesan Nagarajan
2 years ago
I was a long term customer for Gentle Dental at Fremont facility and I did not visit Fremont office during pandemic. So I called the Fremont no and it reached to Hayward office. I requested normal dental cleaning services and the doctor forced me to do deep cleaning with $640 bill. I told them that I am not interested in deep cleaning rather prefer a normal cleaning. But the reception people did not even consult the doctor and straight away they rejected mentioning they won't do normal cleaning. I just wasted two hours of my time traveling from Fremont to this office and my insurance company money. Cheap does not mean good quality.
Eric Englehart
2 years ago
I was referred to an endodentist for a root canal over six months ago, and Gentle Dental has not yet been able to get the claim processed by my insurance. Every time they submit there's another problem. I'm in a lot of pain, and I'm pretty sure the receptionist just hung up on me when I asked if they could contact my insurance directly.
Y Wang
2 years ago
If you are looking for orthodontal service, don't go there! The orthodontists are only available a few half days a month, it is hard to make an appointment and they frequently change schedule with last minute notice. I took two trips from Fremont but still not able to see the doctor. The first trip they said the doctor rescheduled, seconde trip there I was told that the doctor already left becuase I'm 6 minutes late. Wow.
Mary Kendall
2 years ago
Dr. Watanabe is really great. He listens and is gentle with his exams. I found his office late last year after not seeing my other dentist since the pandemic hit. I noticed a filling had fallen out and I was desperate for a cleaning. The office was able to get me in the next morning. My filling need to be crowned, and I needed a deep cleaning. The cost of all of that was cheaper than my last dentist, and he did half my deep cleaning and my crown that day! I would have paid almost double and had to come back at the old place. A week later I went in for the perm crown and the other half of my cleaning. Dr. Watanabe talked me through everything. Checked my pain and comfort levels throughout. His assistant was sweet and well tuned in to what he and I needed. He also suggested I come back in to get fitted for partials, so I would be able to eat more comfortably. Over this last weekend, I woke with a toothache. It was a tooth that he had previously warned I may have a problem with as I had a deep pocket and some bone loss. (Bone loss has plagued me) Turns out that it was infected and needed to be extracted. Due to my continued bone loss and not having a lower partial (I had put it off) my tooth had begun to drop. I could feel it had dropped and the x-ray was very clear it had. Anyway, he was able to extract the tooth and do a bone graft this morning. The graft will help my partial fit better when I go back in 3 weeks for my check up, and he fits me for the needed partials (upper and lower). I am so thankful Dr. Watanabe is in my network for Delta Dental. Not only is he and his assistant great, they are affordable. I finally feel like I have a dentist who listens, cares that I get the service I need, and not push to sell more. My last dentist pushed implants, didn't want to discuss partials. I cannot afford implants. He also has the front desk check with my insurance before any work is done, and gets me a price quote of my copay. I could not be more happy with my new dentist.
Emely Zarco
2 years ago
Took my son to his appointment here and the doctor was extremely nice. The office staff was extremely helpful and I would definitely recommend them to my friends.
Alexander Yang
2 years ago
The idea of wisdom-teeth extraction can be an anxiety inducing on its own without any other stressors, but Gentle Dental Hayward is where you should go to ensure that your experience is one straight from hell. I'm scarred, and after nearly 4 hours of waiting in their office, they didn't even touch my teeth. This place is a complete scam, all they're after is your insurance money and co-pay. The do not have the personnel or equipment to adequately care for patients. After sending in my X-Rays from my usual (fantastic) dentist, multiple phone consultations and confirmations where they would be able to do a specialized scan of my teeth, the swindlers here gave me a regular x-ray, which I had already emailed them from the previous consultation, and then charged me for it. I had been told to fast and not drink water the previous night, in preparation for the 10 a.m. scan and extraction. They had me waiting for nearly 4 hours in their train-wreck of a reception (almost every patient left it visibly upset, cussing and yelling) to tell me that they did not have the equipment to perform specialized X-Ray or extraction in the first place. They referred me to someone else in San Francisco to perform the surgery -- I has starved all night and day for nothing. The receptionists were absolutely bonkers and extremely inefficient. Most of the people were turned back after being told that their cases were too "complicated", and that they would be referred elsewhere. One guy got charged the wrong bill and he hadn't even received service yet -- he had been sitting in the reception, completely ignored, and the receptionist had mistakenly tacked his name onto someone else's bill. In hindsight, I suppose it's a blessing -- I wouldn't want these fraudsters anywhere near me when wide-awake, let alone in charge of my pearly whites as I lay sedated. Run. Hide. Save yourselves.
Angelica Esquivel
3 years ago
Trying to contact emergency dental for my son and they keep hanging up no one is answering
Anna Kirsch
3 years ago
I went here for my annual cleaning. Dr. Song and her assistant Luz did a great job. This was the first cleaning I ever had that wasn't uncomfortable or painful, and Dr. Song did a thorough job with cleaning my teeth compared to other dentists I've had. I'm glad I switched dentists! Highly recommend.
danielle ta
3 years ago
Everybody, from receptionists to dentists' assistants to dentists, has been friendly. Easy to schedule appointments, easy to cancel just in case. The waiting is reasonable. The work is done beautifully.
Luis Urbina
3 years ago
I had a horrible experience today with this clinic they're there to rip you off They charged me the wrong codes I call my insurance to verify codes I being charged for and they said is totally wrong My insurance try to call them and they would answer They are a waste of time. Dont go there. Stay away from this place
Danielle G
3 years ago
I truly don't recommend this place. Although the receptionists and dentist's assistants were nice. They will charge you a different, much more expensive fee and put it under a different procedure so that they're able to do so. I thought that it was just my experience, but seeing all of the other reviews mentioning the same issue I know that it wasn't just unfortunate. I'd say their cost for braces isn't so bad compared to other orthodontics, but not worth the risk.
H&H H&H
3 years ago
6.19.21 -- The front desk lady (bleach blond hi-lights / low confidence) was really low-class, rude and inconsiderate. My appt was 1p. I completed the documents in approx. 5 minutes. I stood in line for approx. 5 minutes to return them to her. She ignored me and didn't call me to desk (no clients in line). I sat back down as she regularly laughed with the other front desk lady - both looking back and forth at me, knowing I'd been waiting nearly 1/2 hour after my appt time. Power trip? They can choose who to make wait? It's awful they mis-treated a person who never did them any wrong. How's that for "virtue". It isn't. I was ready to leave. Only after the dentist approached did she ask if I'd completed the forms. I told her I'd been ready and tried to give her the docs while standing waiting to be called while no one was in line, but she "ignored" me (lauging with her co-front desk person). Second, though the dentist, Watanabe, was "nice", he quoted approx. $5K more with "add ons" never mentioned by my recent dentists at UCSF -- that's not "nice". I only thank him for prescribing for my abcess. Approx. 1 hour later while waiting to fill my prescription, I received a text saying my next appt is scheduled for December 2021! OMG! Can they be more idiotic? I need work done now. They know this, yet they schedule 6 months later? Flip off. We / I don't need "Gentle Dental". My dental is easy to fix with an honest dentist and professional staff. Keep treating people this way they'll be out of business unable to pay expenses quick. This type of mistreatment has likely already lost them thousands of dollars in business. Why are they working? To have a front desk person losing them business?! Lucky I received an offer to survey -- because this was ready to go on Yelp. UPDATE: 6.23.21 -- Here we are on Yelp. Today I received a text from them saying my dental is incomplete. I called to see what that was and spoke to the same front desk lady who started this all. I wasn't going to post on Yelp -- but seeing her complete unapologetic "I don't give a !@#$" attitude -- here's their rightly earned Yelp review. TIP: Before I went there a second person mentioned trying them. Now, NOT. They lost 2 new clients from this one experience and how many countless more on negative Yelp reviews? Do the math. What the heck are they working for? Don't work in a field where you can't treat business clients honest and decent. Don't hire UNKIND people who mistreat your business clients (and potential referrals) unapologetically -- EARNING you negative Yelps. They're losing you $$$ long and short term business. And, we don't need you. I'll never return there and will not refer them. This experience is their referral. Keep your money people. Seek honest, quality, kind professionals. Gentle Dental is waay too low class. PS: Only the x-ray lady was nice - keep her.
annette sanders
3 years ago
I wish my husband would have look at these reviews before he went there...This Dental office is the worst ever...When ask dentist why is it taking 8wks for dental plate his reply you can go somewhere else! Customer service is terrible ...We was charge for service and ask to pay for the temporary plate in advance. Only to find the temporary plate was never made after 4wks.... when ask for the refund ...The office manager(Ida) stated they will take the funds of over 400.00 and credited to my balance. The problem with this is there not balance due to them...I ask for Corporate office number... She ( Ida) stated there is no number. She can only reach them be email...I was than told after she (Ida) actually look at our account and agreed with us no monies was actually owed.. she would send to corporate office and that would take 3 weeks Just to finish the process of the refund...I am also going take this further Please dont reply with any # in which I cannot reach a live person...No template replies . I would give no stars if I could
Renee Pacheco
3 years ago
This is by far the absolute best dentist I have ever been to, very perfessional, everybody is very nice a welcoming, I recommend this dentist to everyone.
Eric Moore
4 years ago
I love the entire staff there. To the front desk to orthodontist! Everyone is amazing thank you Nhi and everyone for making feel like this place is my second home!!!
ALEXA MARIE
4 years ago
The Gentle Dental staff are amazing! From entering the office, getting work done, through scheduling my next visit, it was a very pleasant visit!
Michelle chelle
4 years ago
I've been going to this dentist since they were in Oakland. I was bummed when they moved to Hayward but the service has remained the same. They are open late which accommodates my work schedule. Dr. Malik and Nhu her assistant are great as well, very attentive to my needs.
David Kusch
4 years ago
I have been a patient at Gentle Dental for many years, 16 I believe. The staff is professional, and the service and insurance processing is excellent. Highly recommend.
Quyen Vo
4 years ago
I have called to your offices many times. And nobody response to my concern. There's only promising after promising. The concern is already reported to dental board. If you need to know details, ask your office employees. They know me and the problem. Or you can wait till dental board reach to your office to resolve my problem.
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