Nobody Googles “dentist near me” for fun. Usually it’s because a filling fell out, your last dentist retired, or you just moved to Encino and haven’t found someone you trust yet. Whatever brought you here, it helps to know what you’re actually walking into before you book anything.
The First Visit Isn’t Just a Cleaning
Most people assume a first appointment means sitting in a chair for twenty minutes while someone pokes around with a mirror. At The Dental Office Encino, it’s a bit more thorough than that. You’ll get digital x-rays, and if there’s anything worth a closer look, cone beam 3D imaging gives Dr. Alan Howard or Dr. Yonatan Howard a full picture of what’s going on — not a guess based on a flashlight and a hand mirror.
Then one of them actually sits down and explains what they’re seeing. Not in a rush, not reading off a script. If something needs attention, you’ll know why. If nothing does, you’ll hear that too.
Why Three Decades in One Neighborhood Matters
The practice has been treating patients in Encino since 1991. That’s not a stat pulled for a brochure — it means Dr. Alan Howard has been doing this for over 30 years, and his son, Dr. Yonatan Howard, grew up watching him do it before joining him in practice. Between the two of them, they’ve likely seen your specific dental issue a hundred times before. That kind of repetition builds a level of judgment you can’t fake with fancy equipment alone.
For the Nervous Ones
If dental visits make you tense — and a lot of people won’t admit this out loud — it’s worth knowing the office is built around that reality. Staff members speak English, Spanish, and Hebrew, so instructions and explanations don’t get lost somewhere between the chair and the front desk. And the pace of a visit here tends to feel less like a factory line and more like, well, an actual conversation with people who remember you.
What’s Actually on the Menu
This isn’t a practice that only does cleanings and sends you elsewhere for anything complicated. Preventive care, general dentistry for cavities and gum issues, cosmetic work like veneers and bonding, restorative procedures including implants, and appliances like Invisalign® or nightguards — it’s all handled by the same two doctors who already know your history.
Making the Appointment
The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM — enough flexibility to work around a normal week. Call 818-300-0333 or stop by 17071 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 102, Encino, CA 91316. Worst case, you leave with a cleaning. Best case, you finally have a dentist you don’t dread calling.
