“Top dentist” shows up on so many websites it’s basically lost all meaning. Every practice claims it. Almost none of them explain what it’s actually supposed to mean. So let’s actually break it down.
Credentials Are the Floor, Not the Ceiling
Every licensed dentist met a baseline. That’s not what separates a good one from a great one. What actually matters is what happens after the degree — how they talk to a scared patient, how honest they are about what you actually need versus what pads a bill, whether they remember you or treat you like the next name on a list.
Experience That’s Actually Been Tested
Dr. Alan Howard has practiced dentistry for over 30 years. His son, Dr. Yonatan Howard, trained directly under him and now practices alongside him — which means the next generation of care didn’t come from a different school of thought, it came from watching his father do this work for decades. Together, they’ve served Encino and the surrounding communities since 1991.
Tools That Change the Actual Outcome
A top-tier office isn’t defined by having the newest gadget for its own sake — it’s defined by using tools that genuinely improve your visit. Cone beam 3D imaging for sharper diagnostics. Digital x-rays. LANAP laser therapy for gum treatment that’s less invasive than older approaches. CEREC technology, which can mean walking out with a finished restoration the same day instead of coming back a second time.
The Human Part Nobody Puts in a Brochure
None of that matters if the visit itself feels cold. The staff at The Dental Office Encino speaks English, Spanish, and Hebrew — a detail that sounds small until you’re the one trying to describe a symptom in your second language to someone who doesn’t understand it.
What Patients Keep Saying
Reviews here tend to repeat the same themes — feeling genuinely cared for, feeling like questions get answered instead of brushed off, feeling like the same doctor actually remembers their history. That kind of consistency across dozens of strangers’ reviews isn’t an accident.
So What’s the Real Definition?
A top dentist isn’t the one with the flashiest ad. It’s the one who’s still earning trust, visit after visit, year after year. To see it for yourself, call 818-300-0333 or visit The Dental Office Encino at 17071 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 102, Encino, CA 91316.
