Dr. Bernstein's Blog

Bob's All New Smile

2008-09-09T09:04:00.001-07:00

Bob is a successful executive and a fantastic endurance athlete. He was always afraid of the dentist and neglect took a severe toll on his teeth. With encouragement and the help of a safe, common sedative, we were able to rebuild Bob's mouth and give him an all new smile. We're not finished yet, as he still needs implants on his lower left, but he has come a long way.

Robin's All New Smile

2008-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Robin is a very nice 23 year old accounting student. She slipped on a wet floor in a restaurant and fell flat on her face, breaking her beautiful front teeth less than a week before her 24th birthday celebration. We were able to see her immediately and make her these temporaries on the same day--which should hold her over until her beautiful new porcelain veneers are made and delivered.

Theresa's All New Smile

2008-08-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Theresa is a fabulous globe-trotting wife and mom, originally from Zimbabwe.
She picked up her accent in Australia and now, here she is in the good old USA! She was concerned about the wear and color of her teeth and wanted porcelain veneers to upgrade her teeth. We did 12 veneers for her and gave her an all new smile that makes her popular wherever she travels!

2008-08-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

I have been carefully following the development of the Pure Power Mouthguard. A colleague in Nova Scotia developed the PPM using the same principles that I use in my practice to treat TMJ and to rebuild entire mouths. I was initially hesitant to get involved because everything PPM is doing is brand new--except that the scientific principles used as the basis to make the PPM are 30 years old, FDA approved, and well documented.

In measuring actual athletic performance it turns out that some mouthguards significantly decrease athletic performance, and going without a mouthguard limits athletic performance. Initial studies on the Pure Power Mouthguard impressed me so much that I asked to be the Bay Area's provider of PPM's. By simply wearing the Pure Power Mouthguard, proper jaw alignment and balance are achieved that measurably increase athletic performance.

This is not a gimmick--it is for real and 100% safe and legal for athletics.

The Pure Power Mouthguard is all the buzz among professional athletes, including Manny Ramirez and many others. To read more about the PPM, go to: http://www.ppmmouthguard.com/

By the way, if you are involved in a non-contact sport and think you don't need a mouthguard, think again. PPM also makes a very low profile device that fits on the lower teeth to achieve the same results without the protective features of an upper mouthguard.

Pure Power Mouthguards are ideal for athletes who wants to increase performance, whether they are professional, student or recreational. There is a small percentage of athletes that will not see improvement from a PPM so to find out if PPM will work for you or your athlete, please call my office to schedule a consultation. Our phone number is 510-601-7645.

Team Profile--Leah

2008-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Leah Partible, RDH, has been with us for 4 wonderful years. Her reputation with our patients is outstanding. Leah is friendly, gentle, meticulous, observant, and compassionate. She frequently diagnoses problems at the earliest stage, when they are easiest to treat. Our patients frequently comment, "That's the best cleaning I've ever had!" As her patient myself, I agree! As her boss, she is such as pleasure to have around the office because she is always cheerful and always happy to lend a helping hand. Leah has experience with teeth whitening, non-surgical gum treatments, microultrasonics, anesthesia, oral conscious sedation during dental cleanings and periodontal therapy, dental x-rays and diagnosis. She now has her sights set on non-surgical laser therapy for periodontal disease. In her spare time, Leah likes to travel and drive her BMW roadster.

Julia's All New Smile

2008-08-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Julia: Julia is a twin. She and her sister both had small discolored teeth with spaces in between them. Her sister lives in L.A. and had her teeth done there. When they got together, people would comment on how much they looked alike, except for their teeth. Julia came to us for a smile makeover and she left with an all new smile that really has people doing a double take!

Sun Medical

2008-08-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

In our never ending quest for the world's best dental materials, we were very happy to recently host our new friends from Sun Medical of Japan.

Sun Medical is a leading edge company, sincerely interested in finding out what the dental profession needs and then delivering it. Our Japanese friends asked us numerous questions about practicing dentistry in the United States and how our style of practice differs from the Japanese style.

Our practice was of particular interest to Sun Medical because we are free from dependence on insurance contracts whereas Japanese dentists are having difficulty working within the national healthcare system. I was pleased to tell them about how a select group of dentists from around the world have found a niche by investing in the most advanced postdoctoral education in the world at The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI).

On their next trip to the U.S., representatives from Sun Medical said that they would make a point of visiting LVI to see what the leaders in dentistry are doing. In the mean time Sun Medical has outstanding products that they currently market such as Hybrid Bond and Superbond, exceptional bonding agent and adhesive.

We look forward to hearing more from Sun Medical and their incredible advances in dental materials. Just as important, we look forward to networking with Sun Medical to see how we can better serve our patients by improving communications between clinicians and manufacturers.

Digital Cameras and Big Screen TVs

2008-08-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

I love having a high tech dental office but 2 of the most useful pieces of technology we own are not all that fancy. Our digital cameras and our big flat screen TVs allow diagnosis, education, and communication that we just didn't have so easily in the past.

Historically, if we wanted this level of photography, we had to take photos with slide film, develop them, then use a projector and movie screen to view them. Now, during all of our new patient consultations, we take a complete diagnostic series of photographs using a digital Canon camera, which we then immediately show to the patient on the big flat screen TV.

When teeth are magnified to that extent, problems and solutions naturally present themselves to everyone. I love my laser, my computer diagnostics, and all my other fancy gadgets, but please don't take away my camera and my big TVs! They are indispensable!

A Happy Patient!

2008-07-02T19:04:00.001-07:00

Hi,

Around the 1st of May I woke up to "Planet of the Apes Lips." I wondered what I ate to cause such a reaction??? I called Kaiser and they suggested an allergy pill. In the mean time, my lips were growing at a fast pace. I could not work because of the way I looked. I knew I had a loose front tooth. One bite of an apple would have taken the tooth. My daughter decided to call Dr. Bernstein. I had discovered him on the web since he was near where I lived. She thought it was worth the call. Carmen, my daughter, was on the case and an appointment was in progress. I was still thinking "I hate dentists, maybe I can still avoid going." No chance of that! His assistant called and gave me a same day appointment. As I entered his office, I felt an air of peace and knew this dentist is indeed different! All was explained. He gave me a prescription to take my lips to a normal size. I was happy! Most of my adult life I hated my teeth. That space in the middle kept growing because my teeth had shifted with age. My dream was to have veneers on those ugly teeth. Little did I know how close my dream was to coming true. With the understanding and encouragement of Dr. Bernstein I realized I could make it happen. Now I have a "BEAUTIFUL SMILE!" Dr. Bernstein is a different dentist from most. It is very simple. "HE CARES."

My heartfelt THANKS goes out to you, Dr. Bernstein, Carly, and your nice wife, Allison. Thanks for giving my daughter an outstanding teeth cleaning. We appreciate the kindness shown to both of us.

Ruth G. Thompson (A HAPPY CUSTOMER)

Albert Einstein's Solution

2008-06-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Albert Einstein said, “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Everyone is feeling the pressure of higher gas prices. I'm not an economist and my thinking may be overly simplistic, but it seems to me that higher gas prices are a simple function of supply and demand. More countries aside from industrialized Western countries, India and China in particular, are using gas for cars far more than ever before.

Some people say we should ask the oil producing countries to lower prices, but why should they? Others say we should drill our own oil off of our beaches and in our wilderness areas. This modest dentist says we should stop using oil--or at least drastically lower our consumption.

We have the technology available now for electric cars which can be plugged in at home for charging. Yes, the electricity produced may come from power plants that burn oil. But what if every roof in America had solar panels that produce electricity? Not only is this technology also available now but there are even photovoltaic shingles that look like a good old fashioned roof. It may temporarily rock our economy if the oil companies and electric companies lose business but we will adjust. And building the new infrastructure--solar roofing and electric cars--will boost our economy on another front.

While we're at it, let's expand our trains, subways, and other public transportation so that it's just as convenient (and cost effective) to take public transit as it is to drive. Less traffic--gas or electric--would be nice.

Whether you believe in global climate change or you simply want to save money, electric cars and public transit make a lot of sense. And remember you can always walk or ride a bike!

Let's take Einstein's advice and move away from oil which is 19th century technology.

Tonsils, airway, and orthodontics

2008-06-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

This very sweet 12 year old girl came into my office for an Invisalign consult. She has already been through the first round of orthodontics with traditional braces. She only bites on her 1st molars. No other teeth touch. Her tongue is constantly resting between her upper and lower teeth and she has been in speech therapy for many years to correct her tongue thrusting habit. She has a crossbite in the molar area, too.

So why is the orthodontics not working? Why is the speech therapy not working? Take a look at her tonsils, particularly her right side. They are huge! Every time she swallows, thousands of times every day, her tongue comes forward to allow the swallowing. The tongue may also come forward to assist her breathing as she has allergies that require medication. This is a situation that puts a patient at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

So what's going on here? As the tongue comes forward, it opens up the bite between the upper and lower teeth. At the same time the tongue comes forward, the cheeks collapse inward putting pressure on the upper molars, which causes the crossbite and a high palate. This patient needs to have a thorough evaluation and treatment by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist before proceeding further with orthodontics. And she most likely needs her tonsils removed.

As dentists, we need to look beyond the teeth, gums and bones to see what is really going on. The success of our dentistry depends on this, but so does the life and health of our patients.

A glimpse into the future of dentistry

2008-06-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

My wife and I had a most pleasant lunch this week with one of the giants in dentistry, Dr. Stephen Cohen. Dr. Cohen's claim to fame is as the author of Pathways of the Pulp, the definitive textbook on root canals that is required reading for every dental student. One would be hard pressed to find a more polished, refined, true gentleman. He is a living example of good manners, decorum, chairside rapport, and a reminder that today's man has a lot to learn about how to conduct himself in polite society. He has a stunningly gorgeous state of the art office in the Tiffany building on Union Square in San Francisco where he and his staff break for high tea at 4pm everyday.

Well into his 70's, Dr. Cohen is completely engaged in leading technology and in editing his 10th and final edition of Pathways of the Pulp. Advancements that he discussed included technology that is currently being tested to complete root canals in 5 minutes. He also discussed non-surgical instruments and techniques for resolving persistent recurrent dental infections that now require surgery. Most astonishingly, he discussed research into using stem cells to incubate new tooth nerves and tooth buds that will make implants obsolete in the future. He could not yet provide details on these techniques and instruments as the information is proprietary and does not belong to him. But stay tuned for more information in 2009!

The Secret to Life

2008-05-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of attending a garden party for my long-time friend, Suzy, on the occasion of her 50th birthday along with the 25th anniversary of her marriage to Mark. Her mother, Shirley, was one of my late mother's best friends and I spent a good long time chatting with Shirley yesterday. I love Shirley and feel like I'm once again in my mother's presence just being around her.

The first thing about this conversation that was so amazing was that it took place at all, since, over 20 years ago, we all thought Shirley was dying of cardiovascular disease. Shirley has always had an amazingly positive attitude and she matter-of-factly heard the news of her health issues back then and took action. She sought out the top specialist at UCSF who advised her to avoid heart surgery, get on the right meds, eat properly and manage her stress. Shirley reasoned that she would rather pay a massage therapist and other related practitioners than a heart surgeon. The cardiologist advised her to avoid stressful activities such as driving on the freeway, pointless worrying etc. During that period, I remember she kept a very busy schedule as always, but her dance card was filled with massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, yoga, light exercise, theater engagements, parties, dinners out, movies, travel and visiting with friends--on the phone and in person.

Over 20 years later, Shirley has maintained this life style. Now in her 80's and in remarkably good health, Shirley is also incredibly hip and stays current on EVERYthing! She knows about all the latest celebrities. She travels to New York, Paris and Hawaii with her traveling companions to see Broadway shows, museums or to just relax a little. She's up on all the latest artists and fashions--and the newest restaurants, shows, and movies. She sits on all kinds of boards of directors of land trusts, theater groups, her family business, and charities. And she maintains very close relationships with both of her kids and grandchildren, frequently traveling with them, too.

After knowing Shirley myself for 40 years, there was something Shirley said yesterday that really struck a chord. She said, "There's always something new." I realized that Shirley is not someone to live in the past. She is living in the here and now and enjoying every minute of it. She is involved in everything that is going on and doesn't dwell on age-related health problems. She has a cell phone and an email address. She is very well dressed and well kept--in fact, she looks gorgeous! She has a driver so she can go anywhere she wants--without stress. She is constantly making plans with her friends and family. And she is always trying to help anyone who needs help--from her friends and family to all the charitable organizations she is involved with. In everything Shirley does, she is full speed ahead, rarely looking back except to smile for a moment. Something we smiled about yesterday was that Shirley baked one of my mom's cookie recipes for the party--and they were just right.

Somewhere in my conversation with Shirley yesterday, I think she taught me the secret to life...

Elliott's all new smile

2008-05-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Elliott: Elliott is a bright young student from the UK, studying for a semester at Cal Berkeley. He has always been self conscious about his teeth and wanted to get that California smile to go with the rest of his good looks. We did 5 porcelain veneers on Elliott's upper front teeth to idealize the color and shape of his teeth. He is very popular around campus and the co-eds won't be able to resist him now with his all new smile.

Piedmont, The Island in the Middle of Oakland

2008-05-02T16:29:00.001-07:00

After spending 20 years in Berkeley, just 2 blocks from the University of California, we moved our practice to Piedmont in July, 2005. Piedmont just celebrated its centennial in 2007. As we all know, the San Francisco earthquake was in April of 1906. Back then, there was no Bay Bridge and a number of wealthy San Francisco executives had vacation ranches here in Piedmont. With the destruction of San Francisco, these founders of Piedmont moved accross the bay and made Piedmont a city in 1907. Back then, Piedmont was a destination resort, with The Piedmont Springs Hotel and the Key Route railroad system bringing guests right into the heart of Piedmont. Over time, Piedmont became a bedroom community for San Francisco executives, University of California Professors, and retired officers from the Alameda Naval Air Station. Piedmont also attracted physicians practicing at hospitals in Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Hayward, Walnut Creek, and as far away as Pittsburg in my father's case.

Today, Piedmont is still a bedroom community, minus the railroad and the destination resort hotel which burned down many years ago. With its outstanding schools, dedicated police and fire departments and fabulous parks department, Piedmont is highly sought after as one of the premiere placed to live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a dental practice in Piedmont, we are fortunate to be centrally located, not just in the San Francisco Bay Area but also in California. Typical demographic wisdom tells us that people generally travel no more than 5 miles to see their dentist. Because we provide some unique services such as cosmetic dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, sedation, and TMJ treatment--and possibly because I am a clinical instructor at LVI and Founder/President of The Dental Comfort Academy--patients travel long distances to come to our office. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have patients from San Francisco, San Mateo, Burlingame, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Jose, Los Gatos, Silicon Valley, Fremont, Alameda, Oakland, San Rafael, Marin, Novato, Sausalito, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Livermore, Pleasanton, Benicia, Pittsburg, Antioch and Brentwood. Whew! Outside of the Bay Area, patients travel from Tracy, Modesto, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. We even have patients who travel nationally from Indiana, Texas, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and Florida. Internationally, we have patients from Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Sweden, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. Piedmont is, indeed, centrally located!

If you think it's crazy to travel to Piedmont to see the dentist, please give us a call and we will help you to see just how easy we can make it for you.

Am's All New Smile

2008-04-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

Am came in with a cosmetic emergency – loose porcelain on his left front tooth! He also had a chip on his right front tooth and some discolored old bonding on his right lateral incisor (next to his right front tooth). We decided to do a conservative case – whitening, followed by 3 porcelain veneers and some cosmetic polishing of his left lateral incisor (next to his left front tooth). In 2 easy visits, Am left with a confident all new smile. A special thank you to our master ceramist, Bob Clark, of Williams Dental Lab in Gilroy, California, who always does an outstanding job with our porcelain cases.

Comfort in Dentistry

2008-04-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

No matter how much progress the dental profession makes, some things don't change--a lot of patients HATE the dentist. While dentist are excited about new porcelains, laser treatments for gum disease, and implants, patients are worried about the same old things--they hate the shot, they hate the "drill," and they're afraid it's going to hurt. What are dentists doing to understand their patients and what are they doing to directly address their patients' concerns?

First of all, many dentists are facing the reality that patients are afraid and that as a profession we have not overcome the hurdle of fear and pain that goes hand in hand with dentistry. Many dentists are getting training in sedation to help patients who are nervous. In the medical profession, doctors would not think of doing even a minor surgical procedure without sedation. But in dentistry, we often treat multiple teeth with fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions using only "Novacaine." No wonder the patients are terrified! Now, patients can take a pill one hour before their appointment and they will be completely relaxed and comfortable through the entire appointment--and they may not even remember their visit. This is called Oral Conscious Sedation and some dentists have a special license just for this procedure.

For patients who don't want to be sedated but just want to be comfortable, there are incredible new topical gels that are placed at the injection site for 5 minutes before the injection so that the injection will be almost completely comfortable. There are also excellent new anesthetics that get the teeth much more profoundly numb without numbing the whole jaw. For patients who just can't get numb, there is even a way to deliver the anesthetic directly to the tissue surrounding the tooth to virtually guarantee numbness.

Dentistry has come a long way, but we still need to face up to the fact that the patients still have the same old concerns. Our past reputation will be hard to shake, but some of us are trying hard to do just that. Patients and dentists will all benefit from comfortable dental care.

Lumineers

2008-04-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Many people call us to ask if we do Lumineers for smile makeovers.

The Lumineers Company understands that patients don't like the shot, the drill or the pain that many people associate with dental care.

Here is an example of a very conservative Lumineers case. Su-Chin did not like the alignment of the lateral incisor next to her right front tooth. And she didn't like the lack of symmetry in her gumline. She also didn't like the slanted edges of her 2 front teeth. And she didn't want to have her tooth reduced in order to improve her smile. So, we did some conservative laser shaping of the gums, we leveled the 2 front teeth and we did a single Lumineer on her right lateral to give her a fabulous all new smile.

Kevin's All New Smile

2008-02-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

Kevin is a friendly, kind, self-made entrepreneur, who currently owns a lively Latin-flavored nightclub. He loves to dance and is a gracious host to all his guests. He has had problems with his teeth over the years which slightly inhibited his natural tendency to smile. Kevin wanted super white teeth and he wanted to take care of all his dental problems. In 2 visits, using a mild sedative each visit, we restored all the problems and placed porcelain on all of Kevin's teeth. Now his all new smile lights up the dance floor!

With apologies to The Hair Club for Men, I'm not just a dentist--I'm also a patient

2008-02-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Back, when my son, Jack, was little, he asked me why my front tooth was brown. Years before that, I had had a root canal on my front tooth and it was becoming discolored. I also had a some old mercury amalgams, some old gold crowns and an ugly cap that was dark at the gumline.

My dentist, Dr. Bill Dickerson, Founder and President of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, studied my mouth carefully. Since I wanted porcelain veneers in the front, and I wanted to replace my old restorations in the back, he wisely suggested that we build the new restorations to my ideal bite. He measured my muscle activity, my jaw function, my jaw position, and my joint on sophisticated computer equipment--the same equipment we now have in our office.

As it turned out, my jaw posture was 1mm collapsed in the vertical direction and 0.5mm too far backwards. This may not seem like much, but when my mouth was restored, some amazing things happened. First of all, my lifelong problem with headaches improved drastically. Secondly, I had been suffering with positional vertigo (dizziness) since the age of 40 and the vertigo suddenly got a lot better. Dr. Dickerson did not promise me anything and I did not expect this to happen--but it did.

It turned out that my jaw joint (TMJ) was pressing on the balance mechanism in my ears. The way my teeth fit together forced my jaw back, which caused the pressure on my inner ear. Since my bite position was also not comfortable for my chewing muscles, chronic muscle tension in my chewing muscles gave me the frequent headaches.

Once my teeth were restored and my bite was corrected, my teeth looked better, they felt better, the headaches improved, and so did the dizziness. This experience gave me a whole new perspective in helping my patients, and motivated me to learn as much as possible about complex dental problems. For years now, many of our patients have experienced dental transformations similar to mine. And, by the way, my son no longer teases me about having a front tooth that is brown.

Marie's All New Smile

2008-01-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

Marie is an attractive, energetic and very funny young woman who had her front teeth repaired with "bonding" when she was younger. The bonding was wearing out, so when one of her close friends had a smile makeover done in our office, Marie wanted her teeth done, too. Marie laughs and smiles a lot, showing everyone her all new smile.

Mulberry's Market

2008-01-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

If you sneezed while driving through downtown Piedmont you could miss it because all we have is a gas station, a couple banks and a small market. The old market was below average and finally lost its lease to make room for the new one.

Piedmont's new Mulberry's Market is so awesome and so right for Piedmont that I just had to write about it. After the old market closed and Mulberry's broke ground, the entire community waited eagerly for the opening which finally occurred last Saturday. Hundreds of people were lined up for the ribbon-cutting and Mulberry's suddenly became the hub of Piedmont.

At last, grown-ups could get an excellent cup of Peets coffee. Kids could get a milkshake or an ice cream. All the most trendy delicious foods were suddenly available only walking distance from home. And the store is beautiful. Since the opening a few weeks ago the place has been packed non-stop. It has become the social center of the community where everyone comes to meet and chat, while finding any excuse to buy something.

The owners, Chad Olcott and Laura Pochop, planned carefully and invested wisely. Their manager, David Crombie, is a keeper. And Mulberry's Market is an instant Piedmont Landmark.

Congratulations to Mulberry's and to Piedmont for a perfect addition to our community!

Patti's All New Smile

2008-01-07T15:08:00.003-08:00

Patti had some old bridgework made after a childhood sports accident. She is actually missing two of her teeth in the front. When it was time to replace the bridge work, she wanted to complete her smile makeover by adding some porcelain veneers to the rest of her smile. Patti has a broad, warm smile and she smiles a lot—especially now with her all new smile.

The economy and dental practice

2007-12-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

The economy seems to be on everyone's mind these days. Some news reports use phrases such as "global credit crisis," "recession," "inflation," "stagnation," and "stagflation." Other news says the economy has never been better. Some businesses, relying upon discretionary income, may be concerned that the upcoming period may not as good as they had hoped. So what can we as dentists do about this?

While some patients may elect to postpone elective procedures until their personal finances improve, others will forge ahead, determined to address long standing dental issues they have been planning on treating for a long time. Some patients are simply not as affected by the current economy, while others will want a pretty smile for their wedding pictures--no matter what. Some patients will limp along as dental cripples as they always have, while others will finally complete the comprehensive dentistry that we have recommended. In short, just as it is unfair to diagnose the pocketbook of our patients in determining the treatment, we should not assume that any economic conditions--good or bad--should influence our diagnoses.

There are certain "givens" in dentistry that cause patients to seek out dentists for treatment.

1. Pain. It's a powerful motivator. Patients will always need root canals, perio treatment, extractions, TMD treatment, fillings and crowns.
2. Service. Patients would rather be treated well, and offices that provide outstanding service will be favored by patients.
3. Comfort. Everyone knows which dentist in town gives a painless injection and gentle, painless treatment. That dentist is always busy.
4. Quality. Everyone wants the best for themselves.
5. Esthetics. Patients want their dental work to look realistic and beautiful.
6. Affordability. Dentists who provide patients with low monthly payment options will always be busier than those that don't.

If we as dentists understand our patients and address their issues, everyone will benefit, regardless of the economy. Usually, it's simply a matter of asking patients what they want, then giving it to them.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Why Bakesale Betty is So Successful

2007-12-16T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here in Oakland, there is an awesome new bakery called Bakesale Betty. Of course you wouldn't know about it from the sign out front because there isn't one. And their signature product isn't a baked good at all--it's a sandwich.

I've been hearing about Bakesale Betty everywhere--from my wife, my kids, my neighbors and my patients. My son actually wanted their soon-to-be famous fried chicken sandwich for a Hanukkah present last week!

Now their baked goods are spectacular but that chicken sandwich is what gets people lined up out the door. And I'm not exaggerating about being lined up. However, you needn't be discouraged about the line because the service is unbelievably fast.

I finally had to visit Bakesale Betty for myself because I had been hearing so much about it. When I arrived with my wife, we got in line and Allison told me to check out the sandwich production. They make one kind of sandwich only--the fried chicken sandwich. It is 2 boneless chicken breasts, buttermilk fried, with jalapeno cabbage coleslaw on soft French roll. DEE-licious! About 1,000 calories, too, and worth every calorie.

So I walked alongside the line toward the back where the employees were in full production mode, everyone working on chicken sandwiches to-go. As I walked up, a very friendly guy behind the counter says "What can I get you?" Unusual, because I was apparently cutting the line. I said my wife was in line and I was just checking out production since it was my first time there.

He says to me, "First time, huh? Can I get you a sandwich?" I said, "No thanks, maybe next time." He says with a smile, "Listen, have a short bread cookie for you and your wife, and here is a sticky date pudding cake for you to try."

It was a gift.

I was an instant convert and Bakesale Betty's newest fan. The cookie and the cake were both out of this world. And I stole a bite of my son's sandwich at lunch-- it was was soooo good! Beyond the quality of the product, the friendliness and the service were well worth the trip as a business lesson. Some businesses spend so much on marketing when a simple gift of a free product is such great advertising. And friendly, helpful service goes such a long way in developing new business relationships.

I learned later that the guy who helped me was one of the owners. A very smart businessman and a heck of a nice guy. Bakesale Betty's is a winner!