July 2008: a reader informs us that Dr. Rotman passed away a few years ago.

Re: Detective-type dentist needed
Try Dr. Kenneth Rotman on Gilman Street in Berkeley. (he's in the phone book...sorry I don't have his number). He is or used to be a licensed acupuncturist and has a very wholistic view of the mouth/body. If he can't help, I'd go see Dr. Charlie Prins. Charlie is a chiropractor who uses Applied Kinesiology...a system of muscle testing (movement against resistance) to ''ask the body questions''. So he may be able to muscle test you to find out what is giving you that taste. Charlie does a lot of allergy testing, nutritional work and help with various illnesses using AK. He has helped me and my family tremendously. He's on Solano avenue in Albany. Good luck. June

RE: Dentists Who Do Great Crowns
Dr. Kenneth Rotman on Gilman Street in Berkeley does great crowns. I've had several crowns replaced and new ones put in (My mouth is very valuable). He doens't cast his own as far as I know from what he's said. He sends them to a lab, but he does the fitting and the the finish work. I've been very happy with him as my dentist for several years now. He also treats the mouth like it's part of the whole body, unlike my previous dentist. June

RE: Dentists who don't use mercury
Dr. Kenneth Rotman, on Gilman St in Berkeley does Mercury-free fillings. He's in a practice with a few other dentists who I think also have the same more wholistic view of dentistry as Dr. Rotman does. Good luck. June

RE: Holistic Dentists
Dr. Kenneth Rotman on Gilman Street in Berkeley is a great holistic dentist. I don't know if he'd call himself holistic. He is or used to be a licensed acupuncturist. He treats the mouth as if it's part of the whole body. He will replace mercury/amalgum fillings with better stuff(don't know what). He's really good in teaching preventive care and he's GREAT at anesthetizing (shots). He tells you what to do to relax, he chats. He's probably in his late 50's or so. I switched about 5 years ago from a dentist I liked as a person but didn't like her approach to dentistry. His number is in the book. He's across teh street from Tiddlywinks, in a practice with several other dentists. By the way, I've always been terrified of dentists. I have to say I usually don't feel more than minor anxiety now when I go to see him (I have a really messed up mouth too). My 11 year old son has been seeing him for a few years too and he doesn't know he ever got a shot). Good luck.

My dentist is Dr. Kenneth Rotman on Gilman St. in Berkeley. I feel he is an excellent dentist and is very good about giving me all the information and options necessary to make decisions about any work that needs to be done. I have been seeing him for over 15 years and haven't had any problems with any of the work that he has done. Another dentist in the office Dr. Seymour Kurtz is the dentist for my husband. He has been able to convince my extremely fearful husband to have periodontal work done and has been instrumental in the upkeep of my husband's oral care. I find the staff to be very efficient and have had the same dental hygienist for many years.

Regarding a good dentist for children. When my first child (now 9) was 2.5, we started out with one of those highly-publicized pediatric dentists whose examining room resembles a games arcade more than anything. Sure, it was easy to get my kids to go see him; we don't have a video parlor at home.

We have finally switched to a calmer, more personalized form of dental care. (I didn't like all those routine x-rays, nor did I like being treated like a moron because I questioned the wisdom of "routine" x-rays every year for my kids with great teeth.)

I recommend Dr. Kenneth Rotman, who has an office at 1313 Gilman, not far from Brother's Bagels. He talks to my daughter (almost 6) like an intelligent human being, which she is; he gave her a piece of dental putty to mold while they talked (instead of headphones and a ceiling tv); and he worked with us one-on-one, in contrast to trying to see three patients at once with the help of six assistants (which some pediatric dentists do). I feel the quality of care he provides is exceptional.