Best dentists near me: what does "best" really mean?
Searching for the best dentists near you in Jerusalem usually returns long lists and star ratings. But there is no objective ranking of dentists: the right dentist is the one whose skills, communication and approach fit your situation, whether you need a check-up, a root canal treatment, implants or a cosmetic treatment.
Four objective criteria help you choose a dentist: a Ministry of Health license (searchable by name in the Ministry of Health registry of licensed professions), recognized specialists for complex treatments, a clear explanation with a written treatment plan, and verified patient reviews.
For English-speaking patients, especially Americans and Anglo olim, language is a real criterion: understanding your diagnosis and your options in your own language makes informed decisions easier. This guide sets out objective criteria, then presents the clinic of Dr Haim Aseriel factually so you can compare.
How to choose a dentist in Jerusalem: four steps
The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests a simple four-step method on its MouthHealthy patient site, adapted here to Jerusalem.
Start with the basics
Is the clinic easy to reach from home or work? Do its hours suit you (evenings, Fridays)? Can you be treated in the language you are comfortable in? If you have dental insurance, will the clinic provide the documents your insurer requires?
Search widely
Ask friends, family or your community for recommendations, then look at each dentist's website: training, the treatments offered, and who will actually treat you.
Meet the dentist
Book a consultation to meet the dentist and the staff before committing to treatment. Notice whether your questions are answered clearly and whether several options are explained.
Choose a partner
The ADA describes the right dentist as part of your overall health care team: someone who motivates you, advises you and makes decisions with you.
Questions to ask before choosing a dentist
The ADA lists a few questions worth asking at a first visit; we have added two that matter particularly in Israel.
- Prevention: will the dentist explain how to prevent dental problems and show you how to care for your teeth?
- Emergencies: how are urgent problems handled, during and outside opening hours?
- Payment and insurance: can the staff answer questions about costs and the documents your insurer needs?
- Records: are your dental records and X-rays kept and available to you?
- Written plan and estimate: will you receive a treatment plan and an itemized estimate before treatment starts?
- Who treats what: for root canals, gum treatment, surgery or orthodontics, who will treat you? In Israel, "specialist" is a regulated title, so ask which specialists treat patients at the clinic; the Ministry of Health registry also shows each practitioner's specialty.
A dentist who answers these questions openly makes it easier to trust the plan that follows.
How to read reviews of the best rated dentists near you
Star ratings are a starting point, not a verdict. Read many reviews rather than the average alone: look for recent ones, for concrete details about explanations, comfort, waiting times and results, and for patients who had a treatment similar to yours. Reviews describe patients' experience; they do not replace an examination.
The clinic of Dr Haim Aseriel is rated 5.0/5 from 100 Google reviews. In these reviews, patients most often mention the personal approach and detailed explanations before treatment, comfort during treatment, and returning to the dentist after years of avoidance. You can read a selection, sorted by type of treatment, on our patient reviews page, or all of them on Google.
Dr Haim Aseriel: the facts
Dr Haim Aseriel is a dentist (DDS) in Jerusalem, a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry with a B.A. in Biology from Yeshiva University. He founded the clinic and is its medical director.
His treatment philosophy rests on one principle: a natural tooth that can be saved is preferable to any denture or implant. He therefore favors conservative treatments when possible, such as pulp capping, which can sometimes avoid a root canal treatment.
10+
years of clinical experience
The clinic's dental team covers oral rehabilitation, root canal treatment, gum treatment, oral and maxillofacial surgery and pediatric dentistry.
- Degrees: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry; B.A. in Biology, Yeshiva University
- Experience: more than 10 years of clinical practice; general dentist (not a specialist)
- Languages: English, Hebrew and French
- Materials: metal-free zirconia and E-MAX ceramics, nano-composite fillings
- Orthodontics: certified Invisalign provider since 2014; Spark (Ormco) certified
- Equipment: Shining 3D Aoralscan 3 intraoral scanner, in-house dental lab with a dental technician and Amann Girrbach CAD/CAM milling for crowns, Planmeca ProMax 3D CBCT for 3D and panoramic imaging
- Oral surgery: Dr Yves Weinberg, head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Barzilai Medical Center, operates at the clinic
More about his background on the Dr Haim Aseriel page.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
What does a general dentist treat?
A general dentist covers a wide range of needs, from check-ups and prevention to fillings, root canal treatment, crowns, implants and oral rehabilitation; complex cases are treated together with specialists.
- Cosmetic dentistry: whitening, veneers, smile design
- Dental implants: implant placement and implant-supported restorations
- Teeth straightening: orthodontics for all ages, including clear aligners
- Pediatric dentistry: age-appropriate care
- Dental anxiety: a gradual approach for nervous patients
- Emergency dental care: same-day appointments during opening hours
Prices: why there is no fixed price list
Two problems that look alike can require very different treatments, and therefore different costs. The clinic does not publish a fixed price list: after the consultation with Dr Aseriel, you receive a detailed, itemized written estimate. After treatment, the clinic provides detailed receipts that you can submit to your insurer; coverage depends on your policy, so check with your insurer before treatment.
Location and opening hours
The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, HaTnufa complex, 3rd floor, unit 410, in Talpiot, south Jerusalem. Opening hours: Sun 8:00–19:00 · Mon 9:00–19:00 · Tue–Wed 9:00–21:00 · Thu 8:30–21:00 · Fri 8:00–14:00. To book a consultation, call 03-912-1879 or use the contact form.
Choosing a dentist: frequently asked questions
To choose a dentist in Jerusalem, start with practical criteria (location, opening hours, the language you are comfortable in), check that the dentist holds a Ministry of Health license (searchable by name in the Ministry's online registry of licensed professions, which also shows any recognized specialty), then check the dentist's training and clinical experience, the technology and materials used, and whether you receive a written treatment plan and estimate before treatment. The American Dental Association also recommends meeting the dentist and the staff before deciding.
Useful questions for a new dentist include: will they explain how to prevent dental problems, how are emergencies handled outside office hours, can the staff help with insurance and payment questions, are dental records kept permanently, and will you receive a written treatment plan and cost estimate before treatment starts.
Online reviews of dentists are most useful when you read many of them rather than the average score alone: look for recent reviews, concrete details about communication, comfort and results, and reviews that describe treatments similar to the one you need. Reviews describe patients' experience; they do not replace a clinical examination.
Dr Haim Aseriel is a general dentist (DDS), a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry with a B.A. in Biology from Yeshiva University and more than 10 years of clinical experience. For complex cases, specialists in fields such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics and pediatric dentistry treat patients at the clinic.
Dr Haim Aseriel speaks English, Hebrew and French, so the diagnosis, treatment options and aftercare instructions can be explained in any of these three languages. He studied dentistry in the United States, at New York University College of Dentistry.
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), How to Find a Dentist – View the page
