Brian M. Assael, D.D.S. is proud to serve Berkeley, CA and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of dental medicine along with friendly, compassionate service.
If you have any questions about how we can care for your teeth & mouth, please don’t hesitate to call us at (510) 848-9796. Thank you!
Our Staff
With over 30 years of combined dental experience, our dental team is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable in the area. They work hard to make sure that your visit runs as smooth as possible and that you receive the utmost in care. They truly enjoy seeing a smile on your face as you leave our office.
Dr. Brian M. Assael
Dr. Brian Assael graduated from the State University of New York Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 1988. He completed a General Practice Residency at Peninsula Hospital, Queens, New York in 1989. He practiced general dentistry in the New York City area until 1992, when he relocated to California.
Dr. Assael has practiced in Berkeley since 1993. He is a graduate of the prestigious PAC-LIVE continum, a teaching institute dedicated to functional natural aesthetics, a philosophy adopted and implemented in the treatment of patients.
Dr. Assael is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the California Dental Association (CDA), the Berkeley Dental Society (BDS), the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID).
Dr. Assael’s wife is Melissa. They have two beautiful children, Katie and Lauren.
Angelique Crews
Office Manager
Angelique Crews was born and raised in the Bay Area and graduated from Carrington College as a DA in 2011. Starting off as Dr. Assael’s assistant in November 2018, she has now transitioned to office manager. She also handles insurance and billing issues. She is excited to welcome new and existing patients as part of our growing dental family.
Julia Arioli
Office Manager
Julia Arioli has grown up in the bay area. Her hobbies include knitting, crocheting and hiking our beautiful trails in the bay. She loves spending time with her family and her two grand babies. She enjoys greeting patients to our office and making them feel a part of our dental family!
Ashley Creswell
Dental Assistant
Ashley Creswell was born and raised in Oakland, California and is the youngest of 4. She has 2 beautiful daughters, Jada and Layla. Ashley graduated as a dental assistant from the College of Alameda in May 2019. She plans on furthering her career as an RDA in the near future. Her main focus as a dental assistant is to make sure each procedure goes as smoothly as possible and that her patients are comfortable.
Becky Gutierrez
Registered Dental Hygienist
Becky graduated from Contra Costa College as a Dental Assistant in 2010 and from Diablo Valley College as a Dental Hygienist in 2015. She is extremely passionate about oral health and education because dental treatment has improved her own smile and self-esteem, and now she wants to help her patients in the same way. She loves meeting new patients, providing caring, gentle, and individualized quality care, and helping people smile!
Yeny Menjivar
Dental Hygienist
Yeny Menjivar was born and raised in El Salvador, moving to California in 2007. Yeny started her love of dental care as an assistant with La Clinica De La Raza for 8 years. She moved on to graduate from Chabot College as a dental hygienist in 2020. She loves to provide great dental care and educate patients on proper oral hygiene. In her free time, Yeny loves to cook, hike, and spend time with her husband, two children, and three cats.
Jamie Palma
Registered Dental Hygienist
Jamie graduated from the Dental Hygiene program in 2016 at Chabot College in Hayward, California. She also has degrees in Psychology, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Jamie has been interested in the dental field since childhood and decided to pursue a career in dental hygiene after high school. Outside of the office, she enjoys being outdoors, drawing, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and stepchildren.
Sai Sankar
Undergraduate Intern
Sai is one of our student interns and a current senior at UC Berkeley studying Molecular and Cellular Biology with goals of being a dentist in the future. Some of her interests outside of dentistry are jewelry making, crocheting, reading, and being part of her Indian classical dance team!
Catherine Nguyen
Undergraduate Intern
Catherine is one of our student interns and a senior attending UC Berkeley studying Molecular and Cell Biology. She is fully immersed in her journey towards a career in dentistry. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys testing out different matcha latte recipes, experimenting with new nail designs, and indulging in retail therapy! Catherine can also speak Chinese, Vietnamese, and ASL.
Billie Zeng
Undergraduate Intern
Billie is one of our student interns, currently a Junior majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Alongside her goal of becoming a dentist, she also has a keen interest in the business side of dentistry. Outside of her studies, she enjoys scrapbooking, painting, cooking, and learning new languages.