I don't go to dental or medical appointments as much. I had bad experiences in the past. However, Gentle Dental has given me a different perspective about treatment. The staff were amazing in reducing my anxiety. I had a cavity fill and deep cleaning and I can say this was the best experience I've ever had. There name really represent how they treat their patients. Thank you Dr. Ofelia Rivera and Doctors Assistant Liz for my treatment and providing for US Navy Veteran. If you are spectacle about gentle dental , don't be and then a shot, I promise you'll have the same experience as I did. read more

If you have any anxiety about getting dental work whatsoever, please go somewhere else. I don't even write bad reviews but I have never felt so dismissed and uncomfortable. I did my initial visit here and had a great experience with x-rays, assessment, and was reassured. I have voiced having some anxious feelings about going to the dentist and was constantly reassured in my initial visit. I came today for a deep cleaning. The lady who was going to do my cleaning came in and introduced herself. She went from one patient, took her gloves off, and came straight to me. I politely asked if she could wash her hands before starting on me and asked if the equipment laid out was new. After replacing the equipment because I pointed out what looked like dried blood on something, she became very short with me. I apologized and explained how I had a previous infection at a previous facility that was dismissed -- trying to articulate why I get so nervous regarding cleanliness. She said she would also be dismissive of me and proceeded to tell me she is so "frustrated" with me. She started throwing her hands around me and telling me she's been doing this for 20 years and claimed I was telling her how to do her job. I tried to tell her I just wanted reassurance but she was far too angry so I made the decision to leave. I made the decision to leave because I did not feel safe in that confrontation, let alone in a situation where she would be using sharp tools in my mouth. She followed me out repeatedly telling me to go. I am not a confrontational person and I also work in healthcare. I would never treat any other human being that way, let alone a patient. Her demeanor was very aggressive despite me speaking to her in a calm and quiet manner. I never raised my voice nor did anything to provoke the kind of sudden rage that came from her. Aside from that individual, the people at the front desk and the dentist I saw initially were very kind. Not sure if it was an off day for that person but I would really recommend skipping this location if your concerns are cleanliness and decent care. read more

My husband went here for a deep cleaning and some fillings and he's having pretty bad complications. They didn't even give him after care instructions and he's in alot of pain. He may develop a phobia from this experience. I feel horrible since I referred him here originally. I have since switched dentists but he didn't know before making the appointment. The dental hygienist was very dismissive. The cleaning took over two hours because she kept leaving to attend to other customers instead of focusing on him. The numbing agent wasn't working and instead of switching to another method, they continued to stick him with more and more doses. I suspect that may have lead to the complications he's facing now. I'm so disappointed. I went here for years and this is so disappointing. read more

I went yesterday and Dr. Rivera was very rude I was trying to ask her questions and her assistant kept answering for her! She kept asking questions that were unprofessional and just very rude! I won't be coming back here again! read more

Dr Rivera and her team are really top notch. Today, they accommodated an expedited exam and X-rays when I came in with a lot of pain and no appointment. The doctor is always so gentle and knowledgeable, and the ladies at the front desk went out of their way to make an emergency, same day referral and find a specialist that took my insurance. I truly appreciate this team! read more

Dr Rivera did terrific cleaning my teeth. She was very thorough using a dental pick to clean every tooth. I also received fluoride treatment and polishing ! The staff members were very cordial, friendly and helpful. read more

Dr. Rivera and her staff in the Vista CA office are fabulous. The best dentist I have ever been to! I have always had anxiety about going to the dentist, but Dr. Rivera and her entire team completely changed that for me. Professional, thorough, and the entire team makes you feel like family. My cleaning and filling were a breeze, and I actually look forward to my next appt. read more

I have been coming to get my dental work done and every time I come in. I get the best services and the staff are extremely nice and comforting. They finally hired a hygienist and she is amazing. I give the entire team a 5 stars service. I am so happy that I found them. read more

Excellent experience from start to finish. This office truly cares about their patients. Dr. Rivera was incredibly compassionate and attentive to my dental sensitivity, making sure I was fully numb and comfortable before proceeding. I never felt rushed, and that level of care meant a lot. Huge thanks to Melody for going above and beyond by coordinating with my VA Community Care contact. Her follow-through led to a corrected procedure code and approval for a gold crown, which I genuinely appreciated. That kind of advocacy is rare. Liz and Maria were both kind, professional, and reassuring throughout the visit. The whole team works seamlessly and creates a calm, supportive environment. Highly recommend this office if you're looking for skilled care, compassion, and excellent coordination. read more

I come here every 3 months for cleaning and I LOVE getting my checkups here. Such a wonderful staff...

The best in the west! The most enjoyable experience at the dentist, and that says a lot! The beautiful ladies at the front desk were not only amazingly beautiful but amazingly professional and great at making me feel welcomed. read more

Being a senior, I have been in the hands of various dentists. Dr. Rivera, and her staff are the best practitioners of dental care I have ever experienced. Her team are a tight working, organized group of combined professionalism and caring compassion. What a blessing to be in their care! read more

Dr Rivera is amazing at what she does and very kind. Had excellent service from the whole team, and would highly recommend.

My experience at Gentle Dental always been extraordinary the staff and Dr Rivera is truly unbelievable they are totally concerned about your well-being and do everything in their effort to help you out. It's always a great experience. The office has a wonderful family environment. I highly and sincerely recommend to anyone who is looking for the best dental experience ever to come to this office. read more

A heartfelt thank you to my amazing dental care team for helping me achieve a beautiful, healthy smile! I'm so grateful for the exceptional care and friendly atmosphere every step of the way. If you're looking for top-notch dental care, look no further--this team is the best. Family, friends, and coworkers, I highly recommend them! Special thanks to: * Dr. Rivera - Dentist * Dr. Adams - Orthodontist * Liz - Dental Technician * Gemma - Dental Technician * Olivia - Receptionist * Ceci - Receptionist You've all made this journey a wonderful one--thank you! Kindly, Agnes B Dominguez read more

Gentle Dental is a great, welcoming practice. I appreciated how friendly Dr. Rivera, Liz, Cristina, and the rest of the staff were. I was very satisfied with my cleaning, exam, and X-rays! read more

Best Dentist office! Dr and staff are very personable. I have had multiple procedures done and the doctor's care and expertise is top notch. I highly recommend!! read more

Horrible customer service. Incredibly hard to get ahold of staff. They cancel appointments day of. They milk insurance and will drag out the process of fixing things. I've had multiple bad experiences here and iv never written a bad review about any place but this place inspired me. My partner and I both went here and enjoyed our first experience and now we will never return. I don't know why dentists are so inconsiderate of people's time. I've never had a doctor do anything like this. It's mind blowing. read more

This dental office gave me the best dental experience I've ever had. Scheduling was a little challenging. I think they're probably corporate, because the gent I spoke to on the phone I never saw in the 4 times I've been there. He told me someone would make sure to verify my insurance was in network with their office, but that didn't happen before my appointment. When I walked in, the ladies at the front desk immediately called my insurance to verify and got me squared away within a few minutes! The exam was fine - routine X-rays and all that. The equipment is fancy! You sit in the dental chair and they maneuver the machines around you. The first person to help me was a student, she was great! Very professional and friendly, and we joked through most of the X-rays. When the other tech came in to make sure things looked good, she was also SO NICE! She joked around with me and made me feel super comfortable and took away a bunch of my anxiety. So far, the entire staff was super nice and welcoming. (Whaaaaat!?) Then the hygienist came in, and I was kind of disappointed. She told me that my gums were bleeding and I had gingivitis. Unfortunately, I had gingivitis (a really severe case) in the past, and I know for sure that I don't have an active infection right now... she wanted to do a really intense medicated deep cleaning. I started flossing my teeth daily during Covid lockdown (yay, a positive!!) and my gums REALLY bled then. Not like when I had gingivitis before (it was so bad that my dentist asked if I was pregnant!!!) when I could press on my gums and they would bleed. They haven't bled at all for at least 3 years now... but, I digress. The doctor came in and was so nice! She was friendly and warm and very soft spoken, which was very calming because I came in knowing I was going to have at least one, huge issue that I've been avoiding for too long. She did an oral cancer screening which I've never had anyone care to talk to me about (really educational and informative) and her exam. I had to have SO MUCH WORK DONE! It's my own fault because I didn't care for my teeth for a really long time. I can honestly say that Dr. Rivera truly embodies the phrase "gentle dental." She always made sure I was comfortable, numbed me several times when I had sensitivity still, and gave me breaks when I needed them. At one point I was there for almost 2 hours, and they were so patient with me! Also, earbuds were strongly encouraged and what a difference it made! The office manager who handled my billing broke it down into a bunch of different steps and options that she thoroughly explained to me. She went above and beyond explaining everything to me and breaking it all down into easily digestible chunks. My insurance sucks (naturally *sigh*) AND it was going to run out at the end of last month. The whole office worked together for me to get in, get nearly all of my work done at 3 separate appointments, worked around me rescheduling because of work and baby conflicts, and to max out my insurance assistance so I can feel confident that the massive decay that was in my mouth wasn't going to get any worse, and that I only needed one crown (instead of god knows how many more...) or possibly extractions, I might have needed had I not found the amazing people in this office that took such good care of me. 20/10 HIGHLY recommend! Dr. Rivera and her staff are wonderful. If you're looking for a dentist, stop now, because you've found one of the best, with a fantastic staff to boot! read more

I have been with this office since 2020 and they have provided the most excellent dental service that I have ever experienced. Every staff member is highly trained and educated. I feel like this is my second family! I highly recommend this dentist office to every single one of my friends, and I suggest that you also consider this practice as your go to dental service professionals! read more

Gentle Dental Vista has been key to getting my smile back! After years of not making oral health a priority, and an inherit fear of the dentist, I was nervous to take that first step. From the first deep cleaning, I could tell that the team truly has your best interest at heart. They take time to explain everything and are very kind in each interaction. Recently I've had several fillings taken care of and Dr. Ramirez and Liz were amazing. It's never fun to be numb for several hours but I never felt any pain while they were working on my teeth. The next day there was of course soreness, but I was overall so thankful for their attention to detail. If I needed a break they made sure I had one and kept me informed of what they were doing at all times. Olivia at the front desk is always friendly and will find a time for an appointment that works best for your schedule. Often times I need to be seen after my work day and there is almost always afternoon appointments available. I appreciate the follow ups and thorough explanation of benefits and payments. This office truly cares about you, the music is nice, and I am no longer afraid of the dentist (this I am most grateful for). Thank you Dr. Ramirez and the entire team for going above and beyond each day for your patients! read more

After previous dentist dropped my insurance I found Dr Rivera who practices at Gentle Dental in Vista on Melrose Ave. The care from Dr Rivera and all the staff was more than wonderful. Dr. Rivera first did a complete exam and explained in detail all the issues I had and I had a lot! I liked her care and gentle nature but because I was told I had many problems I was fortunate that I have a family member who is an experienced hygienist and works for a large insurance dental provider to handle appeals. . I asked for my X-rays and sent them to her who agreed with everything she suggests and was perplexed why my previous dentist did not take care of all the issues. She also said the fees were more than fair. Every appointment I had was easy, pain free and done beautifully and her assistant was a 30 year registered dental assistant named Carmen who was so cautious and knowledgeable about her work. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this office. read more

My visit at the office was a great experience. All the staff are friendly and Dr. Rivera is a great dentist. It was a painless experience overall. I've even brought my family members to this dental office. read more

This is the type of dentist they warn you about. They do not make it clear what your insurance covers. I wanted a cleaning and they never told me the price for that.... They write you up for a specialized cleaning and then you're under the assumption it's covered. I ended up paying close to $500. I clean my teeth every 6 months and suddenly I had two cavities. Bad experience. read more

Dr. Rivera and her staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. I appreciate the thorough care they give, making sure to ask during the treatment processes if I'm doing okay, and always double checking their work before they finish. Glad to find this dental practice! read more

I wrote a negaive review abou 4 months ago. Mainly problems with front office staff who are no longer there. Since then they've gotton a new front office mgr. who is extremely competent & very considerte on the phone. Dr. Rivera is very gentle & professsional. I like her very much & also her dental assistant Carmen. Now with the new front office Mgr. I will recommend Gentle Dental. Ask for Dr. Rivera... She's wonderful! I've now had 3 crowns I badly needed & the location on Melrose not far off the 78 is easy to find. Sincerely, Shelley Malone read more

Gentle Dental Vista - General Dentistry Near Me - Vista, California

Dr Rivera and her crew are compassionate, hardworking and dedicated to their patients. Is your dentist supposed to be your best friend too? Lol, she is! read more

Great staff! Dr. Rivera is amazing. I highly recommend this dental office. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. My experience has been very positive and I've seen how great they are to their other patients as well. They have accommodated to work around my schedule multiple times. Very happy to keep visiting for my oral health. read more

I had a great experience with Dr. Rivera, she was kind, caring and very professional. I had a tooth removed and a bone graft. She was very detailed when explaining the procedures and the problems that needed to be addressed at future appointments. The dental assistant Gemma made me feel very relaxed with her friendly personality and her excellent assisting skills. Dr. Rivera and Gemma make a great team! The front office staff Ceci and Liz were awesome at explaining the charges and options for payment. I have been to many dentists throughout the years and honestly this was the best experience from front office to dental chair so far! Thank you Gentle Dental Vista, CA.! read more

Love the ladies here! My whole mouth was messed up from not taking care of myself, and when I came in for emergency work I unfortunately had a big panic attack. They were super patient and understanding: Honestly the kindest group of people. I feel blessed to have been surrounded by such compassionate and skillful oral health professionals. Would highly recommend this place if you get nervous about going to the dentist and need to get some work done. The Doc is amazing! read more

The compassion shown to me by Dr. Rivera exceeded all expectations. I had a complex situation where I was actually hospitalized for a week due to my tooth. Dr. Rivera and her staff gave me exceptional care from start to finish, making a very stressful situation easier for me. To top it off they were $700 cheaper than the next lowest quote I was given. If you need dental care definitely go here!! read more

Gentle dental vista. California The worst dental practice ever They billed me for services I never received. I am a senior citizen Told me I could only have a cap cemented only once in my mouth Told a friend she needed 2000 dollars of work 3 other dentists. Said her teeth were fine Stay away I would give 0 if I could Front office manager is overbearing And before service he asked me to sign not getting a service which I was entitled to Calling my insurance I could have had that service multiple times Definitely I feel like senior abuse Waiting for review by my insurance for refund on this which they said they.gave.me and never received read more

Gentle Dental Vista gives excellent service. they really are gentle and do a fabulous job.

So far so good. This is my second visit and they are being very thorough and up front about what needs to be done and the options available on how to best move forward. Very friendly and caring. They also provided a good explanation of the breakdown for the cost of work so I fully understood what I would be paying for beyond what my insurance will cover. read more

I started coming to Gentle Dental a few months ago. They have put me on a cleaning program every 3 months. I really like Christina who is very thorough with the cleaning. Dr. Rivera has also been great with doing fillings & bonding for many teeth that needed the repair. When I chipped my tooth & called for an appointment, they got me in the same day to fix my tooth. The girls up front are very helpful & explain what is covered & what is not. I would recommend Gentle Dental to family & friends. Keep up the great work! read more

The office manager can't be trusted. I asked him if got pre-authorization from my insurance company and he said yes. My copay was 1800.00. After the work was done, I was told I owed another 900.00. When I asked about the 1800., he said that was just an estimate. When I asked about the pre-authorization, he said he just verified that I have insurance. They don't have time to send a pre-authorization for all the work being done. So, now I have a space in the front of mouth where they pulled teeth and won't finish with the partial until I pay the balance. I've had to go to another dentist to get the rest read more

Gental Dental Vista is the Best! Dr. Rivera and her staff of Lovely Ladies are so talented and comforting! Dr. Rivera saved my smile, she crowned all my front teeth that had hairline fractures. She shaped them with her drill to look exactly like my originals ( without the gap I had in the front ) she is an artist! I am so Grateful to have found this office! The prices are fantastic also, I paid almost a third of the cost for a porcelain on ceramic crown, than I did last year at Emerald Dental ( who didn't address 11 cavities ) that Gental Dental found. I am truly grateful I found Gental Dental Vista. Thank you so much Dr. Rivera and her wonderful staff, I feel as though they are family! read more

I got my deep cleaning and fillings done here they are professional and have knowledge to help answer any questions. Only downside about dental services are the costs (in general anywhere you go) so dental insurance is always nice. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Rivera for a few years and she is really great. All of the ladies are very friendly and well... Gentle. I was really nervous going to the dentist for the first time after several years and having multiple cavities but they made me feel very comfortable. They accepted my insurance and are well priced. I recommend seeing Dr. Rivera! read more

this seems like a group of people that enjoy working together. They are all very helpful and friendly. Dr Rivera is very knowledgeable and does a great job. im really glad I found this practice! read more