I tried booking an appointment, but the process ended up being difficult and lengthy. I did eventually get a call back days later, but I'd found and booked an appointment with a different dentist by then. Can't comment on the quality of care, wait times, or pricing. read more

My husband and I have both been to this practice for two appointments each and we have encountered inconsistencies in how this practice treats patients. I would recommend you AVOID this office and find someplace more inviting and convenient for two reasons (plus my rant): 1. The billing: You pay all expenses up front and later (hopefully) get reimbursed by your insurance company. Yes, this office must be paid right away. $$ 2. The staff: Inconsistency - What a joke. When I came in for my first visit, any possible procedure was pre-authorized so that I would know exactly what I needed to pay prior to committing to that treatment. This was NOT the case with my husband. In fact, he was pressured into committing to procedures (x-rays, fancy deep clean for gums) without any pre-authorization. My x-rays were covered; his were not. While necessary, we would have liked to know the cost of the x-rays. If he knew he was going to pay for those, he probably would have opted for the billable kind of cleaning, not the "deep clean" for gum disease (deemed optional by Dr. Van Stralen) and gone from there. Apparently the excuse for this inconsistency was this idea that my husband and I have the same insurance. Um, NO. Welcome to 2019 - It is more cost effective for us to have separate insurance with our respective companies. DO YOUR JOB. Some preconceived notion is not an excuse to be NEGLIGENT in checking your patient's insurance and medical records. Why do we fill that stuff out if you're not going to do your job, Giovanna? What really irks me is that I called to discuss this matter and Dr. Van Stralen threw my husband's health under the bus. He had not conveyed the high level of concern to my husband, but he sure did to me when I complained about billing. Mind you, my husband had seen another dentist at Alexandria Old Town Dental 6 months prior who told him he was perfectly healthy. Due to this experience, we will probably be returning to our previous dentist or finding another provider. We are disappointed in the inconsistency of service, possible exaggerations and dramatization, and assumptions regarding billing. This is unprofessional and unacceptable. read more

5 stars yet again! I went, this time, for a cleaning and the dental hygienist Paula was amazing. She is super gentle but efficient. I hate the noises of all the tools but she was so good that the time flew by. My teeth felt and looked amazing with very little discomfort. read more

After a couple of horrible visits to the Dickson Dental Studio since moving to the area, I decided to look on around for a better dentist. I found Dr. Van Stralen on Yelp with only 2 reviews but they're both 5 stars so I decided to give it a try since I live very close by. We had some scheduling issues but the staff was very professional and we straightened it out. The office was very bright, clean, and comfortable. Doc Introduced himself in the beginning of the appointment and asked about any issues or concerns, then cleaning commenced. Paola was my hygienist. She was very nice and gave me safety goggles which I've never had for cleaning, but I understood after she gave me a very thorough power wash of my teeth and scraping every bit of my tea stain. She did a great job and even though I told her to scrap away, I didn't really feel any pain. Doc came back for a thorough exam and some new tests that I've never had and I have been going to the dentist for many years. He measured gum thickness of each tooth front AND back while the hygienist took notes. He found a couple small cavities and he explained the options patiently and didn't rush me into do any additional work. I chose to wait and he reaffirmed my choice was totally acceptable. My visit was almost 2 hours with full mouth x-ray, cleaning, and exam. I was told they have 3 chairs and they take their time since they like what they do and they don't run it like a factory. Everyone sounded very happy working there and everyone has 10+ year there. You do have to pay upfront even with insurance. It's smart for them to not have to chase people down and the patient would have to think about what procedures they think they really need rather than doing unnecessary things because insurance covers it. I'm sure they can try to make a lot more money if they wanted to but they really care about their patients and they're not trying to squeeze every dollar from you like many other practices. The first visit did cost more than $400 so prepare for it since insurance might take time to reimburse you. Cleaning portion was $125 but you have to do full mouth x-ray, etc. for the first visit. Choosing the right dentist is an important decision and now you've found what you've been looking for! You're welcome! read more

Dr. Van Stralen is simply brilliant. His staff is professional and friendly. I could go on and on. I first brought my son here for a second opinion about a son's cracked tooth that my other dentist had said should just be monitored. Dr. Van Stralen gave us straight advice on why action should be taken now. It was just advice, but it was so well-reasoned that we decided to switch dentists. For me, he solved a challenging problem with an implant crown that came loose, that my previous dentist had simply given up on solving. He evaluated my teeth and jaw action (I was grinding my teeth and some were beginning to deteriorate despite careful hygiene). I have never before had a dentist explain exactly what was happening with my bite, and with each problematic tooth, why it was happening, why I may want to explore braces, and what options I had for possible treatment now, soon, and eventually, and how much each option would cost, and the tradeoffs. There was no time limit on the discussion but there were photos and visuals that made it crystal clear. Two year on, all those chronic problems that my previous dentist had despaired of fixing are completely gone. Dr. VanStralen is highly highly recommended. read more

WORST DENTAL EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD. Customer service and patient care sure wasn't a concern during my visits, no sympathy or outward care for us. The CT-Scanner was broken for days and the free consultation promised when the appointment was made turned out to be $165 with talk of a discount towards a CT-Scan if it was taken in the office. The scan was impossible, the machine wasn't ever operational. Constantly said they would call, sure not in a rush to do that and then seemed to have an attitude when we called asking for a status check. Staff acted like they didn't care about me or my pain, in the end they stalled and then suggested I visit another dentist. Of course my request for a refund of the consultation fee since the CT-Scanner was inoperable was REFUSED with a bunch of mumbo jumbo talk. No return for me, ZERO stars for the way my case and pain level were handled. Oh, forgot to say I was also charged to attach a crown that came off two weeks after it was attached. I went in so it could be put it back in place and paid a large fee but was told if it pops off again that he would reattach it at no charge. It came off quickly and I wasn't charged however, two weeks later it came off again and I was charged $95. $$$ Seriously laughable as to how they are still in business with this customer service and care. read more

Great service, very thorough answers all questions in detail. Dr Van starlen is the best dentist great bedside manner. He Does not push any extra and Unnecessary procedures. A very honest great dentist. The whole staff is Amazing. read more

I'm really not exaggerating when I say Dr. Van Stralen has changed my opinion on dentists. I have never been a fan - I have had a great deal of work done and many dentists, some of which actually did lasting harm to my mouth. After switching to this good doctor several years ago, I have consistently been pleasantly surprised. The office itself is wonderful. Clean, modern and recently renovated, it is always run by enough assistants to keep things moving quickly. The support staff are all kind and helpful; I recieve clockwork phone reminders the day before my appointments and am never kept waiting. The dental assistants are talented enough to have their work stand on their own. As said in a previous review, a great deal is reinvested in the office technology, and the suite features a plethora of brand new lasers and magnifying equipment, with more being added frequently to expand and expedite services. Dr. Van Stralen is personable and extremely competent. My jaw requires long-term care planning, and he has been careful to explain the steps needed and the eventual goals in a way that is perfectly understandable without being overly simplistic. He has never pressured me into taking any action, but is completely clear about what my choices entail for my health. His work is literally turning around the damage done by others in the profession. read more

I wouldn't go to another dentist. I've been with Dr. Van Stralen since 2006 when I first moved to the area - he started out as someone I went to just for cleanings but I've since trusted him with a whole lot more. I have a complicated case where I've been in braces multiple times and needed two implants; I was going to another dentist (a specialist in NYC) for the "complicated" part and that turned out to be a wrong move. Dr. Van Stralen corrected the mistakes that the specialist made; he's that good. That's why I say I won't go to another dentist. He is extremely smart, patient, and always challenging himself in his field. He talks about international conferences that he attends (and speaks at), brand new technologies that he trusts and are changing dentistry, and new certifications that he is getting. He loves what he does, and it shows. He has the latest technology in his office, which becomes part of your care. He is extremely patient and explains everything to you (in normal language ;) so you feel confident that he 100% knows his stuff. His staff is also amazing. Everyone there that I have interacted with is extremely nice, supportive, and so easy to work with. I look forward to going to the dentist. I've recommended Dr. Van Stralen to others, and two of my co-workers now swear by him too. read more

Since I am new in the area I was referred to Dr Van Stralen by my periodontist who had preformed an implant. He referred Dr Van Stralen to do the implant crown and evaluate my bite because I have been suffering for 30+ years of grinding and clenching and its destroying all my molars and causing me to continually loose teeth. Dr Van Stralen took the time, over 3 hours, to exam, photograph and explain in detail how the years of clenching was due to my bite. He thoroughly explained all my options and costs. There was no pressure to do any or all of them. He armed me with all the knowledge I needed to make an informed, comfortable decision. He also explained to me how much of the work that had been performed in the past was causing the further deterioration to my teeth and it was going to be nothing but a downward spiral if I didn't address the issues. I chose to start with taking the time to evaluate and adjust/correct my bite. It's like having a new mouth. I no longer clench or grind and my jaw is so much more relaxed! Now, we can proceed at a slower pace correcting all my issues. I finally feel like I've found a dentist that I can trust to do what's right for my mouth instead of his pocket book! I also had my teeth cleaned by Paula. I have my teeth cleaned 2x a year for as long as I can remember and Paula is by far the best hygienist I have ever had clean my teeth. You won't be disappointed! Dr. Van Stralen and his staff are the best! I highly recommend Dr. Van Stralen. read more