I went here for a composite (a filling) on my front tooth and it fell out three days later. I had to go back several times for the office to correct this issue because it kept falling off. On a separate note, the office assistant tends to write down patient notes on a price of paper and has lost/misplaced records I've sent over. read more

I was a patient of Dr. Nelson for 7 years between ages of 23-30. I had never had a cavity in my life before I saw Dr. Nelson. I always liked him and found him kind and friendly. His office staff was very nice and easy to work with. His hygienist Hannah was phenomenal. Here is my problem, in those 7 years, Dr. Nelson repeatedly found cavities. I had fillings on multiple teeth at least 4 times. I never questioned it. My last visit with Dr. Nelson was right before I moved out of Durham, he said he had found more cavities that needed to be filled. I went to a new dentist when I moved to get it addressed and he said I had no cavities. I went back to my childhood dentist for a third opinion and he also found no cavities. In the seven years since I left Dr. Nelson, I have seen 5 different dentists and no one has found a single cavity. So I have a mouth full of fillings that I suspect was never needed. That makes me sad. read more

The staff here were nice and the office was fun looking, but I would never go back because the girl who did my dental X-rays kept screwing up and kept exposing me over and over to the radiation from additional X-rays. I called their office after my visit and told their staff this and never went back. This was probably four years ago but I was looking for a dentist here on Yelp and I saw that this office was well rated and I have to say that I would never go back here given what happened to me. Perhaps things have changed and they have gotten better about their bitewing procedure, and this is no reflection on the dentist himself as he was not the one to take the bitewings. read more

Dr. Lionel is a heck of a cool guy with superior skills and great genuine personality. He does everything from routine exams / cleanings / fillings / crowns to implants and even sleep apnea appliances. Unlike those corporate dentistry places Dr Lionel does everything himself which means as a patient you get the best care possible. You will get excellent care from him, and will enjoy being around him as well. Highly recommend Dr. Lionel! read more

This is a great team, working for a great doctor. Everyone is super polite and very aware that people have different issues with finances. Pros: Friendly, flexible, informative without being belittling when posed with dumb questions. Each chair has its own monitor of scrolling scenery to watch. Cons: The office is closed most Fridays, so if you have a procedure that needs a couple of days to recuperate, you may need to miss work the next day. They accept my Duke insurance, but are not on the growing Epic medical record network yet. read more

Dr. Nelson and his hygienist are great. The problem is with the Office Manager, who seems to be unable to read benefits correctly. She tried to charge me the full price of a visit and my benefits are $50 on first for regular cleaning and free thereafter. Ok, everyone has their days, when I went for second visit, I was to be charged full price for a temporary device for my teeth (according to Office Manager). When I checked my benefits, there is a 60 to 50% discount and why would I want a temporary device, and why wasn't the difference explained. Of course I went elsewhere, who wants an Office Manager that argues about how much money "she" is going to charge and why would I put a temporary device in a mouth? Dr. Nelson is very professional and seems to be kind, but that Office Manager managed to shout how much the cost across the room and swore no one was in the room, that is except another staff member and office doors open, I did not know if anyone was there. Great doctor, may want to consider a better manager. read more

I am almost tempted to keep this place to myself because I don't want to make it harder to get an appointment! This place is great. Exactly what you are looking for in a dentist - good service and reasonable prices. No BS. I especially appreciate the following: 1) They give a % discount for Duke students that have the health insurance but not the dental insurance. Don't recall the details off the top of my head, but make sure to ask about it. 2) They are upfront about costs, etc. When you make an appointment, you can just ask how much to budget. 3) They recognize that people have budgets. I stagger my xrays so that I never have a big bill all at once. They can help you strategize on this so that you are still getting the care that is needed for your oral health. They also let me transfer recent xray records from my previous dental practice rather than making me get a whole new set on my first appointment (which happens sometimes elsewhere). They are never pushy about optional procedures or possible cosmetic stuff that I clearly don't have the money for. Only negative is that the place is in sort of a strange building and is thus a bit hard to find. Just give yourself an additional 5 minutes to get there so that you can get a bit turned around and you will be fine. read more

I've been going to Dr. Nelson for years and have recommended him to all of my friends. Everyone on staff is sweet and I particularly enjoy chatting with my hygienist, Hannah. Dr. Nelson's pain-free style, warm personality, and wit have made all my experiences there wonderful. He's also a fantastically skilled dentist. read more

This is the best dentist I ever been to. I met one of the coolest pal on this planet here and the staff where the same always friendly and always made me comfortable. Thanks for everything Dr Lionel. read more

I highly recommend Dr. Nelson & his staff. I recently moved away & hate that I won't be able to go there anymore. They are very thorough and professional, while also being very friendly. They make going to the dentist a comfortable experience. I can't recommend them enough. read more

Love 'em. The only reason I actually take up the offer by my insurance company to go every six months.

Not very satisfied with my experience between his work or his staff (Carolyn). I was told I would need to get a tooth taken out. I decided to seek a 2nd opinion because I didn't feel this was necessary, and another dentist repaired the tooth which is still not giving me any problems and looks great. Also the one lady Mandy is very sweet and helpful but 'Carolyn' seems to be just angry at the world and is very rude/crass. Office lacked professionalism and what I expect/look for in a dental provider. Dr. Nelson seems like he'd be a nice guy to have a beer with or watch the game with, but as far as trusting my dental care with him? No thank you. read more

Dr. Nelson is the best dentist I've ever been to. He does great work and is a very cool and funny guy to boot! The office staff is also awesome. HIGHLY recommended! read more

Never thought I'd enjoy going to the dentist. Dr. Nelson and his team are incredibly personable and do an excellent job explaining what they are doing. I'm lucky to have found this place! read more

What a talented and personable guy! Best dental experiences -- great technical skill, latest technology, and always a warm welcome and lots of laughs. I was even more impressed yesterday when Dr. Nelson suggested a way to create a partial crown and actually save me significant money -- and this was during the procedure and after I had agreed to much higher cost. Good to know someone is really looking out for the patient. And hats off to his long-time, loyal staff. I see why they stick around. read more