SoLa Dental of Austin

You can reference my review of ORA Dental Studio in Chicago for more details on my recent visit to SoLa which was in early January.
My wife and I live in the Cole Apartments and were excited that we have a dentist in the building so we eagerly setup our first appointment with SoLa. Previously we lived in Chicago and used ORA Dental Studio so this was our first dentist visit since we moved to Austin.
The office is nice and very modern which gave a great first impression, but that’s the only positive about both of our visits. After completing x-​rays and the preliminary cleaning for a first time visit, the dentist (Dr. Thomas Gent) came in to review our x-​rays and to discuss a treatment plan.
For me, he said that I have a few small cavities on my wisdom teeth that need to be addressed. He said that since they’re in such a hard to reach place, that my best bet would be to have my wisdom teeth removed.
This was odd for a couple of reasons.
1. My previous dentist validated that there was plenty of room in my mouth for my wisdom teeth
2. Removing teeth because of difficulty addressing a cavity sounded bizarre to me.
Next was my wife.
They said that she remove all of her mercury amalgams and replace them with composite fillings for her general (mercury exposure) and dental health (preventing cracked teeth).
The combined out of pocket estimate for our work was around $ 3,000 which was a major surprise since both of us had gotten such positive feedback from our dentist in Chicago.
Immediately I called my dentist in Chicago and told him what happened. In short, he strongly recommended getting a second opinion and directed us to Floss Dental.
Today (01−28−16) my wife and I completed our second opinion visit with Floss and were almost in shock at what they told us.
For me, they said that I don’t even have a cavity on my wisdom teeth, that it’s more of a stain that could eventually become a cavity, but something that is easily remediable and doesn’t need immediate attention. Other than that, the only thing they said to keep an eye on was a composite filling that would need to be replaced in a year or so.
For my wife, they found 4 fillings that have some very minor cracking and recommended replacing them. SoLa was partially right about those, but even the dentist at Floss (Dr. Kimberly Barclay — who was great BTW) said that these weren’t do or die repairs. The out of pocket quote from Floss is roughly $ 100.
So to summarize, SoLa was either being disingenuous with us to profit on unneeded dental work or they simply didn’t have to acumen to properly address our dental concerns. Both disqualify them from gaining our future business as we’ll be going to Floss from now on.

I received dental implants from the so-​called «experienced dentist» at Sola Dental… as well as nine months of blood, pain, wasted time, frustration, and untold stress. Now, at the end, I am getting to do it all over again, at twice the cost, and in twice the time. This time an oral surgeon is repairing the damage done to my jaw by a frighteningly inept dental professional at Sola Dental. Think about having bone removed from your lower jaw to patch holes where your upper molars used to be, and I bet you’ll be choosier in your choice of dental professional. Consider having cadaver bone grafts placed under your sinuses, and then taking antibiotics so strong they screw your body up for months. Think about unbelievable pain, and regret, and being just past age 45 with a removable denture sitting in the place of salvageable teeth. If you enjoy chewing, really think about where you go for dental treatment.
At this point, no general dentist can legally claim to be an «implant specialist». To understand just how little training a dentist may have before cutting away at your jaw, read about NYU’s corporate-​sponsored complete course, «Incorporating Implants Into Your Practice.» This 3-​day session involves 24 classroom hours, including hard-​core surgical training on a kind of creepy synthetic rubber «test patient».
These are general tips, and not details about my 9 looong months of personal experience with SoLa Dental, which is a whole other can of worms. I wish I could add a photo of the gory, shrunken mess my mouth has become, but it even turns my stomach, so it goes in the documentation file. All of this is completely true, and it’s so terribly funny how an ill-​informed decision can totally change the direction of your life. Go for a quick cleaning if you must, or maybe a filling, but don’t let them put a scalpel anywhere near your mouth. I pray, really pray, that no other patient undergoes a year like mine.
If anyone ever tells you that you’ll be better off with implants than your natural teeth, or that they know how to perform oral surgery with a basic dental degree and a few years of work under their belt, walk out the door, and find a dentist who knows what they’re doing. You’ll want to find a professional who can own errors rather than frantically obscuring them; apologize instead of denying; and one who spends more time in clinical training than fiddling with Twitter, Facebook, and an obnoxiously ubiquitous and hip Web campaign. There are no shortcuts to dental training that don’t compromise patient care. From where I’m standing, «biological» dentistry is far from comforting, ethical, and kind.
Remember, dentistry is «a tremendous responsibility that is founded completely on trust»…this means more than words on a website. I, for one, am not over my Sola experience by a long shot. Perhaps I will be months from now, when I have some sort of teeth again.

I went there for my first procedure ever on my teeth ever. They were so professional and the Dr made me feel so comfortable and explained everything. I didn’t feel any anxiety and didn’t feel any pain. Will never go to anyone else ever

Thank you thank you thank you Sola!!! My crown broke, aloha dental would not call me back and yall are taking care of me! Thank you for getting me in quickly, discussing options and then setting a plan of care I am comfortable with! You truly do have my best interest at heart! In my time of need the office staff was great, techs were great and dentist was great! I have a ways to go but am glad I’m doing it with yall. Thanks again!

I am an older guy so I have had many dental hygienists. Most are disappointing but a few are very very good. And I have been happy to have one of the latter for the past few years. Until a few months ago… the dentist office she worked at on highway 290 W closed and the dentist relocated to another state. I’ve been waiting to hear where Danielle will be taking her talent to, and today I found out she’ll be at Sola a few days a week. If you want a supremely professional, thorough and caring hygienist with a great personality, go to to Sola and ask for Danielle. I’m going to call for an appointment to meet the dentist and have some work done that I’ve been putting off, now that I know Danielle works there .
She’s experienced, professional and a wonderful person.

I had a dental emergency this past week. Through Unilocal reviews I found SoLa. From the first phone call and throughout the entire process, I was treated with respect, kindness and zero judgment. They were able to get me in that day, I did not have to wait once I arrived, every single person I encountered was professional, pleasant and efficient. I felt Dr Gent actually listened to and responded to my personal needs and desires to resolve my crisis. He and his team did just that. Their office is very clean and even calming! Honestly the best dental experience I have ever had. If you are looking for dental care, look here. You will be amazed.

Normally I see a different dentist in North Austin, whom I’ve been very happy with for several years, but I wanted to have a mercury-​amalgam filling removed and most dentists are not equipped for this procedure. (Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, so it requires lots of health and environmental precautions.) SoLa is one of the few practices in town that is.
I called yesterday and he was able to see me the same afternoon, so I headed south! As Dr. Gent mentions in a reply to another review, there is free garage parking just off Toomey, with first-​floor spaces reserved for the retail strip they’re located in. Very convenient & hassle-​free considering the part of town.
You do fill out the patient questionnaire on an iPad, which I think is awesome, and it’s all on one page so it really doesn’t take all that long. (I’ve done electronic intake forms at another doctor’s office that were basically «input one piece of info, click next, wait 5 minutes for the crappy wifi to load the following page». Not so, here.) Another reviewer mentioned the iPad screen seeming dirty due to having a film – I think they’ve rectified that because mine was fine.
I was expecting just an exam, figured I’d have to come back another day for the actual removal, but as it turns out my existing filling was pretty small so they made time to take care of it for me the same day – yay! Throughout the procedure both Dr. Gent & Jen (dental assistant) were amazing, and even with all the equipment/​suits/​masks I think it only took about ten minutes.
Everyone there is super friendly and professional, and from everything I could tell, they manage to run a tight ship without sacrificing the patient relationship. Overall a fantastic experience… if my dentist ever goes out of business I know where I’ll be going!

I’ve been coming here for about 4 years now. I have always had the best experiences! Dr. Gent is always so welcoming and his staff is incredibly professional. I highly recommend SoLa dental to anyone looking for a new dentist!!!

Love this place! First visit today. Emily, the hygienist, did a thorough job cleaning my teeth with a friendly, comfortable manner and Dr. Gent is clearly an expert dentist committed to great patient care. Highly recommend this place.

When I was in my early twenties, I had a lot of dental work done, including upper and lower partials. Many years later, I was unhappy with the partials but didn’t know what to do about them. My San Francisco dentist was fine for routine cleanings, but for some reason didn’t suggest anything more.
Soon after I moved back to Austin two months ago, a tooth broke, meaning I needed to find a new dental practice immediately. I chose SoLa Dental because of their good reviews and the ideas on the practice’s web pages that closely align with my values. As a bonus, the office is near where I live, so I called for an appointment.
After my teeth were cleaned by Corey, Dr. Gent fixed my broken tooth. I was impressed with Dr. Gent and the staff, so I came in two days later for a thorough consultation with Dr. Gent and agreed to a treatment plan including implants to replace the old partials.
I’m 100% happy with what has been done so far: a sinus bone graft and two extractions, one of which was of an infected root canal done in October 2011 by another Austin dentist. I expected pain after these procedures, but there was none. I healed quickly and am now on the first set of a series of Invisalign retainers that will straighten my teeth. The implants will come next, toward the end of the year. This is a long process, but worth it.
I have only good things to say about Dr. Gent and everyone in his office.

Dr. Gent is truly a master of his craft. I’m always so nervous to go to the dentist if I’m getting work done, but they always make me feel very secure and at ease. Also, they always remember me which is awesome. I got 3 cavities filled yesterday and it took about 30 – 40 minutes. Quick and easy! So impressed by this place every time.

My experiences at the dentist — and there have been many — have typically been less than pleasant. So imagine my relief to find Dr. Gent, who talks to me like I matter and actually listens to my responses. I was totally impressed by how thorough and conscientious he was when putting together my treatment plan and am actually looking forward to getting the work done. One of the reasons I decided to visit him, after years with another dentist, is that he offers sedation dentistry. Put me out and wake me up when it’s over — oh yeah. His staff have all been terrific as well.

I do not recommend Sola Dental nor Dr. Gent.

I was excited to go over here. New dentist, really close to where I live, etc. However my excitement left quickly after 5 minutes there.
I rate this experience similar to imagining when you go to a nice new restaurant, then somehow got food poisoning. THEN, gave them a pass and tried to go back and it was worse.
a) Planning is extremely poor
— I scheduled a cleaning AND a procedure to fix my chipped teeth. In fact I waited over 1 month for this appointment so I can have these procedures back to back. I confirmed this with my evernote. I EVEN took off of work to have a 10 – 1230 pm appointment. I EVEN brought my nightguard for him to look at because of the appointment notes.
— I arrived and after a quick Q&A, they realized my visit was for something other than what they had on the schedule.
— I even called back within 20 minutes to schedule a cleaning ANYTIME later (August, Sept) AND to fix my teeth in any time in the future, but she told me they wont do that. That is crazy. a) Cleaning, then b) Dentist exam, then c) dentist then fixes teeth.
b) Front staff doesn’t care, highly passively aggressive.
— Did not even care if I left. I tried to explain what the expectation was considering I had it documented in my google calendar, yet she didnt ‘listen’. She kept talking about how they clean, then exam, then you need to come back. Ok, same story after I called. Look I will not beg anyone to take my business.
This is what makes this worse: I even tried to schedule something else.
All of this is fine, because my wife was about to have a net $ 4k — $ 5k procedure there, but she wont now. I promise that. So in one motion they probably lost net $ 7k annual revenue for 2014.

Dr. Gent and his staff are very personable and accommodating. I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes to be seen for an appointment. The office is also well equipped with what appears to be the latest technology in the industry (no waiting for old-​school x-​rays to be developed). They have been flexible with me when I’ve had to cancel/​reschedule appointments, which I appreciate. They seem to go out of their way to ensure your comfort, like when they offered me a blanket in a cold exam room.
My good friend has also been a patient at SoLa, and when he ran into a bit of a billing/​insurance snafu, they remedied the issue immediately to make it right.
Only downside is parking can be a challenge.

April 8: Rated 3 Stars…
I’m in the process of deciding whether to get my dental work done by SoLa. I would love to give them a higher rating — and plan to update this rating after resolving an estimate for an implant and crown.
When I had an initial evaluation in February, I had a very positive experience. The receptionist got me in quickly (no weeks of waiting for an appointment), the office was nice, and the dentist and staff were friendly. I was totally blown away by the panoramic x-​ray equipment used to confirm the condition of my mouth. I was very excited to work with them and received a fair quote.
Flash forward to April… I called my insurance carrier to confirm the approved amounts. Although I received a quote of $ 2700 for all the work from the dentist, the insurance carrier said they submitted $ 4600 in costs, including amounts that were never part of the original quote that are 0% reimbursable. Big sticker shock!
I’m now working with Molly, who seems very nice, to confirm the necessary treatment and correct price.
The jury is out. I will provide an update once I know the outcome.
April 9: Updated the rating to 4 stars
I talked with Molly and got clarification on the estimate. There were some problems with the initial estimate, but SoLa positively addressed the discrepancies. I feel comfortable moving forward with the treatment.
Molly spent 20 minutes going over the treatment plan over the phone. She was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. I will provide another update after I receive my implant.
August 28: Updated the rating to 4.5 stars (if I could)
I had an extraction and an implant over the last few months. Dr. Gent and the staff have been very nice and very professional. It’s difficult to find a surgeon who works with zirconium implants. Glad to know we have one nearby!
I like the xray machine he uses too. It’s easy to see — and understand — what’s happening to my mouth.
I should get my crown in a few months. Will provide another update at that time.

Like most of you I’ve hated going to the dentist my whole life. Dr. Gent and his team have changed that for me :). They respect your time and get you in and out. There is a TV and music in every room. If you want to just listen to music they provide you with headphones. They are very Eco Friendly and the technology is out of this world. I’ve been going to Sola for about 2 years and every time I feel like they’ve figured out a way to make my visit time shorter. I own my own business so my time is very important to me. This is hands down the most incredible Dental Experience I have ever experienced. I highly recommend going to Sola for all of you dental needs.

I personally had to have oral surgery (tooth extraction and implant insertion). I went to SoLa Dental and they made a rather unpleasant and traumatic type process very easy to undergo and significantly reduced pain and discomfort with their process and their professional, yet extremely friendly, bed side manner.
After the surgery, the staff was second to none with follow up emails and calls to ensure I was okay and that my healing process was progressing positively.
To anyone considering a dental professional in the Austin or surrounding area (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio), I have zero reservations with recommending Dr. Gent and SoLa Dental of Austin. They set the bar for excellence as far as I am concerned.

I found my new dentist :)
I had a thorough, gentle cleaning today at SoLa. They didn’t even make me feel guilty about my teeth. I didn’t realize my other dental experiences were less than until I visted here. Guilt free dentistry!
Their offices are very clean, no dust gathering on the equipment, and everyone I met was nice and calm, and very patient with the whole dental process. If you’ve ever visited Castle Dental, you know what I mean…
I was told about other treatments they offer for that could help my TMJ and migraine issues, but like other reviewers have written here, I wasn’t upsold on any unnecessary major dental work. I walked out of there feeling better about my dental health than I have for years. Turns out, I’m in pretty good shape.
I’m coming back, and I’m switching my kiddo to this dentist as well.

The office and the people are very nice.
Everyone should make the best choice for them.
For me, I got a second opinion from my old dentist (who is out of network now) after a rather frightening review of my teeth at Sola recently. I’m glad I did. I’ll leave it at that.