Kenneth M Van Stralen, DDS

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.

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 Unilocal 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!

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.

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.

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.