Larson Donald F, DMD

My experience with Dr. Larson’s office has been very mixed.
On the one hand, I think that Dr. Larson is very skilled at what he does. He knows his craft and is really quite obsessive about getting the best results for his patients. I appreciate that. You can even see his attention to detail in his office décor — everything is in place for a reason, and Dr. Larson is involved in all decorating decisions!
On the other hand, the office staff is really frustrating to work with. The insurance co-​ordinator has a skill of turning the most basic concept into something totally incomprehensible. When I’d ask for clarification, she would get defensive and rude. I felt like our conversations were more like bickering with a sibling than between a client and someone who works in customer service. After a few of these conversations, I really dreaded calling the office or seeing her during my visits.
The other issue I had with the office is how they would withhold information. I had to move part way through my treatment, and although I had told them about this before my treatment even started, they absolutely refused to give me any indication of how much I’d be charged by their office for their portion of the service (I had exact dates and only needed a ball park, based on the assumption that nothing major would come up during my treatment). I get that it’s sometime difficult to estimate these things ahead of time, and I was absolutely not looking for an exact amount. But, I really worried that I’d be double charged (first by Dr. Larson for his part of the treatment and then by the new orthodontist after my move). When I received my final bill, it wasn’t clear where the amounts came from. When I inquired, the office manager sent a really clear explanation, which was actually based on a formula that seemed totally fair and appropriate. Now, why couldn’t this be shared with me before or during the treatment? It’s a mystery.
The office also likes to keep their patients in suspense about how much time they have left on their treatment. When I picked up my Invisalign packs, the number of total weeks of treatment would be erased by Dr. Larson’s staff. Like somehow having this information would make it difficult for a patient to imagine that other follow-​up treatment may be required. After moving to the new orthodontist, we had a good laugh about this practice. The first appointment was a bit of an unveiling… oh, I have a total of 57 week of treatment! Phew, I was afraid I’d be wearing these things for ten years.

I went to Dr. Larson circa 2007 and he was great throughout my braces treatment. However, in 2013 one of the posts in my permanent retainer came loose and I left a couple of messages on his voicemail saying that I needed the post repaired. I never received a call back. Luckily, my dentist was able to repair it. A couple of weeks ago, the part of the wire in my permanent retainer broke in one place. This time I went on his website to make an appointment and still have not heard back from them. I’m very disappointed with this unprofessional behavior. I’m not sure why they are not returning my calls. I paid all my bills the first time. LOL

Our son’s dentist referred him to Dr. Larson for an orthodontics evaluation. We could not have been more pleased with Dr. Larson, his staff, the office, the whole process! Everyone was extremely friendly and efficient. They took time to show and explain everything to us as well as our son. Making an appointment was easy and the forms could be filled out online in advance. I was able to email my son’s panoramic ahead of time so everything went smoothly. And the best part was that there was no feeling of being rushed into anything — he told us that everything looks good for now and to check back in 6 months when his 12YO molars come in. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. Highly, highly recommend!

I was new to Dr. Larson’s practice and he came highly recommended by my dentist so I was surprised by Neka’s comments and expected they were exaggerated, but I found they were not.
I have a visibly missing tooth in the front side of my mouth. I don’t smile or talk much because of this. My first visit, I was essentially told Dr. Larson wanted to see a smile which would show this missing tooth, I was horrified.
My second visit, I was at the front desk, my normal demeanor and was told by the treatment coordinator, «remember what Dr. Larson said about seeing your smile» as if I was a 5 year old child. I was beyond embarrassed.
I was taken back for xrays and was not offered any kind of protection against the radiation, just asked if I was pregnant, while the person taking the xrays went behind a wall. While she was doing the xrays, I was old to put my teeth in a crevice in a metal piece and the technician tried to turn my head. I had to explain the way my head was being forced was causing pain in my teeth, she turned around and walked away.
My most recent visit I was told I would be given the cost of services. I sat down and they wanted to show me a 3d imaging of how my teeth would look afterward. Frankly I don’t care. I asked for the cost first. When I was given the cost, I asked questions about how long the prices were good for and said thank you and explained I could not financially go forward until the first of the year. I was told new molds would need to be taken and I said that was fine. They asked if I wanted to see the 3d imaging and I said no thank you. There was no need to waste their time further.
I got to my office and talked to a co-​worker who explained about financing. I applied and was approved and called the office to discuss how to move forward. I was told by the person who answered the phone that she did not know how to use carecredit and the office manager was too busy to help me, I would receive a call back by 4 p.m. I gave my office phone number as I cannot take calls on my cell phone at work and hung up.
The next day around 11 I called the office again and was told how busy the office is again and I would receive a call back. I again hung up.
I called again at 2 pm and the office manager answered. I was again told they were too busy to help me and I would receive a call back. I explained I am going out of town and need to take care of this. I asked how long it would take to get the invisalign in and was told it would be 2 weeks. I told her not to bother calling back before 4 because it was no longer a rush if it’s going to take that long.
Not even 20 minutes later I had a message on my cell phone (which I could not answer) saying to call back. I did. I was then informed I was not «a good fit» for the practice and that Dr. Larson had called my dentist to tell her this. According to the office manager, my dentist was told I repeatedly was rude. I hung up on the staff. I was not taking the process seriously and that I needed to be referred elsewhere.
Dr. Larson also removed my previously replaced bottom retainer and I was told I would have one to wear at night, but I was never given one so now I have no retainer and I am out $ 400 after a year of Dr. Larson and my dentist supposedly discussing my case at their study-​group. I definitely would not recommend this office.

My experience w/​Dr Larsons office was less than stellar.
I went in for the initial consult for my daughter as I was referred by her dentist. The appointment went well… the treatment coordinator was great with my daughter. However, it got to the part of explaining and things went downhill. First, they didn’t have my daughter’s pano from the dentist (who
is a major referrer) we we sat there for 15 – 20 minutes waiting for that to come through by email. It never did. I asked the treatment coordinator and Dr Larson why they didn’t have it set up that if someone was referred in from a major referrer they would automatically send over the pano? He
explained that not all administrative staff are technically competent enough to handle such a task. I basically looked at him like he was crazy but it was here nor there, they told me they would have it by the next appointment where we get our treatment plan. Sounds good.
Well, then we got into the next appointment and it got confusing. The treatment coordinator was unclear about the process required. She ended up offering to send me a breakdown of the plan via email and I told her that would be very helpful. I made the next appointment.
A few weeks later, my referring dentist’s office called me and asked if I had gone in for my ortho appt yet (yes, I had) and if I was happy or if I was interested in seeing a different orthodonist (I said it went fine and
that I had a follow up appt w/​Dr Larson a few weeks from then)… They said great thanks, hung up… life went on.
So, the day of her second appointment, where she was scheduled to get impressions and more x-​rays, I got an email a few hours before it letting me know the next few steps and that there would be a 395 $ records fee. I emailed them back and told them I didn’t appreciate the email a few hours prior to the appointment and wanted to know if my insurance would cover any
of the records fee. About an hour and a half later, I got a call from Dr Larson. Dr Larson stated that he didn’t feel our first appointment went well and that he was surprised I had scheduled to come in for a follow up. I told him I had no doubt in his abilities to treat my daughter. He continued to talk about how he had called Dr Austin to make sure I didn’t want a second opinion. Interesting, because I hadn’t even got his opinion yet (that doesn’t happen until appointment #3). I let him know that I was
disappointed that the treatment coordinator told me she would email me that day (of the 1^st appt) that she would email me the next few steps) and that I didn’t get them until today. He said «well I told her to wait because I didn’t think you would come back». He continued to tell me that he felt
like his office had dropped the ball with me too many times and thought I should go get a second opinion. After much debating with me about how he thinks I feel, I told him I would take him up on his offer to get a second opinion. WOW!
Apparently that is how you run a business now-​a-​days. So, if you go see Dr Larson’s office in Alexandria, make sure you don’t question any of his processes. I wouldn’t recommend it. This whole processes wasted two months.

Extremely positive experience with both care and billing for a retainer/​night guard. Dr. Larson does what it takes to get things right, from efficient sign-​in and brushing stations to modern equipment and kid-​friendly décor. He even sent out to a new lab for a do-​over when he wasn’t satisfied with the work. Highly recommend.

We were recommended by our dentist to see Dr Larson for a consult about our six year old daughter. She was a bit nervous about starting braces, as was I. Dr Larson and his amazing staff put us at ease from the second we walked through the door. The office is immaculate, gorgeous and state of the art. So so clean and professional– I cannot stress this enough. The staff is all smiles all the time and not patronizing smiles either, but totally genuine greatness. They explained everything perfectly and had gorgeous graphics to show us the course of treatment. I love love love Dr Larson’s whole practice and so does my daughter. I could not be happier. If you need an orthodontist, look no further.

Much more pleasant experience with new receptionist. Doctor Larson himself has always been great!