Northwest Hills Smiles

I have been going to Northwest Hills Smiles for the last 4 years. The front office is always accommodating and friendly. The techs are efficient and cleanings don’t feel like a chore.
And finally Dr. Vo — She is a class act. Not only is she a good dentist but also an amazing person who genuinely cares for her patients and understands their situation.
As an example… My mother was visiting from India for 10 days and she had a severe dental issue while here. The way Dr. Vo handled the situation was just perfect. She went out of her way to treat my mom and make her feel completely at ease. Thanks again Dr. Vo!
You don’t get this level of patient care and kind treatment these days.
Dr. Vo rocks and Northwest Hills Smiles is awesome! :-)

Have been hear so many times over the last 6 years that i lost count. What i do remember is the excellent service, courtesy and professionalism shown on each of my visits. I had quite a few urgent requests for appointments that got taken care of right away with no fuss. Dr Shana Attasi puts you at ease with her demeanour irrespective of how difficult the situation is. Everyone in the office is very friendly and you are made to feel welcome. Also want to say thanks to Cathy for excellent dental cleaning that she does on every visit.
I do not have a single negative experience/​negative comment on my 6 years of visit here. Highly recommend this clinic.

I’m years late in posting this update, but it needs to be done. I saw another dentist six months after seeing Dr. Vo because one of the fillings I had done at her office was already discoloring along the edges, and another completely fell out after about 8 months. I had to have one of the fillings redone, and the other tooth had to be capped. I even got a third opinion and all subsequent dentists agreed that the fillings had been improperly placed the first time. Oy vey.
I’m sure Dr. Vo would have probably fixed my fillings had I gone back to make her aware of the issues (she really does seem like a reasonable person whom I just happened to catch on a really bad day), but I had such a bad experience here that sucking up the cost to pay for the repairs was preferable to going back.

I’ve had really positive experiences here with everyone I’ve encountered. Pleasant people can make potentially anxiety-​ridden experiences feel so much better. I’m often apprehensive at the dentist, but they are so accommodating at Northwest Hills Smiles. I really appreciate their willingness to talk to their patients and answer questions and address concerns in depth. Highly recommend.

Two fillings today and it was sooo much easier than I expected! Everyone is very friendly and professional and they have all the little extra quality things that just make your experience more comfortable. Definitely found my dentist.

Love Dr. Vo and staff! Very detail oriented, modern, up to date.

They fix my teeth!

Great great great great place!
I was greeted by name when I came through the door for the first time today and the staff was just so pleasant and friendly! The staff makes sure to put you at ease and come equipped with pillows, blankets, and a great demeanor.
Dr. Vo did my initial consultation, and I learned new things about my oral care (and oral care in general) from her. She answered all my questions readily with a lot of knowledge.
Claudia did my cleaning and she was super friendly and full of information, too. She even gave me coupons for toothbrushes, should I decide to buy a new electric toothbrush!
I would recommend this place 100%.

Dr Atassi, Kari, and Brenda walk on water.
They are the ABSOLUTE Best!
I am so grateful to have them manage my family’s dental care.
Diligent, methodical and resourceful. And so compassionate!

Dr. Heggen & Essie are amazing! I had to have three cavities filled yesterday and I was very (extremely) nervous, but with the combination of their kindness, compassion, a few injections of novicaine and a nice flow of nitrous oxide, I made it through the fillings with no problem! I actually fell asleep for most of it, something I never thought would happen, even with the laughing gas.
Afterward Claudia did my cleaning and was equally kind and made my first cleaning in nearly two years gentle and easy to get through after my procedure.
I’m so happy a co-​worker recommended this place to me. Dr. Heggen will be my go-​to dentist from now on!

One of the best ways to evaluate a business is how well they respond to problems and concerns. I’ve been a long time patient as NWH Smiles (for about 4 years), and always received great treatment. Recently, I lost my dental insurance and subsequently had a dental issue that needed evaluation. When I initially called the office and asked for help, the person on the phone responded with ‘maybe you’ll have to find another dentist’. That wasn’t what I expected after working with a family dentist for 4 years. I thought I was being left out in the cold without any loyalty or options to get treatment.
Once Dr. Vo got wind of the situation, she turned it around immediately. She offered a free exam and x-​rays to assess my situation and said she would work with me to make sure I was ok. She personally responded with an email to give me her contact information and communicate the true intent of her business. Dr. Atassi did the same. I was able to schedule the exam in a few days (they offered me the next business day but I had something previously scheduled) and Dr. Vo personally did an unrushed exam and took time to talk with me about the health of my teeth. She explained to me that the situation wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, and that I was stable for the moment (tooth wise at least lol).
It looks like she’s going to use my bad experience to make a change or two within the practice that will prevent this situation from happening again. That’s all you can ask of a business: it’s not a question of IF something will go haywire, but when. It’s how you respond and change that counts.

Honestly, I used Unilocal to find a dentist since I am relatively new to town and wanted a practice that was convenient to get to and was friendly. The front desk staff are very friendly and have fun as a team. I don’t know anyone who actually enjoys going to the dentist but I don’t feel like I need a valium to walk through the door here. Hehe.
Overall very pleased with my visits — 5 stars for timeliness, 5 stars for friendliness, 5 stars for cleanliness, and 5 stars for overall feel of this office. I’ve been here three times and each time they excelled in service and I left with a smile.

I’m a new patient. When I called for a cleaning, they told me I had to schedule a pre-​appointment consultation before I could make an appointment for a cleaning. This is thorough, but seeing as I have to take time off work, it was really inconvenient to have to come in twice just for a cleaning.
My appointment was for 2:30, they didn’t call me in until after 3:00. I really hate waiting for appointments; what’s the point of making an appointment if they won’t see me until 30 minutes later?
The staff was friendly, but seemed inefficient. I absolutely HATE waiting. I won’t be back after this cleaning.

Good techs, caring staff and an easy place to get your dental needs.

Who would have thought I’d enjoy going to the dentist? Not I! I love love NW Smiles. I feel welcome from the moment I walk through the door — the smiling receptionists and tastefully decorated interior add to the sense that I’ve come to the right place.
I see Claudia when I come in for my cleanings, and she’s gentle, professional, and friendly. I always leave with a smile on my face. Bravo NW, you’re aptly named.

tl;dr — ¹⁰⁄₁₀; would dentist here again.
To start off, my appointment was for 2:30p originally, but they were able to get me in a little earlier (1:30p) so that I could have enough time to make a 5:00 appointment downtown.
When I got there, I didn’t have to wait one minute. That’s right: no waiting in the waiting room. I was immediately taken to the back, was seated in a MASSAGE CHAIR, and was setup with some delightfully red numbing agent. They even had a nice, soft blanket for me :-)
Then came the *real* pain killers — in the form of a very large needle. Fortunately, they had made me feel very comfortable with the situation and delivered on a quick and (99%) painless experience. While the shots were being administered, the assistant was massaging my shoulder/​neck to distract my mind — way awesome.
During the procedure (4 fillings), the doctor & her assistant were having light conversation. You could really tell that they cared for one another and genuinely liked working together.
All-​in-​all, the best dental experience of my life.

Let me just say. .. I hate and have hated going to the dentist for years. .. my entire life. Really — who is a good flosser?
I’ve been without insurance for a few years, so I held back on going to the dentist too. I’ve been faithful to my Sonicare toothbrush though. I’m actually comforted in dental history forms when they ask on a scale of 1 – 10 how terrified you are of dentists. I have them at 9 — a mark below terrorists.
Dr. Vo and Essi were great. They were really welcoming. They told me everything they were doing and they were positive through out. No scolding for not being on top of getting cleaned when I was back in school. No scolding about a tooth that has started to move.
You know when they poke at all your gums and say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5? Of all my years, I never knew what that meant, but Essi told me beforehand. Anyways, in the end, Dr. Vo told me that things looked alright — we credited my mom for making sure that I drank milk a lot as a kid. I’m actually looking forward to my next appointment.
Did I mention that I was asked to fork over extra money for a bunch of additional treatments? Yes, this dentist is not a used car salesman either.
_​_​_​
It was cool hearing how all the dentists are parents as well, so each of them has an additional weekday off so they can spend time with their family. I like people that understand that there is more to life than their job. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I think I have a dentist I could recommend to others.

So I mostly use Unilocal to help find great places to eat, but with Northwest Hills Smiles, I picked a dentist because of all the 5 star reviews. After going a few times, I noticed that the staff is always friendly and seem to be having a great time working with one another. I think the atmosphere brings a level of comfort ever time I visit.
If you just want to know what to expect, feel free to skip down below to my number list of qualities of this location. The next few paragraphs are just explaining why I really love this place.
It wasn’t until I had an urgent need to get a crown reset that I realized why this place is truly a 5 star location. Dr. Atassi went out of her way to help me get a next to impossible crown fitting done before I had move out of Austin. She spent time off the clock getting in contact with me and her staff did a wonderful job fitting me into her packed schedule. All of this even though they knew I would not be a long-​term customer after I moved. They completely went out of their way to make sure that my tooth would survive and squeezed me in before I had to leave.
Finding a good dentist is hard, but finding a great dentist along with a 5 star support team is next to impossible. I’m sad that I have to hunt for a new dentist after I leave Austin, but to all of you just moving here or still on the hunt for a great dentist, look no further. Seriously.
Things you will get with Dr. Atassi and Northwest Hills Smiles:
1. Kind, courteous, and caring staff, always!
2. A variety of options on procedures
3. Great referrals to specialists
4. No WTF bills later, the front desk always calls your insurance and checks the amount of coverage you have remaining and will clearly explain that in your bill.
5. Clean and modern equipment, no rusty drills and funny smells.

I’m very disappointed with this business. I went to them in 2010 for a comprehensive exam and was told my Aetna insurance would cover it. In addition they did x-​rays that were said to be covered but were not. I checked out with the office manager, Brenda, who said I owed nothing at the time. A month later I received a bill in the mail for $ 73. They sent it to a collection agency after a while. Now I’m being harassed by the Credit Bureau regarding this phony bill. More like Northwest Hills Frownies.
I’d also like to add that Dr. Atassi was a very nice lady but didn’t do anything for me. She told me I had no cavities when in fact I knew I had at least one. I went to another dentist a few months later to find out I had 3 cavities. This was really puzzling to me.
Moral of the story: These people are liars and they need to do a more thorough exam.

I’ve been going here for almost two years based on the excellent Unilocal reviews. After yesterday’s visit, I realized I had never done my own review of these dentists, so here goes.
As always, my experience with both the hygenist and the dentists (Dr. Vo yesterday) were impeccable. The care is gentle, compassionate, and thorough. I’ve never received an oral hygeine lecture nor have they ever tried selling me on additional procedures. In fact, their care is so good that they work with my extreme gag reflex by doing panoramic X-​rays instead of the standard X-​rays.
The only thing that held them back from the fifth star was a 30 minute wait yesterday post-​cleaning for Dr. Vo to come by to do a quick exam. This is very unusual for them and I fully expect to give a five star review next visit.