We returned again and this time the experience was much better. The anesthesiologist was able to help relax my daughter and we were in and out quickly. read more

I chose this place to have my wisdom teeth extracted and I wouldn't have chosen anyone else! I'm thankful my dental has this in their network! I called after 6 days of pain on my left side and they were able to fit me in the same week. That is impressive for a dental emergency! After the x-rays and all the very detailed and thorough explanation of my teeth and the procedure, they even helped break down how much the cost was. Dr. Kutcipal is amazing. She is so professional, so amiable, welcoming and she knows her stuff! On the actual day of my wisdom teeth extraction, they had me come in and I went with the laughing gas option. This wasn't covered with my delta dental plan but I'm still glad I chose this option. I couldn't imagine being KO for a 20 minute procedure. First, the laughing gas was kinda weak. I initially felt calm and even cracked a few laughs but after they started, I wasn't that calm. If I was able to clench my hands and fists and tense up, I think I should've gotten more but I know they're really good at regulating the dosages. I just think I would've liked to feel buzzed, but either way I would still choose this option. I was able to talk to my doc and assistants and they were good at walking me through. I did cry a bit when they tried to take out my bottom wisdom tooth because I felt the pressure and couldn't say anything with their hands in my mouth but they were able to calm me down and get me some more numbing. It was unbelievable to feel them yanking at my tooth...it was a weird sensation that just made me cry. But like I said, I would do it again to be awake and listen to them taking out my tooth. My other tooth was super quick and was done without any issues. This place is super awesome and I am so pleased at the end of the day. I love how detailed and professional they were and how kind everyone was. I didn't think I'd like a dental office so much! I did knock down a star for forgetting to recieve a proof of payment for my procedure and when I told them I wanted to keep my teeth I didnt get them upon leaving. It's no biggie though. Other than that I would definitely recommend them to everyone! I really like Dr. Kutcipal! read more

I had a severely impacted bottom wisdom tooth removed. My dentist of 25+ years (Dr. Fukuda) referred me to Dr. Tidwell, and I assumed his associate would be the same. I chose to take the appointment with Dr. Kutcipal because she could see me the very next day. This wisdom tooth was a problem, the nerve was right there, I knew this. I accepted the potential for nerve damage. It was a pretty jarring procedure. I was left with some bruises on my face where my jaw needed to be held down by the assistant in order to facilitate the doctor pulling upwards. No problem, that's life and dental. What I didn't expect was to be left in GRINDING MIND NUMBING PAIN for 11 days!!! I was back in this office for pain the very day I used up the 12 pills given, a whole day or so worth. I got another 10. Another day and a half? I just wanted to cry. Oh I had no idea how much I would want to cry as the days and pain dragged ON and ON. I felt like the pain was completely discounted when I went back already, I just gave up. I must have consumed an entire jar of Advil/Tylenol products during the next 2 weeks. The pain was livable after 11 days. 11 days! I am not talking about "hurts", I mean PAIN... grinding throbbing pain. My face was the size of my shoulders for a long time. I just felt helpless. I trust the dental professionals and specialists my regular long time dentist recommends and she has never gone wrong by my family. This was a real fail. I absolutely wish I had waited or just kept on with the discomfort. It just was NOT worth all this pain. I have had severe trauma to my face over the decades, several accidents and surgery and I have NEVER been left to suffer like this. I wish I could explain exactly how much pain but if you know me, that I was completely unable to function normally - says it all. During the initial numbing prior to the surgery, the pain was so insane as the numbing needle was shoved into the inflamed bony area, I burst into tears after waving my hand in the air but not getting a response. The dentist walked out of the room. I've never in my life had a dentist walk out of the room on me. It was really really humiliating. I was told this was to "allow me to calm down". Yeah? ok. I wish I had taken that as a warning right there as to the disconnect with pain and suffering and this professional's indifference to same. When I say pain, I mean like 9.5 - 9 for days. I've never had to beg for help from a professional before. I'm no kid and I have been through quite a few surgeries. I am angry. There is no reason to leave a human in this kind of pain after such a facial surgery. I could not even walk without my face pounding. For many days my husband and son just tried to help me sip tea. My son will not get his wisdom teeth out here. If there was some issue with pain meds, it should have been so easy to call my dentist and ask. I was not here to seek opiates, I was here to seek quality dental care and appropriate pain relief. Considering the reason I put this off for 20 years was the fear of the pain that would come, this was the worse dental surgery experience in my life. I have 8 root canals, smashed out teeth, had my nose and front of jaw injured and resewn after accidents. This was by far the most gruesome pain I have ever experienced and I seemed to be met with indifference. The surgery went well, I guess. I still have a numb lip with stabbing sensations as the nerve is healing, but it's resolving. I understood those risks and accepted them. BUT, I trusted that my surgeon would manage pain and not just leave me on my own suffering for nearly 2 weeks. update, the numbness went away but honestly I wish I had gone to my normal dentist for help. To remember those 11? days of laying on a sofa just covered in sweat with the worse pain I have ever had in my life. I'm not new to the pain rodeo, having had quite a few root canals and severe facial trauma after a car accident. The issue was that I called them and told them I was in bad pain and the 10? Vicodin they sent me home with were gone. I was told to come in. I was in gruesome pain but got up, dressed, parked and walked to their office. I was examined to make sure no infection etc, but, you have to understand one assistant was holding the bottom of my face down so hard that there were imprints in bruises on my jaw so the surgeon could pull upwards to get this tooth out. I mean this tooth was hitched under another and it did not come out easily. My face was nearly equal to my shoulders on that side. Each step I took at this point was very very painful. I just wanted to lay down. I walked out of the office after getting myself there and as I got into my car I looked at the prescription. This time they said to take one every 6 hours!! I had just told them the meds they gave me were not helping, which I think was 2 every 4-6 hours. I gave up. I went through hell.. read more

Maybe it's the laughing gas talking, but I just had the most *amazing* time at the oral surgeon! This time I got right into my appointment, had a very amusing conversation with the assistant nurse-type girl (who, incidentally, I had met once before through a friend-of-a-friend) and then had 2 teeth ripped from my skull. It. Was. Awesome. AND they gave me Vicoden. Woot woot! read more

This has been the most grueling, gruesome dental experience of my life. I have had a lot of dental work done, and a fair number of invasive surgeries (including having my shoulder rebuilt) and unless you relish the idea of experiencing the kind of grinding pain usually associated with Third World prisons, avoid this place. Or make a street connection for drugs before you go. You're going to need it. I got totally inadequate pain relief. I got 12 painkillers for a lower molar extraction. That lasted 2 days. I had to beg to get some codeine tablets over the weekend. That's it. They suggested Tylenol. It's day 9, and I am still in agony. I just left the office sobbing. May I suggest Dr Maring downtown, or Dr. Wasson on Roosevelt. This experience was inhumane. I wouldn't let an animal suffer like this. read more

I scheduled extraction of all four wisdom teeth in a time frame that worked for me. The office staff was friendly and helpful. They called me a few weeks before my scheduled surgery to inform me that my dental insurance was covering way more than expected. The receptionist seemed genuinely happy for me when she learned this! Two weeks before my surgery my problem wisdom tooth became abscessed (again). They were quick to call in antibiotics for me to ensure I was ready for surgery. When I went in for the procedure, they were quick, matter of fact, and set straight to it. Some might consider this to be poor bed side manner. For me, though, this prevented me from having a chance to get worked up about having four teeth pulled. They came out into the office and gave my husband an update when the extraction got a little rough. When they were done, they ran down the details with my husband (I was still a little woozy), and helped us to our car. My recovery was rough (mostly because I had a sideways impacted tooth) but Dr. Tidwell returned my call at 8 pm on a Saturday to call me in a different pain medication. He seemed concerned and asked about pain, healing, discomfort, numbness, etc. At my follow up appt, Dr. Tidwell wasn't chatty, that's definitely not his nature, but he answered my questions and made sure I knew how to take care of my healing gums. I had headaches for a couple of weeks after and his office staff handled my concerns well. I'm 24 days post-op. I have no more pain, my sockets are healing nicely, and I've had time to reflect on the whole experience. He's not the most personable guy, he wants to make sure you're well taken care of. He does a great job. His office staff is friendly and helpful. I will definitely use Dr. Tidwell to do these procedures on my own children when the time comes, and will be confident in knowing they're in the best hands possible! read more

Half hour later than scheduled, but had an implant procedure that was painless, carefully attended to and included reassurances that everything was going well. Dr. Tidwell gave me a thorough briefing during my initial examination and the receptionists were most courteous, helpful and efficient with the scheduling and billing minutiae. I don't know what more could have been done to put me at ease with a process that involves drilling, bone grafting and screwing an implant into position. The dental assistants were marvelous, very kind, attentive and made the visit relaxing and informative. All questions were answered in a respectful manner as the procedure was explained upfront and thoroughly. Post operative review of x-rays was completed by both the assistant and Dr. Tidwell and Erica, the fabulous dental assistant explained post operative home care clearly and thoroughly. I couldn't have asked for a better handling of this procedure. They really take good care of you here and I'm actually looking forward to the followup appointments. Thank you, Dr. Tidwell, Erica et al. read more

When I got the news from my dentist that I needed to have a tooth extracted I was understandably panicked. It was especially concerning because I had just gotten laid off from my job so the expiration date on my insurance coverage was looming. They referred me to Ballard Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and I called right away. The front desk staff helped get me an appointment for a consult right away. After a chat at the office, Dr. Libby Kutcipal made sure we could schedule the procedure before my insurance went away. They took me through what different anesthesia options would cost with my coverage and explained it clearly. (Being completely knocked is the way to go if you ask me...) The actual procedure couldn't have been smoother. The whole team has a great energy. They seem like they really enjoy working together. They are great at keeping genuine conversation up to keep the patient (me) relaxed. They explained after care clearly too. Since the procedure I've had no pain. On a side note, I really appreciate that they always answer the phone when I've had to call. They even bumped up my appointment when they had a cancelation which helped me out a lot. I really can't thank everyone at the office enough. read more

My experience with Dr. Tidwell was great! I had heard horror stories about getting wisdom teeth removed but I had no issues. I Signed the papers, sat down in the chair, went to sleep, woke up, and drank lots of milkshakes. That was it. No swelling or anything I would recommend him to anyone. read more

I went in to Ballard Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed upon referral from my normal dentist. My first impression of the clinic was that it was very stark and impersonal. The evaluation appointment was very brisk and the dentist spent less than 5minutes looking over my xrays to advice a course of action. I made the choice to have the bottom two removed as this is what my regular dentist suggested. When I went for the extraction on Friday though the appointment started bad and did not improve. I was about 10 minutes late to the appointment due to traffic. As the receptionist was checking me in the surgical assistant was calling me on the phone to find out where I was. I later listened to a rather rude voicemail detailing how I was over 20minutes late and where was I. I was then rushed in to the surgery room and prepped. This went quickly and with no explanation as to what they would be doing. She put her hand down my shirt to put monitors on me without warning. This was very uncomfortable. I would have appreciated a little warning. Then when I came up from general I was rushed from the surgery room to recovery. The same rude attendant demanding I walk straight and calm down as I am attempting to reorient. Walking straight off general anesthesia is unrealistic and this seemed to make the woman angry. When I began having a panic attack in the recovery room her exact words were "You need to calm down!" to which my partner stepped in to explain the situation and shoo her from the room. It was a horrid experience. The surgeon did a good job. I have minimal pain and swelling and both my teeth came out whole which was great. They gave me a wonderful aftercare packet to get me through the following days. They also required I have someone in the waiting room the whole time I was in the appointment which seemed wise and a good policy. I also liked the sweet receptionists who checked me in. Unfortunately the horrid bedside manner takes this amazing surgeon down to a 2 star experience for me. When I get my top teeth removed I will seek out alternate care. read more

I normally wouldn't think to review a surgeon, but Dr. Tidwell and his staff were so exceptionally wonderful with both my daughter and me that I feel compelled to write a review. Dr. Tidwell is everything I needed in a surgeon for my 15 year old- kind, patient, very experienced, a great communicator and most importantly to me, reassuring. My daughter's wisdom teeth removal was as hassle free and pleasant of an experience as possible in this situation. She is healing well and eveything went great. read more

My husband's name experience was mixed The front office staff asked us to come with the paperwork and we did When we got there he had to fill it out again because he didn't have a "nickname" on his paperwork Frustrating when you have done what they ask come in early and are in 10/10 pain The doctor was very condescending at bedside The surgery went well and my husband is doing 100% better They sent him home without his glasses he was still drugged so I couldn't expect him to be organized I am pleased with the surgery but the perioperative and post op care left a lot to be desired read more

Vanity meets function and boy does it have a price. These folks are pros. I can't believe how well drilling into my jaw went and putting in an implant. They helped me get the best deal I could and they accept Delta dental. From reception to billing to assistants to Dr. Tidwell (Not the Tidwell in the Beatles song and I don't know if he's related or far out), they are all first class. Can't wait to get my tooth. Now the Tooth Fairie is giving me my teeth back all shiny and new. read more

Ballard Oral Surgery - My titanium implant - Oral Surgeons Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I have been to many doctors' offices and even worked in a few - I cannot give higher recommendation than to Dr. Tidwell and his staff. First impression was excellent: good lighting, updated office, very uniform staff. I had 4 wisdom teeth removed, 3 of which were impacted. This was my first experience "going under" and was quite nervous - the assistants were so calming and listened to my concerns with care rather than writing me off as a paranoid patient. 4 days after my surgery, I was in extreme pain and vomited multiple times. Dr. Tidwell personally returned my call (on a holiday) and listened to my concerns and explained everything. I am impressed with Dr. Tidwell's bedside manner and polite yet quiet demeanor. I went into the office TODAY and had a "dry socket" filled (worst pain in my life) and 2 hours later I feel 10 times better. You can trust Dr. Tidwell and his staff to take care of you. read more

I had my wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Tidwell. Prior to the surgery I had all of my questions answered so that I felt at ease on the day of. I found the staff to be professional, communicative and clear. All of my wisdom teeth were impacted so I expected a rough recovery. This was not the case. Both the surgery and the recovery were incredibly smooth. They did an excellent job with the surgery, I experienced very minimal pain in the days following. I received great instructions for post-care and was able to call in with any questions I had. I could not have asked for a better wisdom teeth removal experience! read more

Dr. Tidwell took out an extra tooth during my daughters oral surgery. Upon discovering the extra missing tooth on our own, he said that he had only taken out what we had planned on. He was very combative and unprofessional toward my wife and I when we questioned him. When I brought my daughter in for the follow up visit. He was again aggressive and unprofessional, saying every thing was part of the plan. When he looked in my daughters mouth however he did have to admit that he had forgotten about taking out the extra tooth. He never apologized for the mistake or his rude behavior. My daughter and I left the office very upset. We will never step foot in his beautifully appointed office again. read more

I had all four wisdom teeth removed here and Dr Kutcipal and assistants did a fantastic job. It was a very smooth procedure and I felt well taken care of throughout the whole process, including follow-up. I recovered very quickly with a lot less pain than expected. Staff were also very helpful when I called in for questions and efficient scheduling and billing. Highly recommend if you want a professional, worry-free experience. read more

I can't impress enough how wonderful this practice, Dr. Kutcipal and her team are. Who knew that getting wisdom teeth removed could be so easy? Before scheduling with Dr. Kutcipal, I had my extraction planned with a different oral surgeon but didn't feel that I was getting care I could trust. I decided to schedule with Dr. Kutcipal instead and could not be happier that I did. You can tell they truly care about what is best for the patient and really listen to patient's interests. Everything went smoothly and I did not need any prescription medication. Went as well as having teeth removed possibly could. read more

My dentist referred me to them for wisdom teeth removal. During the initial consultation, I was told that payment would have to be in full on the day of the surgery and that they would have an estimate after consulting with my insurance. The amount that I would have to pay in full was very high since the insurance didn't cover much of it. When asked if they do payment plans, they said they don't. Bottom line - they care more about money then the health and well being of their patients. Avoid them at all costs. read more

Came here with an infection a week after getting my wisdom teeth taken out by a surgeon in Boise, Idaho. I had to get back to school in Seattle and I couldn't have my follow-up appointment so I was referred here. The staff were all very friendly even though I rushed in 5 minutes before they closed. They were very accommodating and had the forms ready when I arrived so I could be seen immediately. After a few very painful and frustrating days of calling my surgeon in Boise trying to deal with the infection, Dr. Tidwell cleaned out my sockets and showed me how to use the syringe properly as my former surgeon neglected to do so. He was very helpful in answering all of my questions and helped me kick the infection. Although I didn't get surgery here, I was very impressed with the service and would recommend it to anyone. read more

I went here to get my wisdom teeth extracted. For my initial consultation the surgeon came for about five seconds, shook my hand and left. Then the assistant went through a three page list of possible complications I had to sign off on at the end. She went so quick I hardly got to read the thing. It's was like clicking agree to a EULA. The three page list scared the begeezus out of me. After I went to another surgeon I learned that almost none of those risks applied to me because my teeth were really easy. A few other things: (1) The surgeon insisted that I get general anesthesia. I later learned that this was not necessary because my extraction was simple. The procedure with general anesthesia costs $800 more than one with just local anesthesia. (2) On the day of the surgery, he could not find a vein. It's not fun sitting through five (5) IV attempts. At the end I asked him to simply give up. He asked me to give him five more chances! (3) He would not prescribe pain medication ahead of time. Said he would do it after the surgery depending on how it went. (4) The girl at the front desk would not explain the post-op procedure to me before the surgery. She insisted that she do it after the surgery while I was recovering from the general anesthesia. This worried me as I don't know if I could have remembered much. I certainly would not have been able to think of questions while in such a state. In sum, I wish the doctor spent more time reviewing the clients' cases. Also, the office was very modern and attractive, but the girl at the front desk was abrupt and hurried. The hurried feeling pervaded throughout the entire office. Perhaps if the office was less nice they wouldn't have to cram in so many people to pay for it. read more

The doctor and staff argued with me over an x-ray. Extremely unprofessional and petty. To many other great offices out there to put up with that kind of behavior. read more

I got an new dental implant with Dr. Tidwell. Everyone was friendly, including Angela who helped the Doctor. Easy scheduling and on time service. And they have Laughing Gas. read more

I had the absolute best experience at Ballard Oral Surgery. Oh my gosh, I was so nervous before getting my wisdom teeth out. I was literally upset to my stomach days beforehand, as I had never had anything requiring me to be put under.... plus I HATE needles, and had never had an IV. Wow, I was worried for nothing. I got in, the two assistants, had me laughing and talking, my heart rate was through the roof at 130bpm. I told them the reason I was nervous was because of the IV and they said "oh we will give you laughing gas before we do the IV, you wont even care". They were right. However, the laughing gas was so mild that it didn't make me feel that funny. I remember everything up until the Doc said "ok you are going to be getting sleepy"... then I woke up (what felt like 2 min later, it was 30 min later) and have had NO pain since. I am now on day 4 of recovery. Not an ounce of pain. And I only swelled for the first two hours. The only thing that sucks, is eating. Not enjoyable still. However, having the relief of my wisdom teeth out and the ease of the whole experience, a few days of not being able to chomp everything I want... well worth it. read more

Had a phenomenal experience here. Referred by my dentist, I had two wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Kutcipal with local anesthetic. Everyone, from the Dr. to the front office worked efficiently in process. The front office? They worked tirelessly to gather my indecipherable insurance information. The Dr? She's quick, warm and clear extremely capable. The assistants? Charming! I had a minor issue during the healing process. I called the office and they saw me within 4 hours. Dr. Kutcipal was traveling to warmer climates (lucky her) and Dr. Tidwel stepped in. Nice guy - he identified the issue and I left w/o any concerns. The procedure was painless - literally - and despite that I was late (it was pouring rain and, well, I'm always late, regardless, the staff -- which apparently prefers to run right on schedule -cut me a bit of slack. Parking is a breeze. Nice clean bathroom -- but the toilet is a tad underperforming. No joke. Much appreciation to this efficient, friendly bunch! read more

Dr. Tidwell was the Bob Ross of Dental Specialists! I had a complicated root canal extraction and he made it literally feel like a cake walk in the park. The assistants seemed so grateful to be in such a great work environment and to be under such an honorable leader. My primary dentist is the greatest and didn't think anybody could come close to him, but Dr. Tidwell certainly surprised me :) Thank you kindly Dr. Tidwell and staff! read more

Dr Tidwell is the best! I am certainly a problem patient with my complicated medical history, bizarre reactions to drugs, and general dental phobia. But he and his faithful staff have gotten me through all kinds of dental torture over the last several years with little pain and no mental scars (at least on my part). Kudos today to Angela who answers all my questions before I even ask them. read more

I have seen both Dr. Tidwell and Dr. Kutcipal over the years, once to get an implant and again to have a growth evaluated. Both of them are a pleasure to work with, with excellent bedside manner, quality of care, knowledge base, and technical skills. Their assistants and office staff are all a pleasure to work with, too. I would recommend them to anybody who needs oral/maxillofacial care. read more

I have been to my share of dentists and oral surgeons in my life, and by far, this office has been the best experience I have had. Dr. Tidwell is a calm and patient dentist and does not make you feel at all rushed, and he is amazing at his job. I recently had 2 oral implants put in and he did a fantastic job with minimal pain. Also, all the girls who work at the office are great. If you need any type of oral surgery, I would highly recommend Dr. Tidwell. read more

This is a good place to go for wisdom teeth removal if you (or your teen/20-something, whoever's getting the surgery) have an anxiety disorder! have an anxiety disorder and a big trigger for me is more intense medical procedures like this, especially when I've never experienced it so I don't know first hand what to expect. I made sure that it would be okay for me to be on my emergency anxiety meds when I went in for the surgery and the receptionist took the time to actually check with the surgeon which put me at ease. The dental assistants who got me set up with the laughing gas and heartrate monitors were polite and even chatted with me a bit as I waited for the laughing gas to take effect. Once Dr. Tidwell came in they got me hooked up to the IV to put me under (by that point I was very relaxed from the gas, so not much anxiety with that) and next thing I know I'm waking up and my mom is in the room getting instructions from one of the assistants. They gave me a prescription for oxycodone and some antibiotics and very clear instructions on care. I'm healing up very well and overall it was a good experience. Only reason I put 4 stars instead of 5 is because at my consultation for the surgery the dental assistant doing the consultation didn't really ask me about any medication I might be taking (I'm on a couple), so I had to call back and ask when I realized I never discussed it. And I guess some of the people there aren't the friendliest, but they aren't rude, so you should probably get over it if you're uptight about people not being your best friend at a dental surgeon... read more

What a group! After Dr Tidwell's excellent work, our insurance plan balked at paying. Elizabeth and crew persevered over the nearly eight weeks it took to sort out the various insurance plans. Professional, friendly, skilled. Thank you!! read more

I came to Ballard Oral & Maxillofacial surgery for a dental implant. I was discouraged by other dental surgeons and was very glad to find this place. Dr. Libby put me at ease at our initial consultation meeting. She walked me through detail of coming operation. She is professional and friendly. The operation went smoothly. Dr. Libby and her team are awesome! read more

I saw Dr. Elizabeth Kutcipal at Ballard Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery today. She saw me on short notice and took care of my problem right away. She's very professional, friendly, and supportive. She showed good understanding of my particular health issues and made sure everything was okay before she proceeded with the extraction. I found the staff at this office to be very efficient, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. The facilities were clean, comfortable and organized. Everyone made the experience as good as it could possibly be. read more