I came to Emerson Ave Dental (which is now located on Thompson, just past the Arlington light, heading toward Kroger) because my sister's been a patient of Dr. Bacsa's for years now. My first impression was probably more of a four star -- I hadn't been to the dentist since I moved and there's always that initial hesitation with a new health care practice. Will they be the people you need and can trust with your care?
On my first visit, I went for a standard cleaning and exam. (They offer a nice $300 option for self-pay folks where you get your two yearly exams and cleanings, plus an insurance of sorts so you pay less for any additional work you need done that year.) Their office is much more thorough and advanced than my previous dentist. They took all the needed scans (and accommodated my need for a thyroid/neck cover before taking them without batting an eye) and took their time cleaning my teeth to make sure it was done well. Even still, I was out in just shy of an hour. Read: they are knowledgeable, efficient, and do their work well.
On my second visit, I was having some fill ins done. This visit was a longer one and I was really impressed by the way they made sure I was comfortable. "Do you need anything? A pillow for your neck? A blanket? Some water?" I've never been offered a blanket at the dentist before this and now I'm spoiled for all others because yes, I did want a blanket! And it was soft as can be. I had my headphones and phone and spent the entire time listening to music loudly enough to cover the worst of the tool sounds during their work. They were completely fine with that, and even encouraged it.
Rosemary was the hygienist helping Dr. Bacsa's work on my teeth and she was a very soothing presence. It was clear she knew what she was doing and I really liked her. She coached me to focus on my breath in and out of my nose when they needed to use this suctioning mouth-opener that took a little getting used to. I'd request her at another appointment; she's that great!
After my longer appointment, I'm definitely giving this office 5 stars. They're good. They make sure you're comfortable, willing to answer any questions and help you relax. They called me the next day to make sure I was okay, too. It's clear that they do genuinely care for their patients, which is refreshing to see paired with such professionalism and knowledge in their practice.
Only things to note: it can take over a month to get your next appointment, depending on the schedule. They're good and it shows in their booking availability! And I've had a couple moments of confusion with the front desk with payments but it was sorted out fairly quickly so I'm not worried about it. read more