My whole family (6) have been going to Gentle Care for a number of years. Teresa office manager is extremely helpful along with the rest of the staff. Dr is very patient and explains in detail what he will be performing on your teeth. Dr is avaiable for any type of assistance that a person might need after hours. I highly recommend Gentle Care. Brenda Ramaley read more

Dr Barela is a great guy. His injections are painless and he does not push you to have a lot of unnecessary dental work done, like most offices!! read more

The best decision I ever made for my family. We drive 45 min just to see Dr. Barela. My family & I have been going to see Dr. Barela and his caring team for over 5 years. Procedures from cleanings, deep cleanings, crowns, extractions, dentures, pediatric dentistry, ortho referral recommended by Dr. Barela, and emergency visits. We have always felt heard and comfortable. My girls had dental anxiety after a bad experience at another office and this team really eased those feelings and my girls are no longer scared to go. The hygienists and office staff are incredible & Teresa at the front desk is fantastic. They take care of insurance claims & ensure that everything runs smoothly. They are so understanding, flexible and always willing to help or lend an ear. We highly recommend this dental office especially for anyone with dental anxiety. They have been amazing. read more

I had an appointment with Gentle Care Dental to have a crown made on my back molar. I am very anxious whenever I go to the dentist . I was greeted by their vey friendly office manager, Teresa. Dr. Barela and his assistant, Jessie, were excellent, also. They both were very kind and compassionate. Dr. Barela explained every detail of the procedure to me which helped ease my stress. It took two weeks for the crown to be made and when I went back to have my permanent crown placed on my tooth, it fit perfect. I am very pleased with the results and would highly recommend Dr. Barela and his staff for any of your dental needs. read more

I been coming to see Dr. Barela for about 10 years now. He is the best dentist I have ever been too. He is gentle, and always explains what he is going to be doing each stop of the way. I have referred him to several of my friends, and family. Each person has had nothing but good things to say about everyone in the office. Dr. Barela is my dentist for life. Even when I didn't have insurance he always had payment plans to help me with keeping my teeth and guns healthy. read more

My daughter and I absolutely love This office! They are all so caring and amazing! They never recommend any services that you don't need. My daughter absolutely adores Brinda! She always makes her feel completely comfortable and listens to her needs! We both absolutely love Dr. Wu and Dr. Barela as well. They are amazing dentists who never try and sell you something you don't need and always provide the best care! I would recommend this dental practice to anyone who has anxiety when it comes to dental work. They put you right at ease! Teresa at the front desk is absolutely amazing as well! She's always very helpful, friendly, and makes you feel right at ease when you enter the office. Overall you cannot go wrong with this dentist office. they go above and beyond for their patients, always! read more

I saw this dentist in 2010, when Dr David Barela had recently joined the practice. He told me I needed four fillings and was going to perform two on that day and two the next day (to avoid doing too many fillings in one day). He did the two fillings and when I came back the following day, he told me he accidentally used the "wrong type of filling" and he was going to have to redo both fillings he had done the previous day. I was 21 and naive and just accepted this craziness as necessary and he proceeded to re-drill and re-fill both teeth. When he got to the second tooth, he told me it was too deep to dig the rest of the filling out and he was going to just leave the incorrect filling in there and fill the rest with the correct type of filling on top of it. Cut to ... 6 months later I had the most insane pain ever in that tooth and ended up needing a root canal - my biggest fear at the time. No apologies from them and they sent me on my way to pay $2,000 as a 21 year old broke college student. Because of this, now 14 years later, I have had numerous problems with the root canal tooth (the root canal failed and I had to have it retreated), and the other tooth is looking like it may now need a root canal too because it has been 'opened' too many times (the filling fell out). One mistake that has caused me SO much pain over the years. read more

I've been going to Gentle Care Dental since 2020. They provided great customer service and the whole staff are very friendly. Have a lot of option's for payment plans. Very clean and smell good facility. The staff is very professional and makes you feel comfortable. They meet your needs on your dentist visit. I came out from my visit with a great experience and a friend. read more

We've been going to Gentle Care Dental since we moved here in 2011. They take great care of us and they are especially understanding of my fear issues. Teresa is super knowledgeable and helped me sort out insurance options to get the best coverage. I can't imagine going anywhere else. read more

The team here is awesome! I'm so thankful I was able to get an appointment so quickly. My dentist was extremely thorough, my treatment plan was seamless and they provided very transparent pricing for all of my recommended care. I would highly recommend this office...10/10! read more

Great customer service and Teresa front desk is one of a kind and whole staff .. thank you for great service and best Dentis.

Such nice people and Dr Barela is the best dentist I have ever encountered in my life. He truly cares about his patient and is not here for business. Never tried to rip you off or push anything on you. He is even the opposite! Dr Barela really tries to minimize anything to be done on the teeth he deemed unnecessary. Very honest, thorough and extremely passionate about his job it is so refreshing. I personally went to 4 dentists for 2nd option and I came back to Dr Barela! Absolutely nothing negative whatsoever to say about their team. Also they were very kind and help me for an emergency apt at the last minute. Recommend to EVERYONE!!! read more

I came here after researching over 20 options in the area for my parents. they have been historically very reticent to visit a dentist due to negative prior experiences. Dr Barela was basically a revelation. his focus on building a relationship first, not frame actions as required, and outlining different paths forward based on different actions were all very meaningful to our families experience. He is now a lifelong dentist for our family, and that's something since we didn't have 1 for decades! We have seen Dr Barela for consultations and for procedures. During the procedure itself, Dr Barela was explaining at every step what was being done, immediately responsive to any pain, and operated with a decisiveness that made the procedure quick and safe. We can't recommend him enough. read more

Very friendly staff and willing to work with me on a payment plan for services rendered unlike most dental offices.

I had neglected dental care for a few years. I was hesitant to go back to a dentist, but really needed help. Dr. Barela was very patient in explaining what I needed to be done. And then was very good in his treatment. Theresa was great in working with my insurance company. the dental hygienist was exceptional, as was the dental assistant. Best of all, to me, was that they were respectful. read more

One of the reasons why I love Yelp is because I found this awesome dentist office. I used to go to one that was just lame: long waits, billing problems, rude staff, and the list goes on. I never have long waits, the staff is so sweet, and no billing problems as of yet (and I've been a customer for over a year now). The dental hygienist is sweet as pie - and gives me instructions on how to clean my teeth in places that I have a tough time cleaning. She even gave me this cool looking toothbrush to get that gunk in those hard to reach places. The dentist is also very nice and personable. Overall, I have not had a bad experience here. The only issue I have is that they are in Tempe - and I live in Central Phoenix so it's a drive for me. However, with this type of service, I'm glad to be a returning customer. Thank you Gentle Care Dental for keeping my pearly whites pearly! read more

I went into see Dr Wu and Estela. They were very nice. They talked to me about my breakdown in the enamel. That means I have a cavity and they explained why it was important to floss and brush my teeth . I LOVE Gentle Care Dental. A'Niyah Bryant. read more

If you are llooking for a stress free, top notch dental experience, this is the place for you. Dr Barela and staff are very calm, knowledgeable and kind. they have great movies and headphones if needed, all is explained clearly and professionally. I highly recommend. My son also goes here, he's never needed a pediatric dentist, because the staff is friendly and fun with kids. They have a huge treasure chest of toys for after visits for kids too. read more

I've been coming here for years, and I recommend them to anyone looking for a new dentist! I first came here when my old dentist told me I had 8 cavities and wanted to charge me quite a bit to fill them. I decided to get a second opinion, and came here. I'm so glad I did, as the previous dentist was completely incorrect. I have never felt "up-sold" at Gentle Care, and every member of their team is so caring, knowledgeable, and amazing. It really feels like they care, and they always do an awesome job. If you're looking a good dentist office, look no further. read more

Great dentist, super service from the dental technicians and front office staff. I have been going there for at least 5+ years. Highly recommended. read more

I had been looking for a dentist for a bit and found Gentle Care Dental and they have been great. Great to schedule and reschedule due to unforeseen circumstances. Everything is explained as far as dental work that needs to be done. read more

I just love this office! I am one step closer to starting my Invisalign treatment that I have been wanting to start for years now! Dr. Barela is a very knowledgeable dentist and I feel like I can defiantly trust him! P.S there decor is so festive! read more

Gentle Care Dental - General Dentistry Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We returned to Gentle Care Dental on 12/19/2016, 3rd visit this year. We no longer dread going to the dentist thanks to the caring staff at Gentle Care Dental. From Teresa at the front desk, to Dr Barela and hygienist Chris, Gentle Care Dental is operated efficiently, and a patient's individual circumstances and concerns are always addressed with respect and kindness. So happy we found this dental practice a few years ago. read more

I know I know ... like we needed one more 5 star review ... well you do. Sit down and read. My husband (at the time) was 36. Never saw a dentist IN HIS LIFE. As you can imagine, he just knew they were going to preach root canals and extractions and bears, OH MY. Well, the bear was true. He did have deep cleaning issues and after a few hygenist visits, a few visits with Dr. Wu and Dr. Barela we got him mostly caught up - except, there were concern about build up way way way down that was going to require surgery, he had a broken wisdom tooth, and if you take it you might as well take all - fine. Except at the time, Drs. Wu and Barela were working with an oral surgeon that wanted us to pay $8000 JUST FOR THE lower build up. Dentures cost less, people, just saying. So we didn't call the office back. We didn't send our Lone Ranger back to the office. Just kind of dismissed it. Until ... we get another call from the office ... they switched surgeons. They have a new one! And admitted that the last one wasn't working out and realized that their recommended course of action was extreme. Well - that opened our eyes. It was time for another cleaning so we sent back our sacrifice to the dental Mt. Olympus and lo and behold, was making amazing progress. The new surgeon ... I have to find him on Yelp because he was great - even called to check on my husband around 8 or 9 that night after his wisdom teeth were extracted. So I sent in the two little ones as I had really wanted a 'family' dentist. The dentist took a look at the oldest and even though the pediatric dentist that saw her when she was quite wee told us there would be braces in our future ... Dr. Barela said, let's wait and see - teeth move a lot. I really liked that. And when the youngest was getting her cleaning, perfect pearly whites ... he was sad that she was going to lose them because they were flawless. Then there's me. The hold out ... the ... well, I haven't been to a real dentist since maybe 2000 (don't judge) and have been through (2) pregnancies (as evidenced by prior paragraph) and all kinds of coffee ... the actual policyholder. I had my series of issues, among them ... 7 fillings. SEVEN FILLINGS. Listen. If you haven't heard a single thing I've said, please do this ... take care of your teeth. Seven fillings is not a Disney trip, my friends. And who better to do that? Well ... this place. You will not be disappointed with your care. Cheryl in the front office is amazing ... she worked with me on a payment plan for my fillings. And she will even e-mail you a reminder. I liked that. The hygenist, Chris, is amazing. Just a great lady and very sensitive to your care. I honestly can't say enough good things, but please if you are looking for a dentist - go see them!!! Just look for the bear in the corner window! They only get 5 stars because I can't give them 10. read more

I received a bill for $28 in the mail from them and I couldn't figure out why... I *thought* I'd paid for my filling in full on my first visit and my cleaning at my second visit was supposed to be free because of my insurance, so why was I getting a bill for $28?? I called and reached Cheryl at the front desk. I explained to her that I got a bill and I wasn't sure why and within seconds she had pulled up my account history, it turns out that I overpaid for my filling and I had actually received a credit memo, not a bill! :) She said she was gonna have them generate a check and send it to me right away. How awesome is that? These guys really are the best at customer service! read more

Love this place. They have THE nicest, most gentle staff Ive ever experienced in a dental office. I originally followed probably THE gentalist dentist over here a few years ago. Sadly, after a few months w/ this practice he decided to move to a res up north and continue his work there. So glad I stayed. Their front office staff is super nice. Any questions you have, theyll answer. Both Dr. Wu and Dr. Barela are awesome. Very chatty (I dont know about you, but that makes me more comfortable), and willing to answer any questions or look into any concerns you may have. Love that they have TVS w/ movies playing on them above every chair, its nice to not think about the fact that Im getting a filling while its happening. Seriously, so glad Dr. Kelty introduced me to this office. Ive been to some awful, awful dentists. These people are absolutely the opposite of awful. read more

So regrettably I had been putting off having a cavity filled which resulted in a constant toothache. But thankfully I found Gentle Care Dental! Dr. Manning, Samantha, and the office manager Teresa are the best! I am actually really looking forward to my root canal that they were able to schedule in no time at all. Dr. Manning and his assistant Samantha are very knowledgeable and caring as is the office manager Teresa. I will post an update post root canal in 4 days, though I am confident it will go smoothly with minimal discomfort. read more

Quite possibly the nicest medical staff I have ever encountered. Cheryl is the perfect greeter/hostess/receptionist. She is pleasant, knowledgeable and efficient. Everyone knows how challenging it is to pick a new dentist. Speaking to her and you Yelpers :) is how I decided to choose Gentle Care Dental for my dental provider for my TDA Dental Plan. My experience was phenomenal. Flexible appointment times and no long wait once in the office. I was given the option to complete my paperwork prior to my appointment so that saved time. To begin, Raquel brought me into the examination room to review my x-rays and discuss any issues of concern. After that I met with Dr. Barela who advised me on my teeth and confirmed that my crown that had come unattached (damn sticky candy) was in good shape and could be re-cemented. Thank God, because I was scared at having to fork over a hefty chunk of change for a new one. After that, I had my cleaning by the hygienist, Brenda. She was indeed very "gentle" with my teeth and gums. I thought it was cool that as part of my first appointment, they take measurements of your gums as a baseline and store that digitally. In this way, they can more accurately access any gum deterioration. Once Brenda was done, Dr. Barela re-cemented my crown and spent a great deal of time with me discussing after-care and answering general questions I had about my teeth and dentistry. Initially, I was looking for a holistic dentist, but my insurance didn't have coverage for any in the area. It was nice to hear Dr. Barela's views on fluoride (pros/cons) and that he was open to my stance on daily care that doesn't necessarily involve fluoride. He is open minded and I appreciate that. I personally use Dr. Collins Restore fluoride-free toothpaste. It was nice to know that Dr. Barela was familiar with it, its main ingredient Novamin (Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate) and research studies involving its efficacy. Nice! I really look forward to going back in 6 months and I recommend that you try them out too. :) read more

Let me start off this review by saying that I haven't been to a dentist since the turn of the century, possibly before. When I heard about this practice, I knew I had to give them a chance. Upon walking in to the waiting room, I was enthusiastically greeted by Cheryl's warm and friendly face. After the thorough process of filling out new patient forms and a brief wait, Raquel led me back to a clean, spacious room with large floor to ceiling windows and offered me a seat. After the initial series of x-Rays, Dr. Wu came in and performed the exam herself. Occasionally, she would rattle off numbers to her assistant, but she put my mind at ease explaining ahead of time what and why she'd be doing. Throughout whole ordeal, I was willfully distracted by a television they had playing in the exam room. Although it had been over 10 years since I had been to a dentist, the staff at Gentle Care Dentistry made the whole process more bearable, almost to the point of pleasant. I will definitely be making them my regular dental care provider. read more

I have been going to Dr. Barela for about 5 years and am very pleased with the service. I had previously left a dentist that treated me and his staff horribly. He was very rough and would snap at his staff in front of patients. Dr. Barela took the time to listen to my concerns about my last dentist on my first visit with him. I have extreme dental anxiety, even over small things, and both the Dr. Barela and the staff are nice, calming, and empathetic. I highly recommend this office if you are a nervous/anxious dental patient. The staff is friendly and actually acknowledges you when you arrive, unlike so many offices I've encountered. My only critique is they should always provide a detailed receipt on the day of the visit, not just a credit card receipt, so that those of us who pay with an FSA card can submit it for proof of services. I have had to ask for them myself, and they readily provide them if asked, but it would be nice if they were proactive about that. read more

There really isn't anything I could add to their praise that someone hasn't already said. It's all true, every review. The women running the front desk are so welcoming and efficient. The dental assistants are on their A-game and very attentive. Dr. Barela wins the best dentist award in my book; his knowledge and ease with my procedure was both comforting and painless. I went in anxious and terrified, I came out confident and thrilled to go back. And that's saying a lot for someone who once needed five people to hold her down just for an IV. This time, I didn't even need my mister to hold my hand during the Novacane! And in case you were wondering- I had a root canal. First time. Didn't feel a thing. read more

LOVE THIS PRACTICE! Courteous, thorough, great pricing (ask them for their cash price deals), and truly, yes I'm gonna say it, GENTLE! Ive had 25 years of terrible experiences until I found Gentle Care. Now, I won't go anywhere else! They themselves in being honest with what you REALLY need and nothing else. If you're searching for a dentist-your search is over! (I'm a real patient, in case you were wondering.) I am just so glad my search is over! read more

The staff is very nice, but that does not make up for overzealous dental hygienists and lack of response to 'emergency' calls over the weekend. My entire mouth is inflamed (now infected) and hurts a week after my cleaning (neither of which was an issue prior to the cleaning). Their office number includes a phone number to call after hours to speak to someone right away, but it is apparently not checked and none of my messages were returned - not during the weekend or afterwards. When I called the office again after the weekend, I received a non-committal response about it being regularly checked and was advised the ER was a better option. Ever since Dr. Lee went on an indefinite leave the previously superb quality of this office has suffered immensely. I will be finding another dentist. read more

I will never go to another dental office again! Dr. Wu & Dr. Barela are absolutely amazing, the staff is fantastic, and the atmosphere puts you at ease. Everyone is not only professional but incredibly welcoming. They take the time to explain everything to you, help put you at ease, and don't try to nickle & dime you (or get you to spend money that you don't need to). Their schedules are incredibly flexible and they are all just as competent & caring with my 6 year old as they are with an adult. I'm a terrible chicken when it comes to pain and Dr. Barela is absolutely amazing for needle-phobes like myself. I used to not be able to get novocaine without having nitrous oxide first because I can't stand the sight of needles. For the first time in my life I was able to go through a procedure without it and that is all due to Dr. Barela's gentle care. From a basic cleaning to a more complicated procedure this office has been hands down the best experience I've had in my life. No one typically looks forward to the dentist but I can tell you that knowing that I'll be in good hands ensures that I no longer have anxiety about it! read more

I came here because of the reviews. Got my cleanings done for a few years. They were nice for simple cleanings. Then when I came to getting a crown done, my jaw hurt so much because it wasn't leveled off right and I was putting all my pressure on just one tooth. Then somehow with the clamps they used I got a massive green sore on the side of my tongue once the numbing wore off. They took no responsibility at the front office and told me it was all my fault and give my mouth time to heal on its own. The dentist called me on the phone to apologize and discuss options. I have never had a problem like this before. I got so worried when it started to go green that I went to urgent care. I got antibiotics and was told it was infected. After a week or so my tongue went back to normal and I saw another dentist in another office for a second opinion because I got prep for the crown but I still had a second appointment to have it put in. At this point my jaw hurt so bad from the temp crown. The second dentist fixed the pressure issue by adjusting the temp crown. I finally went back to gental dental with the other dentist in house to put in the crown on because it was already paid for and I was so over finding new dentists. Overall, I would not recommend this office for any dental work. read more

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Always a pleasure to be seen here as a patient. Kris the hygienist was very thorough and gentle with my cleaning.

This is by far the best dent office I have ever been to. The staff is super friendly. I have never been to a better dental office.

Appreciate the non-judgement after neglecting oral hygiene on a backpack thru Mexico. Thanks to Dr. Barela and staff for making a visit to the dentist as painless as possible. Definitely worth the drive. read more

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Gentle Care Dental!! Dr. Wu, Dr. Barela and the staff are absolutely amazing! The atmosphere is warm and inviting and you are always treated like family. I have always had a fear of going to the dentist; in fact, the first time I sat with Dr. Wu I was so scared that I cried! She was so patient with me and really took the time to explain everything to me. I now enjoy going to my appointments and visiting with the staff. My husband sees Dr. Barela and can't say enough good things about him! We refer family and friends to their office because we know that they will receive the best care and customer service. read more

Wonderful Dentist. My son knocked a filling out at 6. Called Dr. Barella and he stayed late and got him patched up. Was wonderful with my daughter as well. I love this place, they don't triple book so your appointment is actually the time they scheduled. They are all very professional and caring! read more