Fidler on the Tooth

Dr. Fidler saved the day when I would have gone home to Christmas and found myself nursing an abscessed tooth by the punch bowl the whole time. Even though I had only been established by an exam, not even a tooth cleaning, she opened her office and performed a root canal on me around the time most people were leaving town. Because a root canal isn’t ever welcome, I can’t necessarily endorse the experience (nitrous oxide doesn’t seem to affect me, either) but I do know that a root canal I had with an endodontist (a root canal specialist) wasn’t nearly as gentle or painless. She made quick work, has very nimble fingers that help smooth transitions during a long procedure and was able to switch to smaller bite blocks immediately (I actually have a small mouth — how is that possible?). She’s so good at reading facial expressions that I never had to wave or call out — she knew when something was wrong immediately. And she had tooth ESP — she generally knew what was wrong as well and asked me to confirm with a nod of my head. Having been seen by dentists who are less patient focused, I appreciated that kind of care very much. She is a phenomenal general dentist.
I got online harassment from Dr. Fidler’s staff for posting a balanced review initially. I’m impressed that she called it out and took the time to give me the heads up. The way a business responds to negative reviews often raises (or lowers) my opinion of them. Dr. Fidler is 100% genuine. And who can resist that practice name?

Dr Fidler and her staff are amazing. I am so happy that I go here.
I have never been to a dentist that has focused so heavily on taking care of their patients and making sure the dentist experience is comfortable.
Prior to going to Dr. Fidler, I had not been to the dentist in several years. Since returning, I have seen a great improvement in my oral health.
Dr. Fidler is great at getting individual care without offering un-​necessary treatments.
I would highly recommend that Fidler on the Tooth.

I have had the best experience here at Dr. Fidlers office. I was having emergent pain on an old root canaled tooth. They saw me 1^st thing in the morning, numbed the area and referred me to a specialist in the area. I can not thank the pleasant and respectful staff members that helped me through this experience.

I’ll preface this review by saying that I genuinely dislike going to the dentist, so read my opinions with that in mind. However, I’ve had experiences with dentists that range from awful to about as great as a dental experience can be. And I have to say, I have really mixed feelings about this place.
Everything started out great. The front desk staff were really friendly, the hygienists were kind and attentive… and then somewhere about halfway into my cleaning I began to feel like I was being worked; as if I were at a timeshare sales presentation.
Please note: I had NO CAVITIES at this appointment, have good oral hygiene, and, as one of the hygienists here even remarked, BEAUTIFUL TEETH.
One of the hygienists unceremoniously perforated my gums rather firmly with a fine pick and then remarked that because they were bleeding slightly I had gum disease. I’ve had sensitive, bleedy gums since for my ENTIRE LIFE, noted by other dentists as recently as 10 months ago, and I’ve never been told the cause was gum disease, just that I had sensitive tissue and should try and maybe floss a bit more. (Also, anyone’s gums will bleed if you prick them hard with a needle, just saying.) And, of course, the solution to this «gum disease» is a time-​consuming, expensive deep cleaning procedure that is only partially covered by insurance. I decided to do some research on these «deep cleanings» and found out that it’s basically an upselling scam that’s becoming commonplace in for-​profit dental practices.
I was also told I needed 8 or 9 sealants, even though my insurance covers a maximum of 3. Again, a dentist I went to 10 MONTHS AGO didn’t see the need for 8 – 9 sealants, and I doubt my mouth has done a complete 180 since then. Other upsells tried on me were special prescription fluoride toothpaste and a bacteria-​killing laser treatment. Overall, they wanted me back for 3 more appointments even though I had ZERO cavities. I’ve been on this planet 29 years, and I’ve probably been to the dentist 60 times. Never, ever, ever have I had to report back to a dentist for 3 MORE APPOINTMENTS when there were no cavities or major procedures (like a crown) involved.
Perhaps these people really mean well and I’m overly cautious, but I had a pretty gnarly gut feeling that I was being hustled at this place. I consider dentistry to be a part of my health care, not a retail shopping experience.

Gotta say, I had an experience similar to some of the other reviewers. I haven’t had any cavities for 20 years. I Had recently been looking for a new dentist closer to home after starting a new job. I decided to try Fidler on the Tooth and was looking forward to all of the technology I read about. The office staff was nice enough but Dr. Fidler tried to tell me I had 4 cavities and there was pressure to schedule a follow-​up appointment to get them fixed ASAP. After I’ve had glowing reviews from my previous dentist for years and after them trying to sell me on a bunch of add-​on services, to have this happen on top of it really made me question this place’s integrity.
To make sure I wasn’t talking out of turn I went out of my way to go to my previous dentist’s office to have a check-​up and get X-​rays. Guess what? Aces. Completely clear of any cavities according to them.
I say buyer beware. This seems to be the MO for some reason at this place. I won’t be going back.

My wife and I have both loved sugary snacks, and hated brushing our teeth since we were kids. As a result we’ve ended up spending a fair amount of time with Dr. Fidler and her staff over the last few years. But, they are a very friendly and caring group, and they almost make us look forward to having to go to the dentist… almost. I wish we could see them under nicer circumstances sometimes, such as a Sunday picnic or a Richard Sherman softball game ;) Anyway, we’re facing the consequences of our bad habits now, but Dr. Fidler and her crew are making it easier, and as painless as possible for us. We highly recommend them, especially if you have some fear of going to the dentist.

The hygienists were super, the staff is great and Dr. Fidler was wonderful. Couldn’t have been better. There was very little waiting and things went great. I even referred my wife.

My teeth had been aching for a while, so I not only didn’t expect relief, but had to endure the prep for 2 crowns. Not only was the prep practically painless, but all the pain seems to have gone away even with the temporaries! I am ecstatic! Breanna and Vicki were wonderful! Daniel Q.

I had a great experience there today. I haven’t seen a dentist in years. I was stoked about the baking soda and water cleaning technique. It was really cool how they took pictures of my teeth so I could look at them up close and see what they were seeing. My teeth felt great when I left and looked great too. The ladies were super friendly and helpful. I only gave it a four because I don’t have a lot to compare too, but I left and told my buddy that I went there and it was a good experience and he was like, «Oh ya that’s a great dentist.»

After not seeing a dentist for over 7 years, I finally had insurance and was referred to Dr. Fidler. I’ve never had any major dental issues, but I knew going that long without a cleaning or check up would mean there may be issues. I ended up with several cavities and the need for a deep cleaning which required sedation. It was a great experience (ok, as great as having people poke around in your mouth can be), and my pearly yellows are now back to being pearly whites!
The staff is always friendly, upbeat and I’m greeted by name when I walk in the door. I’ve never had problems with billing (unlike another dentist I’ve written a review for), and I LOVE that they have all the latest technology and gadgets! It makes cleanings simple, easy, and worry free! I especially love the deal for the lifetime whitening!

I just had my first appointment with Dr. Fidler today, and am so pleased to have found her. I see some reviews here from people who think she is recommending too much treatment. But the fact that Dr. Fidler will be filling my first-​ever real cavity next week tells me I’ve finally found a thorough dentist! She does do a lot more than other dentists to really look for cavities. I would so much rather her find then when they’re new and small — like she did mine — than have them go unnoticed until they become painful, as I’m sure would have happened with my last dentist. I guess not everyone has the same wish, in which case I could recommend some other Seattle options…
The other thing I am so happy about is that Dr. Fidler’s office offered me sealants! I had them when I was a kid, and that’s probably why I never had a cavity until now. But I always wondered why no one offered to seal my teeth as an adult. If it helps a kid’s teeth, why wouldn’t it help mine? Finally, today, an answer. It would! No one was at all pushy about this option, but I was thrilled and jumped at the chance to have a few of my molars sealed again. In fact, it was only as Dr. Fidler was taking off some of the remnants of my old sealants that my new cavity came fully into view. So again, I am grateful for her thorough examination!
I’m terrified of getting my first filling, but I’m so glad it will be here.
UPDATE:
Got my filling today. As the suggestions of many friends and family, I got the gas. They eased me into it to make sure it was to my liking — it was. And then I got a nice hand-​hold (both literal and figurative) for the part I was most afraid of — the shots. To my extremely pleasant surprise, they were really nothing to fear. The topical they gave me beforehand worked really well, and Dr. Fidler is very gentle. Smooth sailing from there! Honestly the worst thing about the whole experience was not being able to eat very well with a numb mouth. I was too nervous to eat much before my appointment, so I was pretty hungry! But I ate in private so no one would judge me for the slop, I went slow, and then eventually the feeling returned. Hooray!
I actually look forward to seeing these great folks again in 6 months.

These folks are so on top of things that they just called me to follow up on an appointment with an oral surgeon they had referred me to!

When my filling came out, exposing ¼ of my tooth to the gum line, I needed a dentist fast. 1800-​Dentist highly recommended Dr. Fidler, so I went in blind because I needed a fix the same day. They were able to squeeze me in that afternoon.
The first thing I noticed after checking in (via iPad, no paperwork!) was how jovial the staff was with one another. It is clear that they enjoy one another’s company. Right now, they’re having an «ugly sweater» competition on FB.
Romelyn (dental assistant) was crystal clear about each step in the process, even explaining the unlikely but possible events once they began to uncover the cavity under my filling. We joked and laughed the entire visit. Dr. Fidler was very gentle and had excellent bedside rapport.
Their clean office has all the latest technology: digital x-​rays, large flat screen TVs to show patients photos of the tooth in question, TV goggles to watch movies while being worked on, and a fully computerized check-​in and registration system. They’ll even send me email and/​or text reminders of appointments.
Clearly, I was impressed.

I tried Dr. Fidler once and had a similar terrible dental experience as some of these other reviewers. Wish I could give NO stars. She was cold, unprofessional and insincere. I was extremely uncomfortable and she didn’t care. I felt she was trying to scam me into doing a ton of work, that apparently was not necessary at all.
I found a new dentist that is just wonderful, sweet and honest and she informed me that I only needed one filling, not FOUR that Dr. Fidler said I needed to do right away. I did a cleaning with Fidler and came out of her office looking wrecked. My jaw was bruised and sore for weeks just from a cleaning! She is rough and was very rude when I had basic questions. HORRIBLE gross experience.

Fidler on the Tooth is fantastic! I’ve had a lot of dental work done in my life by more than 10 different dentists (root canals, fillings, extractions, the works!) and this place is the best I’ve ever been to. I judge a dentist on how well they deliver shots and how comfortable I am during my visit/​procedure. I give Dr. Fidler and her team an A+ on all fronts! For my FOUR shots of Novocaine, I didn’t feel a single prick. Not many dentists have mastered this impressive and important technique.
I was also very impressed with all the state-​of-​the-​art equipment. I appreciated the ability to view an enlarged color photo of my tooth on a screen at the end of my chair – a new experience for me. And I actually got to watch a movie during my procedure. Movie glasses… who knew? And a two-​page movie menu to boot. So cool!
This brings me to my procedure: I had a tooth pulled. I have been w/​o a dentist for a few years and broke a tooth I neglected to crown after a root canal four years ago. After examination Dr. Fidler explained my two options – to either try to rebuild and crown (the obviously more lucrative choice for her) or to get the tooth pulled. She did not pressure me at all, just said that it was up to me on how to proceed and made sure I understood everything clearly. I feel that if she were only interested in $ (like other Unilocalers have suggested) then she would have tried to persuade me to save the tooth. She did not. Since it was a back molar, I’m paying 100% out-​of-​pocket and most of the tooth was broken off anyway, I opted to pull it out. Dr. Fidler was very supportive of my decision and made providing excellent care, according to my wishes, her first priority.
Overall, I had an outstanding experience. I wasn’t in any discomfort during the extraction – in fact, I’d compare it to going in for a filling. And many dentists won’t even pull teeth in office, they’ll send you to an oral surgeon. Being able to do everything there was convenient for me and testament to Dr. Fidler’s high level of skill and training and the follow-​up has been great.
This fun, friendly and informative staff will be fiddling on my teeth from now on! Bravo team! Bravo!

Don’t trust them. They tried to con me into thousands of dollars in unnecessary treatment.
I just moved to the neighborhood and decided to try out Dr. Fidler and her wonderfully-​named clinic. Within minutes of taking my x-​ray, they told me I had FIVE serious cavities and need to take care of them as quickly as possible. I was very suspicious, as it had only been a year since my last cleaning and have only had two cavities in my entire life. After looking over the cost schedule they gave me, I knew something was amiss. They wanted to charge something like $ 400 per cavity… and that’s after my insurance covered some of it.
I immediately had them forward those x-​rays to my previous dentist who I’ve been going to most of my life. She told me I had ONE cavity, and the other four were normal decay and could be fixed with fluoride. Guess where I’m never going back?
They don’t care about your teeth, they care about your money.

Dr. Vicki and her staff provide incredible dental service! They are efficient, professional and the quality of their work is superlative. Vicki and her dental assistants listen to your concerns and provide truthful answers that aren’t blurred in dentist speak.
They provide blankets if you’re cold. You can watch a movie I’d you prefer to not watch your procedure. Vicki uses advanced dentistry tools to provide you with a million dollar smile!

While searching for a new dentist, I came upon Fidler on the Tooth. The website was packed with information and it looked like a decent place, so I made the call for an appointment. Walking into the office, I was greeted with a bright smile by the receptionist and her demeanor immediately put me at ease; I’m not fearful of dentists, but the more friendly and personal the staff is, the more I feel like they are on top of their game.
The dental assistant brought me to the back and we started chatting it up. X-​rays went smooth and then the hygienist came in for the basic exam and cleaning. She was gentle, thorough, and extremely knowledgeable and answered every question I had with confidence.
My next two appointments were for deep cleanings and each one was virtually painless. The hygienist explained how the numbing works on different parts of the mouth and where I may feel a little pinch or poke. I tend to believe that pain is a part of dental work, so I probably dealt with a bit more discomfort than I had to, but that was my choice.
As for the extras, there was no hard-selling…either you want the additional services or you don’t (laser cleaning to prevent infections from spreading, for example). In addition, you have the option to watch a movie during your appointment (the selections are pretty impressive) and this is free.
I learned a ton about my own teeth and overall dental care and was really impressed with this office. I have another appointment in a month and plan on making regular visits for check-​ups. The staff is awesome, parking is easy, and even though they are out of my plan’s network, the service and care are worth the extra money it costs me.

These folks are AMAZING! I have experienced horrible dental anxiety in the past and when I shared that with Dr. Fidler she assured me she would do whatever it took to help me feel as comfortable as possible. Today was my second visit which included a root canal treatment… didn’t feel a thing! Dr. Fidler and her staff are super kind, gentle and down to earth. I never felt like they were trying to sell me anything and personally, I am relieved to go to a dental office that as the latest and greatest.
The website has a coupon for $ 100 off services for first time customers and they have an awesome referral program.
If you have had horrible experiences at the dentist and now suffer from dental anxiety, I highly recommend visiting Dr. Fidler and her amazing staff :)

For two years I had been putting off seeing the dentist. This avoidance even included some late night do-​it-​yourself dental work. With less than a week till my insurance was to expire I made an appointment with Dr. Fidler.
They quickly got me in and never scolded me even though it would have been well deserved. I had a short amount of time to use my benefits and Julie made sure the month didn’t pass without using all the available money.
I’ve had four appointments in six days and none of them were «enjoyable» but I did keep going back. Their staff is personable, compassionate and easy to work with.