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Western Dental & Orthodontics provides orthodontic care in Bakersfield, CA, serving both children and adults seeking straighter smiles.
About Western Dental & Orthodontics
Dr. Garza draws consistent praise for gentle, careful handling of anxious patients getting braces at this general dental office.
Western Dental & Orthodontics is a general dental practice that also offers braces, clear aligners, early treatment, and retainers, and braces come up more often in its reviews than at a typical dental office. Many reviews describe Dr. Garza as attentive and careful with anxious patients, and several mention staff helping set up payment plans to cover braces costs. Cost and billing draw a mixed response, with some reviewers appreciating clear breakdowns of out-of-pocket expenses while others describe confusing or inflated quotes.
Summary of 202 patient reviews, July 2022–September 2026, updated September 2026
Western Dental & Orthodontics provides orthodontic care in Bakersfield, CA, serving both children and adults seeking straighter smiles.
As a Bakersfield orthodontist, the practice offers free consultations and maintains weekend hours to accommodate varying schedules. The practice delivers traditional orthodontic treatments for patients at different life stages. Families benefit from the availability of early intervention options for children alongside comprehensive solutions for adult patients looking to correct alignment issues. Online booking allows prospective patients to schedule appointments directly through digital channels. Western Dental & Orthodontics accepts major dental insurance plans and Medicaid, expanding access to orthodontic care for a broader patient population. Multiple payment arrangements are available, including in-house financing and CareCredit, allowing patients to distribute treatment costs over time. The practice staff communicates in both English and Spanish, serving Bakersfield's diverse community. With a Google rating of 4.3 based on 930 reviews, the practice has established a presence in the Kern County area. Weekend availability addresses the needs of working professionals and families who cannot attend appointments during standard business hours. Patients throughout Bakersfield and surrounding areas can access orthodontic services at this location, though individual treatment plans depend on specific dental conditions and clinical assessment.
Treatments offered
Who They Treat
Western Dental & Orthodontics provides orthodontic treatment for the following age groups:
Orthodontists at this office
Gordon Kilmer, DDS, MS
NPI verified · no bio or photo on file
Insurance accepted
36 plans listedWhat patients say
Latest review 7 weeks ago
What patients praise
Things to know
Who it suits
Doctors patients mention
Orthodontic care in reviews
The eight orthodontic-specific reviews mostly describe a positive braces experience, including a payment plan that made treatment affordable and 18 months of braces resulting in straight teeth. A couple of reviews raise concerns, including a high initial cost quote given after a brief exam and a case where an issue with braces needed to be resolved.
| Oct 2023 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Nov 2023 | 1 |
| Dec 2023 | 6 |
| Jan 2024 | 5 |
| Feb 2024 | 2 |
| Mar 2024 | 5 |
| Apr 2024 | 8 |
| May 2024 | 2 |
| Jun 2024 | 2 |
| Jul 2024 | 2 |
| Aug 2024 | 7 |
| Sep 2024 | 10 |
| Oct 2024 | 8 |
| Nov 2024 | 11 |
| Dec 2024 | 2 |
| Jan 2025 | 6 |
| Feb 2025 | 6 |
| Mar 2025 | 9 |
| Apr 2025 | 3 |
| May 2025 | 3 |
| Jun 2025 | 5 |
| Jul 2025 | 4 |
| Aug 2025 | 3 |
| Sep 2025 | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | 19 |
| Jan 2026 | 16 |
| Feb 2026 | 15 |
| Mar 2026 | 48 |
| Apr 2026 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| Jun 2026 | 33 |
| Jul 2026 | 32 |
| Aug 2026 | 23 |
| Sep 2026 | 2 |
| Theme | Praise | Criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Friendly staff | 38 | 7 |
| Scheduling & wait times | 7 | 29 |
| Gentle, comfortable care | 30 | 2 |
| The dentist | 24 | 5 |
| Clear explanations | 24 | 4 |
| Cost, insurance & financing | 11 | 11 |
| Responsiveness | 11 | 8 |
| Treatment results | 5 | 3 |
Recent reviews from Google
Mirian was Very helpful with figuring out a payment plan that was right for me and my daughter was able to get braces like she needed.
I had a great experience at Western Dental (Downtown Bakersfield). Dr. Garza and Vickey were very helpful. I really appreciate the care and attention they both provided!
Dr Garza and Vickey Soledad were great. They both made me feel comfortable and relaxed. This is one of the best dentist visit I had in a long time. Dentist visit are not the best but they made me feel happy to have chosen to see them. Thank you
Due to insurance Aetna DMO, It took 3 different times to get my 4 year old daughter seen because Western Dental doesn’t see kids but thankfully 24th street Western Dental came to the rescue they helped get her seen and referred to pediatric dentist!
I like Vicky bc she did my extras , and Robert he is so funny , they also make me feel very comfortable and at home , they don't make me feel embarrassed about my teeth at all
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