Village Dental Associates - Drs Westphalen, Stevens, Barbour, Barakat, Mora & McKinley

I returned to the building where my favorite dental office had once been after nine years away and found that — aside from the address — almost everything had changed. The practice that replaced it had its own ethos and energy, and before long I realized this was a change for the better. As a senior, I'm naturally resistant to change, but I was impressed by the fresh paint, new layout, updated equipment, and upbeat music in every room, giving it a high-tech feel. It was a little disorienting not to recognize a single staff member after having been a patient there for more than sixteen years. Nevertheless, Lex was a paragon of patience, helping me navigate five pages of paperwork on a tablet and scanning a copy of my license (I wish those forms had been emailed so I would not have had to do them in the lobby). Lex also explained Village’s membership program, which offered savings on routine cleanings, X-rays, and other services. I enrolled because she really knew the program and did not simply hand me a glossy brochure. Taylor handled my X-rays with remarkable care, even switching to a child's bitewing to avoid my unnecessary discomfort while still obtaining the required image quality. Angie explained my treatment plan and costs with friendliness, professionalism, and genuine concern. And then there was Tara. After a nine-year hiatus, I needed deep scaling and debridement. I've always dreaded needles, and I was not looking forward to the injections. I received five in all, yet for the first time in my adult life, I neither jumped nor tensed. Tara administered the anesthetic so slowly and so deftly that it was virtually painless. Until that cleaning, I had considered 'painless dentistry' an oxymoron. Her thoroughness, patience, and professional skill ought to be taught in dental schools. All in all, Tara was reassuring, meticulous, and exceptional at her craft. It was the best dental treatment I have ever experienced. She even walked me to the lobby door and held it open for me (a paddle-operated door would be a thoughtful upgrade). One final thought: I stopped coming years ago after an unpleasant experience during the COVID era and never found another office that felt like home. Looking back, that was my loss; had this team been there then, I never would have left. Five stars, without reservation! -w. *Photos forthcoming 08SEP26 * In response to Village Dental's reply: For whatever reason I did not receive a text link to complete my forms online, bolstering my assumption that my records were still available in your system (see photo). Still, that gave me an opportunity to interact more with your front desk team so I consider it a win for me. -w.

An Absolutely Wonderful Dental Experience! ❤️ I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about this office and the people who work there. I have had some extremely traumatic experiences with dental work in the past, so going to the dentist has always been something that causes me a great deal of anxiety. This experience was completely different. From the moment I walked through the door, Alissa at the reception desk was so kind, welcoming, and compassionate. She immediately made me feel comfortable and at ease. Dr. Barakat and his assistant, Shar, were absolutely incredible. They were unbelievably kind, patient, gentle, and considerate throughout my entire appointment. I had a significant amount of dental work done during a 2½-hour appointment, and I was amazed by how comfortable they made me feel the entire time. They never rushed me, never made me feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, and treated me with such genuine care and patience. What really amazed me was that I didn’t have one sore moment after the numbing wore off. Normally, I am accustomed to being sore for the next week after dental work, so this was remarkable to me. For the first time in a very long time, I left a dental appointment feeling peaceful, cared for, and genuinely comfortable. They have completely changed my perspective on going to the dentist. I would recommend this office to anyone and everyone, especially anyone who has experienced dental anxiety or trauma in the past. I will absolutely be recommending them to everyone I know and will continue to do so. Thank you, Alissa, Dr. Barakat, and Shar, for making what has always been a difficult experience for me feel so safe, comfortable, and positive. You are all truly wonderful! ❤️

Very professional, pleasant staff. Great vibe, great lighting, cool music playing, private salons...much better than my last dentist.

My experience here turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I cracked a tooth and was leaving on a cruise in ten days. They were able to schedule me for a root canal and a crown the very next day. Every one was pleasant and helpful.

i’ve been a patient for a couple months now and let me just say when you are in person or you have to call the staff.. they are so RUDE and miserable. i almost wonder, why go to work if you are THAT miserable. staff needs to do better and take on attitude management classes. the young ladies need to learn how to have patience with your patients, and be nicer. holy