Bocca Dental Spa

This is long, only because I want to be truthful. After reading reviews for Bocca, I noticed that most of the bad reviews had to do with paperwork or timeliness. I decided that these things were trivial and wouldn’t negatively affect my personal experience. I was wrong. My services were great but everything else was terrible and I am now in the process of attempting to change dentists (STILL in the process because Bocca’s untimeliness is adding two weeks to the time I could be spending at another office).
I set up my first appointment at 2pm, planned to get an exam and get my teeth cleaned. I got there half an hour early to make sure all my paperwork was done. The dental hygienist was very nice and helpful, but I noticed there was no one at the front desk and she didn’t know her way around it either. I assumed the receptionist was simply out for whatever reason. (I was wrong; there is no receptionist). The dentist finally showed up right at 2pm, but because there was no receptionist, he ran the front desk for AN HOUR, before finally getting me back into a chair. The exam itself was very comprehensive and thorough. By the time my exam was over, I no longer had time to get my teeth cleaned. So I left 3 hours later, having been told I would receive a treatment plan by email in the next few days.
THREE WEEKS GO BY. No treatment plan. I call, leave voicemails (because no one answers the front desk phone). Nothing. So I decide it’s time to change dentists. Because my insurance only covers one exam and set of x-​rays per year, I need to transfer my x-​rays to my new dentist. No big deal, right? Apparently it is. It’s been TWO WEEKS. Even the receptionist at my new dentist’s office is baffled by their untimeliness. I still can’t even schedule an appointment at my new place because they still don’t have my records. Meanwhile, I still haven’t had my teeth cleaned.
Terrible. Unorganized. Great service doesn’t matter if I can’t even schedule an appointment without calling multiple times in a day to do it.

Great doctor and had a great experience. The hygienist made me laugh when I got my teeth cleaned. I am going back for more work. The area is located downtown in a good spot while Dr. Lopez was very knowledgeable on the newest technology, I feel very confident when I go there that I will have a quality work done.

Dr. Lopez rocks. The guy is super chill, very cool, gentle, and explains EVERY procedure extremely thorough before he starts. Every room has a flat panel monitor with a software that shows all your information, instant X-​rays, and future scope of work, with prices! WE LOVE THIS DUDE, he’s been nothing but good to our family.

As a new patient 3 years ago, Dr. Lopez insisted that I needed two new crowns. I was wary that these services were not needed but I went ahead with all of these procedures anyway. I had to pay significant out of pocket cost on these procedures that were questionable since my previous dentist never said I needed these crowns.
It has been 3 years since I got the crowns put in and already the back of one of the crowns had broken off and needs to be replaced. According to a study in General Dentistry, «Current research shows that more than 90% of crowns will not require major treatment within five years, and 50 to 80% of crowns will last between 15 and 20 years.» So it is clearly shoddy work to have a crown that needs replacement in 3 years. I am having a different dentist redo the crown.
So in summary, I do not recommend Bocca Dental Spa since they push extra procedures and then do a poor job with those procedures.

My emails to the email address published on the BDS website repeatedly bounced back. It took five voice mails and a FAX before I got a call back.
Apparently the email address has been incorrectly listed on their website for years.
Contact them at
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I guess I should have read the reviews before booking my appointment. This guy is a huge sleaze. After doing every X-​ray that he made sure was covered by my generous insurance plan, while I waited for 25 minutes, he refilled a bunch of cavities. He told me it was taking so long (2 hours) because the great work he was doing. In the meantime, my anesthetic wears off and he has to do it AGAIN! Then, he diagnosis’s me with TMJ, which no dentist has even mentioned in my 38 years, and tells me that if I don’t buy a highly expensive apparatus from him pronto, I will suffer from increasingly bad headaches and neck pain for the rest of my life. What??? This guy is a hack and someone should shut him down.

I can’t believe the reviews I’ve read on here. Dr. Lopez and his staff have provided the best dental services I’ve ever had. I’ve been going to him for 3+ years and have never had any problems. The environment is relaxing and comfortable, and his dental assistant and hygienist are always upbeat and are very passionate about their job and their patients. Everyone I have recommended Dr. Lopez to has been very pleased as well. Another thing that attracts me to Bocca is the use of all natural product and supplies that aren’t going to damage your health in the future.

I’m afraid of dentists and often put off going. There’s no need to put it off because Dr Lopez is AMAZING! I had two cavities filled and a cleaning and he was so careful about not hurting me and making sure the experience was good.
Then he surprised me with another procedure I’ve always wanted and completely transformed my smile!!!
Confession: I cried tears of happiness in a dentists office. How many people can say that?
I couldn’t recommend Dr Lopez and Angie more! She held my hand when I was afraid of the shot and his bedside manner was incredible. Their office is up to date with great technology that allowed me to get a really deep clean with no pain.

I have to say that it saddens me that I had to leave this dental office.
However, after experiencing a dentist who had complete and utter disregard to my needs, I had no choice but to leave the office.
I spent nearly $ 1000 at his office and requested documentation to submit to insurance. He would not submit the insurance information for me and told me I had to do it. He provided me with paperwork, that to me, did not look like it was sufficient enough to be submitted. He was adamant that the documentation he was giving me was sufficient.
After a few months later the Insurance company came back and rejected my claim. They advised me exactly what I needed to submit to have my claim accepted.
I spent over seven weeks trying to get Dr. Lopez to assist me, and he never would. Endless phone calls that went unanswered for the exception of one; where I finally got to speak to him and then he tells me his office is now closed and to call him next week.
For the record, I did attempt to contact Dr. Lopez by email as well. I wrote him a three-​page complaint letter which I sent to his email address listed on the website. The email was bounced back to me just as quickly as I had sent it. Even their email system is messed up! Oh, and yes, I even went to his office on another occasion as well in an attempt to get what I needed. After having spoken to a secretary earlier in the day that I went, I was advised the office closes at 5 PM. When I went to the office at 3:40 PM, the office was already closed and the lights were off.
Unless he was doing something really fishy with the price structure and maybe severely overcharging me, I cannot understand why it would be so difficult for him to provide me with an itemized receipt. That is all I wanted. Nothing else.
Diane Causey was my dental hygienist. She gets 5 stars. I hate having to lose her but I cannot go into a dentists office with a dentist that I do not trust. She is one of the few that makes going to the dentists office a pleasurable experience.

This is the best dentist I’ve had in austin! I hate getting dental work, especially the numbing shots in the mouth but I can honestly say that Dr. Lopez did and amazing job. They were very upfront with me about what I needed to do, how much it would cost, and how I would feel afterward. The shots were barely felt at all! I should also mention that the doctor and staff are hilarious and always make me feel super welcome. Much more fun than the typical dentist office.

Spent 6mo fighting severe stomach issues that my GI doc wrote off as IBS-​D. After more testing, I decided to get mercury tested due to chronic fatigue symptoms and an article I read linking candida overgrowth to mercury tooth fillings and severe grinding at night.
Went to Dr. Lopez recently to have several silver amalgams removed and to crown an infected tooth. After the tooth work, I’m happy to say my mercury levels have come down and my stomach issues are stable.
Overall excellent bedside manner, Angie his assistant is awesome, and I felt very informed about all of the work being done. I would recommend Bocca Dental to anyone.

Dr. Lopez and his staff are amicable, intelligent, and comical! The office is very hygienic and comfortable. Bocca is always available to answer any question I have. They are very informative and professional. GO HERE!!!

UPDATE January 7 2016: scheduled an appointment on Zocdoc and then went in today. Pretty sure this place is CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. There’s no furniture or evidence of any business within the building.
I’m also kind of in shock with the negative reviews here. I have just returned from a very pleasant experience at Bocca Dental Spa. It’s been some time since I’ve visited a dentist, and my wife suggested I go here as she is also a patient. The location is easy to get to, and I’m not quite sure how anyone could get lost looking for it. The environment is clean and very calming (not sure who wouldn’t want a calm environment at the dentist office…).
Dr. Lopez and his assistant Diane were super helpful and very knowledgable. They took a number of x-​rays and photographs, and then walked me through any issues. Then they performed a root planing and scaling, taking care to make certain that I was comfortable even after numbing my gums and mouth. They both kept the mood light, which I was super thankful for considering how nervous I was.
The billing is also very clear and easy to understand. It’s detailed, and shows the amount paid for by insurance and the amount I owed.
Dr. Lopez will be sending me a schedule for the rest of my dental work, and while I normally don’t like writing a review with only a single experience… my experience went so well that I have to say how shocked I am at the reviews here.

At first I thought he was really good, but once complications arose — I noticed that he became defensive and not very caring. My bite was off due to an onlay being too high, and he ground it down using a very jagged, rough drilling tool, and did not provide anything to numb the area. He drilled right next to a very sensitive tooth, and I was in pain for days. Also, I noticed that my gums around that tooth and the tooth in front remained swollen for weeks. He took x-​rays and said there was no abscess, but now the swelling is localized on the one tooth that suffered so much drilling and trauma and looks like a pimple — classic sign of an abscessed tooth. Now I have to figure out whether to go back to him to have it checked, or call another dentist.
And all of this just because I wanted to change my old, silver filling out. I wish I would have never had this procedure done now.

I’m going to agree with Jennifer and say I have had a great experience over the past couple years going to Dr. Lopez and I am a State of Texas employee just like Jenni. Dr. Lopez and everyone in his office have been nothing but friendly, helpful and informative. I work downtown near the capital so the location of his office is also VERY convenient.

OK, this review is a long time coming. Dr. Lopez «fired» me as a patient over a year ago.
Basically, his assistant took a really long time getting ultra-​high tech x-​rays of my teeth. It was frustrating, but I bore with it and was cooperative. When Dr. Lopez came in to see me, he tapped at my teeth very briefly and announced that I had a cavity. I was surprised at this, because I’ve only had one cavity in my life. Then I realized that I hadn’t seen him look at the X-​rays at all. I guess I was a little suspicious, because the previous visit he downright told me that I didn’t have «real» health insurance, it was a discount plan and that he didn’t make any money off of me for regular check ups. (I am a state employee, so I guess the State of Texas doesn’t offer real dental insurance?!) So when I asked him how he knew I had a cavity, he got defensive. He called me up later and said that he’d tried to be really open and communicative with me, but that it just wasn’t working out. So… that was definitely a first after years of regularly going to many dentists… This dentist broke up with me!
I have gone to two other dentists since (both are fine) and guess what… neither of them have found any cavities.
Yes, Dr. Lopez seems really nice at first and has a nicely remodeled «spa,» but I don’t like his practice and would never recommend him.

Bocca Dental Spa has not been good experience so Far. First of all they will provide an extensive color diagram of your teeth via extrays of some type with a final color copy that looks like a cartoon. This was an expensive process which costing me alot and was just a waste.. You still have to get the typical xrays to verity any problems with your teath.
But most importantly, Billing is just a nightmare. After carfully reviewing the costs… it turns out I was being over charged by over $ 500.00. So I forewarn you… check VERY CAREFULLY your bills and always carry them when you return to Bocca Dental spa if you choose to use Dr. Lopez for your dentist. You will need to varify all the costs. The billing is so complicated. the average person would just let it go since it doesnt make sence. My advice… just go to another doctor.

I am in shock to read these other negative reviews.
Just moved here and asked for a recommendation on Dentists and was referred to Dr. Lopez and his staff by a trusted co-​worker. Aside from it being a very calm and beautiful environment (which does matter when you are at the Dentist and I appreciate), they have it right where it really counts: the staff and the Doctor are impeccable with explaining everything.
Who wants to pay for something or have a dental procedure done without truly understanding what is being done? I am not sure how the other people think they were lied to. Everything Dr. Lopez recommended was explained in front of the photos took of my teeth. He really took the time to give me thoughtful, easy-​to-​understand recommendations.
Furthermore, the hygienist and the other assistant took the time to explain everything they were doing in the cleaning, being very courteous and careful every step of the way, continually asking me if anything hurt.
I’m recommending them to everyone.

Went there a couple months ago to get my teeth cleaned and checked. Dr Lopez was very helpful and showed me things on the video camera of my teeth while i was sitting there, like 2 cavities i had no idea about! He told me a few things i need like a night guard because i grind but he explains and shows me why which shows me that he isn’t just trying to rip me off and get my money. The staff is great and the front desk young man is very pleasant to speak with. Dental Hygienist is very sweet and you can tell loves her job, Overall i would rate this a great business and will be returning! It is a not unreasonably expensive, he is honest and will tell you if you really need something though which could get expensive but better paying for it now then later.
Good Location and a Great Staff!

Dr. Lopez seemed nice. I could care less about the ambiance who thinks going to a dentist is like going to a luxury spa. I work for the state and I was under a DMHO plan. He went over my treatment plan and was going to charge me for the lab fee. According to his contract with ERS he is not supposed to do that. He refused to budge even after talking to Humana and I have to find a different dentist to do my crown work. I called today and asked if the office would send my Xrays. Get this they wanted to charge $ 44 for that. I think he cares only about the health of his wallet. It is too bad he was pleasant enough unfortunately his bottom line seems to be money. I do not recommend him unless your rich.
I got a response back from Dr. Lopez,. He came up with some explanation about how complicated insurance can be. The fact is he agree to not charge lab fees for clients who are under the state DMO. I have since gotten under a PPO and a different dentist. The fact is Humana DMO talked with him and he refused to abide by the terms they had and I had to find a different dentist. Maybe someone under a PPO plan would fare better with him. It just spells of greed to me.