Jim Root, DDS

Going to Dr. Root’s is like visiting a family friend. It has such a warm & cozy atmosphere (e.g. Sundance Film Festival posters decorate the waiting room) that it’s easy to forget you’re at a dentist’s office. The front desk ladies in particular are exceptional, sending friendly text reminders and greeting you like an old friend. If there was an award for Best Customer Service, they deserve it.
Don’t worry if you hardly visit the dentist, it’s a judgement-​free zone with really professional and kind staff. I received a thorough cleaning and exam for $ 100. And Dr. Root informed me that all the work a dentist at Manos De Cristo said I needed to have done was not necessary.
Glad to have this honest and caring business in Austin, Dr. Root’s is a godsend!

Best dentist ever… Even if you hate dentists! I’ve had a lot of creepy dentists, but this office is like visiting friends! Highly recommend especially for dog lovers! His dog is always there!

I’m actually really surprised that I haven’t already left this review, because I LOVE Dr. Root and his staff. As someone who has been plagued by dental and periodontal issues my whole life, it’s amazing to have a dentist that I truly adore, and trust, and look forward to going to.
I have two different experiences that I will attempt to quickly recount: first, was for myself, after YEARS of not going to the dentist (PRO LIFE TIP: GO TO THE DENTIST, OFTEN). I’ve always had gum and periodontal issues, but my gums had become excessively inflamed, and I could tell that something more serious was going on because one of my teeth was even loose. Dr. Root determined that I would need serious periodontal surgery done, which in the end basically saved that tooth (there was bone loss from my gum issues). Yes, it sucked. Yes, it was a ton of work. And yes, I now go to the dentist /​periodontist every three months. But Dr. Root really helped me get my oral health back on track, was honest and real with me, and there was absolutely no judgement or finger wagging. We just did what we needed to do to get everything taken care of, and I’m so grateful. AND, when the periodontist suggested I get veneers and I talked to Dr. Root about it, he explained that it would just be for cosmetic reasons and wasn’t necessary. So he really saved me thousands of dollars in the end, too.
The second experience is more immediate. My husband woke up yesterday in intense, agonizing pain. I called their office and they couldn’t get him in until Thursday morning, but the pain was so bad that I stupidly took him somewhere else that could see him right away. I won’t go into the details but they were HORRIBLE and did nothing to help him, and in the end completely misdiagnosed his problem. I called Dr. Root’s again practically in tears, and they did what they could and were amazingly able to squeeze him for a quick appointment early morning today. We went in and they discovered that my husband’s tooth is actually dying (which was completely missed by the other dentist — they said he had a «small cavity»), referred us to the correct place to have the work done, and got him a prescription for antibiotics and pain meds, all within and hour. Myself and my husband were so thankful to figure it out and to get some real help and true compassion, it was incredible.
I honestly don’t know if you could find a better dentist, in Austin or anywhere else. They’re also super affordable (we don’t have insurance) and just the nicest people in the world.
THANK YOU DR. ROOT!

I was so nervous about going to the dentist, as I haven’t been in two years and don’t have dental insurance, but Dr. Root and his staff are so wonderful! They are extremely friendly, don’t try to «find problems» and overcharge you, just a really genuine and caring team. I’m so grateful I found them and hope to come here for all future dental work while living in Austin.

I feel so lucky to have found such a great dentist! His staff rocks and his dog is so sweet! I don’t have dental insurance and dental work can get so expensive. Dr. Root is so reasonable and straight up, he never suggests work unless you really need it so you don’t have to worry about them padding the bill just to get more $ out of you. Honest, quick, quaility=Dr Roots Dentistry!

I love Dr. Root’s office! I had a dentist here in Austin that I ended up with primarily due to the convenient location (before the days of Unilocal and other helpful review sites). He wouldn’t send reminder postcards, which irritated me. Apparently the 47 cents a year per patient to ensure that they come back for your services was too hard on his pocketbook. He also wouldn’t let me go more than a year without Xrays. No matter what was going on in my mouth. I don’t care how safe they say it is, I’ve had relatives with brain cancer and I don’t want unnecessary Xrays. He still wouldn’t let me off the hook, even when I offered to sign a waiver that I declined Xrays. Sheer laziness kept me from finding a new dentist, even after his office moved further away.
I was recommended to Dr. Root by a friend and I’m so glad I switched dentists! A stellar cleaning job. Super-​friendly staff. Great location. An office dog! And yes, he sends you a reminder postcard (big spender!).

I was born and raised in Austin, and I’ve been going to Dr. Root’s place my whole life. Every experience I’ve had there has been great. My entire family sees him for teeth cleanings and dental work. The staff is always friendly and professional. Phillis, a dental hygienist there, is extremely personable and thorough in her work. Dr. Root is a chill guy who is always pleasant. He also recommended a great orthodontist to me when I requested one. This dental office is really special.

Awesome dentist!
I’ve been to more than my fair share of dentists over the years and was beginning to give up hope of finding an honest, professional dentist again.
Dr Root has renewed my faith in the profession. It seems there are still honest, professional dentists out there that provide a very high standard of work that doesn’t involve crowning every tooth in your mouth. It’s nice to know what I truly need done, as opposed to being sold on stuff that I don’t.
Fantastic office staff. All in all a very pleasant experience, I’m very glad I found him.

My new favorite dentist. His office is relaxing and his staff are excellent. He himself is disarmingly charming and thoroughly professional and deeply caring. Woo-​hoo!

Easy, affordable, and comfortable!
No lectures.
No talking to me while they are looking at my teeth.
Sunglasses for the bright light.
Friendly/​positive hygienist and staff.
Helpful dentist.
I hate calling to make appointments, but the woman on the phone was so positive and helpful that I immediately felt comfortable.
Overall the best dentist I’ve ever seen.

LOVE this place! I had been so sick and tired of getting dishonest dentists who constantly make things up just to get your money. The last dentist I went to told me I had 12 cavities. In disbelief, I looked for another dentist to get a second opinion. I saw some really good reviews about Dr. Root and he’s about 3 minutes from where I live (I’m a UT student) so I decided to try it out. I finally got some honesty and found out that I have ZERO cavities. I’m going in tomorrow for a cleaning, which I’m way past due for, and I’m actually looking forward to it. The staff is extremely friendly, especially Dr. Root! And for all your dog lovers, what drew me in the most is the office’s precious dog Joey. I’m a big dog person and he just made the visit to the dentist so much more enjoyable. He’s a sweet sweet dog with a big personality! This just goes to show how dog friendly Austin is! Anyway, aside from the adorable dog, I highly recommend Dr. Root and I’m so glad to have found a reliable dentist in Austin!

I would like to re-​award 5 stars to the people of Dr. Root’s office! I went back yesterday for a cleaning and I wanna tell you all about it. I would like to back up, however, and say that because of referrals I gave over the years, I received some amazing things in the mail in the past. What am I talking about? I’m talking about fantastic thank-​you notes and dog stickers! I love it! Why dog stickers? Well, because their office dog, Toby, is frankly a better dog than I’ve ever met and I’m betting he’s the reason for the canine theme. What a gem! Treats on hand for high-​fives in case you need one from a 4-​legged friend.
And now, the best of all. I was rewarded with a number of niceties yesterday:
1) A friendly hygienist to giggle with.
2) The most effervescent of office staff.
3) A stellar mouth report because of their advice. Read: I averted a cavity because of what they told me could be done! And it worked!!!
4) Oh yes, and a free visit. Wait, a WHAT?! A free visit for referrals! Hey, good deeds CAN go unpunished!
And now I advise thee, verily. Run, don’t walk. Get your butt in to the friendliest, most professional, laid back dentistry around!
I love you, Dr. Root’s Office!!!

This weekend I cracked a tooth and had to make an appointment. I didn’t want to use one of the warehouse-​like, mass-​dentistry clinics covered by my cheapo insurance, so I went to Unilocal to find a good alternative and decided on Dr. Root (Years ago, I went to a fancy dentist for free x-​rays and was told that I need about $ 10,000 in work. Dr. Root’s estimate, without insurance, was less than a tenth of that!). Luckily, I was able to bee seen within a few days due to a cancellation by another patient. The receptionist was super friendly and the dental assistant was great. Dr. Root diagnosed my problems quickly and gave me the option to wait until I was able to switch insurance plans this year. I elected to have a filing done, and the cash price was unbelievably reasonable. Moreover, I didn’t even feel the shots into my gums — not at all. I’ll be using Dr. Root as my dentist from now on, and will do so whether my insurance is accepted at his practice or not.
Best of all, the office dog is super sweet and really put me at ease.

Found Dr. Root from Unilocal,and all of the great reviews were right! Super nice guy, great office staff, and very accommodating and pleasant to deal with. Any dental office with a dog has to be good! Highly recommended and I will be going here for my future dental needs. I hate going to the dentist, but the comfort level and personal touch given here won’t make me fear coming back!

Dropped a star due to some billing problems. I can’t go into detail as I’m not sure exactly what the problem was, but they kept telling me I owed more money that I thought I should. Turns out they didn’t properly submit the insurance form or something like that. Unfortunately, it took nearly two months to figure this out, all the while I am getting overdue billing notifications. Only dropping one star because the place was still great service, but make sure you keep on top of everything once you leave too.

The minute you walk in you can feel that it’s just a pleasant atmosphere. Dr. Root, his staff, and Toby (the dog) are all just so welcoming and make the whole office experience enjoyable. I’ll definitely be going back!

I have been due for a dental exam and cleaning for some time now. I am so glad that choose Dr. Root. I currently do not have dental insurance so I was looking for a quality experience that was affordable. I called around to several dentists in the Central Austin area and most were in the upwards of $ 300 for an exam, cleaning, and x-​rays. I was pleasantly surprised to find Dr. Root for $ 140. The women at the front desk are warm and friendly. Phyllis, the dental hygienist, was super sweet and made me feel at ease. They have a dog named Toby that wanders the offices to make you feel more at home. It has a very relaxed and low key feel.
It took about 2 ½ weeks to get an appointment which was a little longer than I had hoped, but well worth the wait. For a routine exam, this is a great place.

I really really like Dr. Root. He’s affordable and honest. I was able to transfer my X-​rays from another dentist and avoid the cost of getting new ones. I came in with tooth pain and he tried the cheapest easiest way to fix it first, and it worked. About $ 50 and I was pain-free…compared to the potential $ 150+ it would have been at another dentist.
This is the best, most affordable place in Austin!

Go here!!!
My boyfriend and I do not have insurance, so looking for a dentist for a cheap price is not easy to come by. Thank god for Unilocal!
Even though they were completely booked, they managed to see my boyfriend (who was in Extreme pain) immediately. It only cost us $ 50.00! Jim Root saved us $ 200.00!

I hadn’t been to the dentist in over 3 years when i went to Dr. Root, and I was super-​nervous. Two of my co-​workers go to him and said great things, and I trust them. Still, I was worried.
Well, first of all, I had a little trouble finding the office, and the receptionist was so sweet when giving me last-​minute directions. She even offered to come out to the street to direct me (and it was really cold outside)! So from that moment, I knew it was good choice.
The office has a fun, relaxed feel, with funny posters all over the walls and big, fluffy dog that roams around. My hygenist was very nice and chatty, and she cracked a joke that my teeth didn’t have as much tartar as she expected after going three years without a cleaning. Dr. Root was also great to chat with and gave me sound advice. It would be a great place to take kids. Overall, a GREAT dental experience!