The Short Answer
Patient-centered dental care means your treatment is planned around you: your health, your goals, your budget, and how comfortable you feel in the chair. In practice, that means you see what the dentist sees, you hear every reasonable option with its pros and limits, the least invasive treatment that will work comes first, and care can be paced around your schedule and insurance.
Plenty of dental offices say they put patients first. Our tagline at Precision Dentistry of Olympia is “Dentistry on Your Terms,” and this is what that looks like day to day.
You See What We See
Dr. Eric Xu uses an intraoral camera, so a cracked filling or a spot of decay shows up on the screen in front of you, not just in a chart note. Our digital X-rays use a lower dose of radiation than older film X-rays and come up right away, so we can go over them together during the same visit.
You Hear Every Option, Including the Conservative One
We practice conservative dentistry, which means saving as much of your natural tooth as we can and only doing what’s actually needed. When there’s more than one way to treat a problem, Dr. Xu explains each one, including its pros, its limitations, and what you can realistically expect.
A few examples of how that plays out:
- For most cavities, we use tooth-colored composite fillings, which need less drilling than silver fillings.
- When a tooth needs more than a filling but not a full crown, we often recommend an inlay or onlay to save more of the tooth.
- To replace a missing tooth, Dr. Xu generally prefers a dental implant over a bridge, because a bridge means reshaping the healthy teeth on either side.
Care Planned Around Your Budget and Schedule
Not everyone can, or wants to, do all their dental work at once. We can stage treatment so the urgent work comes first and the rest is spread out, which can also help you make the most of your insurance benefits each year. When it’s possible, Dr. Xu finishes treatment in a single appointment, so you spend less time in the chair overall.
If you don’t have dental insurance, our membership program covers your cleanings, exams, and X-rays for a yearly fee and takes 10% to 50% off many treatments. Patients paying out of pocket without insurance or a membership plan get 5% off.
Comfort When the Dentist Makes You Nervous
If dental visits make you anxious, let us know when you call. For some procedures, Dr. Xu may recommend sedation. One of our patients with a dental phobia describes her visit in the reviews below.
Your Mouth Is Part of Your Whole Body
Our approach is often called holistic or biological dentistry. In plain terms, we look at how your oral health, your diet, and the materials we use affect the rest of your body. Dr. Xu can review your diet and habits with you as part of our whole-body wellness care, and we choose mercury-free materials like composite for fillings and for replacing old silver ones.
Help When Something Goes Wrong
A broken tooth or a toothache won’t wait for your next cleaning. If you’re a new patient with a dental emergency, our emergency exam is $178 and includes any X-rays you need, and we’ll do our best to get you in right away. After hours, call (360) 995-0025 and leave a message. Dr. Xu reviews these messages and usually responds within a day.
What Our Patients Say
I have a really bad phobia of going to the dentist, but these guys were very understanding and their calm and warm personalities made for a comforting and pleasant environment…
I have a really bad phobia of going to the dentist, but these guys were very understanding and their calm and warm personalities made for a comforting and pleasant environment despite being at the dentist. They gave me a fuzzy blanket and made sure I was comfortable, telling me every step they were doing. I really appreciated the atmosphere, and even more so appreciated that there was no judgement from the dentist. He was genuine and kind. Thank you precision team!
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I had an excellent experience with Dr. Xu and the entire team at Precision Dentistry in Olympia. Dr. Xu was honest, straightforward, and thorough when explaining my treatment options…
I had an excellent experience with Dr. Xu and the entire team at Precision Dentistry in Olympia. Dr. Xu was honest, straightforward, and thorough when explaining my treatment options. I especially appreciated that he took the time to discuss different ways to approach my dental work, including breaking treatments into stages so I could make the most of my dental insurance benefits. The entire staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful. From the moment I walked in, I felt like I was being treated with genuine care and respect rather than simply being another patient. I highly recommend Dr. Xu and the team at Precision Dentistry to anyone looking for quality dental care, honest advice, and a staff that truly cares about their patients. I’m very glad I chose them!
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This is the first dentist I have been to that focuses on prevention of problems before they happen! Everyone here is so nice and they try really hard in order to make things work with my schedule!…
This is the first dentist I have been to that focuses on prevention of problems before they happen! Everyone here is so nice and they try really hard in order to make things work with my schedule! My teeth are very sensitive and the hygienist was extremely careful with my teeth – the best experience I have had so far from any dental clinic. I drive an hour just to go here! I would recommend them to anyone!!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you see children?
Yes. We're a family practice, and our membership program has a separate plan for children under 14 that covers two cleanings, two exams, fluoride, and X-rays each year. Our general and family dentistry page lists the services we offer.
How often should I come in for a cleaning?
Most adults come in twice a year. If you've been treated for gum disease, you'll likely need three to four cleanings a year, and our membership program has an Adult Perio Maintenance plan built around that schedule.
Can I come in for a second opinion?
Yes. If you've been told you need extensive work and want another look before deciding, we're glad to examine your teeth and tell you what we'd recommend.
See What Dentistry on Your Terms Feels Like
Call (360) 995-0025 or request an appointment. We’re open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 2728 Westmoor Court SW, Suite D, Olympia, WA 98502, and see patients from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and nearby communities.
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