Are online dental reviews actually trustworthy?

Yes, in many instances. However, they shouldn't be your only source of information. Online dental reviews can help you understand other patients' experiences, but their reliability depends on where they're posted, how consistently they are published and what they actually say. Knowing what to look for (and understanding the limitations of reviews) can help you choose a dental provider with greater confidence.

What you'll learn in this article:

• Google and Yelp tend to be more credible than testimonials on a dental office's own website — and published research explains why.

• A flawless five-star rating across the board can be a sign worth questioning, not celebrating.

• Reviews can't tell you about a dental provider's clinical training, licensing or how they treat patients who feel anxious about dental care.

• A few specific patterns make it easy to tell a trustworthy review from one that isn't.

• If you'd like a professional opinion that goes beyond what any review can offer, schedule an appointment with your Aspen Dental provider for a personalized evaluation.

Not all dental review platforms are equally reliable

Reviews are more credible when they're harder to manipulate. Where a review appears matters almost as much as what it says.

Why Google may be more credible

Google reviews may provide a more balanced picture than testimonials posted on a dental office's own website. A 2022 study found that Google reviewers were far more identifiable and that dental practices had less direct control over reviews posted there.¹ Google also states that businesses cannot remove reviews simply because they are negative; reviews are eligible for removal only when they violate platform policies.³

Why reviews on a dental office's own website are different

Reviews on a dental office's website deserve a little extra context. Because the practice chooses which testimonials to publish, they don't show the full range of patient experiences. A 2022 study published in the British Dental Journal found that all 1,798 testimonials analyzed from dental practice websites were positive.¹ That doesn't mean the reviews aren't genuine. It means they reflect only the feedback the practice chose to display.

For a more balanced picture, compare website testimonials with reviews on independent platforms and look for consistent patterns rather than individual comments.

Red flags worth noticing

Most online reviews are genuine, but a few patterns deserve a closer look:

• Five-star reviews that all sound alike. Real patients describe their experiences in different ways. If many reviews use nearly identical wording or repeat the same details, they may not reflect independent experiences.

• Defensive responses to negative reviews. Every practice receives occasional criticism. Pay attention to how the office responds. Respectful, thoughtful replies often say more about a practice than the complaint itself.

• A sudden surge of glowing reviews. A large spike in positive reviews after a long period of little activity may deserve closer scrutiny. The Federal Trade Commission says businesses cannot offer rewards only in exchange for positive reviews, and reviewers must disclose incentives that could affect how readers judge their comments.²

• Reviews with few specifics. Comments that focus only on being "great" or "friendly" without describing the care can be less helpful than reviews that explain what actually happened during the visit.

Look for consistent patterns across many reviews rather than judging a practice by one or two comments. That's usually the most reliable way to get a balanced picture.

What reviews won't tell you

Even an honest five-star review reflects just one person's experience on one visit. Reviews rarely tell you about a provider's qualifications, continuing education, the technology an office uses or how the team cares for patients with dental anxiety. A positive experience is important, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

If you're choosing a new dental provider, use reviews as one piece of the puzzle—not the whole picture. A conversation with your dental provider about your needs, concerns and treatment goals can tell you far more than online reviews alone.

How to use reviews wisely

Read across multiple platforms rather than relying on one source, and pay close attention to how a practice responds to less favorable feedback; that response often says more than the original review. Use the overall impression as an initial filter, not a final decision.

Reviews can narrow your options. Your actual experience in the office tells you the rest.

Are online dental reviews actually trustworthy? FAQs

If you still have questions about reading online dental reviews or deciding how much weight to give them, these answers can help.

If a dental practice has no reviews at all, does that mean something is wrong?

Not necessarily. Newer practices, practices that recently changed locations or practices that simply haven't prompted patients to leave feedback may have few or no reviews. A lack of reviews isn't the same as a red flag. It just means you have less information to work with. In that case, it's worth relying more heavily on other signals, like how the practice answers your questions when you call or the details on their website about the provider's training and experience.

Is a higher number of reviews always better?

A larger number of reviews can provide more context than only a few, but volume alone does not prove that the feedback is accurate. Look at the overall rating, the details in the comments and whether similar themes appear across many reviews.¹

Should I trust reviews for specific procedures, like implants or dentures?

Yes, but with realistic expectations. Reviews can give you a sense of what the experience was like: how easy it was to schedule appointments, how well the treatment was explained and how patients felt throughout the process. They're much less helpful for judging the technical quality of the dental work, since most patients aren't in a position to evaluate it.

If you're considering implants, dentures or another major procedure, use reviews to understand the patient experience. Then talk with your dental provider about your specific needs, treatment options and what you can expect from your care.

Sources

¹Donnell, C.C., Iafrate, L.F. and Worthington, S.W. The 'five star' fallacy: an analysis of online reviews and testimonials of dental practices in Northern England. British Dental Journal, 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-022-4977-0

²Federal Trade Commission. FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking. https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking

³Google Business Profile Help. “Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile.” https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773