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John R Cole, DDS

General Dentist

4.6 out of 5.0
303 Ratings, 93 Comments

Dr. Cole’s Biography

Dr. John Cole is a friendly, detail-oriented dentist who values patient-centered care and clear communication. He joined Willamette Dental for its ethical approach and supportive, team-driven environment.

Dr. Cole discovered his passion for dentistry during a service trip to Vietnam, where he assisted in providing care in remote villages. He especially enjoys helping patients feel comfortable—taking time to listen, explain treatment options, and ease dental anxiety.

One case he’s particularly proud of involved coordinating care for a patient who had undergone radiation therapy and believed she couldn’t receive treatment. Through collaboration with her medical team, Dr. Cole helped her safely get the care she needed.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Cole enjoys walking the greenbelt, playing guitar, and tabletop gaming. He’s also a first-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, a discipline he’s studied for over 12 years.


Education

  • Dental School – University of the Pacific Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry

Specialty Training

  • Cultural Sensitivity Training

Languages Spoken

  • English

Patient Experience Survey Results

Our patient rating scores represent an average of all responses from actual Willamette Dental patients randomly surveyed by nationally-recognized patient experience firm, NRC Health.

Learn more about our patient reviews
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Patient Comments

Patient comments are gathered from our NRC Health Patient Experience Survey. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Learn more about our survey

Nov 29, 2025

5

Very prompt appointment. The hygienist and the dentist both did a great job and were both professional and cool. Great experience.

Nov 22, 2025

5

Thank you Dr Cole!

Nov 21, 2025

5

Got me an appt quickly, addressed my issue and put me at ease

Nov 18, 2025

5

A very positive experience all around. One suggestion. On the treatment summary it would be nice to be able to note trouble areas that need extra hygiene attention. I was told by the provider but I can't exactly take notes while in the chair.

Nov 10, 2025

5

Top notch service and exceptional resolutions

Nov 10, 2025

5

Thank you all. I've got huge dental anxiety and you were great to me.

Nov 10, 2025

5

They are very professional 10.

Nov 2, 2025

5

Excellent, excellent, awesome, fantabulous. It was the most awesome experience I have ever had. Oh my gosh, I want to get married. Ho, ho, my kids are so wonderful.

Nov 1, 2025

5

As usual, the staff was amazing and efficient.

Oct 27, 2025

5

Very friendly and helpful staff. They made sure we were comfortable and my kids games to play while we waited.

Oct 29, 2025

5

Great People and experience!!!

Oct 25, 2025

5

My experience with John Cole was a much better experience than my last two dental sessions. I do consider that he had good news to give me about my teeth and Gumm condition because it has improved. However, I just liked John's warmth and his communicability to me as the patient.

Oct 18, 2025

5

Pleasantly surprised. Great experience overall

Oct 18, 2025

5

Thank you.

Oct 7, 2025

5

Dr John Cole and his assistant Max were just wonderful . They were patient with me when I had a little problem, they took time to make sure I was comfortable while proceeding with the procedure. I was very nervous no one likes to get a tooth pulled but they worked together smoothly and efficiently and gently I didn't even feel when the tooth came out. I have told everyone about my experience with Dr Cole and Max. And recommend them highly.

Oct 4, 2025

5

Good experience. All were very kind and thoughtful and thorough

Sep 30, 2025

5

I felt at ease with Dr. Cole My first vist to the dentist in 2 years. I'm confident I'm in good hands. And the staff we very welcoming.

Sep 20, 2025

5

Staff was nice ? maybe just more kids stuff

Sep 15, 2025

5

All the workers there are very kind and attentive and they respond very well. Thank you very much for your good work.

Sep 15, 2025

5

Everyone was super friendly and made sure I understood what I needed to know

Sep 13, 2025

5

Love Dr Cole!!!

Sep 10, 2025

5

Very nice this time

Aug 30, 2025

5

I had a wisdom tooth removed,it was pretty much painless,I was very pleased.

Aug 24, 2025

5

I was treated promptly when we called for replacing a lost filling. I was very grateful for the willing and kind help!

Aug 11, 2025

5

Excellent experience

Aug 10, 2025

5

Loved the friendly staff who were all patient with my dental anxiety!

Aug 9, 2025

5

Great visit with my hygienist and enjoyed meeting the new dentist!

Aug 9, 2025

1

Waited 1 15min hours and took only 15min for the doctor to check

Aug 8, 2025

5

I appreciate the staff's friendliness and professionalism. They knew what they were doing. The pain in my tooth has gone from about an eight to about a three. I look forward to its getting even better.

Aug 8, 2025

1

they were rude and did not fix my tooth that I have been having problems with for years and every time I say anything about the it gets dismissed and I get told do you want a hole new assessment on my teeth so no I did not have a good experience and there is more but to much to type

Aug 7, 2025

5

Yes, I really appreciated the provider's knowledge and his honesty in trying to diagnose my issue. Very professional, very friendly, and would definitely recommend.

Aug 4, 2025

5

All of the staff at Willamette go out of their way to provide excellent service. We've been going there at least 20 years. I will not go anywhere else.

Aug 1, 2025

5

Just all around positive experience

Jul 30, 2025

5

Visiting the Boise Willamette Dental is always quick and friendly.

Jul 30, 2025

5

Dr Cole is the best dentist I have ever had I was ready for pain when they were pulling my molars and I had none if I had a little bit of pain I told Dr Cole and he made sure that I had none he took his time he was patient he explained everything and his assistant was just as good he is my dentist from now on I'm not going anywhere else but to him he is excellent Willamette Dental is so lucky to have him on their staff

Jul 21, 2025

5

Every interaction we had with the Willamette staff was more than positive. Everyone made my daughter extremely comfortable.

Jul 21, 2025

4

The people in the Boise Office are very friendly and helpful. But seam to be under staffed. The wait time to get in for services is entirely too long!

Jul 20, 2025

4

I really appreciate the availability of 7 am appointments. It was unfortunate my appointment was much further out date wise than I was hoping but I understand that it's busy

Jul 14, 2025

5

Both Dr Cole and hygienist Tony are amazing. I was frusreated with willamette until this appointment.

Jul 2, 2025

5

The entire staff was friendly and professional, from check-in through check-out.

Jun 30, 2025

5

While coming in to the office in pain thinking that my bad tooth was going to be taken care of, it was disappointing top find out that it was only going to be a consult and I would have to leave and endure the pain for another month.

Jun 30, 2025

5

Dr. Cole has always been great at explaining the course of action and has responded to my every need. He's fantastic.

Jun 29, 2025

5

Very good!

Jun 28, 2025

5

Staff was helpful, kind and knowledeable.

Jun 27, 2025

5

Everyone was friendly and polite. I loved how they explained everything to me

Jun 23, 2025

5

For me, going to the dentist is an experience that is most akin to visiting the Capitol from the Hunger Games. Everyone is pretending to be too happy to be there, their teeth are terrifyingly white and their spray tans are terrifyingly dark, and eventually someone hits you with radiation and sticks their hands in your mouth. So, I genuinely appreciated that the people I interacted with had a measured energy level for 7 am, tried and mostly succeeded to pronounce my name correctly, didn't talk to me like I am 8 years old, cleaned my teeth in a normal amount of time, and talked to each other like they were human beings. Special appreciation to the sweet angel receptionist (didn't get her name), Cody the hygienist who had Josh Segara vibes (respectfully, look it up) and Dr.Cole, who is enough of a real human being to suggest I should name my still persisting baby tooth "Astrid." Strange, but fun. In summary, the staff was chill, the vibes were chill, and while I still had to have x-rays and hands in my mouth, it was all very proffesh. 10/10

Jun 23, 2025

5

Very professional and educational

Jun 22, 2025

5

It was an educational experience, also fun too. The people I had working on me were nice and knowledable. The secretaries were the same.

Jun 21, 2025

5

Great experience!

Jun 20, 2025

5

Everyone was friendly and welcoming

Jun 19, 2025

5

John and Mary are the best team. I have some challenges and they was patient and kind.

Jun 16, 2025

5

Everyone was Great.

Jun 14, 2025

5

The positive atmosphere among staff was evident from the moment I walked in. I appreciated all the staff I interacted with during my visit.

Jun 11, 2025

5

The staff are always very friendly and cordial. I do not have anything negative to say besides I wish they took cash still.

Jun 6, 2025

5

Experience was very good. Not a fan of promotion of the current gender ideology, but the dentists and hygienists are all competent and great to be around.

Jun 2, 2025

5

Everyone is so nice and friendly. Thank you.

May 31, 2025

5

They were great to work with

May 26, 2025

5

Professional and friendly. Definitely difficult to find but it worked out.

May 19, 2025

5

Everyone was very kind and helpful.

May 12, 2025

5

This is my 3rd or 4th times at the clinic and experience is getting better every time. Excellent people here.

May 11, 2025

5

Thank you for such good service!

May 10, 2025

5

I had beautiful care...from my initial call through my dismissal. Thank you! You all truly care for each other and us patients! Nice!

May 1, 2025

5

Hi, I'd like to say I really appreciated the care I received from Amber at the front desk who was so very, very friendly and calm and competent to Linda, the dental assistant, who was so very, very friendly, reassuring, listened to everything I said, did what I asked of her. She was the best. And for Dr. Cole, I was very impressed with his manner, his professionalism, his making sure I understood what I needed to do after the surgery. I would definitely recommend Dr. Cole, the dental assistant, Linda, and of course, the representative, Amber, who makes you feel so welcome when you walk in the door. Thank you so much.

Apr 28, 2025

5

First time back to a dentist in almost 20 years and I was extremely happy with how it went. Great staff and made it very pleasant!

Apr 28, 2025

5

Thank you!

Apr 27, 2025

5

Dr Cole was very kind. After telling him that I had high anxiety being there, he was very patient and kind. It was a painless visit.

Apr 27, 2025

5

Everything from start to finish was seamless! All the staff were very friendly and helpful and I really appreciated the transparency of the last at the front desk. I really felt the staff were genuine and cared about my oral health.

Apr 22, 2025

5

New dentist. He seemed knowledgeable and detailed. Nice and calm.

Apr 21, 2025

5

100% of staff very kind

Apr 21, 2025

5

Dr. Cole was very nice, approachabe and sincere. He gave me my options & did what had to do in good time. Thank you to both his awespme assistant & Dr.

Apr 19, 2025

4

Everyone was friendly and helpful it was a great experience. I am usually apprehensive at a dental appointment, but felt more comfortable because everyone was professional, informative and friendly.

Apr 4, 2025

5

Great experience. Very helpful and friendly.

Apr 5, 2025

2

I got a filling, and it cracked the tooth. Took a week to get in for them to not fix the tooth pain. Had to schedule another three weeks out to get the crown on the cracked tooth. Called a few days after the appointment, to try and get in sooner and was told I couldn't get in sooner to get the crown on the tooth. The pain has been hindering my life and work.

Apr 4, 2025

5

Great people, great place! I'm so happy we changed to Willamette Dental.

Mar 30, 2025

3

Temp crown fell of on day 2

Mar 28, 2025

5

I thought that the service provided was excellent! Best team environment I have ever experienced!!! Great job!!!

Mar 24, 2025

5

Amazing staff and amazing service.

Mar 16, 2025

5

I appreciated the ongoing communication throughout the checkup

Mar 9, 2025

5

I had a wisdom tooth extracted and was impressed how well the procedure went. Great staff and provider.

Mar 2, 2025

5

Friendly & shared options & it was a shorter visit then I expected. Thank you

Mar 2, 2025

4

Introducing himself as the dentist and saying hello before examine would had been helpful since I had never met him before. All others were very relational polite and confirming in checking to see how I was doing.

Feb 28, 2025

5

Very caring respective and pleasant experience. Grateful!

Feb 27, 2025

5

Very happy we chose this dental office and everyone who works in the Boise office is amazing!!

Feb 24, 2025

5

I had a great experience. The dental hygienist was very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Dr Cole spent time going over my exam and did not recommend unnecessary treatment. He explained what teeth were would be watching for any problems in and what to look for. I am very pleased with the group.

Feb 24, 2025

5

The receptionist was absolutely incredible. She made me laugh and totally took the nerves away.

Feb 24, 2025

5

Very friendly folks working kept my child at ease. Not overly chatty, though.

Feb 21, 2025

5

Everyone I saw was super friendly and provided excellent service.

Feb 19, 2025

5

The staff are always friendly and professional. My hygienist is great, I have had the same person for years. She is very knowledgeable, friendly and caring. As I am very nervous in any dental setting, she really puts you at ease.

Feb 19, 2025

5

Amazing amazing work by both the hygienist and the dentist. They were so careful, gentle and helped my son to explain his first cavity.

Feb 15, 2025

5

This was my second appointment with this office. I raved about my first visit. This was amazingnas well. The moment I walked in the door I was greeted warmly. I was a few minutes late for my appointment and was expecting that to be mentioned but it was not. That made me really happy. Everyone else throughout the appointment were very pleasant and took the time to ask questions andexplain thoroughly. I was even walked to the front desk after the appointment. I will continue to be a Willamette Dental Boise happy customer. I hope you give them a chance for your Dental needs.

Feb 14, 2025

5

Another visit where I felt listened to, my anxieties taken seriously, and everything communicated in a way that I understood. Bedside manner by the dentist was positive and very profesional.

Feb 13, 2025

3

Because there are so few providers it takes a month to get in a see someone. By then the cavity has gone to root canal, or root canal to extraction. I had a pulpecromy, which was supposed to be followed by a root canal, but by the time it all came around it needed to be extracted. You just need more providers.

Jan 30, 2025

5

Everyone was very Friendly,, Including the office help

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