The House that Became a Dental Office. And How We Brought It Back to Life.
There's a dental office on Highway 153 that most people drove past for decades without ever seeing it.
Tucked behind overgrown trees and wrapped in untamed shrubbery, the building sat there quietly serving generations of Hixson families since the early 1970s. If you didn't already know it was there, you'd miss it entirely.
"I didn't know you guys were there." I hear that less and less these days. But when I first took over this Hixson dental practice, I heard it constantly.
A House, Not an Office
Before it was a dental practice, this building was someone's home. You can feel it when you walk in. The layout isn't a sterile grid of operatories; it flows the way a house flows. Rooms connect naturally. There's a warmth to the space that you don't get from a strip mall buildout.
Dr. Nick Wentz and Dr. Nina Verstrat built something special here over the decades. They weren't just treating teeth. They were woven into the fabric of Hixson. Families drove their kids here, and then those kids grew up and brought their kids. That kind of continuity doesn't happen by accident. It happens because a practice genuinely cares.
When they decided it was time to pass the torch, they wanted someone who would care as much as they did. Chattanooga's dental community isn't too big and isn't too small; a lot of people know a lot about everything. Through word of mouth and a few back connections, we found each other.
Walking In for the First Time
I'm the type of person who does extensive due diligence. I once waited years to buy a piano I really wanted. So when I first walked into this house-turned-office, I honestly didn't know right away if it was the one.
But I knew time was limited. The practice deserved someone who'd honor what had been built and carry it forward.
So I did the work. I talked to people. I learned about the community. I made sure I could be the right fit for the patients who'd trusted this place for three, four, even five decades. Becoming their new Hixson dentist was a responsibility I took seriously.
And then I said yes.
Fighting Back the Trees
The building had been loved, but it had also been neglected. Decades of overgrowth had taken over. The bushes were wild. The trees hadn't been pruned. Nature was really trying to reclaim the place.
I fought back.
We pulled out the overgrown bushes and planted new ones. We brought in fresh mulch. We added planters and started giving the building the curb appeal it deserved. And once the trees were trimmed back, something remarkable happened: people could actually see the place.
"I've driven by here for 20 years and never knew you were there."
Existing patients noticed too. After 30 or 40 years of coming to the same office, they appreciated seeing it freshened up. A practice like this becomes part of a family's culture, and seeing it revitalized felt like their own success. In a way, it was. As a Chattanooga dentist, I wanted them to feel proud of their dental home.
What's Next
We're not done. I want to add a flower garden. A vegetable garden, even. Imagine handing a patient fresh produce from the practice's own garden as they leave their appointment. That's the kind of place I want Brush House to be: still a home, just one that happens to have a dental chair in it.
Because at the end of the day, that's the whole point of the name. Brush House. A name I came up with back in 2021, five years before I ever owned a practice. Dental care should feel like home. That's been the vision from the beginning. This building just happened to already be one.
The Team
Most of the incredible team was already here when I took over. They're the reason the transition was seamless. They knew the patients. They knew the rhythms. They held everything together while I found my footing.
We've added a few people since then, rounding out the team and playing to each other's strengths. But the foundation was already strong. My job was just to build on it.
The Hixson Difference
I ended up in Chattanooga because I went to college at Southern Adventist University. I met my wife here, and she always wanted to come back. Coming from California (and before that, Michigan), Chattanooga felt like the Goldilocks zone. Slower than the coast. Warmer than the north. And Hixson specifically has a pace I love.
People here aren't in a rush. They want excellent care, and they want to know you. Word of mouth isn't just a marketing channel here; it's how the community works. Everyone knows everyone. And when they trust you with their smile, they take it personally.
I take that seriously. Every single person who walks through our door should feel like a VIP. They're not just patients. They're the reason this house-turned-office has been standing for over 50 years. As a Hixson dentist, that legacy means everything to me.
And I intend to keep it standing for another 50.
Dr. Gustavo Moretta Brush House Neighborhood Dentistry — Hixson, TN
Searching for a Hixson dentist who treats you like family? Schedule your visit to Brush House Neighborhood Dentistry today.
