diff --git a/fiftyone/core/collections.py b/fiftyone/core/collections.py
index 1ae796033b..6145c8d8b9 100644
--- a/fiftyone/core/collections.py
+++ b/fiftyone/core/collections.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 import warnings
 
 from bson import ObjectId
-from pymongo import InsertOne, UpdateOne, UpdateMany
+from pymongo import InsertOne, UpdateOne, UpdateMany, WriteConcern
 
 import eta.core.serial as etas
 import eta.core.utils as etau
@@ -9126,7 +9126,9 @@ def get_index_information(self, include_stats=False):
 
         return index_info
 
-    def create_index(self, field_or_spec, unique=False, **kwargs):
+    def create_index(
+        self, field_or_spec, unique=False, acknowledged=True, **kwargs
+    ):
         """Creates an index on the given field or with the given specification,
         if necessary.
 
@@ -9160,6 +9162,8 @@ def create_index(self, field_or_spec, unique=False, **kwargs):
                 :meth:`pymongo:pymongo.collection.Collection.create_index` for
                 supported values
             unique (False): whether to add a uniqueness constraint to the index
+            acknowledged (True): whether to wait and acknowledge index
+                creation
             **kwargs: optional keyword arguments for
                 :meth:`pymongo:pymongo.collection.Collection.create_index`
 
@@ -9238,10 +9242,17 @@ def create_index(self, field_or_spec, unique=False, **kwargs):
             # Satisfactory index already exists
             return index_name
 
+        # Setting `w=0` sets `acknowledged=False` in pymongo
+        write_concern = WriteConcern(w=0) if not acknowledged else None
+
         if is_frame_index:
-            coll = self._dataset._frame_collection
+            coll = self._dataset._get_frame_collection(
+                write_concern=write_concern
+            )
         else:
-            coll = self._dataset._sample_collection
+            coll = self._dataset._get_sample_collection(
+                write_concern=write_concern
+            )
 
         name = coll.create_index(index_spec, unique=unique, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/fiftyone/core/dataset.py b/fiftyone/core/dataset.py
index e4601ade8b..061286d070 100644
--- a/fiftyone/core/dataset.py
+++ b/fiftyone/core/dataset.py
@@ -21,7 +21,15 @@
 import cachetools
 from deprecated import deprecated
 import mongoengine.errors as moe
-from pymongo import DeleteMany, InsertOne, ReplaceOne, UpdateMany, UpdateOne
+from pymongo import (
+    DeleteMany,
+    InsertOne,
+    ReplaceOne,
+    UpdateMany,
+    UpdateOne,
+    WriteConcern,
+)
+from pymongo.collection import Collection
 from pymongo.errors import CursorNotFound, BulkWriteError
 
 import eta.core.serial as etas
@@ -322,6 +330,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._run_cache = cachetools.LRUCache(5)
 
         self._deleted = False
+        self._write_concern = None
 
         if not _virtual:
             self._update_last_loaded_at()
@@ -1172,14 +1181,22 @@ def stats(
 
     def _sample_collstats(self):
         conn = foo.get_db_conn()
-        return conn.command("collstats", self._sample_collection_name)
+        return conn.command(
+            "collstats",
+            self._sample_collection_name,
+            write_concern=self._write_concern,
+        )
 
     def _frame_collstats(self):
         if self._frame_collection_name is None:
             return None
 
         conn = foo.get_db_conn()
-        return conn.command("collstats", self._frame_collection_name)
+        return conn.command(
+            "collstats",
+            self._frame_collection_name,
+            write_concern=self._write_concern,
+        )
 
     def first(self):
         """Returns the first sample in the dataset.
@@ -7023,7 +7040,12 @@ def _sample_collection_name(self):
 
     @property
     def _sample_collection(self):
-        return foo.get_db_conn()[self._sample_collection_name]
+        return self._get_sample_collection(write_concern=self._write_concern)
+
+    def _get_sample_collection(self, write_concern=None) -> Collection:
+        return foo.get_db_conn().get_collection(
+            self._sample_collection_name, write_concern=write_concern
+        )
 
     @property
     def _frame_collection_name(self):
@@ -7031,10 +7053,15 @@ def _frame_collection_name(self):
 
     @property
     def _frame_collection(self):
+        return self._get_frame_collection(write_concern=self._write_concern)
+
+    def _get_frame_collection(self, write_concern=None) -> Collection:
         if self._frame_collection_name is None:
             return None
 
-        return foo.get_db_conn()[self._frame_collection_name]
+        return foo.get_db_conn().get_collection(
+            self._frame_collection_name, write_concern=write_concern
+        )
 
     @property
     def _frame_indexes(self):