Realistic, transparent, quick to help with emergencies. Honest. I'm leaving this because on paper I had "no shows" that made it so they couldn't schedule me, but they took me back when I had pain after the work was done, and emailed me everything they billed insurance for. Good people all around. read more

Beware, they aren't honest about what work or procedures you need. They tried telling me I needed surgery for my 'receding gums' and also that I should get veneers. Before I knew it, they handed me a paper to sign to submit the charges for these procedures to my insurance. I said no and left. Went to a new dentist who said, no, I didn't need either of those things. When I first started going here, I had an unexpected root canal - later on, after all of this, on I started wondering if I ever even really needed it or if they just made it up. There are plenty of better dentists in the area that won't make you wonder whether you're getting scammed. read more

the dental hygienist was very rough and caused a lot of bleeding. She also missed a huge whole in my tooth which resulted in a larger cavity. The dental hygienist also recommended deep cleaning. I had a crown replaced and was immediately upsold to a "crown extender". I was told my insurance wouldn't cover the almost $1500 procedure. when I questioned and refused treatment the dentist became very upset with me. she also mentioned with a tone in her voice to two other dental assistants at separate appointments, because the first mold of the crown was not taken properly and then blamed on this so-called crown extender and this was why it was taking her so long to replace a crown. After 6 appointments to replace a crown and get a filling. the dentist did the filling last and without care she was rough, the assistant was rough with the suction instruments as well in my mouth and caused large chunks of skin to come off. Of course, after being shot with Novacaine more than 10 times. I only noticed after the appointment which they blamed me for having a lot of so-called bleeding. I've never had this problem in the dentist chair before. The back filling was left textured and uneven without care. then when I ask about the deep cleaning the dentist said she didn't want to do the extra paperwork (pre-written referral) because she didn't believe my insurance was going to cover it in a few months with the current government administration And it would be a waste of her time. Definitely would not recommend. read more

Firstly, the manager at the Cambridge office THREATENED ME WITH LEGAL ACTION for leaving a bad review, "We may consider listening to our legal team about their concerns and the need to take legal action as long as the review still exists on Google." It's not a surprise that they marked the Cambridge office as being closed on Yelp because of the number of 1 star reviews. My review was so critical because 2 out of 4 crowns I had placed fell out in less than a year. Not only did they refuse to make me a new one, they refuse to take accountability and repeatedly told me that they did nothing wrong. When I asked for the impression to go to another dentists, they refused to give it to me. A fail rate of 50% in less than a year is not a job well done. Since insurance won't cover the cost of another crown, they essentially said it's my problem now and they refuse to fix their $1,500 mistake. They did a terrible job and their treatment of me could not be worse. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Would not recommend this place to anyone looking for a dentist. After my first visit, I was told I needed a root canal and that my insurance would cover it early this year (2023). The person at the front desk pulled up my policy and told me this to my face. As a result, I renewed my insurance policy and called them to schedule the appointment. They now say my policy does not over a root canal and the person on the phone told me it is my responsibility to know my policy. Agreed. But they still told me to my face that I'm good to go and I spent $1K on my policy only to be told Avalon made a mistake and I'm on the hook for $1K. Terrible customer service on the phone, left me in debt. read more

this for for the cambridge site it was horrible the woman receptionist was rude. the dentist did take out the tooth that needed extracting but no one gave me aftercare instructions or gauze. the same receptionist never asked if i would cone back for another service the best thing about the visit was the young lady who assisted the dentist thank you young lady find another office read more

I've been going to Avalon Dental Center in Somerville for almost 2 years after a filling fell out. I have had a root canal and crown, as well as several fillings replaced which I destroyed from grinding my teeth. It has been over a year since the root canal and 6 months since my last filling. My overall opinion is that the work and Dr. Bains' recommendations are very good and that she has your long term dental health in mind. One of the replacement was for another filling done a year prior at Great Hill Dental in Somerville. At first, I wanted to delay the filling, since I had just done it. Dr. Bains and her staff took color pictures and showed me the decaying edges. I really appreciate the transparency and the time Dr. Bains and her staff take to explain the work that needs to be done. The root canal was done at the Cambridge office and the crown placement and fitting was done in Somerville. Both seem to be holding up really well. The fit of the crown was perfect from the beginning and quite a lot of work goes into that. Dr. Bains also has great time management, which I see as an indication of skill. read more

I had a cap and a root canal on one of my back teeth - The procedure went well and my comfort was ensured throughout. I couldn't have asked for a more helpful and honest staff. read more

I have been waiting now 6 weeks for the RETURNED phone call/email from office manager. I've had to suffer while waiting. Also I've gotten 2nd/3rd opinions that completely disagree with them. And they LOST my stuff I paid 3,000 for. The WORST part is they DIDNT care, alologize nothing.I'm unfortunately STUCK because of my insurance. And if I had known what I know now I would be spoken up. I doubt I'll receive ANYTHING back. Very frustrating and not right. Very let down by them. And this in regards to CAMBRIDGE office. They DIDNT send letter/ aware patients "they no longer carry Mass Health". I only found out because I CALLED THEM. And when I asked receptionist "well they lost my stuff, I have to start all over and now you don't carry my insurance what am I going to do?". Her response was "Well I know they do payment plans". Um.....noooooo I ALREADY PAID $3,000 just to be uncomfortable and in pain daily, and NO END RESULT. I found out Somerville still does. And I'm dreading going. YOU SHOULD DO BETTER AND WANT BETTER FOR PATIENTS. AND NOT ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY.AND NOT MAKE THEM FEEL BAD, IF THEY DISAGREE. ALSO THEY SEEM TO ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY. AND NEVER SEEM TO ACTUALLY OWN UP TO WRONG DOING ON THEIR PARTS UPDATE NO RETURNED CALL AFTER I CALLED TWICE read more

I'm a newer patient (2016) but this review is well overdue. Everyone here is so kind, friendly, and understanding that I was genuinely surpised to see negative reviews of this place. I'll run thru some of my experiences at this office: 1. My first cleaning in years, performed by Ana who was so sweet and talked me through the whole thing. Turned out I had a few cavities so I had to come back for 2 subsequent visits which I was not happy about, but I figured if the dentist were anything like Ana I'd be fine. 2. I was so scared going into the office to get the cavities filled, but everyone cheered me on and assured me everything was gonna be okay. Dr. Bains' bedside manner was impressive and comforting. She was patient and talked me through the painful bits. 3. Second trip to finish off the fillings and I actually wasn't dreading it. I also picked up a night guard because I aggressively grind my teeth in my sleep. It cost a lot and tbh I'm still not convinced it's better than a pharmacy version but I try not to think about it too much haha. I hope this review helps others who are thinking about coming here--you should do it! Also on a more practical note: the receptionist Karima is super kind and helpful in terms of scheduling. She even texts me instead of calling per my request read more

Came into Avalon Dental Somerville for my check up and cleaning. Shannon was amazing. very Informative, funny, nice & she was gentle when she cleaned my teeth. The place itself is very cleanly and the staff is very nice. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone. read more

I love Dr. Bains and the whole Avalon staff! They are so friendly and kind, and make the process of visiting the dentist so pleasant. When it comes to treatment, they are diligent in explaining what needs to be done and why. I especially appreciate that they explain payments, co-pays and what my insurance will cover. I've since moved away from Somerville since I started coming here, but I still make the trip back here. It's worth it. Highly recommend! read more

I absolutely love the staff at Avalon dental (especially this location). Not only are the hours and location convenient for me, the staff at this location are amazing! I dread going to the dentist but the ladies here are so helpful and friendly it makes every experience a lot more comfortable. I trust them so much that I went and had a my first ROOT CANAL! (that I have been putting off for a while because of fear) I've been wanting to fix my smile for a while and with an up coming wedding I'll have my pearly whites for my big day and I have the staff at Avalon Dental to thank for that! read more

I saw Dr Shuster and she was extremely pleasant. The entire experience was very smooth and professional. From the moment I walked into the office, the staff were very nice. I had a cleaning by Saira and she was extremely thorough, yet gentle. On another occasion I got fillings done with Dr Shuster as well as a night guard... I can finally sleep without grinding! Would definitely recommend. read more

I would give them 10 stars if I could. Let's see, first I called and spoke to Ben on the phone who was absolutely delightful to speak with. I went in for my appointment, and had professional care by assistant Katerina. Dr. Misculin explained everything to me. I needed 3 crowns to be done in order to save my teeth. I am very grateful to Dr. Misculin for providing a good care of me. It was 3 appointments altogether and every time I came I did't have to wait a minute! My doctor took me just-in-time which is a great benefit for me. Like I said, I would recommend this place without hesitation. These guys are professional! read more

Came here for my wisdom tooth removal. Dr. Ofir was friendly and very compassionate, he made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. He did EXCELLENT work! The staff is friendly and very helpful as well. I'm beyond happy that I've found a place so accommodating! Would recommend this dental office to everyone! read more

Dr. Bains is the best! I just finished getting a root canal and crown. Dr. Bains and the Avalon Dental staff made the process go smoothly and even enjoyable. I'm extremely happy with the service, especially from the financial director, Karima. She walked me through financial logistics and made sure I understood every step of the process. Would highly recommend! I'm even excited to come back for my next cleaning. read more

After what I affectionately call "the incident" (an event that involved my husband, a frozen piece of chocolate, a loud crack and a lot of blood), my beloved went here to get post-emergency care for what turned out to be a baby tooth. He said they were so fun. This after getting really bad news, and a lot of pain, still said they were "fun". I went in for a cleaning -something I was.....maybe 6 years overdue for? I hadn't laughed so hard in years. I ended up going through invisilign with Avalon, and called each treatment "me time". I'm a stay at home mom so every time I went, I was alone, laughing, talking, and having a good time. AT THE DENTIST. Context matters. I had excellent care, excellent attention, and my face doesn't look weird anymore because my teeth are (for the first time in my 34 years) straight. My two year old loves coming here, too! read more

This is a great dental facility! The reception desk was very helpful as soon as I walked in. Before I even had my appointment, Caroline at the front desk found my insurance information for me when I misplaced my card--awesome of her, saving me a phone call to mass health. The technician who cleaned my teeth & did my xrays was fantastic, quick yet thorough & gentle. She did a great job explaining the water pic to me. She was friendly and informative. The dentist was very clear explaining the work I needed to have done. He's conservative as far as invasive procedures which I appreciate. I need two extractions, and the office offered to give them to me later that day--if I did not have a previous appointment I definitely would have taken them up on it. I appreciated the promptness with which they were willing to see me. As I was leaving and scheduling my next appointments, my boyfriend inquired about their rates for a cleaning if you don't have insurance. Seems it's usually $100 but they are running a special for $69. If you need a cleaning or any dental work, I recommend this office! They were great from beginning to end! Definitely go above & beyond for their patients :) read more

I'm really picky with my dentists. I need the office to be well organized and professional. I don't want to be sold (or scared into) unnecessary treatments. And I absolutely need the work to be well done. I've had problems with all of the above at various offices in the past. So when I moved to the Boston area - with the additional stress of being without dental insurance - I was worried about starting over with the whole dental "vetting" process. I chose Avalon because the front desk went out of their way to answer questions about my short-term dental coverage (conclusion: I didn't have any). Other highly-rated offices had brushed me off as if I were a street urchin or something*. Dr. Bhatt was my dentist. I already knew that I had a few cavities and I informed her that I would be without insurance until my new job started in a few months. I wanted to have the highest-priority cavities filled and wait until my insurance kicked in for the remainder. I really appreciate that Dr. Bhatt understood this and gave me her professional opinion about which ones could wait. Other places would have tried to pressure me into getting them all filled ASAP or talked to me condescendingly about the process of tooth decay (Did I mention that I hate finding a new dentist?) Anyways, I got one filling which was painless and quick. So, Avalon-Somerville is my new dental office. It fulfills all my criteria and as a bonus, the staff is really friendly too. *although, really, a street urchin should not be treated rudely either read more

I had a nice experience with the staff and the hygienists for my cleaning. I was told I had to come back to have three filings renewed, as I left the office I went to schedule the next appointment and they charged me 331 dollars for the three fillings that I had not yet received. When I asked if it is typical that they charge for services not yet rendered the office manager said "yes, this way on that day the doctor can focus complete on your service"....that did not make a whole lot of sense to me, but I paid the bill. When I got home I realized that the receipt they gave me was not itemized, which made me very nervous. After seeing other reviews about problematic billing issues, I am hopeful that I do not get swindled.....slightly nervous going back for my fillings in a week. read more

Horrible experience. Messed up my appointments and charged me anyway. Fraud charges ongoing. Dont go!

This Dentist is ripping off Insurance companies as well as patients! Don't go here unless you like throwing $$ away!! I was originally going to pay for a Root Canal myself for a total of $3K. I had a few red flags go up when Katerina and Dr. Ofir had extensive conversations around money and scheduled several separate appointments to discuss. It started to get a little "time-sharey" when they both at different times started filling out a Care Credit app on line for me and asking me directly what assets and credit cards I had available to use. Shortly after this I got a job that paid 80% of my Endontics (root canals). When I went in and gave them my new ins. info they insisted it was invalid and I wasn't covered. I made a quick call and informed them that I had Delta Dental of Maryland/PA. They didn't even seem to know that they could call anyone besides Delta Dental of MA or that they even existed!! No apologies or explanations. They then handed me a handwritten page with three numbers on it - the total cost, the amount my insurance covered and my portion $1K! When I told them that 20% of $3K is $600 they just repeatedly stated, more slowly each time as if I was dumb, that THIS was the number I had to worry about and "don't worry about the other numbers on the page"! When I called my ins co to verify my coverage they suggested I have Avalon submit a Pre Treatment Estimate. My request was time-sensitive. As I had discussed repeatedly with Avalon, I get $2,500 per year of covered costs after which it's all out of pocket. Since I need three root canals I'm looking at significant out-of-pocket expenses and need all the insurance coverage I can get, planning on using the $2,500 from this year and the $2,500 from next year. I called Avalon several times following up about the estimate but was brushed off with "it can take a long time to get an estimate" each time. I brought my son in for an appt. at the end of November and again inquired about the estimate. Dr. Ofir happened to be at the desk and pulled out the handwritten estimate, expIaining it slowly. I informed Dr. Ofir firmly that I was a financial analyst, that I quite understood what they were saying and that the number was just wrong! Dr. Ofir threw up his hands and exclaimed that "We've got to get this resolved" making me feel pressured to still pay that $1K. About a week after this appointment I received a call from Katerina. She said that they had received the estimate and that my co-pay was, in fact, $600. I paid over the phone and scheduled the RC for two days later. I found out later they hadn't requested the estimate until December 3... right after I spoke with Dr. Ofir!! They received it in a week!! When I got to Avalon I was brought back and seated in a dental chair. A lady was hanging around - I found out eventually she was the endontist. At first she said there was a booking issue but as time wore on she said there was a financial issue and she couldn't start until she was authorized. I thought "you've got to be kidding me"! and left the chair for the front desk. Katerina came over to me and tried to take me into a "back office" to talk about money saying "it's good news for you"! I'd had it with money discussions and told her there was no reason to go to a back room - why couldn't we deal with finances at the front desk?? She then presented me with the "Pre-treatment Estimate". It was from the wrong Delta Dental, said right on top that there was "no such subscriber" and indicates that the client is responsible for the entire payment. When I pointed this out she became confused and stated "Why did you tell me it was Delta Dental of New Jersey" I informed her that I certainly did not and that before we discussed anything else I wanted copies of the original quote and the estimate. She refused. Meanwhile the Endontist (still hanging out in the hall doing nothing) chimed in argumentatively saying "She's just trying to do her job". I then said I didn't feel comfortable having the procedure while the money wasn't right and due to the involvement of the Endontist in sticking up for Katerina. Before this was decided Katerina had presented me with a third piece of paper... another hand written estimate that she claimed was the "new" "real" quote. After returning twice I was able to get my hands on the NJ Estimate, which gives the Delta Dental negotiated pricing for the root canal, which was not $2,950 but closer to $2,650. I've confirmed with Delta they are FRAUDULENTLY charging over the Delta negotiated rate and billing me for my co-pay plus the difference between their illegal over-pricing and the "negotiated rate" they're supposed to use. To add insult to injury, I received a letter from Dr. Misculin firing me from the practice! Get rid of the whistleblower!! Delta Dental has advised that I report this attempted shake-down to their Fraud Dept., the MA Attorney General's office and the ADA! BEWARE!! read more

I've been going to the for possibly five years now.Absolutely the best.Everyone is so nice and understanding. I am petrified of dentist and when I go there I'm at ease ,they're always checking up on me.Everyone there is always happy I drive 45 minutes just to go to that dentist read more

Everyone from the receptionist, to the dental hygienist, to the x-ray technician, to the dentist, to the office manager is so wonderful here! Especially Dr. Bains who is my all-time favorite dentist. I wasn't sure about x-rays and she came in to talk to me about it, listened to my concerns, and explained more about them- all with such expertise, and such genuine warmth and care. Then during the actual exam she continued to answer all of my questions and suggested helpful tweaks to my oral hygiene routine. Ana, the dental hygienist, is really skilled (she was attentive and gentle in the sensitive parts of my mouth) and is perhaps the sweetest human being on the whole planet. Finally, as I was leaving I said how grateful I was that they accepted MassHealth and Ben Offir, the office manager said with a smile: "Of course. But we don't view it as accepting MassHealth here... rather, we accept people. MassHealth is not a problem. Tooth decay is a problem. Gum disease is a problem." I haven't had any major procedures done here, only basic teeth cleanings, but I can say that the people who work here really care. Highly recommended. read more

Odd to be giving 4 stars to a dentists' office given my intense dislike of dentists in general. I started going to Avalon because of convenience about a year or 2 ago. I was in walking distance to them. I've continued going despite having moved recently. When I first started with them they were great. There was one little hiccup that deterred me for a bit (I went to their office for my appointment and they were closed. I was not late, the staff was). The clinic itself is very clean and well kept. All of the tools they use are removed from sterile packaging while i've been in the room which is nice to see/know (being a nurse I pick up on these things lol) Recently I've had to have a lot of work done on cavities. I've had a crown placed with them as well, which I have no complaints about. It looks great and the procedure for it was tolerable (i have pain issues) My recent trials and tribulations have been with Dr.Kovtun who has been excellent. He makes me laugh and keeps me at ease in an otherwise anxiety inducing situation. The last filling I had done, I was unfortunately able to feel much of the drilling etc despite several attempts to numb it with injected medication. (This is why I have always feared the dentist, since childhood-novocaine,marcaine, and of the -caines dont typically work on me.) He was very receptive to my facial expressions and noting when it appeared I could feel discomfort and did his best to prevent pain as much as possible. A week after the work, I was still very sensitive on the tooth and unable to chew on that side. They fit me in to be seen according to MY schedule, which was AWESOME! To be able to say "I work at this time, can't do this time" etc and have them work around it, great service! He took a look and worked a bit more and now I'm waiting to see if it'll heal and get better. Though I know if I have to go back again, they'll accomodate me. read more

Very happy with the service. My girlfriend went there for first visit. They put a lot of time with the cleaning - she got worked on by 2 of the dental personnel just for the cleaning and they spent a full hour on her. Secondly - full disclosure - since they found cavities they provided her with the cost upfront. My biggest problem with dentist is they never do that and sometimes even outright lie (I've had it on one occasion where I paid upfront and the dentist billed the insurance as well). Very happy and I myself am switching over to them! read more

I have nothing bad to say about this dentist office. I had a huge fear of going to the dentist before I came here and I mean HUGE! I had some awful experiences at other dentist offices. In the past I have feel I have been taken advantage of cost wise and the pain was unbearable! Ever since I have found Avalon Dental Center things have changed for the better, I went to this dentist office since it was close to my house not knowing anything about it and I'm glad I did. I am always welcomed warmly which helps with my fear. They work with my schedule since I am not always available. Dr. Katta is a great dentist, She knows her stuff! I am a wimp when it comes to pain and I have to honestly say I have never felt any pain during my dental procedures. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable! read more

I would recommencement this dentist to anyone. Today i had an emergency the office had no appt but still had me in to get my tooth pulled. dt Kovtun, is sweetheart and makes you feel at home read more

This was my first time coming into Avalon Dental Center, I called ahead due to the fact that I was running pretty late and they told me to come in anyway which was awesome. It happened to be the Hygienist's (Emily) first day, and she was awesome! Really sweet and friendly, she did an amazing job and kept me laughing and explained things to me and explained what she was doing, I actually felt a difference after the cleaning. The dentist then came in, told me I needed to fillings redone, then did them ten minutes later for me. Everyone in the office was so friendly and accommodating! From the receptionist, to the office manager, the dentist, and the hygienist, overall all awesome. Best dental experience I've ever had. read more

I did not have a dentist in the area and after breaking a tooth needed an emergency appointment. Avalon on Temple St was able to schedule me that day. I had an excellent experience--the staff were all very friendly and I was seen right away. I was very happy with the dentist (Dr. Bains) who was able to explain my situation and options in a simple yet informative manner. I am pleased with the result of my tooth repair. I now plan on using Avalon as my dental provider in the area. Would definitely recommend this office to others! read more

I brought our 4-year old daughter for a check-up and cleaning. I was a little worried as she didn't let the previous dentist do anything in her mouth. The hygienist Irina is super professional with kids! She was talking to my daughter all through the visit and we finally got the cleaning done, wohoo! Dr.Kovtun who performed the exam is very knowledgeable and friendly. All the staff is very welcoming as well. We got a convenient reminder for our appointment through a text message from the receptionist. Great customer service experience! I will definitely be returning as a patient myself! read more

This is a superb place for dentist work. I've been here about 4 times. The staff are extremely friendly. They explain all the options well. I've had fillings here and cleanings. Every dentist there I've had has been great. read more

To start I never write reviews but I do read a lot of them and take them into consideration. So with that I had to stop and write one for Avalon Dental Center. Dr. Ofir was amazing I am literally writing this walking out from the building with two wisdom teeth removed, in under I would say five minutes. Dr. Ofir made me feel very comfortable he made me laugh and he took away any nervousness I had. He moved at my pace and did not rush me until I was ready. All the staff there are very friendly and welcome you with such beautiful smiles. I had only came here to take out my wisdom teeth because they were the dentist office that would take me a soon as possible but now I definitely will be switching and making them my family's permanent dentist office. I can honestly say I can't wait for next month to take my other wisdom teeth out. Thanks for a great experience under the circumstances! read more

absolutely terrible. receptionists all very rude. charged me twice. calls you three times every day till your appointment. dont go their absolutely bad. read more

This was my first time visiting office. After so many insrance issues, the girl on the phone helped me thrugh all of my problems. I was able to be seen the next day which I was a little worried why they were so open , but after being welcomd by a friendly smile I thught I found a good place. I finised filling out paperwork and I was informd to sit and wait for the Hygeinist too seat me. While waiting in the waiting room I over heard one of the ladies behind the desk talking . She was talkin about a guy named Daneil . She said that he was a old patient of Avalan and how horrible a patient to. she said was that he needed lots of details to everything that was done to him. She kept repeating that he was a horrible patient . After being taken into the room, I asked who the lady with the dark long hair was. she told me she was the office manager. I got scared knowing a office manager would talk about a pateint that just wanted had questions in a horrible way but I ignored it cause my teeth felt the cleanest they have ever felt after my Hygienist was done. When leving i walk into that same long hair lady telling the girl that was about to help me out that she is not understanding and she needs to call again. the long haired lady rolled her eyes behind the girls back for me to see and spun her chair and grabbed her cell phone to text. The nice lady in front of me asked me if I would like to set up my 6 mnth apointment and I declined not cause of my teeth but cause I do not want to be in a office that talks negatevely about clients or their staff the same way . This is why they had openings the next day. I highly say no to anyone that is deciding to go to this office on temple str. read more

I do not recommend at all. I have had a bad experience with them. They've messed up with the billing big time

i am the type of person who hates dental work and crappy service. Dr. Ofir was the best. he greeted me, he didnt make fun of the fact that i am 28 and terrified of needles and dentists. Dr. Ofir took great care of my wisdom teeth extracion. He even had me laughing as he stitched my gums shut. Awesome dentist with great assistants and an impeccably clean and friendly office read more

I was impressed by this practice. The staff was very professional and helpful. The doctor is friendly and took the time to explain things in a clear, understandable way. I was as comfortable as a person could be while having several cavities filled and would recommend the practice to friends :-) read more

Love this practice. Great staff and very professional doctors who know what they're doing. Don't think twice before coming here.