I've been a patient with Dr. Bright since 2004 and once I found her haven't gone anywhere else. She is hands down the best dentist I've ever had. I agree with all the other reviewers about her great demeanor and how she is good with kids (my entire family goes now), but her dental work is the reason I go to her. She does the best cleanings around, way better than any other dentist and better than hygienists, too. She tends to spend a fair amount of time scraping plaque / build up and is very careful not to hurt your gums. Another plus is that she will really only do the services that are necessary and won't try to push you into whitenings, additional x-rays, etc. read more

I can't say enough good things about Dr. Bright. First, She is the most caring dentist I have ever been to. She is very kind, careful, calm and professional, but also very caring and genuinely compassionate. I have never had any issue with her care, and I have seen her for nearly a decade for routine dental care, cleanings, cavities and a broken tooth. She is very good about explaining the state of care, explaining options, and helping patients pick the right outcome. I particularly appreciated her conversations with me in the past about evaluating when a cavity really needed to be filled or when good day-to-day dental care might fix a weak spot, rather than performing potentially unnecessary fillings. Dr. Bright and her small staff are conscientious, professional and keep a very clean space. Despite the small space, they have been doing a wonderful job keeping a clean office during COVID time as well. I am a bit more sensitive than most, so she has been particularly good about titrating the novocaine so that it is just at the right level and protects me but doesn't leave it too numb. I understand some people prefer dentist to always dictate care, but I have much more appreciated that she offers a definitive recommendation but also offers transparency in considerations of options, time & budget. It is a small staff office and she is a good dentist, so her appointments fill up quickly and you should expect to make an appointment well in advance. read more

Fantastic dental practice. Fair prices with or without insurance. Really good dental hygienists on staff. Dr Karen is gentle and personable and really loves the kid crowd. I love coming here and I think I might be overdue for a cleaning so I have to call for an appointment tomorrow. read more

I was one of Karen's first patients when she opened her practice, I always looked forward to these appointments. She was thorough, I always enjoyed the conversion, she always had a good story to tell, and she was very gentle. She is overall a wonderful person who started a successful practice that's grown over the years. A combination of greatness that's hard to find. If you can get an appointment with her, you're in good hands. read more

Bright Dental is simply the greatest. I post this hoping she is not over run. Great staff, great vibe. I heart Dr Bright.

I was apprehensive about going to a new dentist, simply because I had been going to the same one for about 15 years. My boyfriend had made an appointment at Bright Dental, and raved about his experience there. I soon followed, and I had a great experience as well! The hygienist (wish I could remember her name) was GREAT. I feel badly for hygienists -- it's not like people are ever excited to see them. But, this woman was excellent. She was extremely pleasant, and did a fabulous job cleaning my teeth without me feeling like my gums were about to crawl out of my mouth and hail a cab. Dr. Bright was also incredibly, ridiculously nice. In the past, I've felt like my dentist was almost trying to find things wrong with my teeth (filling almost non-existent cavities, etc.). It's hard when you're a patient -- you don't know what is extraneous and what's necessary. I really liked that when Dr. Bright saw something vaguely questionable in one of my teeth, she wasn't in a mad rush to fix it. She just said she was going to keep an eye on it and make sure it didn't get worse. My mouth AND my wallet thanks her for that! All in all, it was the most pleasant dentist experience I have ever had. Furthermore, I have to go back to have her replace a broken filling, and I am not gnawing my lips off in dread. A+! read more

Dr. Karen Bright is the best dentist I have been to. We started seeing her a few years ago when my daughter needed to go in for her first ever dentist visit and hopefully we'll still be seeing her when my son needs to go for his. She is very good with children. My daughter wants to stop in and see her every time we pass her office and eagerly asks when she gets to go in for her next appointment. If we're walking past and Dr. Bright sees us she'll usually come out and say hi/ get a hug. I've had some really bad experiences with dentists in the past and Dr. Bright has made it so I have no qualms about going to see her for any dental work I may need. read more

To say that dentists make me nervous is an understatement. When I first met Dr. Karen Bright, she was laughing at the note I'd made on my new patient form: "You, as a dentist, scare me. Please be gentle. I swear I'm nice." Somehow, I've managed to find the nicest dentist in the greater Boston metro area. Dr. Bright is good at what she does and nice enough to make appointments tolerable. When I needed to have my wisdom teeth removed in May, she referred me to a fantastic oral surgeon who made the process almost painless (seriously). I almost look forward to going back for my regular checkups. OK, fine. Not look forward, really...but not mind it as much as I otherwise would. read more

Dr. Bright is probably the nicest dentist you'll ever find! (especially in the Boston area.) She's thorough and is great at explaining what she does. Even though she's not in the most convenient location, there's a reason why it may take months to get an appointment. With her attention to detail and the friendly staff, (as weird as it sounds), you almost look forward going to the dentist! read more

Dr. Karen Bright continues to impress. I've been coming here since I was a lowly, broke college student (though I took some breaks to go to places that were having first-time specials), and I'm still going here now that I'm still mostly poor and paying off student loans. The thing about Dr. Bright (and her office) is she treats everyone equally, as if they are her best customer. I have had emergencies and she has gotten me in the same day. She is always kind, always gentle, always willing to go the second mile for ANYONE. Having said that, avoid those places that offer "first-time" specials. They are having those specials for a reason. Once you go to a place like Bright Dental, you will get it. Customer Service isn't dead - it is alive and well here and it DOES make a huge difference. And Bright Dental's prices are fair & reasonable. I don't WANT to go anywhere else! read more

Bright Dental is simply a wonderful place for me and my family. Our twin daughters are 6, and have been seeing Karen all their lives. They actually cheer when they hear they have a dental appointment. If you have a family, hot-foot it and sign up with Bright Dental! Not only Karen but everyone there - the hygienist, the receptionist, everyone - is incredibly welcoming and loving towards children. Beyond that, they provide excellent, pro-active dental care to all of us. On our most recent visit this week, they were even able to accommodate, with grace and kindness, the challenges of doing dental work on a mother with a nursing baby. I really cannot compliment enough how nice and how capable they are. read more

Last year I finally decided to stop driving to my hometown for a dentist appointment (I had been seeing the same dentist for over 30 years) - but it's kind of scary to just find a new dentist. After all, what if I don't like the person, or I feel like they aren't qualified or something? That wouldn't be good. So I came onto Yelp and found the positive reviews here on Dr. Bright and decided to give it a shot. Happy to say I just had my second cleaning there last Thursday and I'm still happy about my decision to make the switch to Bright Dental. Dr Bright is very personable and doesn't make what I think are unneeded suggestions - like pulling my wisdom teeth (which all 4 grew in just fine, but my other dentist asked me every visit to pull them, why would I if they aren't bothering me and all 4 are totally grown in?) read more

I like Dr. Bright quite a bit. She is very friendly, gentle, and during oral surgery, she asked me several times how I was doing and if I needed more anesthetic. Given that my previous dentist was rather stingy with his anesthesia, and fillings were always very painful, Dr. Bright is very refreshing. She and her hygienist also took the time to explain things to me in detail, and answered all of my questions. Even though I've now moved to the other side of Boston, I still make the trek out to Somerville to see her. Only complaint, and it's a small one, is that this is a busy office, so appointments are often booked way in advance. I'd give this place 5 stars if I could make a 7AM or 7PM appointment. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Bright for a few years now, ever since a horrific experience at New Era Dental back in 2007. I am very satisfied with Dr. Bright and her friendly staff. She is very personable and sweet, it actually makes going to the dentist not so bad! There is parking behind the building so it is convenient for me to drive and there is a bus stop right around the corner. I also like that they have chocolate-mint tooth polish, makes my teeth happy :D read more

I moved to Cambridge after living in California for 10 years where I'd been going to the same dentist and dental hygienist who I trusted and liked. After a friend told me a Boston dentist - at the end of her cleaning - said, "You must feel very self-conscious about your smile. Your gums show too much...but we can fix that," I felt nervous about finding someone I could trust who wasn't just looking to sell me on procedures. I mean - can you imagine hearing that as you're lying prone with a dentist hovering over you? (BTW, I think my friend's smile is beautiful.) I somehow lucked out and found Bright Dental. I really love the people here and Dr. Bright doesn't push x-rays or procedures that aren't necessary. I love that she's as concerned about my budget and health as I am. And she takes care of her work; once a filling she did started to feel weird a couple years later. I called Dr. Bright and she fit me in the same day and repaired it at no cost to me. I highly recommend Dr. Bright and her staff. read more

Dr. Bright is the best. I've seen lots of dentists and am glad she has been my family's dentist for the past three years. One year we didn't have dental insurance and paid out of pocket - it cost $80 for a standard checkup for me and $65 for my kid's cleaning. The other two years we had different dental plans and it was never a problem. Dr. Bright remembers every tiny detail about me and my family even though we only see her every six months. It's amazing and makes me wonder if she has some cheat sheet she reads right before we come. She is super-nice and will chat and chat while she's got her hands cleaning out your mouth. She is super-gentle, by the way. Her assistant, Ellie, is also fabulous. She cleaned my kid's teeth last time and didn't mind at all that he held an iPod out to play Angry Birds the whole time she did his cleaning. Six months before that experience, I'd forgotten to bring anything for him and Ellie let him play on her phone. Only once have I had a dental emergency and Dr. Bright fit me in the next day. I chipped my tooth when I was a kid, had it rebuilt, and after two decades it fell apart. I expected the repair to cost a few hundred bucks (and this was the year I was paying out of pocket, of course), but she only charged me $120 and did a great job. Seriously, Dr. Bright is the best. read more

I just returned from the most pleasant dental experience of my life! Dr. Karen Bright was just so nice, and made me feel totally comfortable. During the cleaning my teeth and gums usually hurt, but she was gentle and careful, and it didn't hurt at all! I also didn't feel as though she tried to upsell me. She was very honest and told me what I needed and why, but tried to come up with the best solution for ME. I will be going to Bright Dental from now on! read more

This place was a nightmare!! Had a few fillings done by Dr. Bright and it was the worst dental experience I've ever had: 1) She showed up late and there is no one else at her practice so, I was there alone for 20 mins 2) She took film x-rays, not digital. Film x-rays have much more radiation. And she the tooth that needed a filling didn't even show up on the film because she didn't push the film far enough back to see my molars 3) She injected too much lidocaine and I was drooling for hours after the procedure 4) She did't do the filling properly and my tooth was hurting for months after. I went to a different dental group half a year later and they said the cavity under the filling was progressing and I had to get it redone Needless to say I never went back. I'm confused by all of the good reviews. read more

DON'T GO TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT IF YOU SEEK QUALITY DENTAL AND STAFF CARE. I wish I could give them no stars because of how poorly they function as a unit. They have no office manager anymore ( I assumed quite or fired for how bad of a manager she was due to the excessive negative reviews like mine) so there no longer is any leadership or accountability for what they do. My complaint involves a previous review in how they did not take Care of my cavity properly. And then try to put the blame on me. I did not return to them wanting to charge me for something that was there fault. I was told that they OVERCHARGED ME BY $150.00. I told them I wanted my money and to send me the check. IT HAS BEEEN 4 MONTHS AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A CHECK. I have been calling them for months trying to get an answer put I guess they don't really care. No one in this establishment has given me a call to discuss. I keep getting the run around. PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM SERVICE YOU WILL NOT BE HAPY. And don't take my word for it research them, find the numerous negative reviews like mine. Just my opinion but it seems like they continue to do this to people and have issues. Not a good company to be involved in. If anybody would like to sue them I would be willingly to help and be part of the lawsuit just saying. Peace out read more

I highly recommend Dr. Karen Bright at Bright Dental. After a terrible experience at Dr. Joseph Hart's office on Boylston Street (I'm convinced at this point that every person who enters his office is told their teeth are in terrible condition and that they need to have scaling done on their gums), I switched to Dr. Bright and have been pleased with her service for three years. Dr. Bright's intelligent analysis and gentle work has resulted in healthier teeth without extra, unnecessary dental work - she referred me to a great oral surgeon when I needed to have wisdom teeth pulled, and I've only had to get one filling to boot. read more

Ok, so here is my sad, sad dental story. I skipped the dentist for a few years and when I finally went, I had 11 teeth with cavities. My insurance covers $2,000 a year in dental work, so in 2007 and 2008 I had several cavities filled, a root canal and a crown. With only a few teeth left to take care of, I moved from San Diego to Somerville in October 2008. In January of 2009 I started looking for a dentist and chose Karen Bright because of good reviews and how close she was to my home. When I had my first cleaning, the hygienist took off her white coat only to reveal a sleeveless shirt. She dangled her hairy armpit in my face while she cleaned my teeth (NO LIE). Ew. When I saw Dr. Bright she looked at my X rays and seemed to disagree about how many cavities I needed taken care of. For example, I have a tooth that has a big black indentation on it and hurts. Dr. Bright says this is not a cavity, while my other dentist did. I don't care, it just hurts and I want it fixed. Dr. Bright filled 6 cavities and they were all sensitive to hot and cold after, but one is ridiculous. Just standing outside when the temp is below freezing makes this one tooth hurt to the nerve. I have to warm the water from the tap to room temperature to brush my teeth. I called and told the receptionist about the pain I was having and how all my teeth were so sensitive, I couldn't eat anything that wasn't room temperature. I was told that there was no availability for me to come in before my next appointment, 2 weeks later. When I came in for the next round of fillings, Dr. Bright told me she was going to put a "desensitizer" on my tooth. She also told me to use a certain toothpaste and massage it in on that tooth. I did that for 2 weeks with no results. I called back, trying to get an appointment. For some reason, the only time they ever have available is 11am, and that is a very bad time for me to miss work. Neither Dr. Bright or the receptionist seemed to care about that. I finally gave up and found a new dentist. For the most part Dr. Bright is nice, but that doesn't fix my aching tooth. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Bright for almost ten years now, and can't even think about ever having another dentist! She and her staff are the friendliest, funniest, and caring people. Our daughter began getting her teeth cleaned when she was 3 years old and absolutely LOVES going to see Dr. Bright! The location is very convenient to Harvard Square (just a short walk from the T), and they have two free parking spots behind the building. read more

Coming from someone who really doesn't like the dentist and will postpone my appointment as many times as possible without making anyone mad, I can safely say I'm really glad I found Bright Dental. When I moved into the area, I hadn't been to the dentist for awhile and really needed to find one. Based off the reviews on Yelp, I found Bright Dental and decided to give it a shot. I've been a patient now for a few years and really appreciate the kindness and professionalism that both Karen Bright and her hygienist offer. No one has suggested I need anything besides the routine cleaning and x-rays, which I think is appropriate since my teeth seem normal. And while my teeth are fine, I do experience some bleeding during the cleaning since I can't bring myself to floss. At dentists, the cleanings were always painful and messy, and left my mouth feeling sore after. After my cleanings at Bright Dental, it's not painful and my mouth feels back to normal pretty quickly. It's nice to not completely dread going to the dentist for once. For those who want to drive here, there are 2 free parking spaces in back of the building. Just take a right into a little driveway right before the building the dentist is in, and there are 2 designated spots back there. It's quite helpful since I tend to drive there and don't have to worry about finding parking. There are also metered spots out front too. read more

I went to Dr. Bright after reading Yelp reviews of dentists near my house who take my insurance. She was as nice as everyone described and her receptionist and hygienist were very friendly too. I had been avoiding the dentist for nearly 3 years because of some traumatic teeth issues a couple of years ago. I was instantly relieved as soon as Dr. Bright starting talking to me though. She pointed out a couple of things that needed to be fixed and others that might in the future but were fine for now. Some of the things I had been very worried about turned out to be minor and she's the first dentist who didn't push me to fix every little thing and do a lot of expensive cosmetic work. She seems very pragmatic, which is a quality I appreciate in a dentist! I highly recommend her. read more

I ski at breakneck speeds like there's no tomorrow. I tried skydiving for the thrill, and was disappointed that I never got that "oh crap!" scare. I'll dive in front of a slapshot without a blink. But dentists have always terrified me -- we're talking procrastinate-for-a-decade fear, here. The only thing that even made me pick up the phone to make an appointment was the realization that either I'll never go to the dentist again, or each passing day I'm making my eventual visit that much worse. I seriously considered the former option. But everyone at the office was incredibly friendly, sympathetic and non-scary. There was plenty of friendly chat to keep me relaxed during, and there was no scolding at the end. I don't know if it's just them or if this is standard dentistry these days, but I didn't have to spit my plaque, blood and self-worth into a toilet-like bowl of swirling water every few seconds. My days of terror are, in short at an end. I don't know that I'll ever enjoy going to the dentist, but I'm not going to mind it from now on. read more

I searched high and low for a good dentist when we moved to Cambridge. I'm glad we were able to find this cozy office with such a kind staff. It's not the fanciest or technically updated dental office I've ever been in, but they know their stuff! read more

I'm not a huge fan of dentists, and once I found one I liked in Boston I wanted to stick with her. Unfortunately, when I switched jobs my new insurance didn't agree so I had to look again - and I found Bright Dental. I just went last week for my first time, pretty nervous, and my expectations were exceeded on many levels. Of course, first and foremost, I didn't have cavities for once. So this review might be somewhat biased. However, from the moment I walked in everyone was overwhelmingly nice. The receptionist was very nice as she checked me in. Then, as I waited, the dentist ushered out a previous patient and helped another one, calling them both by name and seeming to know them. Then I got brought in (after about a ten minute wait) and the dental hygienist was extremely apologetic I had to wait. I've had longer lines at McDonald's. The hygienist was a lot of fun and very nice. Then Dr. Bright came in and while I'm not convinced she is old enough to have graduated in 1993 she was also very nice. All in all, it was the best dental experience I've ever had, and definitely the best in Boston. read more

5 stars for a filling replacement! I am "differently innervated" so it can be challenging for dentists to numb me well. Also, I need the non-epi variety of novocaine which just isn't as user-friendly. Needless to say, I was very nervous about the filling replacement but Dr. Bright pulled it all off without a hitch! I didn't feel a thing plus she was very sweet and patient the entire time. Huge bonus points: I am usually annoyed by a new filling for weeks after I leave the chair but not this time! Signed, A very happy customer PS- I've been once for a cleaning and her hygienist is also nice and thorough. Don't be put off because this is a small and somewhat plain office. They do a great job. read more

I am so terrified of dentists that I managed to avoid going for 5 years. I read the reviews here and finally got brave and went to Dr. Bright's office (my husband and I both had appointments). Dr. Bright was in the front of the office when we got there (we had 9 and 10am appointments) and she was so chatty and friendly that I felt relieved instantly. I ended up being in the chair for nearly an hour, and the noise of the scraping made me want to climb the walls, but it was definitely the best dental experience I have ever had. I kept waiting for it to hurt, but it never did. Whenever I asked, she explained what she was doing, which made me much more comfortable, and she did a fantastic job of cleaning my teeth. She also went over the map of my teeth with me, to show me what she was going to keep an eye on for the future. I made our 6 month appointments before we left. read more

Karen is fantastic. Great bedside manners, attentive to your needs, and is willing to go the extra mile for her patients. I never had a rapport with a dentist until I met her 6 years ago. I can't imagine going anywhere else. read more

after moving here in 2000 and leaving my childhood dentist back in michigan, i was unable to find a good dentist. i had been to one near porter square and while he was okay, i didn't feel as if i could put my teeth in his hands on the regular. based on miss r's recommendation and the fact that dr. bright took my insurance, i made an appointment and was not disappointed. dr. bright is pleasant, sweet and thoughtful in her dental explanations. she addressed all the concerns i had (other dentist had brushed them aside) and now i'm on my way to getting my wisdom teeth removed (at my age, egads!) as i had suggested to the other dentist that i needed to (not impacted, my ass!). now i can recommence my suggested semi-annual oral care maintenance. if i could only kill my daily coffee habit i would have the teeth of my youth. read more

I have a "flexible spending account" through my company which allows me to pay for dental visits since we have no dental insurance available. I called the Bright office to make an appointment, per recommendations from a friend and great reviews on yelp, and let's just say the receptionist is not very bright. Pun intended. I explained that I do not have dental insurance but I can pay with a credit card or personal check over the course of several confusing and slow phone conversations. This was apparently completely unacceptable and an insurmountable obstacle, which I don't understand, hence the poor and potentially unfair rating I am giving. Sour grapes. I'll take my business elsewhere. read more

Dr. Bright is great. She's conservative with the drilling and is very careful to touch only what is necessary. I'm the kind of patient that likes to know what's going on. She patiently explains and lets you see with a mirror. Only negative comment is that the receptionist has body odor read more

I moved to Cambridge in 2007. Prior to Dr. Bright, I had the same dentist in NH for 20 years. Dr. Bright has been my dentist for the last 5 years and I have had a positive experience. I have found Dr. Bright (and her hygienists) to be friendly, helpful, attentive, and well trained. I have never had a negative experience here. I also found the environment to be welcoming, comfortable, and inviting. That, in itself, can be a rare in a doctor's office. This is helpful when you are new to town (Boston is not known for its friendliness) and you are looking for a competent doctor, but also one with a heart. She has a big one. Although I do not have children, I have seen her interact with them and she very attentive to their needs. PS Although I read them, I never write yelp reviews. This is the first. I am writing this for people who are new to town...this is where you want to go for a good dentist. read more

Dr. Karen Bright has been my dentist for some years. I find her sympathetic, competent, flexible, considerate and reliable. I've got lousy teeth and when I first started seeing her, I had a number of emergencies - like crowns falling off - and she always managed to fit me in quickly. I don't have those emergencies now that I've been under her care for some time. She is conservative in her approach and tries to think of alternatives when her suggested treatment is too expensive. She is always very prepared when I arrive and clearly reviews my file carefully. She is attentive and fun. I highly recommend her. read more

I used to go to Bright Dental once a year for my yearly check-up and cleaning, and had a generally positive experience with that. Both the dentist and hygienist were very friendly and nice. My problems began when Dr. Bright noticed a bit of decay around one of my old fillings one year, and she did the necessary work to repair it. As soon as the procedure was done, I started experiencing intense cold temperature sensitivity on that tooth. (Fyi, one of the reviewers below has had the exact same experience.) Just drinking room-temperature water would cause intense pain. I thought it might be part of the healing process, but it didn't go away so when I next went in for a cleaning, a few months later, I asked about it. Dr. Bright wasn't sure what it could be, and suggested re-doing the filling. She did so, but the sensitivity did not go away. I told her, but she didn't know what to make of it and didn't offer any other suggestions about routes to take. A few weeks after this, when I was in another city, I started experiencing a gentle throbbing at the root of that particular tooth, which quickly escalated into intense, excruciating toothaches. I went to the first doctor I could locate in the area, and I was told that the filling I had had replaced was quite close to a nerve, and had developed an infection. Long story short, I had to get a root canal done. Painful and expensive as all this was, I thought the story was done, but it has now been two years and it turns out that that initial infection never healed properly after the root canal, so I am undergoing root canal retreatment and may possibly have to get an apicoectomy. (More money, more pain.) I guess I can't blame this last development on that initial filling repair, but it certainly seems to have been the source of most of my dental problems in the last few years. I felt that I should have been directed towards someone else right away if Dr. Bright didn't know what to make of my symptoms, rather than letting it get to an emergency situation. read more

I am a new patient who just had a dentistry emergency and could not have been happier to find Dr. Bright! She took me right away, x-rays cost only $25 (cheapest dentist's visit I have ever had), and she patched me right up! On top of it all she was kind, comforting, and professional. read more

Entire staff is very amazing. I can't recommend enough. Explained everything to my satisfaction and tolerated My questions which was a huge appreciation. Very gentle and aware of your comfort level. Makes going to the dentist a very enjoyable experience. read more

I really like Dr. Bright and have been perfectly happy with her practice for my own dental needs, but after just bringing my 3 year old for his first ever appointment, I am SOOO impressed. Dr. Bright and her dental hygienist both took lots of time introducing him to all of their tools and making them not scary. I tried to prep him ahead of time and get him excited about his prize, but things went way smoother than I could ever imagine. At home I am lucky if I can brush his teeth for 30 seconds. She was able to polish and clean his teeth and everything. read more

I'm so terrified to see dentists because i've got more composite than enamel in my mouth, my teeth easily chips and my gums bleed easily. When I got to the dental office, Elennis, the dental hygienist, immediately put me at ease. She was very careful with my teeth and did a great job with cleaning them. She also took the time to explain what she was doing and what she's seeing. Karen made me feel very comfortable the minute she walked into the clinic. She was funny, friendly and had a very light touch. I have to go back for a filling, and I'm actually looking forward to my appointment. I wish I didn't wait so long to see her. read more