We have been going to Gentle Dental Arlington for years. Apparently, they have decided to install a new bot system for calls that will not allow us to speak to someone at the front desk. In this Instance, we have a DENTAL EMERGENCY & IN EXTREME PAIN. We called multiple time and have been routed to voicemail over & over again with no call back from their front desk. What kind of Dental Practice doesn't pick up nor call back for Dental Emergencies? The kind you don't want to go to! Avoid this practice, they DO NOT TAKE URGENT CARE SERIOUSLY!!! read more

I called specifically to get a tooth extraction for a child under 12 with sedation. The whole point of making the appointment was to get this done. 2 weeks I called, asked if they had gotten the referral, is they got the X-rays, I was assured that they could do the procedure. I took a day off work to take my kid there and take care of him after. 2 hours before the appointment they called to tell me they cannot do sedation for a child under 12. read more

The assistant was so incompetent she was unable to take X-rays. I left without seeing the dentist.

I must be a masochist to have ended up back here, but my employer changed our dental insurance from delta dental and I had limited options when I had tooth pain. I had to have a crown put in and I was in immediate searing pain. After haven taken SO MANY X-rays ( they had a new handheld one, which most of the staff didn't seem to know how to use, and I felt like a test dummy on 2 occasions)... Not a single one of the staff looked at my gums and saw CLEAR NERVE DAMAGE. So after paying for some dental work, including brand new crown, I now have to pay to go in have them drill through said brand new crown to do a root canal. ...On a tooth that they worked on 3 times prior to the brand new crown. ...So I paid for a crown, that I will not get the full life of. Another tooth issue I currently have- bad breath from the 2 wisdom teeth from my previous review. The one their staff had me waiting over an hour in the waiting room for, when the dental surgeon left, because they are incapable of accurately booking procedures. I still have not gotten any kind of an apology for this. At this point I'm convinced they're messing up clients' teeth so we have to continue to pay for their services. read more

I am beyond pleased to adovcate for Gentle Dentle, Arlington, MA! I look forward to my biannual exams. They are super professsional, respectful and kind. I can almost fall asleep during exams! They have also helped me with cosmetic improvments - specifically veneers. They are very pleasant and supportive- THE BEST!! read more

I saw Dr. Roman - I won't go into detail but he was extremely unprofessional and made me feel uncomfortable.

the front staff are very nice and welcoming. However the dentist really pushed a bunch of unnecessary work which made it difficult to understand what work really needed to be done. I felt like I was being sold a car.... I ended up getting 2 fillings (1/3rd of what she wanted to do) , my teeth hurt way more now than what they did before ( I can"t even chew on that side of my mouth) and am worried I will now have to get 2 root canals due to the damage. In fact during the procedure she kept mentioning root canals. The entire time of getting the fillings the dentist was complaining about personal & work issues, telling me about how the teeth were in so much worse shape then what the x-ray showed. And she was asking for the wrong tools and scolding the dental assistant for not knowing what she was talking about. I felt very unsafe, not in capable hands, and will not be returning..... now I will have to find a different dentist to fix what they did at "gentle dental" My take away- the dentist will ruin your teeth for profit. read more

I had to edit my review because it was a little verbose. Lol. Bottom line if you want your dental experience To be the same as buying a used car from a shady buy here pay here lot the. One to gentle dental. If you want a dentist that honors their agreements with your insurance company stay away. I came for a simple replacement top denture. I called my insurance they called gentle dental and I was told I had $1250 per year and they had an agreement that they would cover the denture at that cost with no money minor my pocket. I spoke to the dentist who tried too up me to a $20,000 option I explained I'm on disability and the only reason I was there was because they were covering it. I also called their office before going to verify what my insurance company said. After the hard sales pitch my the dentist someone came in with a. Clip hoard to discuss my finances. They said the insurance only covered $800 and I would need to pay $2900 out of pocket. I was flabbergasted. First I called around and without insurance I can get a top basic denture for $800-1500 cash no insurance so even at those prices with my insurance guaranteeing to pay $1250 of only have to come up with $250. I believe they are charging the insurance the full $1250 and pocketing all the can from unsuspecting patient. SCAM SCAM, f read more

Terrible experience, wasn't properly numbed so my crown prep was very painful, I had a fever for two days after the procedure, and the temp crown that I paid $450 for broke within two days of having it installed. The dentist did not install the temp crown or even check it and it was loose within the same day as install. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

Great staff! We we're searching for an oral surgeon because my husband needed an emergency tooth extraction and the office team was so responsive and helpful! We traveled over an hour from our home to Arlington (based on an existing patient's/friend's recommendation)and we are very happy that we did! We'll definitely make this our new preferred dental practice for our family! read more

After about 3 years here, I'm now in search of a new dental office. "Gentle" is not the adjective I'd use... I had one of the most painful cleanings I've ever had last week. The hygienist was so rough on my gums that a week later they're still painful. The turnover here is huge, even considering Covid, which is really unfortunate as they lost some very good hygienists. Over the past year, I've heard nothing but thinly cloaked insults from hygienists about how I've been taking care of my teeth and gums. read more

The doctors at this practice are OK, however, the billing department is not gentle at all. They failed to give me a correct estimate with the insurance, and a few months after my visit sent me a bill with no explanation whatsoever (like just a random number), and it took me many days to get them to explain and change this bill. In other words, the billing at this company is very not transparent at all. Not gentle. In addition, there appears to be a great miscommunication between the billing department, the reception, and the medical staff. Several weeks after the so-called resolution of my billing issue (in which I still overpaid completely unfairly), and me telling them I would never go to their clinic again, I got a call from Gentle Dental saying "can you come on Tuesday to start on your crown?". Like really?? This crown was never on my treatment plan, by the way, and I never heard about it before. The bottom line: I would not recommend trusting your teeth or your finances to this company, as they might mess up both. read more

Long history short, I had already given a bad review for billing but this one goes for refusing to give patient info. Just called to ask what brand they used on my implant and what I hear is "I cannot give you this info" "I don't have this info". Shame on you! read more

Very bad customer service experience with this place today. I was overdue for my 6 month cleaning appointment with my regular dentist and wanted to try getting a cleaning at a more convenient location. Since it as snowing and travel would be more difficult it seemed like a good idea. The person who answered the phone was very polite and quickly set me up for an afternoon appointment, suggesting the $57.00 new patient offer (the deal you see plastered in every Gentle Dental office you happen to pass by). She took all my information, a brief dental history, and ran down the list of services included. I told her I was fine with the price but did not want X-rays today, since I already had full bite wing X-rays at my regular dentist in the last 8 months, and would be returning to that dentist for other work in the near future. She said OK, but then seemed to be interrupted by someone else in the office and asked me to hold. Another staff member picked up the phone and told me that I absolutely had to have X-ray taken in order to keep the appointment. I explained again that I have recent X-rays, that I have no pain or other complaints, that I would like everything else included in the $57.00 offer, and that in fact I will be paying the same price for fewer services by choice (seems like a good business decision for her to accept). Long story short, she cancelled my appointment and said it will be X-rays or no service. I could have arranged for my dentist to send the most recent X-rays but she was clearly not interested. I got the strong impression this was leading to an up-sell after the cleaning appointment based the mandatory X-rays. er This as even more clear when I said I may use Gentle Gentle for future cleaning appointments, due to the convenient location, but that I will stay with my long term dentist for any other dental procedures. I cannot say this staff member was "technically" rude (at least she did not use foul language) but she definitely does not know how to communicate with patients. She did not ask why I did not want X-rays today, she did not care w- -hen I explained the reason, she did not offer to accept X-ray records from my regular dentist and basically cut the phone call short . It was odd that she did not transfer the call back to the person who picked up the phone first, took all my information, and scheduled an appointment. It seemed like bad phone etiquette to say the least. I didn't even have the chance to ask that my name, and all the other personal data be deleted. Bad practice by any business. To summarize: - Rude staff member. - Obviously bent on up-sell starting with the first "New Patient Offer" visit. - Took over the call from appointment maker but ended it without reconnecting me to make sure everything was clear, or to arrange a way for me to provide my recent X-rays and reschedule for another date (dentists can share x-ray results by email and other means). - Very inflexible (hey Gentle Dental, I just wanted to pay you the same fee for FEWER services. Did you fail Business 101 ?) Avoid this place. read more

I wouldn't recommend this location of Gentle Dental to ANYONE. They didn't inform me that I would be getting no anesthesia for my wisdom teeth and on the day of the procedure when I explained that Novocaine has never worked on me, they guilted me into doing it anyhow "well you scheduled this time with us, you've already paid, etc. etc.". I SCREAMED BLOODY MURDER THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE and kept asking them to please stop, but they only rolled their eyes and yelled "KEEP STILL" at me. At the end, I basically went into shock and they were able to finish. After the procedure, my entire neck was black and blue and I was so swollen that I couldn't open my mouth to eat for 2 weeks. I know that might just be the way I heal, but I've never seen anyone that messed up by wisdom teeth removal. 2 years later, and I still can't feel the right side of my mouth, and I have nerve damage so deep in my jaw that it affects my arms and legs, so I have constant numbness there too. For the first 3 months I was unable to taste anything, so I'm glad that at least came back. If I was an asshole I would have sued the pants off them, but I had such bad PTSD after the whole ordeal I didn't even want to think about the place. Ontop of this, in a previous appointment, they told me that I had a cavity. After this experience, I didn't want to go back to get it filled, so I went to get the stitches out at my old (very far away) dentist (and btw who still uses real stitches?) .. and after an xray and a looksy, he told me the other place was full of shit (in so many words). SCAM ARTISTS. And the dentist I had chosen was named "Dentist of the Year" in MA for Gental Dental. Can we say low standards? I really wish bad, horrible things on those dentists and that surgeon and his assistant, and I'm not ashamed to say it. read more

Gentle Dental Arlington - General Dentistry Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Awful service. I've had good experiences with gentle dental establishments in the past but this place is everything you're afraid of when visiting a chain dentist office. They could've cared less about me and my needs. They cancelled on me several times and refused to reschedule. I sat waiting in the chair for nearly an hour only to be looked at for less than one minute by the doctor who only cared about selling me the "full service" treatment and wasn't to be seen again after I told her that I was only interested in an examination. There are many local dentist shops in the area with competitive prices... don't go here. read more

I have been going there for years, and I have been reasonably satisfied so far. One time, they really screwed up my teeth due to some questionable work, but the owner stepped in and fixed it at no extra cost. But today I am so mad, I need to write about it. I had a couple fillings that needed work and they told me the cost after insurance. I thought the cost was expensive but within a reasonable range, so I agree to have the procedure done. Right after the procedure, I went to pay for the bill. They told me oops, they had given me the wrong cost. I paid for what was originally said and thought they would sort it out. Just yesterday, I received a bill that would effectively double what they told me. It was so much more, I thought it must have been a mistake. So I called them to ask about the bill. It just doesn't seem reasonable to tell me one price, and then right after the procedure, charge me another crazy sum. It is like going to a restaurant, and right after you eat, they charge you a different price. Afte talking to them, they basically told me that although I didn't agree to the price, I took the service and now I have to pay for it. They then pushed the responsibility to the insurance company and said it wasn't their fault. I have liked my current doctor but for the business owner, it is just wrong to tell customers one price and charge another after they have no power to return the service. If a mistake was made, the business should honor the original deal that was agreed upon by both parties. read more

Dr. Nikoo is awesome - super considerate and gentle, and made my first filling easy and painless. I had oral surgery here a few years ago as well by Dr. Klimashov (wisdom teeth removal) and it was as pleasant as you could hope for. read more

Scheduling is a nightmare. They have repeatedly cancelled appointments at the last minute (even after they have confirmed the appointment). There is also too much turnover among dentists so you can't get continuity of care (even if some of the dentists have been reasonably good). read more

Inappropriate pain management Went in with pain that turns out is stemming from a broken tooth. Dr poked and probed around the area quite a bit to narrow down the issue (to the point where I screamed a couple of times). Dr proceeded to "prescribe" me pain meds to manage pain until my apt with oral surgeon. Turns out the prescription is for over the counter Tylenol (500 mg) - when I called to asked for something more effective & explained that I had already taken Tylenol with no improvement, I was told that "2 pills" should be enough. Im now home, in awful pain, debating whether I should go to ER. Definitely displeased with the pain management plan developed for me. read more

I was a patient here for a few years, and generally thought it was OK, but got tired of seeing a different hygienist and dentist almost every time I came in. It also seemed like after having basically perfect teeth, according to these dentists I seemed to need a lot of stuff: regular fluoride treatments and a mouth guard (both not covered by my insurance). I didn't think I needed this stuff, but didn't feel like I was in a position to argue with the dentist about it. After they botched the mold for my mouth guard, and my son being mistaken - while he was in the chair - for another patient, my family moved to another practice this year. I'm sad, but not entirely surprised to learn that it turns out I didn't need all those extra things. Total up-sell at this place, and many unprofessional experiences. read more

I met with doctor Bhatt today for crown work. She's very nice & explained all the procedure throughout. Also Chrystal at the front office is very helpful with financials. Great staff. read more

Two stars, only because the hygienist did a good job on my cleaning. I know you can't expect as much from these chain places, but still, this is subpar. I found Dr. Pivor to be rude, and his observations questionable. I also didn't like the way he treated his staff, but I suppose that is for another discussion. I had moved to Arlington knowing I needed a filling in one tooth. I mentioned that I knew my #14 molar had a cavity. Dr. Pivor flew off the handle, shoved the X-ray in my face and said, "Are you a dentist? Can you read this?" I was shocked. I didn't go back to Gentle Dental to have the filling done. When I went elsewhere, they found a cavity that Pivor had missed. read more

Great reception. Everyone patient and caring of your concerns with procedure. Dentists and assistants work at your comfort level all while keeping you informed at every step. Have been going for years and will continue. They truly are GENTLE dental. read more

This is the worst place ever. I am very unhappy with my experience. Dr said it is just sensitivity and she did not do anything and she charged me a lot of staff that I am sure she did not do. Also ask before imaging. read more

Had a recent visit. I have been a customer for many years. it was pretty in the past, but recent visit indicate there are a lot of new faces. the last few experiences have been not good. I decided to give my business somewhere else. read more

My daughter and I are both patients here. We just had her first orthodontic consult and I was so impressed! The staff was funny, personable and took the time to explain everything and answer all our questions. They even showed my daughter a YouTube video to explain what they're doing with her teeth! The know how to relate to kids for sure. Highly recommend! read more

I started a new chapter at the Gentle Dental Center, in Arlington MA. As I turn the page, I'm elevated into the next stage of my dental treatment plan, care, and service. Just when I thought my dental health and program was at its best and complete, I entered into the Golden Age of dentistry at the Gentle Dental Center in Arlington, MA under the leadership of Dr. Marissa Alikpala and her assistant Catherine. At the Gentle Dental Center in Arlington, MA, their vision, and mission, is based on their motto of putting the patients first and making them their top priority. I've had every major procedure and service that's offered at the Gentle Dental Center in Arlington, MA, performed with excellence and to perfection from x-rays, to cleanings, teeth whitening, fillings, crowns, implants, and veneers along with a protective mouth guard custom fitted for my teeth. With this in mind I know I'm in great hands along with every patient in their care. Dr. Marissa Alikpala, her assistant Catherine, and the staff members at Gentle Dental Center in Arlington, MA receives my highest recommendation for having the best customer service, and dental team, with the number-1 dental practice. Thanks for all that you do for me and so many other Gentle Dental patients. Sincerely, Anthony read more

This 5 star is for Dr Pivor of Gental Dental in Arlington MA!!! Beyond being a Master of Dentistry he's basically cured me of years of jaw pain and headaches from clenching my teeth. I never thought I would say this but BOTOX for clenching - IT WORKS!!!!! I have been suffering from the consequences of clenching for years: 2 cracked teeth, an exrtraction, a root canal, 2 crowns, ear aches, and of course daily pain shooting up and down my face plus tension headaches. I have multiple mouth gaurds and was taking any where from 6 to12 advils a day. The pain was getting getting progressively worse over the last year and Dr. Pivor said - we should try botox. At first I was like "huh" "what?" and then I spent weeks contemplating (worrying, really) whether I wanted to do it. Finally after a particullarly bad day of pain I said I'm doing it....... The actual procedure was done in minutes and it literally was nothing more than a couple of pin pricks! And then 3 days later I couldn't believe it - it was like a miracle!!!!! The jaw pain, the headaches GONE (I do use my night guard still just in case)..... If youre suffering like I was call DR. PIVOR AT GENTAL DENTAL IN ARLINGTON MA - 1-781-643-0010 - put any doubts aside and try botox for clenching....I literally couldnt believe it, I'm a whole new person. My hubby is also happy, not only cus I'm not suffering anymore but becuase I'm not snapping at him cus I'm in pain!! I would also like to say Dr. Pivor is also the best dentist in the world! I am a big baby when it comes to the dentist and Dr. Pivor and the staff at Gental Dental of Arlington always make everything ok! Three years ago we moved about 45 mins away - it never even occurred to me to get a new dentist. Theres a gental dental less than 5 mins away from our house along with several other dentists but whether its routine care or emergency care I will make the trek to Dr. Pivor and his wonderful staff!!! read more

This place used to be perfect but lately most of the good staff have left. Dr Pivor was brilliant but they have made awful mistakes and I am sad to say that I no longer want to be a customer. They made us get imprint for extremely expensive retainers while knowing fully that we had fillings scheduled soon after. Now the retainers do not fit and the fillings are sharp and painful. I want a full refund for them and I hope that they can make up for their mistakes. Unfortunately their employees are terrible and I will be very happy to leave this establishment for good. read more

thank god for Gentle Dental they are always there for me. unfortunate for me I have had a long time of problems with my teeth, But thanks to The Great staff at Gentle Dental they have always been able to get me right in and take care of my issues, I have to say That the Office Manager Michelle is incredible Always . I strongly believe that With out her Gentle Dental would not be the same, she is smart and always able to make sure that all the patient are treated fair and that they understand any upcoming work that they will need. Thank you Gentle dental for having an amazing manager read more

Always been a questionable dental experience for me. I called to make an appointment today and they put me on hold for over 5 minutes. That was the last straw. Off to find a new dentist. read more

Stay away from this place. Very incompetent staff now since Dr. Pivor passed away. I was a patient of his for over 20 years and he was dedicated, caring and always a perfectionist. When Dr. Pivor passed away I had a tooth infection and I saw a new dentist Dr Nikoo Habibnia who told me that I only had a "little infection" and since it was draining pus that draining pus is a good thing and said I did not need any antibiotics! I realized then that she was very incompetent and decided to make an appointment with another dentist in Cambridge who said I had a severe tooth infection and needed antibiotics and a root canal. I was told the "infection was severe and destroyed much bone loss." to make matters worse they at Arlington Gentle Dental are still billing me for being for the appointment I had with Nikoo Habibnia! Please stay away from her and that entire practice. It was excellent only whe Dr. Pivor was there. read more

Dr. Pivor gave me his cell phone number after a root canal and told me to call him with any questions or problems. His assistant was absolutely helpful, friendly and knowledgable. The root canal was totally painless. Dr. Pivor explained everything to me before he started the rootcanal and continued informing me of what he was doing every step of the way. The receptionists, schedulers and billers are highly professional, attentive and delightful. In the past three months that I have been a patient of Gentle Dental of Arlington, I have been taken care of well. Oh, by the way, their fees are far less than other local dentists, which makes it a bargain considering the level of care I have received from Gentle Dental. read more

Not sure why so many people complained about the service, in general, I think the service is good. Other than 1 or 2 persons that I don't like too much, most people are nice and consider my needs and time. Some dentists have better skills and knowledge than the others. I guess it all depends on luck. read more

When I arrived at my scheduled appointment at Gentle Dental in Arlington, MA, I walked into a magnificent, immaculate, completely remodeled, beautifully designed, institute, practice, and office of dentistry, complete with state-of-the-art tools, equipment, and technology. I met Dr. Nikoo Habibnia and her assistant Cristol for the first time. I received the warmest welcome from them. They made me feel comfortable and at home. I felt like I was seeing interacting, visiting, and spending time with family. Dr. Nikoo is an outstanding person and an excellent dentist. Her true compassion and concern for my care, safety, health, and wellbeing was first and foremost. She is a person who I know, like, respect, and trust for all aspects of my dental care, plan, and treatment program. With Dr. Nikoo's assistant Cristol by her side, and under her tutelage, they have arrived, emerged, and risen to the top of the dental profession as a perfect team with the best Gentle Dental Center! Dr. Nikoo has a great passion for best practices, technology, and excellence in her dental profession and practice. My case was complex, difficult, and challenging. I witnessed Dr. Nikoo's amazing skills, knowledge, and expertise many times throughout my dental treatment program. She has a special gift and talent for taking the most difficult tasks and procedures and reducing them to routine and effortless success stories! I appreciate and thank you Dr. Nikoo and Cristol sincerely for everything you've done for me. Having a second chance to do all the right things means so much to me. I get a lot of looks and compliments from many people who say I have the most beautiful smile and perfect teeth! After all the thought, time, energy, effort, and work that you put into my case, the end result is a wonderful blessing! Congratulations Dr. Nikoo and Cristol on a job well done and for your excellent and outstanding customer service and dental work! read more

Both my wife and I went to this office in Arlington. I had two crowns made. The first one felt after a few weeks (3/4 maybe) the dentist replaced it and it is ok now. In the meantime the dentist worked on another crown. This crown felt, dentist glued it back, felt again after a few month(3/4). I didn't go back as I did not trust the dentist. More or less at the same time, my wife had another crown made by another dentist . She never felt that the crown was well adjusted. The crown broke after a few month. My advice is to avoid this office. Waste of money. read more

This place has the worst customer service imaginable and Dr. Pivor does not care about patients at all! I wanted to get a night guard, and they quoted me an astronomical price compared to several other dental offices. I called gentle dental to understand the material they were using and if a discount was available. After several phone calls and waiting for days to get a response, the receptionist insisted that I come in person to discuss with the dentist to get a discount. Since I have been going to them for years while living in Arlington and with the hope I'd get a discount, I decided to give it a try. After waking up early on a Saturday, spending over $20 ubering from downtown to ensure I would arrive on time, and waiting for 30 minutes in the waiting room, I asked how long the wait would be. The front desk staff told me that Dr. Jay Pivor just let her know that he was running 2 hrs behind! I asked if I could take 2 minutes of Dr. Pivor's time to discuss pricing and material; they told me he's too busy with a patient and that my impression would be taken by an assistant after another hour of waiting. After waiting for an additional 30 minutes, the front desk staff said that Dr. Pivor was not going to give any discount. Wow, this is how Dr. Pivor treats his patients! Patients are nothing but transactions and numbers. They are not worthy a courtesy phone call to be informed ahead of time that he's 2 hours behind!!! They are not worthy to have two minutes of his time to be explained in person!!! They are not worthy to be told the truth over the phone that no discount could be given either way!!! I would not have come had I known days ago! The bottom line is Dr.Pivor is someone who doesn't treat his patients with any dignity and respect. Please stay away if you can! read more

If I could give 0 stars, I would. I went here several years ago because I didn't have dental insurance and needed a cleaning. They started out by taking X-rays of my mouth and then the dentist came in. Before she ever looked in my mouth, she told me I had 5 cavities. I've never had a cavity before in my life, so I was blindsided. She immediately proceeded to tell me the cost of filling each one (about $250/tooth) and told me to go make arrangements with the front desk. I left there without making any appointments. The next day, I made an appt with a real dentist and asked Gentle Dental for the X-rays. They charged me to get a copy. I went to the real dentist, who looked at the X-rays AND my mouth and told me that I had 0 cavities. The spots on the X-rays were calcium deposits. If I had listened to Gentle Dental, I would have ruined 5 perfectly good teeth and shelled out $1000!! I sent a letter detailing everything to the Gentle Dental headquarters and demanded a full refund for my office visit and the copy of the X-rays. I never heard from Gentle Dental, but did receive a check from them in the mail about 2 weeks later. read more

-I currently use Gentle Dental Arlington Center for cleanings only- I don't trust them to replace a crown they say I need. Of course, I went there due to the low prices. In future I'll pay attention to the red flags: I have better teeth than Dr. Pivor; he was very impressed with the fillings done by my previous dentist - I'm thinking....uh oh....it's better work than he can do....(and that was also a dentist in a franchise that I chose for the low rates). -My friend had a terrible experience with a cleaning...she hacked him up and would not respond to his complaints...she was more focused on doing a "thorough" job without much regard for the patient's discomfort. After his filling, he paid (more than expected) and walked out, but had to come back because there was still some unfinished surface. They did the retouch, but it still wasn't right. He had to pay another dentist to finish the job. read more