My experience with this place was totally weird, and pretty bad. I switched to them in 2018 since I was new in Medford and looking for a new dentist. I had been going to another dentist previously, one in Cambridge. Dr Shick used my insurance to take full-mouth x-rays and did a full examination. They told me fairly casually that I needed to have 9 teeth drilled and 3 others get crowns. For those who don't know, getting crowns is a very expensive operation which also involves decimating the existing tooth into just a stub. It's really invasive and not something that should be recommended lightly. They said all of this was going to cost me several thousand dollars, even after insurance paid what they would.  I was crushed and didn't know what to do. Fortunately someone recommended another dentist to me to get a second opinion. I asked Dr Shick to give me the X-rays he took so the other dentist could look at them. He sent me a very small, very pixelated digital file of all the X-rays in one image. The new dentist told me it was too small to see anything or make any recommendations. I called Dr Shick's office repeatedly to try to get the actual originals from them, but I was never able to. I went to their office and they gave me an envelope of the X-rays, which turned out to just be a print out of the exact same pixelated digital image on regular printer paper. I guess they had thrown out the originals or something. Because Dr Shick had already billed the insurance, though, my insurance would not cover new X-rays. Fortunately, the new dentist I was getting a second opinion from took a few X-rays anyway, on the house. The new dentist told me that I needed to get 2 teeth drilled, and that they really didn't think I needed the other 7, or the 3 crowns. The new dentist seemed almost perplexed, like they couldn't possibly understand how Dr Shick could have come to the conclusions he did. I did those 2 recommended fillings, and I never went back to Dr Shick. 4 years later, no other dentist has yet told me I needed those crowns, and I fortunately still have my natural teeth. I don't know what happened here, but it was a really bad experience and almost cost me lots of money, plus my natural teeth. I'm very fortunate I found my new dentist instead and did not trust Dr Shick's extreme advice. I would have just said that this was due to just different opinions of different dentists, but it's so extreme to recommend so many crowns, and the mishandling of the X-rays makes me even more suspicious. It almost seemed like some kind of weird scam or something I honestly would recommend to anyone to stay far away from this place. read more

Dr. Schick himself would get one star... seemingly young and inexperienced, he tried to convince to get WAY more dental work than needed. The routine care was fine, but when it came to my dental needs, he convinced me of FAR too much, which would have cost me over $2000 after insurance. His front desk lady, though, was impeccable, and earns him an extra star. She helped to figure out all my finances and meticulously wrote all my costs and potential payments down on paper for me. She was friendly and compassionate, and I only wish she worked for a different dentist. read more

The Cult of Dr Casey Cook passed me by, cos when I called for an appointment they told me three months. So on a friend's recommendation I checked out Paul Schick in Somerville Dental, and I've been very happy so far. He is a friendly, helpful guy who is very, very efficient. He does not mess around. I went to get my first ever cavities done there, and 20 minutes later I'm stood outside blinking. This is not to suggest he rushes things, the cavities were pretty painless, with no unpleasant after-effects - he just doesn't hang about. His receptionist is a pleasant woman too, which counts for a lot for me, having had numerous run-ins with sundry receptionists/admin assistants over this whole wacky health insurance thing you have here. read more

I love, love Dr. Shick! He was a little scary at first because he is so unbelievably fast. I can get a cleaning in 15 minutes and be on my way. Best of all, it's done well. I also had a filling replaced. I asked a bunch of questions and he was nice enough and patient enough to explain why this needed to be done. This experience totally made me realize the fast cleanings are not because he's in a hurry--he's just that good. The filling was an okay experience--I mean, I was getting a filling replaced, it's not a picnic! He was great. And, believe it or not, the whole procedure took about 20 minutes. His receptionist is soooooo sweet. She's great and helpful and really nice. Just love her. I've never had to wait. I've been the only one in the office each time I've gone. He calls me right back. In all fairness I usually go really early in the mornings (which is awesome too, btw!), but no wait is always a major positive for me. All in all--fantastic experience. I've recommended him a ton of times! read more

I've been seeing Dr. Schick for probably 10 years now, and he's seen me through half a dozen fillings, two crowns and a cracked tooth. All of them turned out excellent and I've had no problems with any of the work. I also like him because he's extremely fast and efficient. If you prefer a dentist who will take his time with procedures and walk through every detail with you, you might want to look elsewhere. But personally, I'd rather have someone who just takes care of business and gets me out of there ASAP. Once I even showed up early for an appointment, and not only did he take me in, but I was already done and leaving the office by the time my appointment was supposed to start. Not to say he's brusque - on the contrary, he's a really nice guy. He also does all the cleanings himself, I don't think he even has a technician. Front desk is courteous, and very accurate in terms of how much my insurance will and won't pay. read more

I love Dr. Schick! He is super fast and is always on time for his appointments, which is a refreshing change from other dentist's I have gone to. I asked one of my dental school friends and he said that the reason he is so fast is because he has all of up-to-date and modern equipment that allows for him to work so quickly. He always takes time to answer my questions and never makes me feel rushed. He also encouraged me not to buy an expensive electric toothbrush, stating that I had healthy teeth and it would be an unnecessary cost. I would highly recommend him. Also - as everyone else seems to agree with, his front desk lady is AMAZING. I love her! read more

I am someone who loves going to the dentist, so I may be bias, but Dr. Shick is one of the best dentists I have ever had. Not only did I feel incredibly comfortable the whole time, it was quick (!), painless (!!) and my insurance covered the whole thing! When my insurance changed and i needed to find a new dentist, I was devastated, I am so THRILLED I found Dr. Shick, I hate to say it, but I might be happier at Somerville Dental Associates than my old office. Thanks! Eliza read more

We lived in the 3rd floor apartment above his business and experienced him as a landlord- worst experience my husband ever had with a landlord in Boston ( I'm not from the area) We had mice when we moved in all he did was buy a couple of traps- long story short after living there for 4 years of course the mice multiplied - we kept thinking we kept seeing the same one mouse - when we noticed it was more than one mouse Bc we kept seeing it more frequently. Basically we complained about the mice had to almost beg for him to arrange an exterminator- when the exterminator arrived they basically blamed us for having " too much clutter in storage closet" I wish I would have taken pics of the apartment to show proof of the apartment looked when this exterminator showed up who basically did not want to do his job and blamed us. In order to solve the problem because I was pregnant and we were desperate to solve the problem since we were stuck on the lease -we had to purchase our own traps and basically trapped about 20 mice. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever gone through. When we left he was charging us for a lightbulb & things that broke because the place was old and he didn't replace or fix things that were much due for an upgrade. How is it my fault that a vanity door got off the railing when it hasn't been replaced since 1970s? It was bound to break at some point! Oh and let's not mention the time he had us without hot water for almost 2 weeks with a newborn baby. Did having a newborn baby move him with compassion? No! Or the time when he increased our rent by $150 from one year to the other. We never saw him as a dentist but the comments people have made about him penny crunching are true. Paul if you're reading you need to change - sorry to do this publicly, but your landlord skills & customer service skills need improvement. read more

AWESOME! Excellent, excellent dentist. I had to get a lot of work done on my teeth and was a little embarrassed about it. He was very relaxed about the whole thing. He listed out what I needed to get done and that was it. My experience with him has consistently been great and he is so fast its hard to believe when he tells you that you are all set! I've never had any problems and the people he refers me to have also been excellent! I would 100% recommend him! Its easy to get an appointment there and the receptionist is the nicest lady ever too! read more

Went to Dr. Shick's new location in Medford and it's so much nicer than his old location. Meet his new hygienist Nicole and she is so thorough with the cleaning and is super nice. I was hesitate at first having someone new clean my teeth but she was good and nice and so understanding of my fear. If your looking for a dental office that offers a thorough cleaning that don't take am hour or more or for a dentist that explains everything to you and shows you everything he is telling you about than this is the place for you to go. Absolutely love this dental office. read more

I am so deeply sorry to do this, but I must revise my review. Dr. Schick is pleasant and I had felt for my years of care there that I was getting good (if brief) care for my teeth. I tried another dentist for a second opinion on something, and wow, it was stratospherically better than my experiences at Somerville Dental. The dentist took a _lot_ of time to get to know me, each and every tooth in my mouth (while giving detailed descriptions of each to the helper for recording). He did not simply order a full set of xrays (as he easily could have), but encouraged me to get my old ones from prior dentist. My new dentist's assistant did the most thorough cleaning of my teeth EVER--took about an hour. Not fun, but felt great to know that the krunk of the centuries was being scraped off (and I didn't even know it was there); even from under my gums. It didn't cost more than the 10-minute "cleanings" I'd gotten at Dr. Schick's. I trusted new dentist to put a new veneer on an old one that had changed color, and the experience was stellar. I didn't get the sense that Dr. Schick was ready to tackle that project. Take it from me--quick, easy dentist visits are not always the best for your mouth, despite what I had been believing for years. read more

This was the most amazing dental experience I've ever had. Little waiting, no small talk with slow dental hygienists, just a polite, down-to-business dentist who does a thorough cleaning by himself in about 15 minutes. I also had to get two cavities filled (after having many filled before), and was amazed at how efficient Dr. Schick was. He did the entire procedure himself, no hygienists needed, in about 20 minutes. But he did a good job! And he's never given me a hard time about never flossing. The woman at the front desk is this adorable old lady who is really helpful with financial/insurance stuff too. read more

I just went to Dr. Paul Schick for the first time to have a standard cleaning done. His office was very clean and the front desk lady was very informative and friendly. Dr. Schick himself was extremely friendly as well. Given it was my first time, he took a few x-rays, which were at times really uncomfortable. However, he was quick to notice and would ask if I wanted to take a break. The cleaning itself was very quick and he was as gentle as a dentist could be. At the end of the cleaning he was very informative on how I should take care of my teeth, and also informed me that I would need to have a few fillings for cavities. I liked that he even took the mirror to point out the individual cavities to me and show me where the fillings would go. I also love this office because it's very convenient for me. It's located on a side street right outside of Davis Square. Would definitely recommend him to anyone in the area. read more

I was not at all impressed with Dr. Shick. He appeared to be in a great rush, and he did not even sit down to clean my teeth. Afterwards I could still see a big hunk of tartar remaining in between my lower front two teeth. He didn't poke around much, but just used a mirror and announced I had three cavities. Unimpressed, the next day I went to a different dental office to get my fillings done. That dentist removed the hunk of tartar, and suggested I see a periodontist because I have gum recession and a little bone lost. The new dentist also found two fewer cavities than Dr. Shick did. To Dr. Shick's credit, he said the two mystery cavities were "very small", so perhaps I'll find out more about them if they enlarge in the future. (It is now Jan 2008. I will update this review in the future to say if the two mystery cavities actually progressed to something that other dentists will see.) Update: I never had the mystery cavities filled, and as of Nov 2012 they have not reappeared. read more

I think Dr. Schick is fast because he wants as many $$$$ as he can get. I've been going there for a while because he IS fast and I did have dental insurance for the extra work he said I needed. He seems to schedule in as many people as he can for as much as he can. But I went today because I've been having pain in one of the crowns he did. He said what I thought was a cavity was a place it was worn down to the metal and that maybe I was stressed. He said call if it got worse, I could come back in a week or two...and charged me $80 for less than 2 minutes of time and no work... nor any real diagnosis. I've been going there a long time and asked if he was really going to charge me $80 for nothing, and less than 3 minutes of his time. He said it was an office visit, and he was. I'm going to find a different dentist, if anyone has any recommendations for North Cambridge/Arlington. read more

I've been going to Dr. Schick since I moved to Somerville 4 years ago. He's nice and efficient. I really like that I can usually make appointments for before work (as early as 7:30am), never have to wait, and be out of the office in 20 minutes. He's a little rough with the scrapers sometimes, but I'll take that over a long wait and inconvenient hours any day. read more

Dr. Schick does work quickly like other reviewers mention. I never minded this because I've never had a cavity (*knock on wood*) and just go to get a standard cleaning. So for me, the less time at the dentist, the better. Plus, he's cute, which eases the pain of being at the dentist. read more

One appointment and so far, this guy is just great. Like others, I will comment on his efficiency and speed - he is amazingly quick and the cleaning was done in 20 mins. Took the time to listen to a specific complaint I had and quickly diagnosed a cavity underneath an old filling and found another one that was just starting out. His assistant was helpful as well and I have another appointment in a couple of weeks. Pretty straightforward. I'm psyched to have found a great dentist in the area. read more

If you want a quick (super quick!), no wait and painless visit to the dentist, Dr. Schick is your man! No frills at this office, but he's honest and does a good job. I've had 2 cleanings and a crown done here and am satisfied with his work. His receptionist is the best! Very sweet and helpful. Happy to have found this office!! read more

I just got back from my second visit with Dr. Schick and for the second time, I'm pleasantly surprised. The receptionist lady is super nice and very accommodating. As for Dr. Schick himself, he doesn't waste time, I was out of there under 25 min. I didn't even have time to go through the magazines in the waiting room. Definitely, definitely recommended if anyone is looking for a dentist around Davis Sq. read more

Not my best dental experience. The cleaning was fast, but felt complete. The exam answered my most pressing concern, but I felt like he was trying to talk me into getting more work done than I really needed. Not the first dentist to try that, but I still don't like it. There was a bit of confusion with my insurance and I left not sure if I was getting excellent customer service or being taken advantage of. Overall, not a good fit for me, but I can see why others would have a good experience. read more

Dr. Schick is professional, thorough, quick and very reasonable. I definitely recommend him.

Dr. Schick doesn't waste your time - I've always been pleased with the thorough, yet efficient, cleanings he provides. He gave me great advice on how to maintain my teeth while wearing braces (no small matter) and helped me buy a great brush. Also, he NEVER suggested that I get fillings or other dental work when it wasn't necessary. The receptionist is also really friendly and helpful. Overall, a great place to go! read more

I'm not a big fan of going to the dentist but going to Dr Shick is easy and painless. I recently went for a cleaning and root planing and it couldn't have gone better. Friendly receptionist and a professional staff made me feel at ease the whole time. If you live in the somerville area I would definitely recommend going here! read more

I like going to Dr. Shick, he is always on time, very professional and efficient. No drama, doesn't make you feel bad if you haven't been flossing. Sensitive to any medical issues and just very matter-of-fact. The woman at the front desk is very personable and helpful as well. Highly recommend. read more

Been seeing Paul Schick for almost ten years. Tonight I had a rountine cleaning. First, he usually does the x-rays and cleanings himself. Now he has a dental hygientist who does them. Second, she recommends scaling be done because I had a lot of bleeding and tarter. He comes in, looks at my xrays, says they're fine. Does a 2 second exam and says the same. Bye!! I don't recommend him. read more

i hate going to the dentist but this experience was surprisingly comfortable. cathy, the receptionist, is very friendly and puts you at ease the moment you walk in the door. same with paul. maybe he's learned from some of the comments left on this page, but he never pressured me to get extra dental work done and the procedure didn't feel rushed at all (i'm also glad that he did the cleaning instead of a hygenist). a great experience, totally recommend this place. read more

Dr. Schick is the best! Hands down, my favorite dentist ever. He does excellent work and is super friendly. The receptionist is a doll, too. Nobody ever actually *likes* going to the dentist, but I actually do look forward to seeing Dr. Schick. Sadly, I'm moving to Kentucky soon, and I'm seriously dreading finding a new dentist after having such good experiences going here. My first time in (after no dentist for a few years), he spotted three cavities (I sorta knew they were there) and got them filled in. I've had several cleanings since then. A+ read more

This is my first review ever!!! Called Dr. Shick because I had HORRIBLE pain and a swelling on my tooth. Two minutes later he prescribed amoxyl. I asked him (as he hurriedly escorted me to the lobby) if there was anything for the pain. Response "just take the antibiotics". Four hours later, called the office coz the pain was getting me mental. He said something like Tylenol (couldn't he have told me in the clinic how to manage the pain). Long story short, ended up calling up an emergency dentist at 2am, got my abscess drained and cleaned and a pain management that worked! This was all done at Tufts Dental!!! Maybe he's a great dentist to those with generally healthy mouth :-) read more