Terrible dentist interested only in money. I miraculously needed crowns at the same interval my insurance allowed them. Never needed fillings. One of the crowns failed, tooth got infected and I lost the tooth. It was about 6 years old but my 35 year old crown from another dentist is fine. Try asking him a question about the treatment he recommends. read more

Went here for years. Hygienists are terrific. Receptionist is fine. Sadly, however, Dr Galkin is NOT to be trusted. He invents problems with your perfectly good teeth. Next time he tells you you need something done - do yourself a favor - get a second opinion. Also, his crowns fall out. And he gets combative if you question his opinion. Screaming is not a good look in a professional. At least 7 other folks I know in this area have posted negative reviews on neighborhood listservs... no other dentist in this area gets so many former patients speaking out like this! Really, just go elsewhere. (Still miss the hygienists.) read more

Be careful - First visit are almost always good and future visits are fine as long as you don't have any issue. I had a work done on a tooth and Dr. Glakin COULDN't numb the right (proper,correct) tooth for the life of him. He did 4-5 injections and finally gave up and rescheduled it for another day. I didn't come back after that because of how incompetent he was. read more

Very good happy and keen to help staff and practice in general highly recommended. I get in on time or even a few minutes early

My kids and I went to Dr. Galkin for a number of years, but things started going sideways toward the end so we recently switched to new providers and we're so glad we did. Here's the TLDR: Pros: 1) Amazing staff - every single hygienist is incredible. The front office folks are always a delight; professional and proactive. 2) It's easy to get an appointment quickly. 3) On-site parking is really convenient. Con #1: Dr. Galkin is really into blaming and shaming. I grind my teeth at night - can't help it. I wear a mouth guard and do everything I can to minimize the damage, but Dr. Galkin basically used bruxism as an excuse for everything that went wrong (fillings falling out, a crown not feeling right, gum recession). Sure, some of that is legit, but now that I'm seeing a new dentist, it's clear that quite a bit of it was shoddy workmanship on his part. Con #2: Even though he sees children (so you'd think he'd know how to work with them), he claimed that he couldn't fill my daughter's cavity because "she wouldn't let him." Yes, she's scared and skittish, but is that a reason to throw up your hands and forget about it? That was actually the last straw - when I got that explanation, I knew we had to leave. Con #3: Dr. Galkin gets extremely aggressive and defensive when questioned. After a few fillings fell out near my gum line, I said I didn't want to do them again because they kept falling out and didn't look great. His response was, "Well, do you think they look great the way they are?" Ugh. And when I asked why he didn't fill my daughter's cavity, he got VERY upset to the point where it was clear we couldn't have a productive conversation. Galkin is fine if you have no problems and just want a good cleaning. But beyond that, I highly recommend you look elsewhere. read more

I chose Dr. Galkin because of Yelp reviews and was happy until this year. There were no bad reviews back then. Something has changed with Dr. Galkin. So sad . . . I have gone to Dr. Galkin for years and had been very happy until this year. My wife, who had a lot of issues concerning her current dentist, switched to Dr. Galkin. Suddenly this year, my crown needs to be replaced. He also wants to grind down 6 of my wife's perfectly good teeth and put on crowns when she only asked him about closing up a space between her 2 front teeth. On her last visit he treated one tooth and charged the insurance company for 4 teeth. When confronted, he lied. ____ Since I dared to challenge Dr. Galkin, I received a vile letter from him. He is either unwell or just an unscrupulous dentist. read more

Hands down the most professional dentistry in town! Any nicer and they would have to serve Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. A++

Yesterday was my first dental appointment with Dr. Galkin. I'm 32 years old and have only been to the dentist a handful of times. I hate going to the dentist! Actually, I guess I should say I "used" to hate going to the dentist... Dr. Galkin is extremely friendly and warm. It was my first visit to his practice and he treated me as kindly as I imagine he would his oldest patients. Although I had an afternoon appointment, the wait time was very short and Dr. Galkin even came out to visit me in the waiting room to ask what the reason for my visit was, give a preliminary diagnosis and an update on how soon I would be in the chair. A few moments later one of his assistants guided me to the exam room. She was just as friendly and lovely as Dr. Galkin. The reason for my visit was due to some swelling and discomfort in my gums. Dr. Galkin swiftly diagnosed my problem as being related to my pregnancy, I have pregnancy gingavitis which he said is very common with pregnant women. He gave me some medicated mouthwash to use. That's not all though. I got an exam and he found some cavities in my molars. While most dentists would send you to the receptionist to schedule another visit, Dr. Galkin took care of them that day! The work he did was wonderful. He has state of the art equipment. He was able to take before and after photos of my teeth to show what they looked like before and after he took care of the cavities. Also, he uses this sand-blaster like tool to remove your cavities- no drill and no needles needed! It was awesome. My fear and avoidance of the dentist is OVER! Mark is the wonderful fellow who takes care of the front desk operations. Mark was extrememly helpful when I first called to explain the discomfort I was in and ask if Dr. Galkin could see me- Mark got me in within 36 hours of my call which I think is fantastic. I have a cleaning scheduled for June and I'm not dreading it at all. Also I was happy to find a great dentist close to my home for when my child is older and has dental needs. I really feel like i've found my dentist for the long run! I will be recommending Dr. Galkin to everyone I know! read more

After reading reviews here I went to see Dr. Galkin and am thrilled I did. My partner and I have both been several times now. He's been terrific on little issues as well as the big ones. As someone who is terrified of the dentist and has had a lot of bad experiences, I'm no longer even the slightest bit hesitant to see him. He's friendly and funny while patiently explaining everything he's doing. I've never once felt rushed or as if he overbooked to get as many people in as possible - quite the opposite. He even called me after a recent procedure to check and see how I was doing. I'd recommend him to anyone! read more

Todd and his staff make a trip to the dentist an enjoyable experience. The conveniently located office and his personalized style of doing the work are refreshing in these days of chain store mentality. My wife and I are totally satisfied with the entire experience we experienced with Dr. Galkin. You won't be disappointed!!!!!! read more

Dr. Galkin is awesome! Who likes going to the dentist? Definitely not this girl. However, Dr. Galking totally put me at ease. He came out into the waiting area to greet me and let me know they'd be taking me back shortly. Once I was in the hot seat he explained everything he would be doing. Best part: when I left I didn't feel like I had just gone five rounds in a boxing ring. It is obvious that Dr. Galkin is a professional and cares about not only his business but also his patients. I only wish I could find a primary care physician like him. read more

Dr. Galkin is an Angel in a Human body!!! Before I met Dr. Galkin, I have not seen a dentist for over 20 years, except emergencies I had, in times when it was too painful to bare. many times through those years, I did went to different dentists to try and start fixing my teeth, but from many reasons I never felt comfortable enough, to continue after the first appointment. with Dr. Galkin it was different, I felt that I found the right place, and I was not disappointed! My teeth were in really bad shape, and painful. I needed a series of different treatments. Dr Galkin built me a plan, was very explanatory about the steps, and answered all my questions and concerns. Dr. Galkin is a real professional, knowledgeable, gentle, and very kind. The clinic is always neat, the staff welcomes and treat you with a smile, and are so warm and courteous. Each and every appointment, from the minute I walked in until the last minute I felt blessed Today I can smile, eat any thing without worrying, brush and flossing without any issues. I highly recommend Dr. Galkin for people of all ages and conditions. -Ofer read more

Dr. Galkin, and my previous dentist at another clinic, are both excellent dentists. What I like better about Dr. Galkin, however, is that a visit to his clinic entails none of the chaos that I endured at my previous clinic, which included: inferior layout of the floor plan; too much noise because there is too much crowding of people; and disorganized insurance billing. Plus, I like the support staff better at Dr. Galkin's clinic. read more

I love this Dentist office!!! Seriously, they are incredibly kind, gentle, and fast. The office staff is also really fantastic. They are very thorough and keep to their schedule. They are also very baby-friendly. I can't recommend them enough! read more

Dr. Galkin did excellent work replacing two crowns for me. I've had trouble with those teeth for years and he fixed the crowns beautifully as well as fixing a food trap that other dentists had claimed to fix but hadn't. The hygienist who did my last cleaning was amazing--I have pain with cleanings, except this time! No pain. I didn't know that was possible for me. Diane at the front desk is absolutely lovely; a front desk person can make or break a place and she is just so on top of everything as well as being friendly and genuine. Dr. Galkin himself is quite friendly and energetic and caring. I have some minor issues that keep me from being very enthusiastic about this place. First, having TVs tuned to the news in the exam rooms. I went in there around the time of the Boston bombings, I believe, and as someone with dental anxiety I do NOT want to be listening to and watching 24-hour CNN crap. I also don't want to have the people working on my teeth watching TV while doing so. But this happened. I understand that there are downtimes during dental work and I know work can be boring, so I'm a bit forgiving of them having TV. I'd rather they not be bored to tears. Like, morale is important. But it detracts from my comfort. Also, I don't get the impression that Dr. Galkin is an endodontist, despite what Yelp and his website say. He suspected at my last visit that I might have a cracked tooth in one of my root-canal teeth, and an extra root in the other. So he referred me out to an endodontist to get that checked, because, as he explained, endodontists have more specialized equipment to get better images of the roots. So... hmm. read more

AVOID THIS PLACE! I had a crown installed less than a year ago and Dr. Galkin promised that I should be OK for at least 5 years. Not even a year later my tooth is infected and needs a root canal. That is malpractice. read more

Just cannot do crowns and was defensive and unpleasant when I asked for some compensation because the crown was less than two years old. I have one trouble-free crown that is 30 years old and another that is 35 and this was a brand new site!!! He was careless when making the mold (he said just to tap, whereas grinding is what teeth do) and the result was the brand new crown had to be shaved down to the point silver was showing through. He said it was fine at that point so I accepted that, to my great detriment. The result is the tooth was lost and an implant is now needed. VERY expensive mistake of listening to a listserv recommendation -- presumably from someone who had never had a crown by him. Other reviewers confirm my experience, so check them out and save yourself a nightmare. read more

Let me pitch in my two cents about Dr. Galkin. When I went to him with a broken molar, he fixed me up right away. His relaxed personality, cheerful office and exuberant conversations with me about Breaking Bad didn't detract from his professionalism. Even though I have changed jobs and am no longer near Silver Spring, I will continue ti go to him and recommend him to anyone who asks if I know of a good dentist! read more

Echo all the other comments. Great experience, never have to wait, all the staff are friendly, the facility is clean and modern (interior, their building could use a little work :). Dr. Galkin also seems to take an exceptional level of pride in what he does and is dedicated to the quality of his work. He always wants to make it perfect! If you're there for a cavity filling, he will always look around and use some special tool or equipment to clean something else off or look into something a little closer. I like that he takes pride in his work and is a perfectionist. I had several crowns put in once and on the follow up visit he was really impressed with his own work. Not in an obnoxious or conceded manor, but just pleased with the outcome and expressing joy in dentistry. The only thing not so great is that he's a Red Sox fan..... read more

Heed my warning and read this review. It is not a long rant, but a serious review of this dentist and his incompetence. Dr. Galkin was my dentist for over 11 years. I thought he was the best dentist ever. I was lured in by his friendly demeanor and hypnotized by the massive fish tanks with extoic, colorful saltwater fish in his front office. In addition, he has a friendly and competent office manager. All of this led me to believe that Dr. Galkin was a great dentist. Here is the thing, friendly does not mean competent. It seemed that Galkin's crowns were constantly needing to be replaced. In 2017 Galkin put a crown on my back molar. This was a replacement to a crown he had done just shy of five years prior. He was unable to fit the crown properly and even when he replaced it a second time the crown had a deep overhang and open margin. I decided to go to another dentist and discovered that Galkin had put not 1, not 2, but 3 bad crowns in my mouth all in less than a five year time period. This means insurance will cover nothing to replace them. Even with insurance, I'm shelling out over $600. Without insurance each crown is $2,000. Galkin tried to pay me off with a list of contingencies including a non-disclosure agreement. His amount only covered half of the money to replace the bad crowns. I'm sure he has paid off many with contingency agreements because at the end of it all, Dr. Galkin is incompetent. Either that or he is purposely putting in crowns that won't last so he can keep collecting money to replace them. The criteria for a "Washingtonian dentist of the year" is a joke. Pretty much any dentist can get that award with positive online reviews. Galkin is not a nice guy once you question his work. His ego is HUGE. He refused to let his insurance company pay out what was owed for my crowns just to be spiteful. It would have cost him less to pay the $2,500 insurance deductible than it probably cost him monthly to upkeep his massive fish tanks. I will continue my fight for justice and have him investigated. Patients seem to have no protection or recourse. Everything protects the dentist or doctor, not the patient. read more

Dr. Galkin recommended significant work that was completely unnecessary (confirmed by two other trusted dentists). Have heard a half dozen similar stories from other former patients and one of his former hygienists. Be sure to ask a lot of questions before undergoing work more than a cleaning. read more

I never thought I would write a review of a dentist visit. Then again, I never thought I would ENJOY my trips to the dentist, either. Doc Galkin and his team are the very best I have ever seen. Here's the summary: You will not find a more professional, friendly, expedient and over-all happy experience in the field of dentistry! To be fair, I am lucky with good teeth and am not afraid of trips to the dentist. Usually I plop down, get cleaned or checked or what-ever, then move on without a second thought. I know some people are afraid of the dentist and have had scary things happening to them, but not me. I spent 20 years getting the dentists that the Navy gave me, had a pretty good dentist in Carlsbad, California before I left and then I moved to the DMV. Here, in under two years, I've had three dentists including Doc Galkin. The first one barely looked at my teeth, barely cleaned them and then I had to wait another 6 months for a cleaning to be covered by my insurance. I dropped her like a hot potato. The second one was ok, charged me a few hundred to have sealants put on some teeth I kept getting told were progressing towards cavities, then went and got another job before my next appointment (didn't tell me, either)! It worked out, because I found this office when I was forced to find another dentist. I was worried about a cracked front tooth and I got two brand-new caps that perfectly match the rest of my teeth and feel great. What sets this team apart from everyone else I've seen is the outstanding personal service I felt like I was receiving. Everyone there is so friendly. Not 3 minutes would go by (in the chair or in the waiting room) when someone didn't stop to ask how I was doing and make sure I was well. Doc Galkin actually treated me like a real person instead of just a paying patient! We talked about hockey and my home town, and he remembered what we talked about the next time I saw him! That's really much more than I can say for even myself...the small talk between a patient and his dentist would rate low on my priority of important things to remember in MY book, but not Doc Galkin. He was so personable! No kidding, I almost wanted to ask him to go grab a beer later. He also went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable at all times (which would be especially good for patients that are afraid of their dentist trips) and also had a last tooth sealed in about three minutes and he didn't even charge me! He took the extra trip to go out and tell the receptionist in front of me that I can call any time if I have any questions or problems with the new teeth, too. That wasn't really necessary and I know it was all for my benefit, but it was still really cool. Today I had my teeth cleaned as well and they look great. The hygienist was also very friendly and we shared our own small talk. It breaks my heart that I will have to find a new dentist when I move to Washington state this Spring. Doc Galkin and crew have set the bar pretty high for me now. read more

I had to get a root canal done so I called this office to get an estimate. The price was reasonable so I made an appointment to have the procedure done. Dr. Galkin and his assistant were very nice. While having the procedure done Dr. Galkin explained to me what he was doing. He was very knowledgeable and patient. The environment of the office was laid back and calm. Also, the staff provided good customer service. I would recommend Dr. Galkin and this office if you need dental work done. read more

Absolutely agree with everything said about Dr. Galkin!! I read reviews here and decided to make an appointment, best experience I've had at the dentist. He is the nicest person, explains absolutely everything, I never felt like he was rushing, he asks if you are comfortable through out the whole procedure, personable for sure, and definitely uses great equipment/technology. Great staff, nice office (he's a sports aficionado, you'll see, he's cool dude) overall a really excellent, excellent experience, and yes quite reasonably priced. Also, if you need other procedures, that he doesn't perform, he is very knowledgeable and will refer you to a good surgeon as well as provide you with all the information and steps necessary to getting the service you need. Make this man your dentist!!! read more

I first visited Dr. Galkin's office after reading several stellar recommendations on a local listserv, and I have been extremely pleased with this office. The entire staff is very friendly, the service is quick, and Dr. Galkin is a very knowledgeable, thorough, and gentle dentist. read more

Dr. Galkin is the best dentist I had ever been to. I went to a dentist in Atlanta and was handed an estimate for a years worth of work totalling $30k, with insurance. I left depressed and never returned. My teeth were neglected I knew that but I couldn't afford to pay. I finally got the nerve to go to the dentist again when my husband went to Dr Galkin and had a great experience. It turns out my teeth aren't that bad. I got a cleaning and a crown, ex rays (I hate ex rays) and sand abrasion with some white fillings. I praised $500.... that's it!!! I was beyond shocked. How $30k can turn into $500 is beyond me. I will never go anywhere else. He and his techs are kind, they are careful, they make dentist visits no big deal. Thank you! read more