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Bankhead & Groipen, DDS
Category: Health and Medical Dentists General Dentistry General Dentistry [Edit]
399 Belgrade Ave(between Roxbury Pky & Beech St)
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Neighborhood: West Roxbury
(617) 325-0101
- Nearest Transit:
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Belgrade Ave @ West Roxbury Pkwy (35, 36, 37, 38)
W Roxbury Pkwy @ Belgrade Ave (38)
Anawan Ave @ W Roxbury Pkwy (38)
- Hours:
Mon 9 am - 7 pm
Tue-Wed 8 am - 5 pm
Thu 8 am - 7 pm
Fri 8 am - 4 pm
Sat 8 am - 3 pm
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
16 reviews for Bankhead & Groipen, DDS
16 reviews in English
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Review from Mike N.
Malden, MA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I hate the dentist and they know it .... But coming here makes me happy to see the dentist .... Groipen/Bankhead/ I'll see any of the dentists here they are all so great
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Review from Mike P.
Cambridge, MA
2/8/2012
Sometimes Yelp just doesn't come through. Yes, it's infrequent but this is one place I'm honestly shocked about.
I called the West Roxbury office to find out how much a cleaning was because I did not have dental insurance. The guy tells me $125. I say okay and make an appointment.
Fast forward to the actual visit - I meet the hygienist after waiting 20 minutes because they were running "a bit behind." She does an adequate job cleaning my teeth. Now, I've been to the dentist enough times to know what they're supposed to do. She doesn't bother flossing my teeth but I think whatever; maybe they're in really good shape or something.
Next the dentist comes in (not sure of his name). He says hello, looks at my teeth for 20 seconds, and says everything looks good. No mouth/tongue cancer examination, nothing.
Finally, I go to the counter to pay and they tell me it's $250! I tell them I had called and was quoted $125. They tell me it's an extra $125 for the dentist to come in and look at my teeth. I then tell them that I don't have insurance and I wouldn't have come in if I had known the price. The ridiculously magnanimous desk person found it in his heart to give me a "break" and only charge for the cleaning and not the exam. I was so caught off guard by the whole thing, I didn't know what to do.
I called their office a few days later to tell them that neither the hygienist flossed my teeth nor, more importantly, did the doctor perform an oral cancer screening. The bitchy woman on the other end tells me they'll "look into it." Upon further reflection, I'm 99% sure they didn't give a crap about me because I had no insurance and wasn't a cash cow for them.
Wow, Yelp. I swear I'm not making this up. I have no idea how this place has so many glowing reviews. Either my expectations are too high or other people's are too low. -
Review from BeiEmpress Q.
ALLSTON, MA
4/23/2011
About as un-intimidating as you can try to make a dental office, the clinic sits on the corner of an intersection and is itself, rather small, in what was possibly a residential one-family house. They hang small stuffed animals and other decorations in every room so as to divert your attention away from the surgical tools, and contain your imagination from running wild.
Each room is colorfully painted in pastel colors, with overhanging funky artwork. When illuminated, the screens over the ceiling lights show blue skies and clouds, even if it's in fact raining outside.
I held back initially because 2 wisdom teeth extractions (one being surgical) rang at $750, but with dental insurance I convinced myself dental health is part of overall health.
My dentist was quite polite and sweet to me. He gave me laughing gas to reduce the anxiety during the surgery, and later Vicodin to relieve pain. I'm not a big fan of gas and strong medications, but appreciated the hospitality nevertheless. -
Review from Steph P.
4/25/2011
I have had a few short trysts with different dentists over the last 5 years. First was the dentist in Chicago who claimed I had no cavities even when I saw black spots on my teeth. Then the overpriced La Jolla dentist who put in a terrible crown. That led me to my dentist soul mate who did a lot of great work in my mouth....before I had to move to Boston. There was the dentist who gave me fillings that didn't stop hurting for a year and then...at long last...there was Kirk.
Dr. Kirk Bankhead is a great dentist. He has an excellent chair-side manner, always making me feel comfortable and never, ever rushed. I like to think of myself as having a high tolerance for pain, but when it comes to my mouth I am just a big, blubbering baby. Dr. Bankhead gives me the gas then coaches me through everything, knowing when to distract me when I get too anxious. He stays calm and it helps to keep me calm. The rest of the staff is wonderful as well, special shout out to Tim for being so patient with my whiny ass. They always call and remind me of appointments, work with my crazy schedule to set appointments, will happily research insurance and are consistently NICE!
I love this dental office and I would recommend it to anyone!Listed in: I Feel Pretty....Oh So Pretty!
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Review from Debra L.
6/7/2007
I can't believe that:
A) I am giving a dentist office 5 stars!
B) I am not the only one to have done this!
My aunt has been a Hygenist for Doctors Bankhead & Groipen for ages and I have no idea why I never went to her/them sooner. I guess the location was never that convenient for me, but I made the trip and it was totally worth it.
My aunt cleaned my teeth last week and did a perfect job and did not hurt me, which is a big plus. And, today I went to Dr. Bankhead for a filling and some bonding and I loved him! I went to the Hyde Park office. He is the nicest Denstist I think I have ever been to. And, I agree with Bryan - he is so calming and has a great sense of humor.
And the best part is that he gave me laughing gas before the novocaine! I have had more than my share of cavities/fillings over the years but I don't think I've had laughing guess since my pre-teen years.
I'm not exactly looking forward to my next visit in 2 weeks but I'm also not dreading it!Listed in: Me Look Pretty One Day
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Review from Paul C.
Boston, MA
12/13/2010
Wonder of wonders! A permanent porcelain crown in under 90 minutes with no gooey impressions, no temp that falls off, and a highly competitive price! This, added to the friendly staff, makes this the best practice around.
G&B have invested in the most modern German computer technology. That's right. A little robotic machine carves your permanent crown while you wait. One appointment! Amazing. -
Review from Bryan S.
Roslindale, MA
2/9/2007
I hate going to the dentist. I had a lot of dental work several years back and since then, even the thought of a cleaning makes my skin crawl. A colleague of mine recommended, Dr. Richard Bankhead, and BAM - problem solved! Dr. Bankhead has a gentle, calming and humurous demeanor. On my first visit, I had a cleaning, which was painless. I was very disappointed (and scared) to find out that I had developed a cavity.
My second visit was the true test: cavity drilled and filled. Low and behold, no pain and no stress. I admit a lot of that can be attributed to the laughing gas, but Dr. Bankhead really did listen to my concerns and made the entire experience bearable. I won't say it was pleasant, that would be a stretch. I am pushing 40 and it is nice that when that day comes and I have to say "Pull 'em, doc", Dr. Bankhead will be there to help me through it.Listed in: Boston's Best, non-food
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Review from Andrew M.
Roslindale, MA
6/6/2008
I hadn't been to the dentist in far too long. It's not that I'm afraid; I think it's just one of those things that once you miss a visit it's easy to fall off the proverbial bandwagon.
So in my quest to find a dentist I turned to Yelp for some guidance. Thanks to the stellar reviews from my now fellow Yelpers, coupled with my wife's love of flamingos (check out their website), I decided to make an appointment.
The cleaning went surprisingly well for being so long overdo. The hygienist, Jacob, indulged my slightly-off sense of humor and gave the most thorough cleaning I've had to date.
When it came time for Dr. MacDonald to have a look, I was expecting the worst. Something like, "Well you're lucky we aren't fitting you for dentures after a five year hiatus." On the contrary, he was very friendly and has since persuaded me to add flossing to my daily regime.
I didn't escape cavity-free as you may suspect. Though I was expectimg more than only two new cavities as punishment for my negligence. I have since returned to have one cavity filled by Dr. MacDonald who was again very friendly. One more filling to go and I'm back in business! Thanks, Dr. MacDonald! -
Review from Angela H.
Boston, MA
4/24/2008
I just got back from my first dentist appointment in four years. I was staying away because the last time (at a different office) I was brought to tears by the simple act of getting x-rays taken.
This time was different. I went to the Hyde Park office and saw Dr. Kirk Bankhead. He is a kind, gentle person who did nothing but make me feel comfortable in that chair that usual gives me nightmares.
His staff were exceptional as well. Tim took the x-rays and it was nothing like last time. He was also kind, gentle and patient. Marty got everything ready for the cleaning and brought a lovely, generous laughter into an often terrifying room. -
Review from Chris L.
Cincinnati, OH
4/2/2010
I've barely just left Dr. Bankhead's office in West Roxbury, and I can't stop smiling! This is the first time in my entire life that I actually have a dentist I REALLY like.
A little background: prone to chronic cavities, had more fillings then I can count on both hands. My mom is the same way, and so is her mom. Just got stuck with bad genes I suppose. This coupled with my irrational fear of the dentist left me with 3 years since my last dental visit.
Last week was the breaking point-- woke up with such bad pain in a molar, I knew the end was near. Had an emergency root canal done by a dentist on Boylston St who charged me about the down payment on a car. But the past is passed, I've made peace with that.
Since I knew I had more work to be done, I searched high and low for a respectable, accredited dentist in Boston who could ALSO give me an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. I probably made and cancelled about 6 other appointments before calling Dr. Bankhead. Not only did they schedule me right away, they actually made me feel appreciated!
Fast forward to today, the entire consultation was both painless AND enjoyable. The receptionist was fantastic and friendly, as was the dental hygienist and x-ray tech that got me set up. Shortly after, Dr. Bankhead came in and took a look at my mouth. He was very through, but gentle. He walked me through exactly what needed to be done, and why. And also the pro's and con's to different fill material. This was a first for me! A dentist that actually cares about your comfort and helps you understand what needs to be done? I like this!
I have some broken fillings to fix, but that seems to be the worst of it! No run-around, no nonsense, just a fair and comprehensive treatment plan. And perhaps the BEST part? It's all going to be affordable! For a FT college student w/o dental insurance, this is a HUGE plus.
So I'm scheduled for 2 more appointments, and should be good again. I'm really looking forward to coming back and working with Dr. Bankhead's office! If you're anything like me (terrified of the dentist, racked with guilt, and in dire need of assistance) give Dr. Bankhead a try! -
Review from Adam B.
Jamaica Plain, MA
9/11/2007
Man, these guys are fantastic. The West Roxbury office is very nice, in a pretty house (easy parking), and it's actually cheery inside. It's also not covered in advertising for teeth whiteners and Invisalign and whatnot, which is a nice change of pace, and they definitely don't push all that expensive optional stuff on you.
The staff have been friendly and helpful, and Dr Bankhead was fantastic when he put a pair of fillings in. No pain, very professional, and they try to make you as comfortable as possible. Luckily I have insurance, but they seem very flexible in terms of payment plans if you don't.
I don't have other local dentists to compare him to, but this place is good enough I don't see any reason to "shop around." -
Review from Ardit k.
Suffolk, MA
3/10/2011
Pricing is a bit high at this place, so you might want to do a bit of shopping if you are paying out of pocket.
The dental work is good, relatively painless and so far everything seems great. -
Review from Julie A.
Arlington, MA
3/24/2007
These guys are the best dentists, especially for those who freak out going to the dentist!
I HATEED going, I'd get serious anxiety even for a cleaning, let alone fillings etc. These guys were great at calming me and provided plenty of gas to put me out!
I see Dr. Groipen but they are both great. -
Review from mia d.
Boston, MA
1/15/2011
I'm afraid of the dentist- or I *was* afraid. These guys are fantastic. Dr Bankhead is just great, and his assistant Jane is really nice, helpful, comforting. I've had to have some yucky stuff done in the past year, and they made it as pleasant as it could be. The professional calm and the funny gas gets me through. My manfriend is also a patient there- he sees someone else (not Bankhead or Groipen), and he really likes him too.
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Review from Camy S.
Roslindale, MA
4/8/2011
This was my first visit. Went really smoothly. It's was also really nice too that they sent an email a couple days after the visit saying thank you for choosing their services.
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Review from Catherine T.
Roslindale, MA
9/8/2009
I agree with all the other rave reviews here. We've been going to this office for years, usually the one on Belgrade Ave., and see no reason to go anywhere else. The folks there are both competent and friendly, both the dentists and the various staff personnel (hygienists, receptionists, etc.). Dr. Kirk in particular has a great chairside manner with children, although he's equally good with adults. They're also very good about working you in quickly if you have a toothache or other emergency. Like some of the other posters, I can't say that I actually look forward to going to the dentist, but at least I don't dread it, which is pretty high praise when you think about it!
