John F Keohan, DDS

I write this review with a very explicit preface that you must read, understand and appreciate in order to consider Dr. Keohan. Dentists are amazingly hard to rate in my opinion, largely because just about everyone has «dental baggage» and/​or a checklist that must be met in order to make the experience tolerable. Have you ever asked someone about their dentist or the many dentists they have tried? Apparently, some of these dmd’s should double as psychiatrists, interior decorators and efficiency experts. I would venture to say that picking a dentist is like picking a breed of dog to adopt. They all are cute, but at least 75% won’t fit with your life-​style and personality.
Dr. Keohan is a semi-​retired, low key dentist near Lechmere who caters to locals and MIT folks for the most part. His staff is likewise Cambridge-​savvy as well as pleasant and kind. He offers convenience in terms of location, availability of appointments and low– stress dentistry. I have been through about 5 dentists in 10 years because of moves and plan changes and he is really the only guy who somehow does not make the subject of flossing something that makes me cringe. (I floss — I do – I don’t care what you say.)
He actually did my cleaning and scraping and was the first in years who did not make me cringe or slide up or down in the chair. His assistant was more than helpful in setting up appointments and chatting. She obviously cares about what she is doing — sharp contrast to every place I have been in 10 years.
This practice has real draw-​backs which will deter most. Dr. Keohan is semi-​retired. He is a BC/G’town grad with kids in their 30’s like me. He is not about to re-​invent his office. As such, this place is clean, but really dated. My friend called his x-​ray room a time machine. There is an appointment book — no back-​up to a server. There are two fish tanks and examining rooms with wall paper boarders from a while ago.
I like him. He was personable, didn’t hurt me, had good advice, didn’t lecture me and was darn convenient. I can work with that. Not sure I’d consider a root canal here, but since I am a child of the pink flouride pills of the 70’s and like to brush I hope that is not an issue.
With that in mind, if you don’t like quaint country inns that creek and have dated fixtures or identify with the label OCD, he’s not your man. Not sure I would venture as far as a major procedure here, but I can work with the exam and cleaning for the ease and convenience.