Timothy P Deahl, DDS, PC

Went there for filling. Filling was done right but don’t like their miscommunication when they book appointments. Also they push you to get more dental work. They asked me me to get extra fillings and deep cleaning. Also their X-​ray machines look old. And if you ask him too many questions and try to object his recommendations he’ll tell you to find a new doctor
I hate dentists anyways and this one didn’t make a good experience either. No thanks.

Dr. Deahl is excellent! I was referred to him by a friend after dealing with numerous dentists in the Somerville/​Cambridge area. What I like about Dr. Deahl is his exams are thorough, simple, to the point and efficient. I never feel pressured for unnecessary dental work. I know I can go into his office and not worry about whether or not I trust his judgement. His office staff and hygienists are also very friendly, courteous, and responsive. Overall a well-​rounded team and dental office. I highly recommend Dr. Deahl and his office for your dental needs.

I choose Tim Deahl because a friend told me he is gentle and empathetic. And he is. The entire office staff is warm and respectful, to one another, and to patients. The thing that I appreciate the most is that Tim will take his time to let me go numb, will check in to make sure I am feeling ok, and will respond immediately and without judgement if I put up a finger to indicate discomfort. I think he really does his best to make procedures as painless as possible, but if something hurts he deals with it respectfully.

Have been going here for years. I love that Debbie, my super awesome hygienist stays up to date with the most recent studies and technology in all things dental. She seems to really love her job. I have had wonderful experiences.

Since I began seeing Dr. Deahl, I’m not scared of going to the dentist anymore. He and my hygenist Linna are kind, professional people who give excellent quality care to their patients. Everyone who works at Dr. Deahl’s practice is capable, friendly, and works to make things as simple and painless for visitors as possible.
Dr. Deahl helped me find a surgeon to remove my wisdom teeth and has given me painless fillings. He’s never pushed any unnecessary or unwanted procedures, and his office has always been on top of communicating with me and working with my schedule. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

I didn’t have a dentist and had a broken tooth– a friend said he uses Dr. Deahl and I decided to try him. Although he seemed very friendly and accomodating the first time i went in, it turned into a 3 month fiasco. including unnecessary visits and costs. And now 2 months later, i’ve got more problems on the same tooth.
The number of things that went wrong just can’t be a coincidence. They forgot to call me back when i left messages– several times. The crown was made incorrectly. The crown hadn’t come back from the lab, but they had forgotten to call and postpone my appointment. so they offered to make it up to me by giving me xrays and a cleaning for free. i didn’t really want the xrays, but did want the cleaning. however they wanted to do xrays first. it took so long that then, oops! no time for the cleaning. not really the way to make something right.
Everytime i went in (5 times for one problem, should have taken 3 visits!), Dr. Deahl tried to convince me that i should consider braces. I made it clear to him that a) i had no dental insurance and couldn’t afford it, and b) i wasn’t interested in the cosmetic appearance issue. By the 3^rd time he was pushing this, i directly told him it was offensive, and please stop. Guess what? He proceeded to say the same things next time.
On another visit, i was having some problems with what the assistant was doing. I told her it was hard for me and could she do it another way? she left the room. and then Dr. Deahl came in to finish the procedure. It appears that she was completely unable to accept a suggestion, or respond as to why she couldn’t. her only response was to refuse to work on me. seriously?
Reading the other reviews for this practice, there are some strong positives and then some strong negatives. seems that no one is in the middle. Yet the sum of stars turns up positive– which is why i thought it was important to add my negative experience.

I have been a patient of Dr. Deahl’s for almost twenty years. I was originally referred to him because I had not been to a dentist in several years and was hesitant about how much work I would need.
Dr. Deahl quickly alleviated my fears and made me feel comfortable about going to the dentist again. I did have to have a lot of fillings done and then refilled since then, but I have never had a complaint. I also had a crown put on a front tooth because the nerve was damaged after a fall years ago. I have had several people, including another dentist, say that they would not have known it was a crown by looking at it.
I also swear by Debi, the excellent hygienist in the office. She is the person who finally got me flossing regularly. I can hear her saying, «You know if you miss a few days of flossing, it can take a week to make up for it.» Facing some major gum problems, I picked up the floss about ten years ago and have stuck with it since. Debi always cites interesting studies and data that relate to dental and gum health. Just today, she was talking about a Harvard study that happened to find that men who developed pancreatic cancer in a twenty-​year study also had a very high incidence of gum disease. I was very happy to get a clean bill of gum health today!
I always leave my hygiene session determined to take good care of my teeth and gums — and it’s always nice to catch up with Debi. Likewise for Dr. Deahl, Scott, and the rest of the staff. They’re always very nice and friendly, so it’s like visiting old friends. I love that they send out e-​mail reminders well ahead of your next visit. And now they have text reminders, too.
Almost ten years ago, I moved 160 miles away and I went to a new dentist. During my first visit, they recommended all kinds of expensive procedures. I immediately called Dr. Deahl and he said he’d be happy to see me. It turned out I did not need all those crazy root canals, etc. So, I’ve been making the trip to Cambridge ever since.
Finally, I should point out that the staff is very good about checking benefits beforehand and getting approvals, if needed. I have never had an insurance issue and I’m always aware of my copayment and deductible.
I have followed Dr. Deahl as he moved from two Harvard Vanguard locations to his own practice and I can only say good things about the care he and his staff provide.

Agree with Shine B. and so many others.
I loved my dentist in NY but alas, Somerville was too far a commute. I chose Dr. Deahl rather randomly — not the recommended way to chose doctors of any variety — Deahl’s office was close to my apartment.
Dr. Deahl felt I need two crowns and my old silver fillings replaced.
I left surprised that my old dentist had missed so much… decided to get a second opinion — lo and behold — I didn’t need any work done.
I should say that the office is very clean and that Dr. Deahl has a very pleasant personality — just be aware that you may not need all the work that he claims you need… or perhaps as someone who gave him a 5 Star review says — he likes to do «preventative work» (read: extra work you may not need for years).

Dr. Deahl and his staff are professional and caring. I am good hands with Dr. Deahl!

It was nice to see Dr. Deahl’s office acknowledge, via the comment to my original review, that there was an issue with billing. However, it would have been nice to receive such explanation or acknowledgement directly to me, rather than via my online review.
I am not sure what the complexity of the situation was. It was explained to me pretty clearly during my first call to my secondary insurance. I heard back from the Doctor’s office, and they said they called the insurance and nothing could be done, and while they made a small adjustment (~$ 23) the bill stood. When I called the insurance company immediately after hanging up with Dr. Deahl’s office, and asked why more wasn’t covered, the insurance company explained the situation to me quite clearly, and said that nobody had called regarding my account in the previous 8 months. Maybe if that initial call from the office to the insurance company had actually taken place???
The bright spot in all of this is hopefully other patients won’t run into this type of over-​billing issue.

I really like Dr. Deahl. Yes, he’s expensive. But dental work is insanely expensive. AND he has his own practice in Cambridge for crying out loud… what do ya’ll expect? I didn’t have dental insurance for 5 years, so you can imagine the work that needed to be done on my teeth when I finally got coverage. I felt as if he did everything he could to triage the work without exceeding the lump sum the insurance company allows (I know there’s a word for that, but I don’t know it at the moment). I would never feel comfortable going to a dentistry chain like Gentle Dental. Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors comes to mind… I feel Dr. Deahl’s knowledge and expertise far exceeds what you’d ever find at a dental factory like GD, and, for me, I would rather pay a little more for better care. He’s thorought, too… my teeth that he has filled (and the crown he has fitted) all look spectacular as they’re well shaped and polished. He keeps me in the know about what he’s doing as he’s doing it, discusses with me the treatment plan, and keeps the setting fun and light hearted (as he is always singing along sassily to the music piped through the speakers!). I’m sure there are less expensive dentists out there… but consider we live in a very dentist inflated area with Tufts dental school (which I’ve heard costs about a quarter of a mil from beginning to end), we live in one of the foremost expensive cities in the nation, and I imagine overhead and supplies cost him a ton. No, he’s definitely not hurting for money, but it’s capiltalism.

It seems that most people who are giving negative reviews here are upset with Dr Deahls’ insurance practices. I don’t know about that part, but I do know about his physical treatment of me as a person… very poor.
I was referred to Dr. Deahl by the doctors at the emergency room after I had a bike accident that broke 3 teeth and my jaw. a week after the accident I went in to see Dr. Deahl and he said he needed xrays. fair enough, but my jaw was broken and i couldn’t open it very far. He took regular bite-​wings and forced my jaw open, telling me to suck it up when i whimpered from the pain. apparently a broken jaw does not warrant a gentle hand! worse, 2 days later i got a letter in the mail saying he couldn’t help me (mailed the day i had actually gone in to see him). fortunately for me i was to get help elsewhere, but was definitely scarred from my experiences here.

I thought I had posted a review already, but I do not see it here.
Went in for exam and he said I had cavities in three teeth. He said that he might need to do crowns, but would not know until he started working. He would not start work without pre-​authorization from insurance.
I made my appointment and he never even attempted to fill the teeth, he just crowned them. I was too intimidated to question this.
He ruined three of my teeth. I ended up having to have two root canals within months due to the damage he did. Within a year one of the crowned teeth broke off at the gum line.
Avoid this scammer at all costs. All they want is your money, they don’t care at all about the damage they inflict.

Best dentist ever! Dr Deahl and his staff were extremely professional, friendly, and cared about my teeth and well-​being.
This was my first visit to the office and I loved that it was paperless. All paperwork was filled out ahead of time so it made checking in seamless. The hygienist was very thorough and answered all my questions (and was very painless in all that annoying scraping around they do!). X-​rays were quick and easy, and the review and exam by Dr Deahl was fantastic.
I have already recommended the office to a friend and it was only been a day! Thanks so much — see you in six months!

I have been a patient of Dr. Deah’s for about 2 years now and I couldn’t be happier. I originally went to him when I was living in N. Cambridge and the location was convenient to my house. I now live on the other side of Davis Square but I will continue to go there. The staff is extremely accommodating and friendly and Dr. Deahl takes his time with me, explaining everything along the way… couldn’t ask for more. I have had several hygienists in my time there and they all have been great. I love going to the dentist and always look forward to my experience at Dr. Deahl’s office. If you’re in that area and need a dentist… look no further.

Very friendly doctor, I have recommended my friends here too. The staff are also very friendly and they me feel comfortable every time I come.

Dr. Deahl did not talk me through my options and insisted on a procedure to «alleviate» (not treat) my severe dental pain, without discussing pros and cons. I went ahead with it under pressure from him to decide what to do, and also because I was in pain, but not before asking him to make sure the procedure would be covered by my insurance. When I received my bill, I found out that my insurance does not, in fact, cover the $ 1100 procedure. Worse, it didn’t make the tooth better (I was in pain for another week until I made an appointment with another) dentist. Whatever he did was clearly unnecessary and expensive, and he drilled my tooth down to nothing which complicated my treatment later.
Worst of all, I tried to have them send my dental Xrays to my next dentist and, 8 months and multiple phone calls later, they have not done so. Melissa, they are not paperless, because paperless dentists would be able to email Xrays and not have to worry about forgetting to snail mail them. His assistant Scott is rude, and they are on vacation whenever I call them so it is close to impossible to speak with someone on the phone.
All in all, I can’t think of anything they did RIGHT that day.
Arrgh.

Favorite dentist, ever.
I had been going to Gentle Dental in Belmont, and they seemed pretty typical, not the funnest place, but a good dentist for get your bi-​annual check-​up. Very recently, I decided that I didn’t want to drive to Belmont to go to the dentist anymore (having moved from Watertown to North Cambridge a couple of years ago) when I could walk down the street. So I came here on my husband’s recommendation and was wowed.
Let’s see, what was different from my standard expectation for the dentist experience? My new patient paperwork could be done ahead of time on the internet, at my leisure, instead of requiring that I come early to my first appointment. The dentist blew up my X-​rays on the computer for me and explained his analysis of them on the spot. He also chatted with me while examining my teeth, pausing with the dental instruments to let me answer his questions. The dentist chair had a little water fountain /​sink thing that let me rinse my own mouth instead of needing to have it sprayed with water and sucked by the sucker thing. And then, at the part where you usually get a cheap toothbrush or floss, I got a coupon and rebate for up to $ 25 off of a Sonicare. So high-​tech! Alright, so the tech isn’t that advanced for 2010, but this place makes it obvious that a lot of dentist offices are still in the stone age!
As if it couldn’t get better, everyone I met at the office on my one visit was very personable: receptionist, hygenist, dentist, and … (what was she?) lady who checked my gums. Oh, right, I almost forgot, Dr. Deahl noticed the bit of rough filling I had gotten from Gentle Dental that had been slightly irritating me for months without my saying anything and offered to shave it down (probably for free?) in a couple of minutes. Definitely an improvement.

I love this office and I love Dr. Deahl… finally a dentist who actually PREVENTS issues instead of just finding them.
I knew this place was different when I called for my first appointment and they actually EMAILED me forms to fill out because they are PAPERLESS. Since I’m a technology geek, I was completely impressed and psyched I could actually deal with these guys through email.
After bonding broke from one of my front teeth, he told me what no one else wanted to — «you’re front teeth look like chicklets with all that bonding on them». Thank you — and yes, I will bite the bullet (gently so as not to break more bonding) and get braces. He referred me to an awesome orthodontist and I’m on my way to get braces.
He’s gotten pre-​approval for 3 crowns that I need and for periodontic scaling that I’ve already had done and my mouth feels amazing already.
I’ve had limited money go out of my pocket, the office personnel know their way around my Met-​Life Insurance, and everyone is extremely professional and nice.

I’m very impressed with Dr. Deahl and his office and would recommend their services wholeheartedly.
A friend referred me to Dr. Deahl after an unsatisfactory experience with a previous dentist who I felt was pushing unnecessary dental work. This past experience plus my natural aversion to dental work resulted in me not seeing a dentist for several years so you can imagine my fear of going back.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I did not have any major dental issues, but Dr. Deahl did find a cavity that needed to be replaced (chipped that tooth about 2 year prior) and thought my gums were starting to recede. Even though my appointment was the last of the day, Dr. Deahl was nice enough to convince his periodontist to stay after hours so I would not have to come back again since I live a good bit away from his office.
The periodontist confirmed that I needed deep teeth scaling so I scheduled a followup appointment a few weeks later. I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to having this done, but the periodontist was very good at cleaning my teeth without causing pain and checked to make sure I was OK thoughout the procedure.
I’ve had my teeth cleaned there several times as well and their hygienists are excellent too. They do a thorough job of cleaning but without causing any pain (my worst fear).
Again I can’t recommend Dr. Deahl enough. If you fear dental work as I do, you are in good hands at his office. My wife even goes to him now too!