Tanya Wilson-Johnson, DDS

Dr. Tanya Wilson is a wonderful dentist. She treats her patients very well and is very careful in monitoring your reaction to different procedures (in terms of pain, etc). she does everything possible to make you comfortable, she is always on time, and billing is very easy. I’ve had several fillings and cleanings done and have had a wonderful experience every time. I think some of the poor reviews on here are from her old office in DuPont; she’s now located in L’enfant plaza. Anyway, great dentist. I’ve recommended her to several co-​workers who have also had very positive experiences.

Avoid. This place has fallen apart. The wonderful Dr. Wilson-​Johnson has apparently left indefinitely. Seems like the foxes are running this hen house.
If you’ve been screwed by this office, FWIW you can file a formal complaint with DC:

I was scheduled to see Dr. Wilson-​Johnson today, but after reading these reviews, I decided to cancel. I’ve been going to Dr. Wilson-​Johnson for the past 5 years or so, and I have had many of the bad experiences described below. I agree that Dr. Wilson-​Johnson is great, but I’ve also only been seen by her maybe once (in the beginning when I first went), and whoever the guy was who cleaned my teeth in the past was not gentle and caused a lot of pain. SOOOOO, I’m finally going to make the switch.

Ok, I have been going to this office for 3 years for cleanings and minor fill-​ins. I have meet Dr. Wilson-​Johnson on many occasion and she is a lovely person. It is a shame that her office personnel is AWFUL!!! It is bringing her business down. Their lack of follow-​up and follow-​through and professionalism is HORRIBLE! Needless to say that I just cancelled my appointment within one minute of making it. Can’t handle her staff but I wish Dr. Johnson all the best.

This office is horrible. They stole over $ 800 from me, and caused me to need a root canal and crown which cost me $ 3,000. After my experience here, I will be very careful in the future to vet all dentists before allowing them near my mouth!
Further, front desk is horrible with records, and incorrectly charged me almost $ 1,000, including a mouth guard for $ 800 that was defectively made and in the end, I never even received. If I had the time or the patience for it, I would sue this practitioner. She at least deserves a censure on her license.

I started going here because it was pretty close to where I live and I just kept going because of momentum. At first, I recall it being ok and even had a couple fillings here with Dr. Wilson-​Johnson. But the last couple times I got my cleanings here, I felt that they rushed the process and did a really poor job. Looking into my mouth after this last visit, I saw all kinds of plaque and stains the hygienist didn’t remove. They didn’t even try to scrape it off. Something tells me that if I had looked right after the previous visit, I would have noticed it too. Now I have a year’s worth of plaque building up and I just blew my insurance money on this place. If they can’t even get this basic stuff done right, I don’t want to trust them with my mouth anymore.
As if this wasn’t enough, every time I am in there now, they are trying to sell me on a night guard or invisalign or some other extra service. I get the feeling this place is now more concerned with making a sale than their patients’ dental health.
Avoid this place and make yourself walk the extra mile to another dentist.

These bad reviews amaze me. Dr. Wilson is a gem. She cares and is always helpful. The person complaining about her not being there failed to mention maternity leave. Don’t miss out on this great doctor!

I have since transferred to another dentist. I have been trying to get Dr. WJ’s office to send my x-​rays for over a year now but they still haven’t sent them. I don’t know why, they always give some excuse how they are looking into it, my account shows a balance (they actually owe me a credit but after over a year of trying to get that back I gave up, figure I just want my x-​rays and never have to deal with them again) or not calling back when I leave a voicemail. I shouldn’t have to keep calling like I am stalking them for my OWN records. Also I am realizing more and more how much health care waste is out there, there is definitely a sense of more is more at this office, with the new gadgets and annual full x-​ray sets. My new dentist does not recommend this much exposure, just bitewings as needed annually (hence needing my old x-​rays). Just because your insurance will cover them does not mean they are necessary or you should do them.

I’ve been to this place as well, as my insurance covered it. While I was waiting out in the lobby, I heard them discussing how they charge extra for the flouride rinse as discussed below, although they don’t tell you that it costs more before they give it. They were also discussing how they ran out of flouride. That incident in the lobby quickly made me doubt whether this was the dentist for me. During my cleaning and such, they told me of a small cavity that needed repair, and said they would do it. But I never got it filled – didn’t quite want this place doing it I don’t think.

I’ve been through it all with dentists: cleanings, whitening, braces, retainers, gum grafts and lots of cavities. And I have seen numerous dentists. This practice is the least professional and most disorganized I have ever come across. I went to this pratice for about 4 cleanings and one session to get teeth whitening, so I gave them 2 years worth of chances!
They don’t cancel appointments after they say they do. They don’t file claims correctly. They give you a floride rinse without discosing that it costs extra. Their cleanings are extremely painful and voilent (I thought my fillings were going to be pulled out). I had to ask for flossing after the cleaning to get the pummice grit out of my teeth. They don’t check thier email, even if they tell you to use it for record transfer requests. They don’t answer the phone if you call, instead let it go to voice mail during normal working hours. The current receptionist has such a thick black accent that she is hard to understand. The dentist herself was there 2 of the 4 cleanings/​check ups… not cool.
The worst was when I was being fitted for teeth whitening trays and they were taking my teeth molds. The dental assistant put so much molding putty in the mold tray that when it was placed in my mouth and pressed in place, the excess putty went down my throat gagging me and cut off my air supply! I am not kidding, I had to pull it out to breathe and she yelled at me! Completely uncompassionate.

Dr. Wilson-​Johnson does a decent job. However her back-​end staff, ecpecially the receptionist, are rude and do not do a good job handling appointments. I DO NOT suggest using this office.

Dr. Wilson-​Johnson is not the problem here. It’s her partner.
I’ve never feared or hated the dentist, despite two (2!) rounds of braces, headgear, a mouthguard and countless cavities (enamel deficiency in the family). In fact, my childhood dentist Dr. Spencer in California was so wonderful they aged me out at 18. My adult dentist Dr. Schneider in California even has answered my questions on the phone about insurance and such AFTER I was his patient. Good dentists with excellent bedside manner.
Now, Dr. Tanya Wilson herself is totally fine. She loves her gadgets and latest technology and is professional and nice. I came here for cleaning for two years, and I only got her the first time I came. Btw, if you do the non-​manual cleaning, they use a sonic like tool that sprays water all over your face. It’s faster and painless, but I’m glad I don’t wear makeup because it would have been ruined that day. Not a dealbreaker, but annoying.
So of course, I make the mistake of asking for a manual cleaning the next time I came. Expecting very nice, patient Dr. Wilson to be wonderful (if reluctant) to do an old school manual cleaning. Her partner is a guy (which almost always means larger hands, sexist but true), and was very surprised I asked for a manual cleaning.
Now, I’ve had 2 cleanings a year as far as I can remember, and have NEVER cried or been in pain after a cleaning. My gums were bleeding and puffy, and I was crying by the end of this cleaning, and Dr. Wilson had to come in and give me some painkillers to reduce the swelling. I even called in sick for the rest of the day for work. Not only was it painful, but the guy who did the cleaning was very standoffish and just said that the bleeding and puffiness was my fault because I didn’t floss enough. I’ve never had to have PAINKILLERS after a basic cleaning before you jerk! These are live awake patients you are working on!
Then I had another cleaning scheduled. I specifically asked for Dr. Wilson due to my trauma the time before, and got the same guy from earlier. Bait and switch! This time, he was a bit gentler, but he chipped a tooth! I didn’t notice the chip until I got back to work and was livid. I’ve given up on this place, plus I’ve switched insurances.
If you can actually get Dr. Wilson, this place is 3 stars. Otherwise, pass.

I have experienced routine cleanings at this office ranging from fair to very good. That is the only service I’ve gotten from them. However, my latest experience was very frustrating and will probably be my last. Consistent with some other reviews it seems to be an office management issue not a dentist issue.
I had a regular 6-​month appointment on my calendar on a Monday at 9:30, but never received the customary reminder call from the office. Suspecting I may have had the date wrong, I called — the office is not very close to me. The answering machine said they opened at 8:15. I tried again at 8:15 — no answer. I kept trying every few minutes until almost 9:00. I finally spoke to someone, who after much shuffling of papers told me I had an appointment at 10. Shortly thereafter I got a call from someone saying the Dr. was delayed in traffic and would need to reschedule. I proposed alternate times and was told «someone will call you.» Someone never did.
As to the people who complain about the office’s location in a mixed-​use residential and commercial building, this isn’t really an issue and shouldn’t be a concern for anyone accustomed to living in a big city.
UPDATE: I have asked this office twice, in writing, to send x-​rays to my new dentist and after three months nothing has been sent. I called to follow up and was told that my files had been sent, but the date the receptionist provided was months before my request and while I was still an active patient of Dr. Wilson-​Johnson.

Let me start by saying that Dr. Wilson-​Johnson herself is a great dentist. However, she went on extended leave with no known end date without notifying her patients. And the dentist she hired to fill in for her, Dr. Daniels, is a complete and total hack with little to no chairside manner. My first experience with Dr. Daniels left a great deal to be desired – he was dismissive of my questions and concerns and otherwise condescending. When I returned to have fillings done, his attitude continued to disappoint, as he was rude and dismissive to the hygienist who was assisting him while he was working on my teeth. If that isn’t enough, one of the two fillings he did cracked and fell out four weeks later. When I went in to have it redone, he blamed me for the damage saying that I grind my teeth (something he admitted there was no evidence of whatsoever). To top it all off, the same filling cracked and fell out AGAIN a mere 4 weeks after it was redone.
In addition to the sub-​standard care, the office staff at Dr. Wilson-Johnson’s office is consistently rude and incompetent. I was overcharged $ 60 for the first time the fillings were done, and did not get reimbursed for six weeks.
Long story short: STAY AWAY. It’s a shame that Dr. Wilson-​Johnson has allowed her practice to decline so significantly in her absence.

i’ve made two trips to dr. wilson-​johnson now, and neither time have i actually been treated by dr. wilson-​johnson. which doesn’t bother me too much, i’m glad there are multiple dentists at the practice. the ultimate reason for my poor review is simply the lack of «chairside» manner. i know to expect some uncomfort and pain that comes with any dentist visit, but it would go a long way if the provider didn’t seem so happy about it.
i wasn’t the best fan after my first visit, but thought i’d give it another shot. and though i did reschedule my next six-​month visit, i will probably not be making another visit.

Just an update — and a BEWARE. Okay, so let me start by saying that I like Dr. Wilson-​Johnson. She is nice and seems competent. The problem lies within how this place is run. In my previous post, I explained how i had to go back three times in 24 hours to have a filling replaced. When I went in that day I was supposed to see Dr. Wilson-​Johnson and was not told she would not be in that day, so I saw this other guy (who screwed up my filling) I had to go back the next day (a third time) to have Dr. Wilson Johnson fix it. I was getting an onlay so had to schedule to have it placed. They never called me to let me know the onlay was in. I called them and they were like, «yeah its here» so I scheduled an appt. I then asked will Dr. WJ be there and the receptionist was said no she is out for a long time and she hired someone new. I asked who it was and he didnt now. How are you not going to know the name of the dentist who is working there and for whom who are scheduling appts? ??? I was not very happy bc I had explained to this guy before I only wanted to see Dr. WJ and he wasnt even going to tell me if I didnt ask. I told him this is the last time I would be coming back and he HUNG UP ON ME.
This place is the WORST and the sad part is I like Dr. Wilson Johnson but trust me its not worth it.
Oh, and apparently they fired the dentist who screwed up my fillings bc they got so many complaints. Awesome

Dr. Wilson Johnson continues to be a good dentist, but her staff often leaves something to be desired, especially when it comes to dealing with insurance. I can’t honestly in good conscience recommend her to anyone.

My fiancée and I called up and made an appointment for 8am. We arrived about 10 minutes early, and when we got to the location, we realized the dentist’s office was located in an apartment building. That was the first thing that gave us a weird feeling. It was weird to get on the elevator with a woman who just bought some groceries, and walk onto a residential floor to see a apartment door with a doctor’s sign on the outside. We tried to open the door and it was locked. We knocked and no answer. I called, and when I called, I could hear the phone ringing from inside the office because the walls were so thin. I left two messages for them — one at about 8:05, since we were still locked out and no one was answering the phone, and another at 8:30 when we decided to leave because no one had showed up yet.
Now, I realize its a small dentist practice, and sometimes traffic really does hold you up, but when a client makes an appointment at 8am in the morning, and you even call to confirm the day before, and then NO ONE is there to let you in, not a receptionist, or a hygienist, or the dentist herself, it just reeks of unprofessional behavior. They didn’t even call us to apologize until after 9am, more than an hour after our appointment was supposed to start. Suffice it to say, we never called back to reschedule.

Eeeek! I’m so surprised by the negative reviews! I just went the other day because my filling came out. Literally, just dropped out of my mouth :(, no more gum for me! Dr. Wilson was awesome as usual though. She suggested I get my teeth cleaned, filled me back up and I was out of the door in less than an hour. I just love her, and I’m sorry some people feel differently about their experience. Hopefully, you’ll give her one last try, maybe she was having an off day. We all have those moments.

Dr. Wilson-​Johnson is great. Funny, dedicated, mature, and loves her new technology. It is a small office, which I like. None of the craziness of an office with tons of dentists and hygeniest. She did a very complicated root canal and crown on me and it is great. I just went for my first regular cleaning and the hygenist was fast and effective. He was very calm and quiet (I hate it when hygenists try to talk to you when the tools are in your mouth). The office is very convenient for Dupont and Adams Morgan at the corner of 17^th and R (between the Pannini place and the 7 – 11).