Bankhead & Groipen, DDS

The first time I went to this office it was an emergency and I saw Dr. Groipen, — I had a root canal and crown in a 2.5 hour procedure, Dr, G and his assistant were great, He made sure I was calm and completely pain free during the procedure, He was friendly and talkative and distracted my attention from the procedure, He made sure I went home with good instructions and a small prescription for pain meds. I saw him again when I broke a tooth and he was great –did what he could to save it and finally put a temporary fix in place until I could get it extracted,
I highly recommend Dr. Groipen. The office staff –everyone of the staff — also awesome,

Dr. Martin is really a good Doctor. Got my first root canal and I’m not in pain! Patient for life

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! First off let me tell you I am extremely phobic of the dentist. I had a dental emergency today and did not have a dentist in the area. I have a tooth that needed a crown and had a very large temporary filling that fell out. It left a half shell of a tooth and a big hole in my mouth. I called the office of Drs. Bankhead and Groipen this morning to see if they could help me (thank god I chose their office to call). I called them because of all their awesome Unilocal reviews. The woman who answered the phone was so nice and helpful. She was able to get me an appointment today at the office of my choice. I ended up being scheduled with Dr. Macdonald at the W. Roxbury location. From the time I called to make the appointment, to checking in, to the dental pre-​work, and to the dental work everyone was amazing! I was nervous and self conscious about the condition of my tooth. Everyone was so comforting, it helped to calm me. I used to have a fabulous dentist in the past before moving to Dedham and Dr. Macdonald far exceeded him! He was able to look at my tooth, asses that I needed and could have crown, and… wait for it… have it made and put it in while I was there today! I have never heard of that. Every other dentist has to order the crown and it takes a week or two to for them to get it back. I can’t believe the care I received today! It far exceeded my hopes and expectations and now I will be sending my Husband and Children to Dr. Macdonald as well. Really I will recommend this practice to everyone I know in the area!

I never write any reviews on Unilocal but this place deserves to get more then 5 stars. They treated me so amazing. I didn’t have any babysitter to take care of my daughter so I took her with me. While i was doing x rays, they took care of my daughter and entertained her with books, crayons and stickers. During the end of my visit, my daughter felt sick and vomited, they were soo kind about the situation. They even took me home! I have never seen any office so generous to any of their patients. From the doctor, to the assistant and receptionist, everyone was so kind and friendly. I am definitely coming back here.

Great dentist, staff, and hygenists. I’ve been seeing Dr. Martin here for a little over a year now and he’s been nothing short of excellent. Everyone in the office is super friendly and attentative. I love that they’re open late and on the weekends as that it is ideal for working professional. I’ve never had trouble securing an appointment and usually they end up taking me early if they’re schedule is available. I’ve had appointments ranging from cleaning and x-​rays to fillings and periodontals. Everything has gone great and I’m always in and out in a timely manner.
So glad I found a great dentist after moving to Boston

So first, a little back ground on me. I like most people, don’t enjoy the dentist. I had a lot of work done about 5 years ago at a dentist at Harvard Vanguard in Braintree. My dentist was negative, sloppy, painful, and he actually made me feel guilty for every problem he found. He then started scolding me boisterously in the waiting room in from of other patients when I asked him for something for the pain (after be basically tore apart my mouth). The experience made me feel so much anxiety and fear. I never wanted to go to the dentist again.
Flash forward 5 years later. Despite brushing everyday, I was starting to experience some pain. I had a chipped tooth and sensitivity all over the place. I could only really chew comfortably with one part of my mouth and on the other side of my mouth, I would get terrible bad breath as result of the chipped tooth. Gross, I know. The amount of anxiety I had about visiting a dentist again was now not only about the process, but about what they’d find!
Enter Dr. Rick Bankhead.
I had heard about Rick as his practice sponsors a basketball team in a basketball league I play in. Upon a little research I couldn’t believe how much his patients loved him. I decided it was time to bite the bullet and pay him a visit. The office was colorful, friendly, and comfortable. Rick’s demeanor was friendly, funny, and gentle. I explained what hurt, and we took some Xrays. He showed me the Xrays on a big TV over the chair, and explained the problem areas and why I was in pain. He didn’t make me feel bad about having some pretty major issues and we wrote up a game plan to start tackling the more serious problems. He told me we’d get through it together! So he threw me on some antibiotics (which relieved the pain that brought me in) and set up a date the next week to get to work. I was very nervous, but ready now that I had someone I knew I could trust.
We did 2 fillings, 2 root canals, 2 crowns, and unfortunately we had to remove the chipped tooth way in the back (that was mostly gone anyway). Sounds like a lot right? Yeah. It was. 4 hours of work. But you know what? A little nitrous oxide, some well placed Novocain, and I didn’t feel a thing! When I say I didn’t feel a thing, I am not saying the pain was minimal. There was no pain. 2 root canals were done before I even realize he was doing them. I was consciously aware he was working on those teeth, but it felt like he was just prepping them. I had no idea he was performing a root canal and actually asked, when he was going to start. Before I knew it, he was cementing on the permanent crowns that were shaped on site! Even now, I can’t tell which teeth are crowns, and which were my real teeth. They look that natural! The extraction was also painless! Rick novicained the hell out of the area to ensure I wouldn’t feel it, and was constantly checking in with me to make sure I couldn’t feel anything. It was a fairly extensive removal as the tooth was so far gone it came out in pieces, but it came out, he stitched me up and that was it. It’s a couple days later now, and the pain is dull (and fading) and the bad breath/​taste in my mouth, is gone! Even in the morning, my breath doesn’t smell!
I know I’ve written a book here, but I had to explain the whole story to leave the most accurate review. I couldn’t be happier with the experience provided by Rick and Jane (his assistant). If you are searching for a dentist and this is your research method, search no more. Use these guys. You won’t regret it.

Sometimes Unilocal 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, Unilocal.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.

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

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!

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.

As a person who has had a long-​running fear of dentists (since I was 14 or 15 years old), Bankhead & Groipen settled all my fears! They are gentle, considerate and caring. They explain everything carefully and make sure you are comfortable with everything they are doing.
The entire staff is fantastic, from the front desk to the Hygenists to the dentists themselves.
I could not recommend them more strongly! They are the best!

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.

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.

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!

I have recommended this dental practice to family and friends. I found the office to be clean and welcoming, the front desk staff friendly and
professional and the doctors and hygienists caring and gentle. I go to Dr MacDonald (aka Dr Stu). He always makes sure that I am good and numb and that the gas is flowing before starting any procedure (I’m a dental fraidy-​cat). Joanne, the hygienist, distracted me from the cleaning she was doing by telling me funny stories of her family. Most importantly, I have been left with clean, healthy teeth. Yay.

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 Unilocal for some guidance. Thanks to the stellar reviews from my now fellow Unilocalers, 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 régime.
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!

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.

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.»

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!

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.