Avalon Dental Center

This Dentist is ripping off Insurance companies as well as patients! Don’t go here unless you like throwing $$ away!
I was originally going to pay for a Root Canal myself for a total of $ 3K. I had a few red flags go up when Katerina and Dr. Ofir had extensive conversations around money and scheduled several separate appointments to discuss. It started to get a little «time-​sharey» when they both at different times started filling out a Care Credit app on line for me and asking me directly what assets and credit cards I had available to use.
Shortly after this I got a job that paid 80% of my Endontics (root canals). When I went in and gave them my new ins. info they insisted it was invalid and I wasn’t covered. I made a quick call and informed them that I had Delta Dental of Maryland/​PA. They didn’t even seem to know that they could call anyone besides Delta Dental of MA or that they even existed! No apologies or explanations.
They then handed me a handwritten page with three numbers on it — the total cost, the amount my insurance covered and my portion $ 1K! When I told them that 20% of $ 3K is $ 600 they just repeatedly stated, more slowly each time as if I was dumb, that THIS was the number I had to worry about and «don’t worry about the other numbers on the page»!
When I called my ins co to verify my coverage they suggested I have Avalon submit a Pre Treatment Estimate. My request was time-​sensitive. As I had discussed repeatedly with Avalon, I get $ 2,500 per year of covered costs after which it’s all out of pocket. Since I need three root canals I’m looking at significant out-​of-​pocket expenses and need all the insurance coverage I can get, planning on using the $ 2,500 from this year and the $ 2,500 from next year.
I called Avalon several times following up about the estimate but was brushed off with «it can take a long time to get an estimate» each time. I brought my son in for an appt. at the end of November and again inquired about the estimate. Dr. Ofir happened to be at the desk and pulled out the handwritten estimate, expIaining it slowly. I informed Dr. Ofir firmly that I was a financial analyst, that I quite understood what they were saying and that the number was just wrong! Dr. Ofir threw up his hands and exclaimed that «We’ve got to get this resolved» making me feel pressured to still pay that $ 1K.
About a week after this appointment I received a call from Katerina. She said that they had received the estimate and that my co-​pay was, in fact, $ 600. I paid over the phone and scheduled the RC for two days later. I found out later they hadn’t requested the estimate until December 3… right after I spoke with Dr. Ofir! They received it in a week!
When I got to Avalon I was brought back and seated in a dental chair. A lady was hanging around — I found out eventually she was the endontist. At first she said there was a booking issue but as time wore on she said there was a financial issue and she couldn’t start until she was authorized. I thought «you’ve got to be kidding me»! and left the chair for the front desk. Katerina came over to me and tried to take me into a «back office» to talk about money saying «it’s good news for you»! I’d had it with money discussions and told her there was no reason to go to a back room — why couldn’t we deal with finances at the front desk? She then presented me with the «Pre-​treatment Estimate». It was from the wrong Delta Dental, said right on top that there was «no such subscriber» and indicates that the client is responsible for the entire payment. When I pointed this out she became confused and stated «Why did you tell me it was Delta Dental of New Jersey» I informed her that I certainly did not and that before we discussed anything else I wanted copies of the original quote and the estimate. She refused. Meanwhile the Endontist (still hanging out in the hall doing nothing) chimed in argumentatively saying «She’s just trying to do her job». I then said I didn’t feel comfortable having the procedure while the money wasn’t right and due to the involvement of the Endontist in sticking up for Katerina. Before this was decided Katerina had presented me with a third piece of paper… another hand written estimate that she claimed was the «new» «real» quote.
After returning twice I was able to get my hands on the NJ Estimate, which gives the Delta Dental negotiated pricing for the root canal, which was not $ 2,950 but closer to $ 2,650. I’ve confirmed with Delta they are FRAUDULENTLY charging over the Delta negotiated rate and billing me for my co-​pay plus the difference between their illegal over-​pricing and the «negotiated rate» they’re supposed to use. To add insult to injury, I received a letter from Dr. Misculin firing me from the practice! Get rid of the whistleblower!
Delta Dental has advised that I report this attempted shake-​down to their Fraud Dept., the MA Attorney General’s office and the ADA! BEWARE!

Odd to be giving 4 stars to a dentists’ office given my intense dislike of dentists in general.
I started going to Avalon because of convenience about a year or 2 ago. I was in walking distance to them. I’ve continued going despite having moved recently.
When I first started with them they were great. There was one little hiccup that deterred me for a bit (I went to their office for my appointment and they were closed. I was not late, the staff was).
The clinic itself is very clean and well kept. All of the tools they use are removed from sterile packaging while i’ve been in the room which is nice to see/​know (being a nurse I pick up on these things lol)
Recently I’ve had to have a lot of work done on cavities. I’ve had a crown placed with them as well, which I have no complaints about. It looks great and the procedure for it was tolerable (i have pain issues)
My recent trials and tribulations have been with Dr. Kovtun who has been excellent. He makes me laugh and keeps me at ease in an otherwise anxiety inducing situation. The last filling I had done, I was unfortunately able to feel much of the drilling etc despite several attempts to numb it with injected medication. (This is why I have always feared the dentist, since childhood-​novocaine, marcaine, and of the –caines dont typically work on me.) He was very receptive to my facial expressions and noting when it appeared I could feel discomfort and did his best to prevent pain as much as possible.
A week after the work, I was still very sensitive on the tooth and unable to chew on that side. They fit me in to be seen according to MY schedule, which was AWESOME! To be able to say «I work at this time, can’t do this time» etc and have them work around it, great service! He took a look and worked a bit more and now I’m waiting to see if it’ll heal and get better. Though I know if I have to go back again, they’ll accomodate me.

After what I affectionately call «the incident» (an event that involved my husband, a frozen piece of chocolate, a loud crack and a lot of blood), my beloved went here to get post-​emergency care for what turned out to be a baby tooth.
He said they were so fun.
This after getting really bad news, and a lot of pain, still said they were «fun».
I went in for a cleaning –something I was… maybe 6 years overdue for? I hadn’t laughed so hard in years. I ended up going through invisilign with Avalon, and called each treatment «me time». I’m a stay at home mom so every time I went, I was alone, laughing, talking, and having a good time.
AT THE DENTIST.
Context matters. I had excellent care, excellent attention, and my face doesn’t look weird anymore because my teeth are (for the first time in my 34 years) straight.
My two year old loves coming here, too!

I would give them 10 stars if I could. Let’s see, first I called and spoke to Ben on the phone who was absolutely delightful to speak with.
I went in for my appointment, and had professional care by assistant Katerina. Dr. Misculin explained everything to me. I needed 3 crowns to be done in order to save my teeth. I am very grateful to Dr. Misculin for providing a good care of me.
It was 3 appointments altogether and every time I came I did’t have to wait a minute! My doctor took me just-​in-​time which is a great benefit for me.
Like I said, I would recommend this place without hesitation. These guys are professional!

I had a horrific experience at this place. I was reluctant to post a review since dr. Kovten is so nice and tries his best. He’s pretty genuine from what I saw. The problem I had here was with management. After I read the only and above review, I had to add to it and agree, management is poor and even though my husband and I dropped $ 5,000 here in one month, they still try to push stuff and everything is hurried, including routine cleanings. I almost called the other day to yell at them, since I received numerous calls, texts, and even a letter reminding me I was overdue for a cleaning, wtf?! I had an appointment for a cleaning today and cancelled last minute. I don’t want to give them any further business. The secretary is a jerk too. I’m not a violent person but there were times I wanted to punch some of the staff. I had to get a root canal before my wedding, also needing gum grafting… had no idea it’d be a horror show. What I think happened is they took too much flesh from my palette. They’d never admit to that though. So, super long story short…1 emergency room visit and 4x rushing back, getting coagulant injections to stop crazy bleeding The bleeding came to a halt. I got married 2 days after the bleeding stopped. Couldn’t eat in fear that I’d start pulling a Gene Simmons on stage at my wedding at The King Richards Faire. Dr. Kovten felt bad, thats why I gave a 1 star rating. Please don’t get gum grafting here. My palette is tingly and sore still and this was back in September. They were very insensitive to me when I came in gushing blood, choking on it, fearing I was going to bleed to death. It was awful. What made it even worse was my Dad was dying from Brain Cancer and I had to leave his bedside the last day he was coherent to rush back 30 min drive from Beverly to Somerville to get an emergency coagulant injection… sometimes 3 of them to stop the bleeding. yeah it was that bad. The emergency room couldn’t even help me. I also had a bleeding episode at work and almost lost my job over this as well. Not fair at all. I think Dr. Kovten should work elsewhere and this place should be shut down.

I started coming to this place a couple of years ago. I was in big trouble with my teeth, and this was the place that helped me save them. The environment of the waiting lounge is well-​kept, and brightly-​lit. I know that there are a lot of people out there that are anxious about going to the dentists, and how a dark and dingy office might raise a few red flags.
The staff are really professional, courteous, and I feel are genuinely pleasant. Also, the equipment and methods of dentistry that are used is state-​of-​the-​art. I decided to get braces (again), and I don’t dread the monthly follow-​ups. The experience is completely different to what it was then, and I want to say that was 15 years ago. Dr. Ofir is a one-​of-​kind, and has an amazing sense of humor that will lighten up any anxiety that you may feel about the visit. I’ve also had Dr. Katta, both of which are very knowledgeable in their fields and will be able to answer your questions/​concerns in a concise and respectful manner.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place.

I have nothing bad to say about this dentist office. I had a huge fear of going to the dentist before I came here and I mean HUGE! I had some awful experiences at other dentist offices. In the past I have feel I have been taken advantage of cost wise and the pain was unbearable! Ever since I have found Avalon Dental Center things have changed for the better, I went to this dentist office since it was close to my house not knowing anything about it and I’m glad I did. I am always welcomed warmly which helps with my fear. They work with my schedule since I am not always available. Dr. Katta is a great dentist, She knows her stuff! I am a wimp when it comes to pain and I have to honestly say I have never felt any pain during my dental procedures. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable!