Lina Al-Aswad, DMD

Please stay away from this practice. This dentist is rude, condescending, cold, and just disrespectful! Not to mention, she has the tendency to recommend unnecessary procedures. (I have been taking my child to this practice for years.)
At my child’s last visit, the dentist got extremely defensive and LOUD because as she was telling me about a bunch of procedures she was GOING to do on my child (did not ask for my input or permission to do any of these things whatsoever), I mentioned that I found it strange that my child’s previous dentist never mentioned any of these problems. She also did not like the fact that I was questioning the procedures she was forcing us to do. I was sincerely asking «why are you doing ABC? why is XYZ necessary? how long would she have to wear this?» — She answered my questions very loudly and rudely, so I asked her to please lower her voice because it was making me uncomfortable. Then, she proceeded to literally yell in front of her staff and others nearby «NOW IM GOING TO BE LOUD! YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO IN MY PRACTICE!!!»
She also said that I was accusing her of lying about the dental work she was recommending… when I was actually saying that I was sincerely shocked that my child seems to have so many dental issues going on and yet her previous dentist never brought any of these concerns to my attention. Clearly, Al-​Aswad was defensive for a reason.
After her berating me in front of my child, staff, and other patients, she had the nerve to ask if I still wanted her to do my child’s cleaning. Why on earth would I want such an angry, rude and seemingly maniacal dentist going anywhere near my child’s mouth after that scene she made? There was no way I was going to trust her touching my child after her unprofessional, erratic and defensive behavior.
Sidenote: She is also extremely condescending to her own staff members. Every time I’ve gone in here, she has new assistants and front desk folks. They must run the heck out of there as soon as she shows them her true, SCARY, colors. BEWARE.

Been our children’s dentist for years… top notch.

Dr. Al-​Aswad has been my dentist for years and I love her. She’s very thorough and very careful such that I always leave feeling my teeth are very well taken care of and there’s no pain. I really enjoy going to see Dr. Al-​Aswad because my teeth feel great afterwards. She’s also very friendly and is happy to work with you and your insurance company to plan out the dental work in a way that limits your out of pocket expenses.

they did an amazing job on my 3 year old son’s first dentist appointment. total pros. they thoroughly explained everything and i think he did a good job at the appointment as a result of their care and experience with young kids. very friendly, on time, and expert service. my husband and i are thinking of moving there, too.

I just wanted to take the time to write Dr. Al-​Aswad a good review here. I haven’t had her as a dentist for very long (only a month or so), but I chose her based on location (convenient for me), and I saw that she didn’t have really negative reviews. I am someone who gets scared away by even just 1 extremely negative review.
So far, I like what I see. I had a bunch of cavities, and she took the time to explain to me silver v. white fillings and was responsive to my needs and questions. Dr. Al-​Aswad would check to confirm everything before she started working — i.e. «We’re doing 4 cavities today, all on the left, all in white, ok?» and was sensitive to when I was tense/​nervous and when I was in pain. Things like that earn my trust. You have to trust that your dentist is looking out for you and your best interests, not looking for your money only.
Also, her assistants in general have been very responsive and responsible about getting dental pre-​estimates mailed to my house and answering all my (many) questions regarding my benefits and the costs to me. Having a responsible staff is really important when dealing with all these crazy dental costs and the billing involved.

Dr. Al-​Aswad is an amazing dentist. She handled both me & my kids, and we all loved her. Moreover, all of the staff knew us by name, even when we ran into them outside the office. I *did* move across the country, but still came back to Boston often enough that I kept using her for a couple years.

I was googling my kids’ dentist to get her phone number when I noticed there are only two reviews on Unilocal.Busy as I am (this is taking away valuable time on reddit, after all), I had to stop and say: This is a great dentist office. I wouldn’t send my kids anywhere else.

I had a very similar experience to Jessie G. and Dr. Al Aswad and her staff were amazing. Starting to panic at the dentist is a embarassing experience and they realized what was happening before I was ready to admit it, let me take a break, and finished up quickly (but thoroughly) when I was ready. I have honestly never had a better experience at a dentist — I joined Unilocal to write this review because I think so highly of them.
I have recommended it to all my friends and would still be going there today if I hadn’t moved across the country. They have also been amazingly helpful in transferring my records to my new dentist (who I don’t like nearly as much).

An observer by nature, I have been forced out of my pattern of passivity by the excellence that is Dr. Al-​Aswad. I don’t even know where to begin, but here goes.
I had made an appointment awhile back, and being the flake that I am, completely forgot about it and was a no show. They sent me a very polite letter saying not to do it again and telling me to call to make a new one. After a few months of procrastination and shame, I called to schedule a new appointment and got one for that week!
So yesterday, I went in for my cleaning with the expectation of at least a little lecture about showing up for appointments, but instead was meet with nothing but warmth and not a mention of my faux pas (I did apologize; she said no worries). Unfortunately this is only half the reason I felt inspired to write her up on Unilocal…
Although I have always been a bit dental phobic, I can usually pull on my big girl pants and keep it together… but not yesterday. In short, I pretty much lost it, a very embarrassing display of snot and hyperventilation, but Dr. Al-​Aswad was completely cool. She waited patiently while I worked myself back up to the composure of a five year old.
As luck (or lack of personal hygiene) would have it, I had a small cavity, which she filled right then so «I would not have to worry about coming back.» Dr. Al-​Aswad also said there was no need for Novocaine, which was, again, awesome. When I, stuttering my apologies, was leaving, she said, «I don’t remember anything.» Very nice. I can’t sing my praises loudly enough.
BTW, I know they take Delta Dental (not sure what else) and have before-​work and after-​work hours.