Tend Dental Williamsburg

Pretty place but bad service. I was dealing with insurance to clarify coverage but the unkind lady at the front didn’t want to help much!

Best dentist experience- v quick and comfortable

I paid $495 for a tooth repair that fell off less than 12 hours later - clearly the result of poor work by the dentist I saw. Tend agreed to schedule me for a fix at no extra cost and I asked to see another dentist vs the one I originally saw as I no longer felt confident in his work. That dentist took one look at my tooth and said ‘oh I wouldn’t advise a repair on that tooth, it’ll only come off! I’ll just file it down’ which she did and it took 2 mins. So I paid $495 for a repair that not only lasted 12 hours but that I didn’t need in the first place. I contested the charge with my bank and Tend agreed to refund me the amount in full but the card/account I used to pay had since been closed. Despite advising them of this, I was told the billing team ‘would have to try submitting the refund and wait for a bounce back before they can issue a cheque’. Fast forward almost 2 months and still nothing. Now it’s somehow my responsibility to chase my bank? Feeling scammed as a previously loyal customer and do NOT recommend either Tend or this location.

On the positive side, Tend is well located, takes most insurance, and usually has plentiful appointments available. Beyond that, it’s about what you expect from a VC-backed dental practice: a factory assembly line. They try to obscure this was cutesy design details like projecting “Your Suite” on a tv in your office-cube-like vestibule (check the dictionary–this is not what “suite” means) and a framed little picture that says “cleaned just for you” (I know what they mean, do they not keep the office clean generally?). I’ve been to a few of the locations over several years, and the experiences have been similar: a rushed visit highlighted by a two-minute check in with a very young dentist who likely won’t work there when you come back. My cleaning today was pretty typical. After taking me 10-15 minutes late, the hygienist announced the plan before asking me how my teeth were, only doing x-rays when I interrupted to say I had been having tooth pain. The cleaning was unpleasant, and then I got a few minutes with a 25 year-old dentist. Regarding my tooth pain, he told me to see a specialist without giving me any read out from my x-rays. He provided context only after I insisted. So why do I go to a practice that I review with two stars? Well, you get what you pay for and I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to see an experienced dentist in NYC. Tend is good enough.

If you need a dentist who truly cares about your comfort and wellbeing, I strongly suggest going anywhere else. I chose Tend because they talk so much about comfort, patient care, and creating a pain-free experience. That’s the opposite of what I experienced. I went in for a first visit, mainly to get a cleaning. I asked — more than once — to be numbed before the cleaning. I explained clearly that this procedure hurts for me. I’ve had it done before and I know my own body. Instead of listening, I was told it wouldn’t hurt and that I didn’t need lidocaine because it “works for other patients.” I am not “other patients”. And I was asking for something simple that would have made the experience manageable for me. The procedure was painful. I left feeling anxious in a way I haven’t in years. No one should leave a dentist more afraid — and in more pain — than when they walked in. I also left untreated. The cleaning itself lasted less than 10 minutes with the ultrasonic tool before I was told it would probably hurt too much to continue that way (ironically, at this point they seem to have changed their mind and implicitly admitted it does hurt). Instead of offering anesthetic so the job could actually be done properly, the ultrasonic scaling was stopped early and replaced by a very brief manual scrape on just a few teeth. That was it. My teeth are not clean. I can still feel the buildup. I can see it in the mirror. After going to Tend, I now need to go to a dentist to actually get my teeth cleaned. Make that make sense. Tend, if a patient says, “This hurts for me. I want anesthetic,” believe them.

I know this is a long review, but honestly I didn’t want to write one. I just wish I had seen some of the reviews on places like Reddit or TikTok before booking and deciding to pay out of pocket. I assumed everything would be fine based on my sister’s initial visit, but we learned pretty quickly that her experience didn’t turn out great either. I’ve been dealing with worsening TMJ symptoms and, after moving from one dental practice to another without much help, I decided to try TEND Dental and pay out of pocket. I assumed that paying privately would mean more attentive and specialized care. Prior to my appointment, I specifically explained that I was dealing with TMJ and asked if I would be able to see someone familiar with treating it. I was told I would be meeting with someone knowledgeable in that area. Instead, my visit mainly consisted of a cleaning and x-rays. I mentioned my TMJ symptoms during the visit, and when the doctor came in, they noted that they could see signs that I grind my teeth. At that point, the primary option presented to me was purchasing a night guard, which costs about $500 out of pocket. During the cleaning, my jaw had to remain open for long periods despite my TMJ condition. I had to ask multiple times for breaks because my jaw became stiff and painful, and the pressure around my temples began to flare up. Patients with TMJ require extra awareness during dental procedures, and that did not seem to be considered. After purchasing the night guard, I called the office to ask if there was anything I could do while waiting for it to arrive because my symptoms were getting worse. I was told the guard would take the standard two weeks. When I asked what I could do in the meantime to manage the pain, the response from the front desk was essentially that my appointment was coming up the following week and that I had already waited this long, so I could wait a little longer. When someone calls a healthcare provider describing worsening pain and asking for guidance, being told to simply wait without any suggestions, empathy, or offer to check with the provider is extremely discouraging. TMJ affects more than just the jaw — it can lead to headaches, neck pain, shoulder tension, and significant daily discomfort. Being dismissed while trying to manage those symptoms is frustrating and disheartening. On the surface, TEND Dental presents itself as a polished, modern dental practice. However, in my experience, the level of communication, empathy, and specialized awareness did not match that image. When I finally went to pick up the night guard, I was simply handed the guard in a case with two small packets. It wasn’t even placed in a bag. There were no written instructions, no printed information, and nothing explaining how to properly use or care for it. Had I not asked questions myself, it felt like the interaction would have been over in seconds. I’ve never worn a night guard before, so being this is my first time naturally i had questions. The person who answered my questions initially was polite, and so was the doctor that came in after but for something that costs $500 out of pocket, I expected at least something with basic instructions, guidance, or even a simple bag with information on how to use it properly. Patients dealing with conditions like TMJ deserve to feel supported, and properly guided especially when they are paying out of pocket for care.

Had amazing two visits lately! One was a regular cleaning. The hygienist was very professional and thorough, yet efficient. It was 10/10 service. My second visit was an emergency appointment with vineer. I was able to book the spot the next day which can be challenging in other places. Again, the service I received was excellent. Everyone I met with were personable and made you feel welcome and looked after. The receptionist is great, too! What I love is they give you the exact amount you will pay based on your insurance. No surprises. Highly recommend trying Tend out.