By Jane Keller Gordon,Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury is at the forefront of a new trend. Under one roof, the practice includes an endodontist, periodontist, two general and cosmetic dentists, and one who is both a prosthodontist and a maxillofacial prosthodontist.
It’s a mini Tufts Dental School alumni group; four out of the five dentists are graduates of the school.
The practice offers: fillings, same day ceramic crowns, Invisalign orthodontics, ZOOM! Laser Whitening, cosmetic dentistry including veneers, dental implants, TMJ disorder and sleep apnea treatment, partial and full dentures, full mouth rehabilitation, and root canals.
“We are a one stop for family dental care,” said endodontist Dr. Jenn Wei. “It’s so much easier collaborating with each other. Our patients don’t need referrals, and don’t need to track down other specialists.”
Modern Dentistry has had deep roots in Shrewsbury for the past 50 years. It moved to its current state-of-the-art office in 2004. Patients, from very young to older, are greeted warmly by office staff members, and cared for by expert specialists.
The practice boasts diversity among its dentists, four hygienists, two dental assistants, and office staff. Eight languages are spoken: Portuguese, Farsi, Albanian, Khmer (Cambodian), Spanish, Greek, Italian, and, of course, English.
Dr. Wei and her husband, Dr. Mehdi Karimipour, a prosthodontist-maxillofacial prosthodontist known as Dr. Mehdi, are excited to have recently joined the practice. They met at Tufts Dental School, and are now the proud parents of Kaylah, who will turn one on Thanksgiving Day.
The strong connections between Modern Dentistry’s patients, and hygienists and assistants, have impressed Dr. Mehdi.
“This practice has a real hometown feel. We see a lot of highly educated residents from the area, including UMass staff. They do a good job of maintaining their dental health,” he said.
As a prosthodontist, Dr. Mehdi has the capacity and specialty training to do full mouth rehabilitation on patients who have more complex and advanced dental needs. As a maxillofacial prosthodontist, he fabricates oral-facial prostheses mainly for cancer patients who have lost structural areas. He also treats sleep apnea, fits custom-made athletic guards, and administers Botox and filler injections for cosmetic and TMJ issues.
After his undergraduate degree from UCLA and degree from Tufts, Dr. Mehdi continued his studies at the University of Alabama. He completed three-years of training in prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthodontics, and earned a master’s degree in dental materials.
Like Dr. Mehdi, Dr. Wei earned her bachelor’s degree in California. After graduating from the University of California, Riverside and then Tufts, she completed a general practice residency at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island. For three years she worked as a general dentist before she returned to Tufts and earned a specialty degree in endondontics. Dr. Wei diagnoses cracked teeth, performs root canals, and treats tooth pain, trauma, and emergencies.
Dr. Sarah Stipho, who grew up in Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston College, is the periodontist in the group. In addition to her dental degree from Tufts, she received a certificate and master’s degree in periodontology from the school.
California native Dr. Colette Catalino is one of the other two general and cosmetic dentists in the practice. She attended Tufts Dental School after graduating from the University of California, Davis. She joined Modern Dentistry after practicing in California. Currently, she is a member of the faculty at Tufts Dental School.
Dr. Todd Pizzi is a graduate of the State University of Buffalo Dental School.
Modern Dentistry is located at 307 Grafton St. #203, just off of eastbound Route 9 in Shrewsbury, at the Route 140 intersection. The office is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 7a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Patients can always reach me on my office voicemail if there is a dental emergency,” Dr. Medhi noted. “Hospital emergency rooms are limited in how they can treat dental issues.”
To set up an appointment or reach Dr. Mehdi in the event of an emergency, call 508-842-8838. Visit www.shrewsburydentist.com to learn more about the practice.