Bryan Dental Associates

Dr. Peter Bryan, DDS, (right front) and Dr. Eric Bryan, DMD, (left front) of Bryan Dental Associates, with members of their staff. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Shrewsbury - Bryan Dental Associates of Shrewsbury has a mission to serve their patients with excellence each day.

The dental team is led by the father-and-son owners and partners in the practice, Dr. Peter Bryan and Dr. Eric Bryan. They were both educated as engineers at the University of Massachusetts. They both served in the armed forces, and Dr. Eric received his Red Beret while working on the Special Forces. Dr. Peter has been in practice for 31 years and his son Dr. Eric joined him eight years ago.

According to Dr. Peter, there are some current trends he is seeing that are different from years past. One of those trends is extensive decay and cavities in high-school-aged patients.

"Many of these young people are drinking an increasing amount of sports drinks," Dr. Peter said. "Kids who have grown up with no cavities are suddenly experiencing decay and infection."

There's also a new trend among older patients.

"In the area of reconstructive dentistry, we are seeing many patients of retirement age doing reconstructive cosmetic work before their benefits will end," Dr. Peter said. "They have raised their children, sent them to school, and now feel it is their turn."

Another trend is that patients who wear dentures can have "implant connected (or supported) dentures," which means that the dentures can't fall out.

"This work is expensive and extensive, but technically possible," Dr. Peter said.

Not every denture wearer would be a candidate for this type of implant work, but it can be an answer for many patients who, according to Dr. Peter, end up not leaving their homes because of worries about their dentures falling out.

Dr. Peter also explained that many elderly patients are taking multiple necessary medications that can destroy their teeth.

"We work to try to keep them from losing their teeth," he said. "People should look at getting work done on their teeth before retirement to maximize use of their dental benefits rather than waiting until they are elderly with 'their back against the wall.' Then they end up trying to determine how to pay for the work to be done as well as facing the fact that they may not have the overall health to tolerate the work they need or desire to have done.

"One needs a 'basket of skills' to do what we do," Dr. Peter added. "To name a few: dexterity, artistic ability, empathy, understanding the technical aspects of reconstruction of teeth, knowledge of engineering principles that apply to the mouth, and caring about people."

The dental practice is truly a family business: Dr. Peter's wife, Jan, his daughter Ellen, and Claudia DiPilato, a lifelong friend who has worked for Bryan Dental for over 20 years, take care of the "business" end of the practice, while he and Dr. Eric practice dentistry.

Whether it is an emergency trip to the office, a regular cleaning, an inquiry about cosmetic dental work, or anything in between, the Doctors Bryan and their staff are devoted to helping their patients.

"We have a motto in our practice, which is 'Keep your teeth for life,'" Dr. Peter said, "and people can have their teeth for life with the proper care."

Bryan Dental Associates is located at 48 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury. Visit them online at www.bryandental.net. Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.