Full dental services offer comprehensive care for all ages
By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Shrewsbury – Dr. Luciana Petto Messina, DDS, and her staff at Songbird Dental are passionate about what they do and are committed to providing comprehensive care in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
Songbird Dental is now in its fourth year at its 555 Main St Ste 3, Shrewsbury location. The team of six women includes a dental assistant, three dental hygienists and a patient coordinator.
The practice revolves around the four main components of a comprehensive dental care plan – preventive, cosmetic, restorative, and prosthetic – and welcomes patients of all ages.
Enhanced safety measures
Although some may be hesitant to see a dentist while the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the staff is well-equipped, Dr. Messina stressed, to ensure that patients will feel comfortable and safe during their appointments.
“We want to let people know that dentistry is essential as oral health is integral to overall health. While dental visits are different now that COVID-19 is a reality, the health and safety of our patients, our staff, and our families is still our primary concern,” Dr. Messina said. “Our practice’s infection control procedures and protocols are up-to-date and enforced.”
Strict measures have been put in place including check-ins from the parking lot and limiting the number of patients each day. Patients are asked to wear a mask until the appointment starts, to sanitize their hands, have their temperature taken and to use a hydrogen peroxide rinse at the beginning of each appointment.
Air purifying units with HEPA filters have been placed throughout the office to optimize healthier air by the removal of harmful airborne particles.
Clinical staff wears gowns, hair bonnets, N95/level 3 surgical masks, and face shields at all times.
“We follow the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, American Dental Association (ADA), and the Massachusetts Dental Association (MDS) for COVID-19 resources,” Dr. Messina noted.
Dr. Messina – over 25 years of experience
Dr. Messina was born in Brazil where she graduated from Pontifical Catholic University with a dental degree and practiced all levels of dentistry for several years. She was deeply involved with organizations that provided dental care to underserved communities.
She moved to Massachusetts in 2002 and because of her passion for dentistry and her desire to continue practicing she went on to receive her D.D.S. degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Messina has completed post-doctoral courses in many of the dental specialties and is consistently attending continuing education courses. She is currently a member of the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the Worcester District Dental Society. She is also a member of a Spears Study Club and meets with her peers regularly for continued professional development.
A desire to give back to those in need
Her compassion for others extends beyond her practice. The issue of food insecurity, especially in an era of the pandemic, is one that concerns her deeply. As such, she and her husband have decided to establish a Gofundme page to raise funds for a local food pantry.
“We at Songbird Dental are sensitive and concerned about the safety of our patients as much as we are about how much COVID-19 have contributed to increasing hunger within our community,” she said. “We originally thought about doing a food drive at the practice but due to concerns regarding social distancing and the spread of virus we have set up a Gofundme page instead.”
“We would like to raise awareness of this and ask that if you are reading this feature and are able to do so, that you consider donating to https://www.gofundme.com/f/songbird-dental-hunger-relief-fund,” she noted.
Songbird Dental will match 25 percent of each donation up to a total of $2,000 for the match contributions.
For more information, visit www.songbirddental.com, call 508-842-8100 or email [email protected]. Songbird Dental is in network with most insurance plans.