New Dental Practice in Medfield Understands Your Fears

Her curiosity at what might lie beyond Westwood was the unlikely catalyst that turned a house-hunting expedition into a decision to open her own dental practice, in the town of Medfield.

“I wasn’t planning on getting an office here [in Medfield],” Dr. Mari An Bae, of Medfield Dental, said. “We were looking around for a house in Westwood [but] we like smaller towns, so I said ‘I wonder what’s after Westwood,' so, we found Medfield, which we really liked.”

Dr. Bae’s house-hunting efforts, however, were temporarily derailed when the real estate broker inquired as to her profession. “I’m a dentist,” she informed him, “and eventually, I might want to do dentistry in town, as well.”

The broker explained that, as luck would have it, there was currently a “great retail space” available, “just down the street”. Out of curiosity, Bae allowed the broker to show her the available space, at 36 Janes Ave., the former site of the Leaf and Petal.

Bae was so taken with the site that she decided it would be a wonderful location for her new practice, even though that decision would serve to put her house-hunting plans on hold for another year or two. “We came inside and everything just fell into place [from there].”

After three to four months of construction, Medfield Dental officially opened its doors at the end of July. Though the construction period was admittedly a stressful time, Bae confessed to enjoying “shopping every day” for things for the office.”

“It was wonderful,” she said.

Shopping for a house and ending up opening a dental practice isn’t the only oddity in Dr. Bae’s life as the Harvard Dental School graduate admits to always “having a fear of dentists.”

“I still am [fearful],” she said. ”I hate to admit it but it’s true. I hate needles, I hate novocaine ... anything to do with [undergoing] a dental procedure.”

Despite her fear, she decided on a career in dentistry and much to her amazement found that “I love doing dentistry. I don’t think I could find something else that could match [it],” she said.

Bae reasons that her decision to enter the field may have been a “subconscious” attempt to “get over my fear.” Her own fears, she decided, could also be a plus in relating to her patients.

“I thought that if I was fearful about treatment, then I would know what the patient [might feel] so I would relate to them better and help them better.”

Following her graduation from Harvard, Dr. Bae  joined ongoing practices in Cambridge and in the South End’s Prudential district, where she continues to practice on a part-time basis. “I don’t take new patients at Cambridge,” she explained, “although I do at South End.” Several of Bae’s colleagues from Harvard will be available to her Medfield office, as visiting specialists.

Although most everyone is familiar with Harvard University, “a lot of people don’t know that they have a dental school,” Bae said. “It’s the smallest dental school in the entire country. They only take 30-35 students a year. It’s very small compared to the medical school.”

Medfield’s newest dental practice offers all of the basic dentistry services including treatments, preventative procedures and cosmetic dentistry. Bae noted that the most popular cosmetic procedure at the moment is “bleaching,” for whiter teeth. Other cosmetics include veneers, clear braces and bonding.

Her office also is equipped with the latest in dental technology, including hardware for 3-D imaging and other devices, which have trimmed both time and discomfort from many dental procedures.

Dr. Bae believes the doctor/patient relationship is a prime ingredient in patient satisfaction.

“I believe there’s such a thing as chemistry between the dentist and the patient,” she said. “And it’s very important for a patient to find a dentist who suits them.”

To that end, Medfield Dental extends an open invitation for patients to “just come in and talk,”  should they wish to learn more about the practice and how it may benefit them.

“You don’t have to make a commitment, just come in, have a cup of coffee and we’ll talk.”

Dr. Bae, currently resides in Chestnut Hill with her husband, Jun and son Justin. “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” she says of the 2 1/2 year old.  

Medfield Dental will be present at this year’s Medfield Day celebration on Sept. 17 and is planning a raffle, specifically aimed at Medfield athletes. “Whoever wins is going to get fitted for free sports mouth-guards for their whole team,” she said.

To take Dr. Bae up on her offer to “come in and get to know us,” visit Medfield Dental at 36 Janes Ave .or contact them via e-mail at contactus@medfielddental.com. Telephone inquiries can be made by calling (508) 359-6900.