Plymouth, MN Drs and Health Practioners

Lots of people never want to leave college, but few actually get the chance to stay. Dr. Steven B. Means counts himself among these lucky few; after graduating from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1977, he moved in to an office located right on campus. Though he’s now an expert in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Dr. Means has taken advantage of his collegiate surroundings to continually educate himself in those fields. He has joined forces with Dr. Sherif Said, who is an alumnus of Ain Shams University's School of Dentistry in Cairo, a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has practiced dentistry for over eight years.

Whether they're filling cavities with tooth-colored composites, installing dental implants, or performing a routine cleaning, the two doctors keep their patients informed and encourages them to ask questions. It’s all part of making them feel as comfortable as possible—as is their use of nitrous oxide to calm jittery nerves. Their expertise also extends to treating gum disease and customizing mouth guards for people who unconsciously chew on their arms while asleep.

The Dental Emergency Room's team of doctors and dental assistants foster a gentle, stress-free environment in their state-of-the-art office. While always happy to help with emergency care, the team advocates regular exams to catch dental problems while they remain small and treatable. When aesthetic reconstruction is in order, they bolster smiles with services such as dental crowns, bridges, and implants. The staff further spoils their patients with seven-day-a-week appointment times and extended evening hours Monday–Thursday, ideal for busy professionals and vampires with toothaches.

At Sandpiper Dental, friendly isn’t just a vague way to describe the staff. Drs. Thomas W. Waite and David J. Trebisovsky, both University of Minnesota alums with more than 25 years of experience each, and their staff show patients how much they care by greeting everyone by their first name as they walk through the door. They also handwrite friendly notes to check in with patients after they’ve undergone a root canal or complicated surgery to extract stubborn popcorn kernels. They even have been known to send out hand-crafted birthday cards and flowers on special occasions, and they keep their office equipped with a children’s play area to make the space welcoming to whole family.

Born in Morocco and raised in the United States, New Look Vision's owner Younes has an international sense of style, which is reflected in the black brick walls and sleek furniture decorating the boutique, as well as the selection of chic eyewear on display. On any given day, there's a good chance that Younes will be working in the shop and helping visitors to find men's or women's frames that best flatter their faces. Patrons can also find children's eyewear and vintage frames handpicked from the faces of 1960s British Invasion artists that the shop's staff can fit with single-vision or bifocal lenses.

Dr. Steven R. Hagerman wants patients to know they have options. On his website, he says that many people aren't aware of advances in modern dentistry that can "quickly, painlessly improve the health and appearance of someone's smile." Over the course of his three decades of dental experience, he has worked continually to keep up with these advances, outfitting his office with dentistry’s constantly evolving technology. Waterlase diode lasers replace harsh, noisy drills for minor tooth problems. The Wand computerized anesthesia-delivery system injects anesthetic at the same rate that tissue absorbs it, reducing the inaccuracy of shots given by human hands. And a DiagnoDent laser cavity-detection system locates tooth decay more accurately than older methods, such as visual exams or tossing darts at the client's dental records.