From the moment our practice opened its doors, the team here at Cumberland Dental Specialists understood how important it is for children to feel that they are in a safe and friendly environment, surrounded by people who genuinely have their best interests at heart. Dental treatment can create feelings of anxiety and fear among children and adults alike, and our skilled, friendly professionals make it a high priority to deliver effective care while also providing the most comfortable treatment experience possible. Our pediatric dentists and board-certified orthodontist also believe in the importance of patient education and giving your children the guidance they need to ensure they have healthy teeth and gums all the way into adulthood.

Our practice founder, Dr. William Chan, has specialized training in pediatric dentistry and a long history of providing compassionate, attentive care to each of his patients and their families. Dr. Chan has earned a wide range of accolades for his work, and he strives to give back by teaching the next generation of pediatric dentists as an assistant clinical professor.

Dr. Ben Chan is certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, among many other respected dental and orthodontic organizations. He is also on faculty at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Ben is an experienced orthodontist who performs a wide range of advanced procedures for both children and adults, and has helped patients across the age spectrum improve teeth alignment and bite irregularities with stunning results.

Dr. Nick Lavoie has worked in the medical field for over a decade, beginning as a registered nurse and eventually transitioning into the role of experienced and compassionate pediatric dentist. He has earned numerous awards, including the Dental Public Health Award, and he is dedicated to lifting up and supporting his community.

An extensively trained pediatric dentist, Dr. Denise Goodman has been practicing for over 25 years alongside Dr. Chan. In addition to earning numerous awards, Dr. Goodman makes time for philanthropic pursuits, including volunteering with Project Stretch, a non-profit organization that offers dental care to children in Mexico and Venezuela.

Dr. Jennifer Stevens is a board-certified pediatric dentist who has dedicated her career to helping children from infancy through adolescence receive the dental care they need to maintain excellent oral health into adulthood. A Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of many other respected dental organizations, Dr. Jenny is a compassionate, fun, and friendly dentist who prioritizes comfort and gentle care that can set your child at ease during treatment.

Dr. William Chan is the original founder of our practice. Although he is now retired, Dr. Chans legacy of exceptional dental care lives on here at Cumberland Dental Specialists, and our team is proud to continue his mission of providing the best possible experience for all of our wonderful patients.

After graduating from Woonsocket High School, Dr. Chan attended the University of Rhode Island, majoring in Zoology. During college, Dr. Chan discovered his interest in dentistry, and his family dentist urged him to pursue his passion.

Dr. Chan graduated in three years from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, in 1975. After graduation, he was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital: Department of Anesthesia to study the efficacy of acupuncture in anesthesia.

In 1978 he was instrumental in planning and implementing the South Cove Community Health Center Dental Clinic in Bostons Chinatown, and he was also one of the organizations founding dentists serving the Chinese community.

In 1982 Dr. Chan realized his love of children and decided to pursue further training in pediatric dentistry at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. Following his graduation, he decided to move closer to his family and set up the dental practice, which stands before you today.

For over 30 years, Dr. Chan has served his community in Rhode Island by teaching Tufts University pediatric dental residents as an assistant clinical professor. He has also continued to serve the Boston Chinatown community with a small pediatric dentistry practice on Washington Street. In 2013 he proudly accepted his son, Dr. Bena graduate of Tufts School of Dental Medicine (2010) and of the Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics department (2013)into the Cumberland office.

Dr. Ben grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and is a graduate of The Wheeler School in Providence. He matriculated to Bowdoin College, where he majored in Biology and minored in Music, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. After Bowdoin, Dr. Ben trained at Tufts University of Dental Medicine. He first earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine, and then he completed a three-year residency inorthodonticsand dentofacial orthopedics, receiving a Master of Science degree and a certificate in orthodontics.

Dr. Ben is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Northeast Society of Orthodontists, the Rhode Island Dental Association, the American Dental Association, Robert R. Andrews Research Honor Society, and New England Orthodontic Study Club. Dr. Ben is proud to be a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He also had the esteemed privilege of displaying his clinical board cases at the national American Association of Orthodontics convention and the regional Northeast Society of Orthodontics meeting. Dr. Ben now has the daily pleasure of working side-by-side with his father,Dr. William Chan, and has come to appreciate their relationship from this new perspective.

In addition to working withDr. Denise Goodman,Dr. Nick Lavoie, and his father at Cumberland Dental Specialists, Dr. Ben is the course director for Early Treatment in Orthodontics for both pediatric and orthodontic residents and a clinical faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He mentors the residents by leading seminars, facilitating curriculum development, and guiding patient treatment. He also serves as a liaison to the Tufts Pediatric Dentistry Department. When Dr. Ben is not working with patients and residents, he collaborates in dental pulp stem cell research at Tufts. He is currently creating brain cells from dental pulp stem cells and is using these brain cells to develop a model for autistic spectrum disorder to better diagnose and treat ASD.

Outside of these professional endeavors, Dr. Ben enjoys playing tennis competitively. He and his teammates reached the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Tournament in 2012 and 2013. Dr. Ben also loves to cook, eat his concoctions, read books, and watch movies in his free time.

While there is no board certification available for dentists, there is for orthodontists. Orthodontics is a specialty field that demands additional training beyond the standard dental degree. While orthodontists are not required to become board certified, patients can benefit from choosing one who is. Board certification indicates that an orthodontist has completed an accredited orthodontics residency and finished the necessary training to perform procedures safely using the most advanced techniques available. The American Board of Orthodontics has exacting standards for qualification, underscoring the importance of ethics and patient-focused care. Orthodontists must complete continuing education courses every year to maintain their certification. Choosing a board-certified orthodontist like Dr. Ben Chan can provide assurance that you are receiving the best treatment possible.

Dr. Nick Lavoie is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and has been in practice for more than 10 years. Dr. Lavoie is also a very friendly and warm presence here at our office, which can go a long way toward helping children feel at ease and comfortable during their treatment. He is dedicated to providing our wonderful patients the most positive experience possible, with the goal of achieving and maintaining healthy teeth and a happy smile for years to come. Dr. Lavoie is skilled with a comprehensive array of preventive dental care options, and is also adept with a range ofpediatric dentistryprocedures designed to restore oral health in children who may need treatment to improve the current state of their teeth and gums.

Dr. Lavoies mission is to keep it simple whenever possible and to provide treatment with long-lasting results. He strives to maintain a light-hearted atmosphere and to empower families, giving them the educational tools they need to ensure optimal oral health for all of their loved ones.

In addition to general dentistry andpediatric dental care, Dr. Lavoie has a strong background in healthcare. He began his college education at the University of Massachusetts, earning a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. Dr. Lavoie started his career as a Registered Nurse, and later completed Harvard Universitys post-baccalaureate program. This led to Stony Brook University, where he achieved his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

While Dr. Lavoie attended Stony Brook University, he also obtained a Masters degree in the Art of Public Policy, as well as a Masters in Public Health. Following these achievements, Dr. Lavoie stayed with Stony Brook for another two years in order to complete specialty training in the Universitys Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Lavoie has achieved a number of honors and awards over the course of his academic education and career. His leadership and dedication to serving the community have been recognized by many state and national organizations that single out excellence in dentistry. Dr. Lavoies recognitions include:

Dr. Lavoie has conducted extensive research into important topics such as the epidemiology and prevention of caries (cavities) in early childhood. Throughout his career, Dr. Lavoie has presented his research at a variety of prestigious annual dental conferences, including the Greater New York Dental Meeting, the American Academy of Dental Research Long Island Section, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Annual Meeting.

In his spare time, Dr. Lavoie is an avid hiker and fisherman, and he also enjoys working on personal fitness. But when hes not in the office, Dr. Lavoie takes the greatest pleasure in spending time with his wife Katy and their beloved cats!