Dr. Richard A. Short is proud to welcome patients to a practice where real caring and compassion combine with education and experience to provide the best in dental care. His philosophy of service to the patient along with the support of a hand-picked, knowledgeable team creates excellence in both patient care and clinical results.

Dr. Short was born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Boston University, where he received a B.A. in biology and graduated with distinction in biology in 1976. In the years following college, he pursued his interest in health care by working for research facilities, both at Boston University School of Medicine and Boys Town of America research facility at St. Johns Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Boston Universitys Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 1982.

Dr. Short then worked as an associate for Frank Wetherbee, DMD, a general practice in Wakefield and Billerica. In 1985, Dr. Short and his wife, Dr. Ronni Ann Schnell, opened their practice at 360 Winthrop Street in Medford. He also served as an instructor in the A.P.E.X. program at the Goldman School of Dental Medicine. In 2002, Drs. Short and Schnell opened their doors to their current practice at 92 High Street, Suite 12 in Medford a state-of-the-art, patient-centered dental office.

Dr. Short has received cosmetic training at the Las Vegas Institute. He is also Invisalign-certified and has been recognized as a Preferred Provider. He is dedicated to a lifetime of continuing education, as is evidenced by earning his Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Short has lectured in the use of the CEREC CAD/CAM technology to dentists in the Boston area. He also volunteers his services for Special Smiles, a program which provides free dental checkups and free mouthguards for participants in the Special Olympics.

Dr. Ronni Ann Schnell graduated from Boston University School of Dental Medicine in 1981 and immediately was invited to join the faculty at B.U.S.D.M. in the department of removable prosthetics. She entered private practice in Medford in 1982 with Dr. Michael Kolligian. Dr. Schnell and Dr. Short purchased thepractice in 1984.

Dr. Schnells specialty at The Classic Smile is aesthetic removable dentistry. She is currently an associate clinical professor in the Department of General Dentistry and the division of removable prosthodontics and is the course director for pre-clinical removable prosthodontics.

She also lectures in advanced clinical topics and is the senior clinical director of removable prosthodontics. Dr. Schnell received a mastership award from the Academy of General Dentistry for more than 1,000 hours of rigorous hands-on participation courses. She is a member of the American Dental Association and on staff at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Dario E. Gonzalez was born in Caracas, Venezuela. During his time in Venezuela, Dr. Gonzalez completed his basic education and became a dentist in 1998. Throughout the years he spent in his country, he was also part of the National Swimming Team, with which he participated in many national and international swimming events. He obtained his dental degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, which is currently ranked number one for dental schools in that country.

After practicing dentistry in Venezuela for two years, Dr. Gonzalez decided to pursue his specialty training in periodontics and implant surgery. He was admitted into Boston University School of Dental Medicines periodontology and oral biology program in 2000.

During his three-year residency, Dr. Gonzalez was involved in specialty patient care, as well as research and teaching of pre-doctoral dental students. He also published multiple articles on immunization strategies against periodontal disease.

Dr. Gonzalez completed his masters in periodontology and oral biology in 2003 and immediately joined the public health services run by Boston Medical Center in itsnetwork of satellite health centers in Dorchester. After a few years practicing in the greater Boston area, Dr. Gonzalez decided to set roots in Massachusetts and went back to school to obtain his dental degree from a U.S. school. He graduated with honors from Boston University School of dental medicine in 2007 and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Patient Care and Practice Management award by Dean Spencer Frankl.

Dr. Shila Sharifi is a graduate of Boston University. After finishing high school in 2000, Dr. Sharifi moved to America with her family in pursuit of a higher education. She attended the University of Massachusetts Boston and graduated in 2004 with a double degree in art and biology.

Her passion for painting and sculpture had a huge influence in her decision to become a dentist and train at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. In 2008 Dr. Sharifi joined the post-doctoral program in prosthodontics, also at Boston University, where for three years she specialized in full-mouth prosthetic reconstructions, aesthetics, and implant dentistry.

Ever since her teenage years, Dr. Sharifi has held a deep passion for art and poetry. She found the field of prosthodontics to be a perfect combination of art and dentistry. Outside of her professional work, Dr. Sharifi enjoys painting, sculpting, photography, and traveling. She truly enjoys creating perfect, individual smiles and sharing in the joy of open-hearted laughter with her patients.