Dr. Ross was born and raised in the small town of Dixfield, Maine. He comes from a close-knit family with a younger and an older brother. At a young age he was determined to pursue the field of dentistry with aspirations to be like his father who has served rural Maine as a dentist and leader in their community for 32 years.

Dr. Ross studied Medical Biology at the University of New England undergrad where he was a member and Vice President of the pre-dental club. Following graduation he was accepted into the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. His goal was always to bring oral healthcare to rural Maine but he never knew exactly where he would begin practicing. During his fourth year of dental education at UNE he had the opportunity to experience a 3 month externship at a non-profit dental clinic in Down East Maine. After graduation he returned to the non-profit clinic to begin his career in dentistry.

Dr. Ross strives to make each and every patient feel comfortable and informed throughout their treatment. He enjoys providing education on oral health and taught students as external faculty for Tufts University, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and his alma mater UNE College of Dental Medicine. He finds it very important to stay current with the latest dental technology to provide the best possible treatment for his patients.

When he is not at the office Dr. Ross is spending time with his fiance, Danielle and their three dogs, Mowgli, Winnie and Kebo. He enjoys the outdoors and all they have to offer especially hunting, hiking and smoking foods out on his grill. Dr. Ross is excited to be practicing Dentistry in Mid Coast Maine and looks forward to a long career at Thomaston Family Dentistry providing oral healthcare and getting to know all of you.

Even after working in the dental field for over 27 years I am still passionate about my hygiene career, my patients and providing the highest quality care. I strive to provide excellent dental hygiene treatment while making sure my patients feel respected, at ease and have a positive dental experience. I love working with people and truly value developing relationships with my patients. I am extremely thankful to be working with such a friendly, caring professional team at Thomaston Family Dentistry.

I am a 1998 graduate of the University of New England ( Westbook College Campus) with an associates degree in dental hygiene. This past June I celebrated my 20th year as a dental hygienist at Thomaston Family Family. I feel so blessed that after all these years I can still say with honesty that I love my job! I look forward to going to work each day, and I truely love caring for my patients needs and educating them. It is very rewarding for me to watch my patients dental knowledge grow and the changes they make.as they begin to realize the importance of oral health.

I feel so very fortunate to have been a part of such a wonderful dental office for so many years. We are all very close . and I consider them my family away from my family!! Our office stays very current with dental procedures and dental technology. We are constantly doing continuing education classes so we can better treat our patients!!

I live in the little coastal fishing village of Friendship. My husband Jeromy is a lobsterman and works incredibly hard fishing year round! We have 3 children who are my greatest pride and my biggest blessing! Our daughter Emma is 15, and our Middle son Avery is 11 and our youngest son Alden is 7! They keep us very busy running with sports and activities!

In my free time I have many things that I enjoy doing! I love spending time with friends and family, hiking, exercising, flower gardening, seaglassing, antiquing, traveling and taking vacations. We also love spending time at our little summer home ( built in 1880) on Friendship Long Island. which has no electricity or running water!! And lastly, I love spending time with my 2 super spoiled kitties and our spoiled horse and pony!! I am very blessed!!! ?????

I am proud to say I have been at this practice for 30 years and am also lucky enough to have worked with most of my co workers for over two decades. I feel so fortunate to work with such an amazing team. This practice has always put our patients needs first and has always provided compassionate and excellent care. I have made many wonderful and lasting friendships with my patients and thats what makes me love what I do. My main goal is to make my patients comfortable and relaxed as well as providing them with the best care possible.

Composite fillings allow Dr. Ross to repair an area of decay in a tooth while maintaining the tooths natural, white beauty. Composite restorations require only the most conservative tooth preparations, allowing the Dr. Ross to save as much of your natural tooth as possible.

A crown is used to entirely cover or cap a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. Other materials include gold and metal alloys, acrylic and ceramic.

Our crowns and veneers are custom made in Vero Beach, Florida by Mike Addabbo- a true ceramic artist. Mike only works with a handful of dentists and provides some of the most beautiful ceramic restorations available anywhere.

A bridge may be recommended if youre missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Dr. Ross can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerationsandcost. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.

Sealants are protective coatings placed over the tops of the back teeth molars. They block bacteria and acids from sticking in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. Sealants can be placed in adults and children. Children can have sealants placed on their permanent molars once they come in, around age 6. Sometimes they are also used on primary (baby) molars.

Whitening can be achieved using an at-home bleaching gel and a mouth guard given to you by our office. Results are typically seen in two to four weeks. Whitening toothpastes may remove minor stains, but they arent very effective in most cases.

When a tooth has been chipped or badly damaged or when stains dont respond to bleaching, Dr. Ross may recommend covering the discolored areas. This can be done with composite filling material that is color-matched to the surrounding tooth. Another option is to get veneers, which are thin shells of ceramic that cover the outer surfaces of the teeth.

Dental implants are posts, or anchors, that are surgically implanted into the jawbone and fulfill the role that the root did in the original teeth. Once the dental implants are in place, false teeth are attached to them.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are stages of periodontal, or gum, disease. Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease marked by inflamed, swollen, bleeding and red gums. Gingivitis is reversible, but if not treated can progress to the more advanced stage called periodontitis where gums pull away from teeth allowing bacteria to cause infection that can damage teeth and their supporting bones. Periodontitis is actually the leading cause of tooth loss.

Teeth tartar, also called dental calculus, is a crusty deposit that can trap stains on the teeth and cause discoloration. It creates a strong bond that can only be removed by a dental professional. Tartar formation may also make it more difficult to remove new plaque and bacteria. Individuals vary greatly in their susceptibility to plaque and tartar on teeth. For many of us, these deposits build up faster as we age. If plaque is not removed regularly, and completely, minerals in your saliva combine with plaque to form crystals that harden into tartar. While plaque can be removed by thorough brushing and flossing at home, dental calculus can only be removed by a professional in the dental office. Our hygienists will use sharp instruments to scrape (scale) the tartar above and below the gumline and smooth the tooths surface which helps prevent plaque from adhering and more tartar from forming.

To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development.

The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during a tooths growth and development. However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp, because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

The dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain used to re-create the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. They are custom made to the contour of your teeth and are bonded to the tooths original enamel during a series of in-office procedures. Veneers are a less intrusive option than crowns or braces. Veneers can be used to close gaps or correct small misalignments. Patients also choose veneers as a comestic solution to enhance the brightness of their teeth and to straighten their smile, correcting issues like discoloration, fractures, or chips.

Our veneers are custom made in Vero Beach, Florida by Mike Addabbo- a true ceramic artist. Mike only works with a handful of dentists and provides some of the most beautiful ceramic restorations available anywhere.