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THIS MONMOUTH COUNTY DENTIST HAS SPENT HER 31-YEAR CAREER HONING SKILLS AND BROADENING HER RANGE OF SERVICES, WHILE TURNING PATIENTS INTO FRIENDS

BY LAURA D.C. KOLNOSKI PHOTOS BY DOUG POLLE

Effusive enthusiasm for her practice and patients is evident the instant Dr. Susan Curley begins discussing her work. The Point Pleasant resident, who moved to New Jersey with her family at age 10 from the Boston area, has resided at the shore since, living primarily in Spring Lake and graduating from Manasquan High School.

Dr. Curley loved working as a dental assistant while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Emory University. She graduated from that Emory’s School of Dentistry at a time when only ten percent of her graduating class was female. (One educator actually asked if she was going into dentistry to find a husband. She wasn’t.) She also studied at the renowned Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida.

“I always liked my own dentist growing up, and actually enjoyed going,” she said. “I thought it would be a good career because you are an entrepreneur and own your own business. I have no reservations; it was the best choice for me, and it’s nice to see the growth of women in this field today.” Many of Dr. Curley’s legion of loyal patients have flooded her website with endorsements, primarily for cosmetic dentistry, which she says surged dramatically in the early ’90s with the “veneer era” and the evolution of affordable in-office bleaching.

“The practice of cosmetic dentistry has evolved from radical to conservative, and is not as extreme anymore, but I primarily consider myself a preventive dentist,” Curley said. “Health, aesthetics, and comfort make people seek out a dentist.”

The doctor performs most root canals and extractions herself, rather than referring patients to costly specialists. She explained that root canals, for example, are not painful if done properly.

The patient experience begins in the comfort of one’s home, where an online “Smile Analysis” survey on the practice’s website gauges new patients’ needs and wants. (In the dentist’s chair, she explained, nervous or embarrassed patients can forget to mention important factors.) The survey helps develop dialogue; its topics include missing, damaged, and discolored teeth.

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“It’s a great tool,” said Curley. “Your smile affects your self-image and can influence the quality of your interactions with others. Many people hold back from laughing or smiling because they are uncomfortable with their smile. Information is golden; you can’t get too much.” The doctor’s “other mission” is dental restoration, including rehabilitating dental disease using modern technology, and without lengthy treatment times. In addition to lasers and digital equipment, she makes frequent use of computer-aided design technology with a 3-D printer for crowns, implants, and dentures.

“Dr. Curley likes toys,” she laughed, adding, “Technology is important and amazing. Over the years, I have developed skills combined with science.” The challenge in dentistry today, she said, comes from insurance. When she graduated in 1984, maximum benefits averaged $1,500, which she said has not changed much since, despite rising costs.

In addition to ongoing décor and technology updates, her office has undergone four major renovations.

Children are treated with special care. “I am honest and explain the procedures in a way they can assimilate,” she said, adding that addressing the fears or other concerns of parents is a key component to care.

To unwind, Curley exercises regularly and enjoys skiing, boating, and golf. Travel is a passion, too, and has included mountain biking in the Azores off Portugal. To keep pace with the latest techniques and equipment, she and her clinicians attend lectures and conventions, and she is a member of the Psi Omega Dental Association.

“If you achieve a happy life, there is no distinction between work and play,” she said. “I’m appreciative of my career and grateful for my patients. They are some of the greatest gifts of my life.”

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Dr. Susan J. Curley DDS
1540 NJ-138, Wall Township / 732.681.8604 / susanjcurleydds.com