Meet
Dr. Ben Chan
Board-Certified Orthodontist & Cumberland Native
Tufts Faculty Member in the Department of Orthodontics
Why I Came Home to Cumberland
I grew up in this practice.
Not as a patient but as the dentist's son.
I watched my father care for families. I watched him remember details about their lives that had nothing to do with teeth. I watched him show up consistently for 43 years. And I watched families trust him completely because he earned it.
What matters to me?
I came home to carry that forward.
The answer wasn't complicated. My roots are here. My family is here. The community that shaped me is here. And my father's legacy, the trust he built with families over 43 years, is here.
It's not the most ambitious choice.
It's not the most profitable choice.
It's just the right choice for me.
Dentistry is my profession, but it's the relationships that matter. The best relationships are built on consistency, honesty, and genuine care. That's what my father taught me. That's what I'm committed to.
That's what I'm committed to:
To be the orthodontist and build the expert team your family can count on for the next 60 years.
— Dr. Benjamin Chan
Credentials & Expertise
Board-Certified in Orthodontics
American Board of Orthodontics
Orthodontic Care for Children
Early Intervention Specialist
Trained to identify and treat developing alignment and bite issues in children as young as age 7. Combines orthodontic expertise with a child-friendly approach to guide jaw growth and create space for permanent teeth before problems become complex.
What this means:
Your child's orthodontist and growth specialist: from first evaluation through final results.
Orthodontics
DMD, MS
3-year advanced residency in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics focused on bite correction, jaw growth guidance, and long-term alignment strategies — for children, teens, and adults. Board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.
What this means:
In-house care from Phase 1 early treatment through comprehensive orthodontics: braces, clear braces, and Invisalign.
Academic Faculty
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Course Director for Early Treatment in Orthodontics. Clinical faculty mentoring orthodontic and pediatric residents through seminars, curriculum development, and hands-on patient care. Liaison to the Pediatric Dentistry Department.
What this means:
Collaborates in dental pulp stem cell research at Tufts, creating brain cells from dental pulp stem cells to develop a diagnostic model for Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Continuing Education Commitment
Dentistry evolves quickly. We stay current so your care stays current.
30+ hours of specialized orthodontic continuing education each year (beyond state requirements)
Regular attendance at regional and national orthodontic meetings
Active involvement with the American Association of Orthodontists and other professional societies
Ongoing collaboration and peer learning with academic and clinical leaders in orthodontics
Care grounded in current best practices.
How I Practice
Four principles that guide every recommendation I make
I Ask Before I Tell
My job is to understand your family's needs and concerns, not to jump immediately to treatment recommendations.
I ask questions. I listen. I take time to understand what matters to you. Then I explain options and let you decide.
This isn't efficient marketing (asking questions takes time). But it builds trust. And trust is everything in healthcare.
I Recommend What's Needed, Not What's Profitable
If I think a cavity can wait 6 months with monitoring instead of filling right now, I tell you. If I think Phase 1 orthodontics might prevent expensive problems later, I recommend evaluation, but not treatment unless it's actually necessary.
This philosophy sometimes costs us money (fewer procedures = less revenue). But it builds the trust that lasts 43 years.
A patient who trusts you is a patient for life. A patient who feels sold to is a patient who leaves.
I Don't Pretend Perfect Solutions Exist
Dental problems don't always have perfect solutions. Sometimes every option has trade-offs.
I'm honest about this. I explain what each option costs, what the benefits are, and what the limitations are. Then I let you decide what's right for your family.
This honesty builds trust more than pretending there's a perfect answer.
I'm Here for the Long Term
I chose to come home and build my career here. That means I'm committed to knowing your family's full history: your child's developmental path, your family's specific dental patterns, your history with other dentists.
Every interaction either builds or erodes that long-term trust. I work to always build it.
Who Dr. Ben is
Beyond the Dental Chair
A little about the person behind the practice, where I'm from, what I care about, and the community I call home.
I grew up in nearby Lincoln, Rhode Island, and my interest in dentistry started early by watching my father care for patients in this community.
After graduating from The Wheeler School in Providence and Bowdoin College (BA in Biology and Music) and earning my Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), followed by a three‑year residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, I returned home to build a practice rooted in the place that shaped me.
My family and I have deep roots here in Cumberland, and I split my time between caring for patients in town and teaching at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. Outside the office, I enjoy spending time with my family and staying connected to the community I’m proud to serve.
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