Behind every great practice is a team that cares.

Meet the people who make Cumberland Dental Specialists feel like family

From the front desk to the operatory, our team is the heartbeat of this practice. Many have been with us for years and it shows. Whether it's a warm greeting when you walk in, a gentle hand during treatment, or a follow-up call to check on your child, our team treats every family like their own.

Great dentistry isn't one person. It's a team that shows up, together, every day.

Dr. Ben doesn't do this alone.

Behind every patient experience is a team that's been with us for years. We hire for attitude and culture fit, not just credentials. We look for people who see patients as guests, not cases. People who remember names. Who ask about your kids' soccer games.

Some of our team members have been here for over two decades. That kind of continuity is rare in healthcare.

And it's intentional.

25+ Years

Team members who've grown with your family

Continuity you can count on

Familiar Faces

You'll see the same people, visit after visit

Relationships that matter

Personal Care

Names remembered. Stories followed up.

You're not a number here

Dr. Ben Chan

Board-Certified Orthodontist &

Practice Owner

With us since 2013 and trusted Orthodontist

Dr. Ben is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a clinical faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He brings advanced orthodontic expertise, from braces to Invisalign, with a personal touch shaped by growing up just seven minutes from the office.

See Dr. Ben's Page

Dr. William Chan

Founder emeritus - RETIRED

Dr. William Chan founded Cumberland Dental Specialists after completing his pediatric dentistry training at Tufts. For over 30 years, he served Rhode Island families while also teaching the next generation as an assistant clinical professor at Tufts. Named a "Top Doc" by Rhode Island Monthly from 2009–2015, his legacy of compassionate, community-rooted care lives on in every aspect of this practice.

After earning his DMD from Tufts in 1975, Dr. William was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, studying the efficacy of acupuncture in anesthesia. In 1978, he helped plan and establish the South Cove Community Health Center Dental Clinic in Boston's Chinatown, serving as one of its founding dentists for the Chinese community — before returning home to open Cumberland Dental Specialists in 1982.

Dr. Denise Goodman, DMD

Pediatric Dentist - With Us for 25+ Years

Dr. Goodman has been a part of the Cumberland family for over two decades, providing compassionate pediatric care shaped by her own childhood experience at the dentist. A Tufts graduate with specialty training at Harbor–UCLA, she brings expertise in laser therapy and a genuine warmth that puts children, and parents, at ease.

Beyond the practice, Dr. Goodman volunteers with Project Stretch, a global dental non-profit providing care to children in Mexico and Venezuela, and serves with a mobile dental company supporting the Armed Forces National Guard across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and American Samoa.

Our Philosophy

Why Long-Term Staff Matters to Your Family

Continuity of care builds trust, comfort, and better outcomes for every patient.

In an industry where practices average 20–30% staff turnover annually, we've built something different. Our team has been together for years — some for over two decades. That stability isn't just good for us; it's transformative for our patients.

When the same hygienist sees your child every six months, they notice subtle changes others might miss. They remember your concerns, your preferences, your history. That familiarity creates a level of personalized care that's impossible to replicate with rotating staff.

For children and anxious patients especially, seeing familiar faces makes all the difference. There's no need to rebuild trust or re-explain fears with every visit.

"I want to make sure people are seen. I want to make sure that people are met where they are. And I want to make sure that people are supported and cared for."

- Dr. Ben Chan

20-30%

Industry Average Turnover

Near Zero

Our Annual Turnover

This continuity extends beyond clinical care.

When our team asks about your daughter's soccer season or remembers your upcoming vacation, it's not small talk, it's the foundation of a relationship built over years of consistent, caring service.

Grow With Us

Our mission isn't just about patients.

It's about everyone who walks through our doors.

"Every day, we help grow people into the best versions of themselves. Our goal is for everyone to leave our organization better than when they started, including our team and the community we serve."

Dr. Ben Chan