BUSINESS FOCUS
Academy Dental:
Comprehensive and compassionate
county dental care
Academy Dental traces its origins to 1979 when Dr. Garth Duff returned to his hometown to practice dentistry. Dr. Duff purchased a private practice at 179 Academy St. and, over the years, became a Presque Isle institution. Many of Academy Dental’s current patients numbered among Dr. Duff’s original patients.
The early practice had the great fortune of hiring a tremendous original team of loyal and hardworking employees. Of these, Mary Delong, Anne Dicker, and Sue Sager still practice their craft at Academy Dental today.
In 1995, Dr. Duff merged his practice with that of Dr. Norma Desjardins. Together, they founded Academy General Dentistry (AGD). A native of Van Buren, Dr. Desjardins brought with her a tremendous addition to AGD — her St. John Valley patients. Together, Dr. Duff and Dr. Desjardins were fortunate to have a bevy of dental professionals join their team. These outstanding new hires included Cheryl Bossie, Patty Ericson, Karen Edgecomb, Margaret McPherson and Sandi Bouchard.
As the practice began demonstrating significant growth, Dr. Desjardins and her husband, Paul, purchased the practice real estate and built the current clinical section. In 2002, the “new and enlarged” building was opened to patients. A more accessible and patient friendly workspace, AGD now housed nine operatories and, yes, more employees. Stacey Smith, Lisa McPherson and Shelley Clark joined the team.
In 2007, Dr. Mark Melendez-Christensen came to Academy Dental by way of Kentucky. He subsequently purchased Dr. Duff’s interest in AGD. In 2009, Dr. M-C and Dr. Desjardins changed the name of their practice to Academy Dental. Kristen Hoglund joined Academy Dental’s outstanding hygiene team.
Dr. Desjardins and Dr. Melendez-Christensen, their manager-spouses Paul and Charlotte (Char), and all the members of the Academy Dental team are committed to continuing the fine tradition of providing comprehensive and compassionate county dentistry.
For more information, call 764-3764 or logon to www.admaine.com.
