More than 30 years ago, a goal was set to create a dental practice that offered a warm, caring environment where every member of the family would benefit from the highest level of dental care. On June 1, 1985, the doors to such a facility opened—and what had simply been a dream then became a reality.
To this day, Westtown Dental Associates in West Chester offers a relaxed and friendly environment “where our family treats your family,” as the practice motto suggests. All three of the practice’s doctors—Barbara Diorio, D.M.D., David Swintek, D.M.D., and Brent Guenthner, D.M.D.—adhere to this enduring practice philosophy. Whether a patient is in need of a basic cleaning, wants to discuss cosmetic options such as veneers or teeth whitening, or requires something as involved as a complete smile restoration, the dentists and their team can fulfill every dental need.
Westtown Dental Associates has developed into a dynamic practice environment that allows patients of all ages to experience comprehensive, personalized dental care. Areas of focus include improving the health of the supporting tissues (gums and bones), implant placement and restoration, and comprehensive smile design.
In other words, Drs. Diorio, Swintek and Guenthner have created a practice staffed by a unique group of service-oriented professionals, whose sole aim is to provide the highest level of patient care, while offering the maximum level of comfort, sensitivity and compassion to every patient.
A Common Goal
Drs. Diorio and Dr. Swintek met at and graduated from Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry in 1984. Upon graduation, Dr. Diorio did a residency program at Abington Memorial Hospital, and Dr. Swintek went into private practice. They quickly learned that they shared a common goal for their lives upon the completion of their training: establishing a family and cosmetic dentistry practice in West Chester.
Dr. Guenthner, also a graduate of Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry, completed a residency at the Pennsylvania College of Medicine and then joined Westtown Dental Associates in 1995. He enjoys the relationships he has been able to build with patients and their families, believing that dentistry extends far beyond the treatment of teeth to include overall body health and complete facial aesthetics.
Where Relationships Matter
“The entire staff tends to the patients as if they are family,” states Dr. Diorio. “It is not unusual for our staff to spend the necessary extra time with a patient in order to address their needs. Kindness is the norm, not the exception.”
“Prompt, personal attention with follow-up care is essential to the patients’ comfort,” says Dr. Swintek. “The compliment for this attention is the strong personal referrals by the patients.”
“We want our patients to trust us as one of their family,” adds Dr. Guenthner. “We obviously keep up with current dental technology and trends, but there is something to be said about the doctor that genuinely cares about you—the patient. Westtown Dental has grown by performing high-quality dentistry and treating your family as if it was our family.”
As a reflection of the practice’s quality dentistry and high level of overall patient satisfaction, Westtown Dental Associates was recognized in the “Top Dentists” reports of both Philadelphia and Main Line Today magazines in 2011 and 2013. In addition, Drs. Diorio, Swintek and Guenthner received “Top Dentists” honors from Suburban Life and Philadelphia Life magazines in 2015.
Accommodation is Key
Appointment availability and minimal wait times are vital to the success of Westtown Dental Associates. These and other conveniences, such as in-operatory TVs, have had a positive effect on overall patient satisfaction, according to Dr. Swintek.
“Our society has become accustomed to service, and any office tuned into that shall benefit,” he says. “We offer early and late appointments to accommodate our patients’ schedules and we respect patients by staying on time with the scheduled appointment. We understand time is valuable, and we work along with the patients to be flexible with their schedules in mind. We also accept numerous insurance plans.”
Westtown Dental Associates offers the full range of dental services. This includes smile design, porcelain veneers, implant dentistry, advanced teeth whitening, periodontal maintenance, bridges, Invisalign orthodontic aligners and the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Continuing education courses enable the dentists to stay abreast of the latest dental trends and remain at the forefront of this continually evolving field. Such education is vitally important to delivering the highest level of care to patients of all ages, according to Dr. Diorio.
“Our smile is the first thing others notice about us,” she explains. “As we age, there are changes in our faces, as well as in our mouths. The teeth may become worn, eroded and chipped. Staining and shifting can also occur, causing uneven wear and an imbalance of chewing forces. Speaking to our patients and educating them as to options for treatment and why these processes occur is very important. Our wonderful staff of outstanding hygienists continually strives to inform our patients and help them to achieve maximal oral health and prevent dental conditions before they develop.”
Dental technology and computers have advanced dentistry greatly, allowing more predictable results and, often, decreased treatment times. At Westtown Dental Associates, these advancements include improved materials, quicker set times and technology-driven diagnostic tools such as digital X-rays. With digital X-rays, the dentists can view patients’ X-rays immediately on a computer screen or on an overhead flat-screen monitor, rather than waiting for film to develop; this enables quicker appointments while not compromising on accuracy. In addition, digital X-rays also reduce radiation exposure to the patient by as much as 95 percent.
“Digital X-rays are much quicker, and multiple filters allow us to review this information in ways not previously available,” notes Dr. Diorio. “We are able to forward this information to the specialists, when indicated, as a courtesy for our patients. This will often prevent the need for additional X-rays for the patient.”
Everyone is Unique
From the trio of dentists to the team of dental hygienists and support staff, the professionals at Westtown Dental Associates strive to deliver compassionate, personalized attention to each individual. Regardless of the patient, every case begins with a simple yet critical task: listening to the patient’s specific desires and concerns.
Westtown Dental Associates treats children, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents, with each group having a unique set of needs and concerns. Whether it’s bleaching a bride’s teeth for her wedding day, placing veneers on a patient who never liked the color, shape or size of his teeth, or orthodontically adjusting another patient’s teeth with Invisalign, the doctors at Westtown Dental Associates can fulfill the need.
All of the professionals at Westtown Dental agree: “A smile is the universal welcome. The person maybe young or old, rich or poor, but without a doubt, a beautiful smile will open any door.”
Westtown Dental Associates has been “opening doors” in Chester County—keeping patient’s teeth bright and maintaining healthy smiles—for 30 years now, with many more to come.
Westtown Dental Associates
1581 McDaniel Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
610-436-9736 | westtowndentalassociates.com
Photograph by Jeff Anderson
