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3 Questions With Dr. Jeanette MacLean by Sam Mittelsteadt

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3 Questions With Dr. Jeanette MacLean

Who better to kick off this series designed to spotlight the doctors who help direct and dictate the direction of Dentaltown’s editorial content than Dr. Jeanette MacLean? The Arizona-based pediatric dentist has been a member of the board for more than five years and regularly contributes articles herself. Plus, MacLean’s online CE courses for Dentaltown about silver diamine fluoride (SDF), the Hall technique (HT), atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) and other pediatric and minimally invasive dentistry topics have been viewed more than 6,000 times. (To watch her courses for the chance to earn up to 12 CE credits, head to dentaltown.com/jmaclean-ce.)
What first interested you in pediatric dentistry?
I did externships at various dental offices and specialties in college, and I loved my time at the pediatric office so much I ended up getting a job as a dental assistant there my last semester. I am a big kid at heart, and what better place to work than one where you can be silly for the kids and sing along to the radio and have movies like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing in the background?


How does your affiliation with E&S Orthodontists work, and how/when was that partnership created?
Our practice is more than 40 years old and has partnered with an orthodontist since the very early days. It’s a great way to help share expenses and reduce overhead. Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics go hand in hand, so it’s an easy, natural partnership. Our patients’ parents appreciate the comprehensive care and convenience we offer with both specialties under one roof.


You’re a big proponent of less invasive treatments such as SDF, ART and HT. What hesitations have you heard from dentists, and what’s your response?
I mainly hear from dentists who are eager to learn about these treatments, which is exciting, but they sometimes express frustration about dealing with a partner, employer, program director, etc., who is resistant to change. Some hesitance stems from baseless assumptions. For example, some dentists assume patients will reject SDF because of the staining, when in fact many consent to SDF treatment when given the option, so the dentists are losing patients when they don’t offer noninvasive options. Every day, we get patients who drive across town to see us because we have “more on the menu.”

Others assume less invasive means less production. I’m happy to report that our hourly production actually increased once we started using SDF, glass ionomer cement sealants, etc. The cost to treat the individual may be lower, but when you’re able to see a higher volume of patients, your productivity increases. Minimal interventions help increase access to care, reduce cost and risk, and improve outcomes, satisfying the triple aim of health care.

Another reason some dentists are reluctant to change is a phenomenon known as “willful ignorance,” where the subject chooses not to learn more about a topic perhaps because it challenges his or her current beliefs. Treatments like SDF, selective caries removal or no carious tissue removal (as done in ART and HT) are supported by the ADA’s most recent evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Choosing to ignore the evidence is problematic on many levels. We owe it to ourselves and our patients to keep up to date with the current best practices and never stop learning!
Dentaltown Magazine
October 2025
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