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About Us
Our Mission
Helping Your Child Thrive
At South Coast Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, our mission is to provide a warm, welcoming, and fun space where your child can receive care and learn how to maintain excellent oral health for a lifetime. We prioritize meeting young patients and their families where they’re at, building deep trust and friendships that will support good, long-term habits and positive associations with visiting the dentist. With options for infant, preventive, emergency care and more, we’ve cultivated a pediatric dental space that you can feel confident to call your child’s dental home!
Get to Know
Dr. Sean Ghassem-Zadeh
Dr. Sean Ghassem-Zadeh could not be happier to have found his way to the welcoming Southcoast community, acquiring the office in July 2022 and joining its talented team of 20+ years. Prior to launching the new South Coast Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Sean worked as an associate pediatric dentist for several years in the Greater Boston area.
Dr. Sean grew up in Connecticut and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies)! He completed his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences with honors at UConn while in the dual-degree B.S./D.M.D. program. He then completed his dental degree at the UConn Health Center with multiple distinctions, including induction into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Research Fellowship, and the American College of Dentists Leadership Award.
Following his graduation from dental school, Dr. Sean completed his 2-year specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he served as chief resident. He is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society.
Dr. Sean lives in Barrington, Rhode Island, with his wife Shana, daughter Zara, scruffy dog Rumble, and tuxedo cat Topanga. Outside of dentistry, he likes trivia, board games, and tennis. He looks forward to meeting each and every one of you!
Fun Facts
- Dr. Sean wears a pair of silly socks every day!
- He has played video games since he was a little guy and has a Nintendo Switch. His most recent favorites are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Stardew Valley!
- He knows more than your average dentist about Disney characters, superheroes, and Pokemon.
Favorites
- Local Restaurant: Acushnet Creamery in New Bedford
- Superhero: Batman [said in Batman voice]
- Sports Team: Boston Celtics and UConn Basketball!
Get to Know
Dr. Karina Vergara
Dr. Karina became a pediatric dentist because she loves children and understands the importance of creating a comfortable environment for achieving excellent oral health. She treats every patient like family, with compassion, patience, and respect. Dr. Karina is thrilled to bring her expertise to South Coast Smiles and inspire children to maintain healthy smiles for life!
Originally from Colombia, Dr. Karina moved to Florida during high school and attended the University of Florida (Go Gators!), receiving a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She completed her dental degree at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, graduating with honors, including induction into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society.
Dr. Karina pursued her passion and completed a two-year pediatric dentistry residency at the UConn Health Center and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she trained alongside Dr. Sean. She is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society. Before joining South Coast Smiles, Dr. Karina worked in private practice as an associate pediatric dentist for several years in Connecticut and the Greater Boston area.
Dr. Karina is excited to relocate to the South Coast with her husband and two sons. Outside the office, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, and staying active through spinning classes, yoga, hiking, and camping.
We’re confident Dr. Karina will uphold the excellent standard of care our practice is known for, and we’re delighted to bring her like-minded expertise and philosophy to the team. She looks forward to meeting all of our wonderful patients and families!
Fun Facts
- In high school, she worked as a clown for birthday parties, sometimes dressing up as different characters, painting faces, and twisting balloon animals!
- She loves all cookies (except peanut butter). Her first email address was cookiemonster@aol.com!
- People often ask if she’s related to Sofia Vergara. The short answer is no, but they share the same hometown (Barranquilla–along with Shakira)!
Favorites
- Local Restaurant: TBD—she’s on the hunt for a great sushi spot. Recommendations welcome!
- Kids Movie: Finding Nemo, Encanto, Coco
- Character: Dory (“Just keep swimming!”)
- Sports Team: Colombian National Soccer Team
Quality Care with a Smile
Meet the Team
Our experienced and talented dental team is committed to working with you and your child to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding dental experience every time you visit our practice. Each member loves working with children and is passionate about helping your little one to feel confident and excited about their visit. No matter what your child’s experience with the dentist is, we’ll make sure they walk out of our doors looking forward to their next visit!
What to Expect
Your Child’s Experience
We know that visiting the dentist for the first time can be stressful, especially for your kiddo. At South Coast Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we prioritize making first visits fun and exciting so your child will create positive associations with visiting the dentist and taking care of their smile.
When you arrive at your appointment, we’ll take the time to introduce ourselves to you and your child, and you’ll be able to express your concerns and questions with your child’s dentist.
After introductions, we’ll take you and your child back to our kid-friendly treatment room, where we’ll conduct an exam, take X-rays of your child’s smile, and teach them how to take care of their teeth. If anything needs extra attention, Dr. Sean or Dr. Karina will explain the results and any further recommendations for treatment.
Once all exams and X-rays are complete, we’ll set your child up with a follow-up cleaning in 6 months and congratulate them on their bravery with a prize! Then, on your way out, enjoy taking a happy or silly photo in our photo booth!
What to Bring
Your time is valuable to us. In order to help make your visit more efficient, we ask that you bring the following items to your appointment:
- ID
- Insurance information
- Child’s medical history, allergies, etc.
- Child’s list of medications (if applicable)
- Child's inhaler (if applicable)
Our Technology and Amenities
Your child’s comfort and well-being are our top priorities, which is why we’ve curated some of the best tech and amenities modern dentistry has to offer!
iPad for Paperwork
TV with Fun Slideshow
Photo Booth for Kids
Prizes
Spreading Smiles in Dartmouth
Our Community Outreach Partnerships
Our philosophy of care goes beyond the office walls. We believe it’s our responsibility to care for our young patients both in and out of the operating chair, and one of the best ways to do this is through our community outreach programs. We regularly support a variety of local organizations, including Buttonwood Park Zoo, the Friends of Jack Foundation, New Bedford South End Youth Athletic Association (SEYAA) baseball, the Southcoast Children's Theatre, Quinn Elementary School, St. Francis Xavier School, Dartmouth High School, Bishop Stang High School, and more.
Get in touch with us to learn more about how we’re serving our community at South Coast Smiles Pediatric Dentistry!
