Get to Know Dr. Justin Chan
Dr. Justin has been a pediatric dentist practicing in the DFW Metroplex since 2012, and he never gets tired of being able to help children escape dental pain and improve not only their oral health, but their general mood in a matter of minutes through his care! His goal is to use his knowledge, skill, and passion to empower children and their parents to better care for their oral health by showing how simple and fun dental visits can be. He can’t wait to meet your family here at Sheer Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
To learn more about him, keep reading below:
Why Did You Become a Pediatric Dentist?
Dr. Justin studied martial arts since his youth focusing on Shaolin Kung Fu, Judo, and Tai Chi at Yee’s Martial Arts Academy in the California Bay Area. The mentorship, discipline, and leadership skills he learned from his Grandmaster Sifu John Yee and the Yee family served as a foundation for his approach to life. Grandmaster Yee and his family always stressed the importance of compassion and helping others. As a part of his martial arts training, learning to teach and lead class was also a part of the curriculum. It was through the interactions with his fellow classmates as both a student and a teacher, Dr. Justin developed his passion for educating and empowering children.
In addition to his interest in working with children, Dr. Justin also was inspired by his childhood dentist and orthodontist. Dr. Justin fondly recalls his parents taking him to his dental and orthodontist visits. The importance of caring for his oral health and the magnitude with which good healthy and happy smile affect a person’s physical, mental and emotional health. This led him to seek a career in dentistry to help others care and improve their own oral health and quality of life.
During college and dental school, Dr. Justin continued his involvement with community service focusing on working with children. Aside from his studies at New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD), Dr. Justin was heavily involved in leadership roles with the Pediatric Dentistry Club, and Community Service Club which organized frequent outreach programs, charity events, and oral health screenings for children in New York City. He was motivated by a great mentor at NYUCD, who inspired and empowered his students to enjoy pediatric dentistry. Dr. Justin considers him extremely fortunate to have continued learning from amazing faculty and mentors during his residency at Montefiore Medical Center. The joy that came from helping children improve their oral health and quality of life grew from his interactions with like-minded professionals who went above and beyond to bring smiles to the faces of the children they interacted with.
Although there have been many memorable moments during his career, one of the most memorable was caring for a boy from Fort Worth with the Make a Wish Foundation. The child was terminally ill and his parents said he was never able to have a dental cleaning before. This became one of the boy’s biggest wishes, even though he was very scared due to his limited experience with dentists. Dr. Justin and his team decorated and provided lots of balloons in the treatment room before the boy arrived for his appointment. The surprise led to the boy smiling the whole time during his visit! The family was very grateful and Dr. Justin and his team were honored to have had the opportunity to care for this special, brave young man. Interactions with children and families, and the ability to improve their quality of life are what make Dr. Justin passionate about pediatric dentistry.
Where Did You Study Dentistry?
As a parent himself and with his own personal passion for working with young children, Dr. Justin understands the importance of choosing the right dental professionals for your children. He has studied endless hours to become one of the top specialists in his field. Below is his educational background and highlights of his ongoing training.
- Bachelor of Science in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of California in Los Angeles.
- Earned doctorate in dental surgery at the New York University College of Dentistry with honors.
- Invited to join Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a national dental honor society for dental students graduating at the top of their class.
- Advanced training and residency in pediatric dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center / Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in Bronx, New York.
- Chief pediatric dental resident during his second year of pediatric dental residency.
- Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry since 2013.
- Board Certification through accredited training, as well as stringent examinations designed to validate the experience, knowledge, and clinical skills related to pediatric dentistry.
- Holds hospital credentials at Children’s Medical Center and Cook Children’s Medical Center.
- American Dental Association
- Texas Dental Association
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Greater Dallas Pediatric Dental Society
- American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Board of Pediatric Dentistry College of Diplomates
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
Dr. Justin was originally born in San Francisco and raised in the California Bay area. However, following completion of his dental training, he decided Texas would be a great place to raise a family and has enjoyed putting down roots in the McKinney area. He and his wife, Sayaka, have two daughters – Erin and Maia. They also have three rescue cats – Shio, Mugi, and Ume. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with loved ones, meditating, cheering on his favorite sports teams, and practicing martial arts!