40 Under Forty 2021: Therese Susienka, DMD

Photo | Erika Sidor Therese Susienka, DMD

Photo | Erika Sidor 40 Under Forty, Class of 2021 members (from left) Alyssa Glennon, Ryan Hacker, Grace Lam, and Therese Susienka, DMD at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston (Special thanks to Tower Hill)

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By Katherine Hamilton

Therese Susienka, DMD, 32

Title Founder, general & cosmetic dentist
Company Pleasant Valley Dentistry, in Sutton
Residence Sutton
Birthplace Manchester, N.H.
Colleges Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Boston University

Click here to read about the other 40 Under Forty, Class of 2021
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At 28 years old, Therese Susienka, DMD opened her own dentistry practice, Pleasant Valley Dentistry, which now four years later has more than 1,300 active patients. Dedicated to providing family-oriented, comprehensive dental care, she has grown her practice by 30% over the past two years and hired a second dentist, despite being fully closed for almost three months during the pandemic.

Susienka focuses an immense amount of energy toward advancing her training in complex rehabilitative and cosmetic dentistry to serve patients with challenging dental needs, such as missing and badly worn teeth. She has averaged more than 100 hours continuing her education annually. She was awarded a fellowship in the American Academy of General Dentistry last year, which requires 500 hours of continuing education and an exhaustive half-day examination, and is an honor shared with only 6% of dentists nationwide. As a small business owner who has spent 11 years in Central Mass., Susienka’s practice sponsored the Cory’s Crusaders 5K to fight childhood cancer, supported the Grafton Police Association’s annual basketball tournament, and contributed to Sutton Youth Baseball. She mentors young dental professionals at schools in the area.

What Olympic sport would you be the best at? As former captain of WPI’s swim team, it would have to be swimming (but don’t tell my coach I haven’t swam a lap since graduation!)

What did you learn from the coronavirus pandemic? If I grow all my own food, maybe I won’t have to go to the grocery store ever again.

What Central Mass. activity should everyone try? Hike the trails, have a picnic, and see the abandoned railroad tunnel around Wachusett Reservoir.

What life goal will you accomplish in the next 10 years? Since I was in high school, I have dreamed of being a dentist and having a blueberry farm. Time to start planning for the farm!