Dentalcare Associates has been a staple in Scotch Plains for over 65 years. With strong ties to the Scotch Plains Community, Dr. Robert Scalera founded his solo dentistry practice here in 1959. His son, Dr. Robert Scalera, Jr., joined the practice in 1983, and the two built a family practice that would serve four generations of patients. The father-son team retired in 2008 and 2024 respectively, with the latter selling the practice to Dr. Maureen Maximos – an accomplished dentist and partner at the practice for over six years.
Dr. Maximos is extremely proud to take on the ownership of an established practice and the legacy of exceptional patient care that comes with it. While Dr. Maximos may not be a blood relative, she is clearly family, as is the entire team of dental professionals that work there, (many of them for over a decade). As soon as you walk into the office there is an air of familiarity, like being invited over for Thanksgiving dinner. There are no false pretenses, no perceived hierarchy and seemingly no bad moods. Everyone appears to genuinely like each other and the work that they do. Not surprisingly, everyone is…smiling.
I sat down to get to know Dr. Maximos better (or “Dr. Max” as she is known by her patients) and found myself almost giddy for the new direction her career is taking. She is far more poised than I am; young and assured; comfortable not only in her surroundings but in her new role as owner. Perhaps this calm confidence stems from the numerous accomplishments she has achieved. Receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University, Dr. Maximos graduated Magna Cum Laude before attending Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. She was a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship, occupied a regular spot on the Dean’s list, and held a variety of leadership positions across several Boards and Clubs. I am impressed when she accepts the gentle ribbing I give her, not so much for being the President of the General Dentistry Club, but for keeping it on her resume.
Maybe her ease comes from growing up around a family of healthcare professionals, including her father, a NJ physician. She has always seen healthcare and dentistry as a positive experience; one that brings about well-being in both the immediate and long term. Helping patients to overcome previous bad – or even traumatic – experiences is a priority for Dr. Max and the entire team. A family culture in the office means patients are family too. “We get to know each patient individually,” says Dr. Max. “If we can boost someone’s confidence, their overall quality of life is improved.”
The steadfastness I sense could also be due to the solid foundation Dr. Maximos has from which to build. She recognizes the value of maintaining consistency in a proven system that serves over 2,000 active patients: Comprehensive care that includes general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. Preventative care and patient education for optimal dental health; Specialty services including periodontics, implants and same-day emergency care. Anyone that has experienced tooth pain knows how unbearable it can be, and Dr. Maximos’ resolve is to keep Dentalcare Associates a place where existing and new patients alike can find relief in the shortest time possible. Superior patient care is necessary as Dr. Maximos looks to the future of dentistry and her own legacy. Innovative technology, techniques, equipment, and products are changing the practice of dentistry, and she vows to stay at the forefront. She is already Invisalign trained and certified and is currently working toward her certification from AAFE (American Academy of Facial Esthetics) to provide the best possible outcomes in facial esthetics and pain treatment (TMJ for example).
I am sure all these factors contribute to Dr. Maximos’ strength of conviction, but none more so than the support she has received from her community. Colleagues, patients, peers, family, friends, and magazine editors alike are celebrating Dr. Maximos’ success. Dr. Scalera entrusted her with his family’s legacy, which is the loudest endorsement by far. But it is the support she has received from her mother throughout her life that she credits with her confidence to buy the practice. “She has always been there for me, championing my career and life goals. This opportunity gives me greater independence to make decisions that impact my work and life.” And that is certainly a reason to smile.
“We get to know each patient individually,” says Dr. Max. “If we can boost someone’s confidence, their overall quality of life is improved.”
Dr. Maureen Maximos
General Dentistry and Invisalign Certified
Member of the Academy of General Dentistry
Member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
BLS/CPR Certified
Dr. Maximos is proficient in the diagnoses and treatment planning of complex, multidisciplinary cases and comfortable treating both medically compromised and emergency patients following her residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She joined Dentalcare Associates in 2019 and purchased the practice in 2024 following Dr. Scalera's retirement.