Becoming a dentist was a longtime dream for Dr. Brian Handel. In high school, teachers complimented him on his artistic ability. In shop classes, his instructors noticed how well he worked with his hands and often commented on how creative his projects were. He would typically hear, “You’re amazing with your hands; maybe you should think about becoming an artist, a mechanic, a carpenter, or a welder.” While none of those professions interested him, their remarks got him thinking.
During a visit to his family dentist for a filling, he was impressed by the dentist’s ability to repair a cavity in his mouth and make it look like nothing was ever done. He then looked at some before and after pictures of his cosmetic work and thought to himself, “I could do this!” Throughout high school and college, he worked in different dental offices, learning as much as he could about the profession. This reinforced his passion for dentistry. He loved the idea of working with people to make them healthier and improving their self-esteem with a beautiful smile.
Meet Doctor Brian Handel
Read Transcript
I chose to get into dentistry at a very young age, and I think the main reason was I'm very social, I love being around people, I've always enjoyed using my hands, and I've always been artistic. I've tried so many different things growing up and was pushed in many directions, until I had the opportunity to shadow our dentist. Once I did, it was almost a no-brainer that this was the right fit for me.
The most rewarding part of being a dentist for me is the ability to affect someone's overall health, their dental health, and their self-esteem. Where I found over the years I can change someone's life in a way that they never thought possible and gain trust in a way that my patients have almost become my family because of that, so it's been very satisfying for that reason.
I'm from the area, and my background is a local guy who loves this area, never wanted to leave, so I went school undergrad, I went to dental school in Philadelphia. I went to Temple University undergrad, I went to Temple University dental school. I've never been out of this area as far as work goes.
I've tried other areas for a short period of time, and this has always been the place I want to live and where I wanted to raise my family, and develop something in this community that I thought would be special.
We do a significant amount of dental continuing education in about every facet of dentistry. So that way I found we could treat our patients much more efficiently, much more comfortably, and we can provide them with different types of treatment and care they don't typically get in most practices. I think we've set ourselves apart from a majority of dental practices in the country, not only by our continuing education when it comes to technical skills but when it comes to interpersonal communication and just comfort and caring.
Well, I think the benefit that our patients receive in the way we run our office is that they will tend to feel like family pretty quickly, and my goal in our practice is that every patient is treated like a family member, and all my team is, they're all training to treat every patient as a family member. I found that most of the time, our patients come in, and they're astounded by the way they feel within a very short period of time upon entering our office, which has been dramatic for us.
After college and a brief stint working as a wallpaper hanger in South Florida and enjoying the beach, he entered Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry and earned the degree he’d been dreaming of since junior high school.
Soon after graduation, he became part of a Wayne tradition of providing quality care and comfortable dental treatment. He has dedicated his career to providing patients with the best that dentistry has to offer using the latest technology, materials, and treatments. Every day he goes to his office with an extreme appreciation for the confidence and trust his patients have placed in him. This drives him to constantly pursue knowledge that will help his patients.
Since receiving his DDS, he has pursued many opportunities to continue to improve his skills, including:
- Coursework in advanced cosmetic studies at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute (LVI)
- Advanced training in aesthetics, periodontics, implants, ceramic restorations, laser dentistry, and orthodontics
- ClearCorrect/Invisalign certification
His professional affiliations and memberships include:
- Academy of General Dentistry
- International Association for Orthodontics
- The Academy of Laser Dentistry
- DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation)
- The World Clinical Laser Institute
- American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, which emphasizes education in TMJ treatment and sleep breathing disorders
- Charter member of Appliance Therapy Practitioners
He has received many awards and accolades, including:
- Voted to the list of “America’s Top Dentists” for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2017 by the Consumers’ Research Council of America
- Voted one of the Top Dentists on the Main Line by his peers in Main Line Today magazine four years in a row
Dr. Handel believes in giving back to the community and is proud to help improve the dental health of those who are less fortunate. He volunteers for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Give Back a Smile program, which provides complimentary cosmetic care to domestic violence survivors. He also enjoys volunteering his skills to the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped.
In his free time, there is nothing more important than his family and friends. He spends as much time as he can with his two amazing daughters. The very proud dad also enjoys yoga, working out, playing guitar, golfing, playing tennis, and traveling.