Andrew S. Tonelli, DMD

Andrew Tonelli, DMD, Massachusetts Dental Society At-Large Trustee. For Andrew Tonelli, DMD, dentistry was always familiar—his father is a dentist. But it wasn’t until studying abroad in college that he really began thinking about what he wanted from a career. Looking for a career that was meaningful, challenging, and made a difference, dentistry seemed to offer all three. After graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 2014, Dr. Tonelli joined Dental Health Concepts in North Reading, where he is now a general dentist and partner.

Of all the surprises that come with practicing dentistry, the biggest may be just how much he enjoys the work itself. That passion is paired with a philosophy that has stayed with him throughout his career: “Patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The challenges facing dentistry in recent years—from COVID and reimbursement cuts to staffing shortages—also sparked a desire to become more involved in organized dentistry. Making sure dentists’ experiences are heard by those who can influence the system felt important, and encouragement from MDS Past Presidents Dr. Janis Moriarty and Dr. David Lustbader helped move that involvement forward.

Away from the office, life revolves around a very different kind of challenge—getting 15-month-old twin girls to bed. Between family time and the occasional round of golf, Dr. Tonelli jokes that he’s “a better friend than golfer.” And while his interest in public policy might have made a career as a diplomat a natural fit, it’s hard to imagine another path when he enjoys dentistry so much.