Dr. Rachel Hargraves: High-Quality Care in a Caring Environment
Preventative dentistry is the focal point of Dr. Rachel Hargraves and her dedicated staff. Dr. Hargraves and her team pride themselves on being experienced professionals with a primary emphasis on providing an inviting atmosphere to help patients feel welcome and at ease.
Developing Credentials
She grew up in Guilderland, New York, and attended the University of Albany, where she majored in biology, then went on to graduate summa cum laude in the top 10 percent of her class from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. After completing her dental education, she went on to an advanced education residency program at the Miami Veterans Hospital in Miami, Florida.
“I spent several years in private practice in South Florida, and three years ago I relocated to our area and purchased the practice that I am in now,” she noted. “I am very happy to be back in the Capital Region and back to my roots. I am very fortunate that the community and the existing patients have been so welcoming and supportive to me. A large part of that is due to the wonderful staff that I have.”
Dr. Hargraves is a general dentist performing all dentistry procedures, ranging from cavity prevention, fillings, crowns, dentures, TMJ appliances, root canals and extractions. Her team accommodates same-day emergency appointments when patients have an urgent need. They enjoy treating patients of all ages, some of whom are as young as 18 months and some as old as 102!
Personalized Attention
“I have a special interest in cosmetic dentistry and implant dentistry. I enjoy educating patients and informing them of their options,” she continued. “I take the time to sit with them and tailor their treatment to their individual needs.” Dr. Hargraves has observed that one of her biggest challenges is overcoming the misinformation on the Internet regarding dentistry. “I want patients to have access to the correct information, and I feel my job is to help give that to them.”
She emphasized that she feels she is practicing in an exciting time in dentistry. There are many more preventative methods available to dentists, and she noted, “I enjoy being able to share the latest preventative methods to patients, such as custom-fit athletic mouth guards and sealants to prevent cavities. In particular, we can apply topical treatments without having to drill when a cavity first appears. This is especially helpful in pediatric and geriatric patients. This has led to many happy parents and patients.”
Continuing Education
Dr. Hargraves is an active member of the American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association, Fourth District Dental Society and Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. By being involved in many dental continuing education societies, she stays on top of the latest technology and methods in dentistry, which she then brings back to her patients. She is also very enthusiastic about the holidays and decorating the office for Halloween and Christmas. Patients often stop in just to see the
seasonal decorations.
Dr. Hargraves and her all-female team try to create a gentle and caring environment in which each patient can feel comfortable. “We treat everyone like family. The entire team empowers me and each other. I am very proud of my team and how hard they work to provide each patient with the best experience possible,” she related. “They allow me to provide the highest quality care to everyone that walks in the door.” ■
Call 518-899-2252 or visit drhargraves.com. Her dental office is located at 30 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake, New York.
