RHODE ISLAND DENTAL ARTS - Key Persons

A lifelong Cranstonian, Dr. Pickar graduated from The Wheeler School in Providence and continued to Tufts University in Massachusetts earning his Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Biology. Dr. Pickar then earned his D.M.D. cum laude from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Following graduation, he attended an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the Providence VA Medical Center. Dr. Pickar's primary focus is on family dentistry, including fillings, crowns, bridges, prosthetic and implant dentistry as well as comprehensive cosmetic and preventative dental services. He is an inducted member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society as well as the American Dental Association and Rhode Island Dental Association. Dr. Pickar has been an active volunteer at the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy's annual free dental clinic since 2011 when it first began in RI. He pursues continuing education opportunities to broaden the scope of his practice and provide his patients with a full range of options.

Dr. Puerini is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick and Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. While at Assumption College, he completed a degree in biology and completed the necessary prerequisites for dental school. He attended Temple University Dental School participating in both the pediatric and oral maxillofacial study clubs and received his degree in 2003. After graduation, he returned to Rhode Island to join the practice of his father, Dr. Stephen J. Puerini, Sr. and his friend and Godfather, Dr. Steven J. Saccoccio in 2003. Since graduation, he continues to devote time to continuing his education keeping current with the advances within the field of dentistry. He is a member of the American Dental Association and The Rhode Island Dental Association. He is currently a member of the RI Interscholastic League, an organization dedicated to safety in school sports programs. In 2019 he was inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Dental Honor Society, an organization that acknowledges the importance of ethics and honesty in dentistry. His practice includes, but is not limited to, work with crown and bridge, veneers, CAD/CAM dentistry, soft tissue laser and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Puerini enjoys hiking, camping, snowboarding, surfing and anything that involves the outdoors. He lives in Jamestown with his wife and their three children, triplets Luke, Jake and Jane.

Job Titles:

• Chief of Dentistry at Eleanor Slater Hospital

Dr. Shihadeh was born and raised in Rhode Island. He graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut in 2006, earning a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He was among the first class of students to complete the rigorous requirements for the new combined BS/DMD program and was immediately granted admission to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. During dental school, he had the opportunity to travel to Belize in Central America. While there with his group, he provided free dental care to adults and children in rural and impoverished communities. He earned his DMD in 2010 and decided to further his training by completing a 1-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at UConn. The residency program emphasized dental technology and the specialized care of medically fragile and complex patients. Upon completion of the program, Dr. Shihadeh was recruited by Drs. Puerini, Sr, Saccoccio and Puerini, Jr to join their growing practice. Now a full partner, he continues to expand his knowledge base and skills with continuing education courses and study club groups with like minded dentists. Dr. Shihadeh places an emphasis on helping his patients maximize their overall health. In addition to his private practice responsibilities, Dr. Shihadeh has been the chief of dentistry at Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston, RI since 2012 where he provides comprehensive dental care to the long-term care patients who reside in the facility. He is also a member of the American Dental Association, the RI Dental Association and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Central New England Dental Research Group. Dr. Shihadeh lives in Coventry with his wife and their 3 beautiful daughters. He enjoys coaching youth soccer as much as he enjoys playing soccer in various leagues around the state.

Job Titles:

• Chief of Dentistry at Zambarano Hospital

Dr Saccoccio is a lifelong resident of RI. Born in Providence and raised in Scituate, Dr. Saccoccio lives just minutes from the office in Cranston, with his wife Melissa. He and his wife have three grown children, Giovanna, Luke and Dominic. Dr. Saccoccio attend Bishop Hendricken High School and was a graduate of the Class of 1984. After high school, Dr. Saccoccio attended and received his BA in Biology from Assumption College in Worcester, MA. From Worcester, he went on to Boston to attend Tufts Dental School, where he graduated with his DMD in 1992. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Saccoccio has been the chief of dentistry at Zambarano Hospital since 1993. He maintains memberships in the American Dental Association and the Rhode Island Dental Association. In 2019 he was inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Dental Honor Society, an organization that acknowledges the importance of ethics and honesty in dentistry. Outside of the office, Dr. Saccoccio is an avid gardener and bread baker. He and his wife enjoy a beach, no matter where it is. He also enjoys camping, fishing and hiking with his kids, wherever their lives take them.