Fewer Than 2% of Dentists Hold It: Chesterfield Practice Built Around a Rare Mastership — and a Promise to Never Rush a Patient

CHESTERFIELD, MO — For more than three decades, Clarkson Dental Group has quietly built one of West St. Louis County's most distinctive dental practices around a simple refusal: the refusal to rush. Behind that philosophy sits a credential held by fewer than 2% of general dentists nationwide — the Mastership designation from the Academy of General Dentistry, earned by Dr. Scott Mahlin after nearly 30 years of practice. The combination of rare clinical depth and deliberately unhurried care has made the independently owned, fee-for-service office in Chesterfield a place patients return to for decades, reflected in a 5.0-star average across 422 reviews and a 100 Dental.me Score.

A Rare Credential, Decades in the Making

Dr. Mahlin's Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry is the kind of achievement that typically caps a career of relentless continuing education, and he paired it with a Fellowship from the same academy. He went further still, completing both the Surgical Fellowship and the Prosthetic Fellowship at the Misch Implant Institute — widely regarded as one of the most rigorous implant-training programs in dentistry — and earning a Fellowship from the International Congress for Oral Implantologists. Few general dentists assemble this particular stack of credentials, and fewer still have also served as a consultant for Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Professions and its companion Pocket Dictionary, lending his clinical judgment to reference works used across the medical field. The community has taken notice: Dr. Mahlin was Dentist in Chesterfield by Chesterfield Lifestyle Magazine and has been featured in Town & Style and Chesterfield Out & About.

Smaller by Design

What distinguishes Clarkson Dental Group just as much as its credentials is what the practice has chosen not to become. Rather than scaling into a high-volume operation, Dr. Mahlin and his team have kept the practice intentionally small, treating patients one at a time rather than processing them through a schedule. "Clarkson Dental Group is a smaller dental practice by design," the team explains. "Dr. Scott Mahlin and his team cater to patients who expect the highest quality of care delivered with a personalized level of attention. At Clarkson Dental Group, we treat every patient in a relaxed, unhurried manner and really take time to know you and your needs." That ethos has defined the office's relationship with Chesterfield, Wildwood, Ellisville, Town and Country, Clarkson Valley, Ballwin, and the surrounding West St. Louis County communities for more than 30 years, built on what the practice describes as trust, clinical excellence, and respect.

Signature Services and Technology

The practice's advanced implant and sedation training translates directly into services patients can access without a referral elsewhere. Clarkson Dental Group places dental implants in-house, offers professional teeth whitening, and provides restorative work including crowns, bridges, veneers, and periodontal treatment alongside core preventive care — cleanings, exams, tooth-colored fillings, digital x-rays, and dental sealants. For patients whose anxiety has kept them away from the dentist's chair, the office offers a full range of sedation options, including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation, matched to each person's needs. Diagnosis and treatment planning are supported by digital records, digital x-rays, and intraoral cameras, giving Dr. Mahlin precise, real-time visibility into a patient's oral health. For those without dental insurance, the practice's in-house membership plan extends access to this same level of care, and routine cleanings start at $151 — a transparent, fee-for-service model consistent with the practice's independent structure.

The Patient Experience

Day to day, that philosophy is carried out by a team patients come to know by name — including registered dental hygienists Nikki and Kim, who work alongside Dr. Mahlin on both cleanings and ongoing oral-health education. Visits are built around conversation as much as treatment: patients describe hygienists and the dentist taking time to talk before beginning work, explaining findings thoroughly, and answering every question rather than moving quickly to the next task. Same-day appointments and new-patient specials are available for those who need prompt attention, and patients are encouraged to ask about current offers directly when they call.

Access, Hours, and Community Roots

Clarkson Dental Group is currently accepting new patients and keeps a schedule built around accessibility: Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free parking removes one more barrier for patients arriving from across West St. Louis County, and the office accepts cash, checks, credit and debit cards, CareCredit, and HSA/FSA payments, in addition to its in-house membership plan for patients without insurance. Services are provided in English, and appointments can be booked by phone or through an online request. After 30-plus years anchored in Chesterfield, the practice has become a fixture for families seeking a dental home rather than a one-time visit — one built, by design, to stay small enough to know every patient who walks through its door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, Clarkson Dental Group is currently welcoming new patients.

Do you offer sedation or sleep dentistry?
Yes. Dr. Mahlin has advanced training in sedation dentistry and offers nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation for anxious patients.

Do you place dental implants?
Yes. Dr. Mahlin completed Surgical and Prosthetic Fellowships at the Misch Implant Institute and holds a Fellowship from the International Congress for Oral Implantologists.

Is there free parking?
Yes, free parking is available for patients.

Do you offer new-patient specials or same-day appointments?
Yes, both are available — patients can ask about current offers when they call.

How do I book an appointment?
Patients can call the office directly or request an appointment online.

For more information about Clarkson Dental Group, visit clarksondentalgroup.com.