Total Smiles Dental Group Brings Three-Dentist Depth and a Wednesday-Night Chair to Chelsea, MI

CHELSEA, MI — In a small Michigan town where many dental offices close their doors at five, Total Smiles Dental Group, PC keeps a chair open until 8PM every Wednesday — a deliberate accommodation for patients who cannot slip away from work or school for a daytime appointment. It is a small detail, but it speaks to something larger: a practice built by three University-trained dentists who have spent decades treating the same community, one filling, one crown, and one nervous first-time patient at a time.

A Practice Built on Michigan Training and Decades of Local Care

Total Smiles Dental Group, PC, serving Chelsea, MI, is anchored by Dr. Kelly Ann Scherr, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan in 1985 before completing her DDS at the same institution in 1990. Dr. Scherr's scope of practice is notably broad for a general dentist: she handles endodontics, minor oral surgery and extractions, crown and bridge work, dentures, and cosmetic dentistry including porcelain veneers — the kind of range that lets a long-time patient get most of their care under one roof rather than being shuttled between specialists. She is joined by Dr. Mark Stanford, who also completed his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan before earning his dental degree from the University of Detroit in 1989, and by Dr. Grant Prior, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biology from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2017 before completing his dental surgery degree at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Together, the three doctors represent more than seven combined decades since their first dental degrees were conferred — a depth of experience that patients feel the moment they sit down.

Philosophy: Prompt, Personal, and Painless

Dr. Stanford has built his reputation on handling urgent problems without delay and without drama. He takes particular pride in managing dental emergencies as they arise and in putting anxious patients at ease, and he makes a point of walking every patient through the reasoning behind a recommended procedure before any work begins. Dr. Scherr shares that same commitment to education, insisting that patients be fully informed about their dental needs and have every question answered before treatment starts. Dr. Prior, the newest addition to the team, brings a particular focus on cosmetic dentistry and oral surgery along with what he describes as a mission to change how patients see their own smiles. In his own words, Dr. Prior is "passionate about transforming his patient's view of their smile so that they are more confident" — a philosophy that runs through the practice's approach to everything from a simple filling to a full cosmetic case.

A Full Spectrum of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

The practice's treatment menu reads like a comprehensive family dental home: root canals, mercury-free and white fillings, oral surgery, crowns, bridges, dentures, pediatric and kids' dentistry, tooth whitening and laser whitening, implant restoration, periodontal treatment, and bite splints for patients dealing with bruxism and TMJ discomfort. Patients concerned about radiation exposure benefit from digital X-rays, which use less radiation while producing more accurate diagnostic images. Those seeking straighter teeth without traditional braces can pursue Invisalign, while patients wanting a quick cosmetic fix can turn to bonding for a same-visit repair. For more involved restorative needs, the practice offers inlays and onlays as a conservative alternative to full crowns, along with veneers for patients focused on the aesthetics of their smile. Sedation options are also available for patients whose anxiety or medical conditions make traditional dental visits difficult — an acknowledgment that getting people into the chair comfortably is often half the work of good dentistry.

The Patient Experience

One recent patient captured what a visit to Total Smiles Dental Group often feels like, describing a first-time crown experience that began in fear and ended in relief: "I had to have my first crown and was very afraid. My first visit was just under an hour and the assistant made me a temporary and it felt just like my real tooth... My crown went on with no problems and feel like my tooth. They do such a great job!!!" That kind of outcome does not happen by accident. The practice's hygiene team includes Catie and Natalie, both graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs — Catie from Ferris State University in 2010 and Natalie from the University of Michigan's Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program in 2019 — alongside Marie, also a Ferris State graduate. Supporting them is an experienced administrative and clinical backbone: Dawn, the Dexter office manager, brings 25 years of dental office management experience and credentials as a certified dental assistant; Kate, the insurance and financial coordinator, has spent 13 years in the dental field; and dental assistants Crystal, Ashley, and Kyle bring a combined 37 years of chairside experience among them. It is a team where tenure is the norm, not the exception, and where patients are likely to see the same familiar faces visit after visit.

Community Roots and Giving Back

Total Smiles Dental Group's commitment to Chelsea runs deeper than office hours. Dr. Scherr provides dental services through Faith in Action, a local organization connecting patients who need dental care most with the providers who can deliver it. Dr. Prior extends that same spirit of service through volunteer work at oral cancer walks, Mission of Mercy clinics, and Men's Health Day events. The practice describes itself as proud to be a local business in this part of Michigan, welcoming patients from Chelsea, Dexter, and the surrounding communities alike.

Access, Hours, and Scheduling

Total Smiles Dental Group is open Monday and Thursday from 9AM to 5PM, Friday from 9AM to 2PM, and Wednesday from noon until 8PM — the extended evening slot designed specifically for patients who cannot make a standard daytime appointment. The office is closed Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The practice holds a Dental.me Score of 89 and a 4.3-star average rating from patients in the Chelsea area, reflecting consistent, positive feedback from the community it serves. Patients interested in scheduling, insurance details, or emergency care are encouraged to contact the office directly to confirm current availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Total Smiles Dental Group's office hours?
The practice is open Monday and Thursday from 9AM to 5PM, Friday from 9AM to 2PM, and Wednesday from 12PM to 8PM for extended evening appointments. The office is closed Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

What kind of dental services are offered?
The practice provides comprehensive family and cosmetic dentistry, including root canals, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, pediatric dentistry, tooth whitening, implant restoration, periodontal treatment, Invisalign, veneers, bonding, inlays/onlays, digital X-rays, and bite splints for bruxism and TMJ.

Who are the dentists at the practice?
Patients are cared for by Dr. Kelly Ann Scherr, Dr. Mark Stanford, and Dr. Grant Prior, each bringing distinct training and areas of focus, from endodontics and cosmetic dentistry to oral surgery.

Is sedation available for anxious patients?
Yes. The practice offers sedation options for patients with dental anxiety or other conditions that make traditional visits more difficult.

Why does the practice offer a Wednesday evening schedule?
The extended Wednesday hours, running from noon to 8PM, were designed to give patients who cannot make daytime appointments — due to work or school — more flexibility in planning their dental care.

How can I confirm insurance coverage or new patient availability?
Patients are encouraged to contact the practice directly for the most current information on accepted insurance, new patient openings, and emergency care options.

About Total Smiles Dental Group, PC

Total Smiles Dental Group, PC is a family and cosmetic dental practice serving Chelsea, MI, led by Dr. Kelly Ann Scherr, Dr. Mark Stanford, and Dr. Grant Prior. The practice offers a full range of general, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments alongside an extended Wednesday evening schedule designed for patient convenience. Holding a Dental.me Score of 89 and a 4.3-star patient rating, Total Smiles Dental Group continues a long-standing commitment to accessible, personal dental care in the Chelsea and Dexter communities.

For more information about Total Smiles Dental Group, PC, visit chelseadexterdental.com.

Verified Dental.me profile: https://dental.me/mi/chelsea/practices/total-smiles-dental-group-pc-chelsea-mi/
Chelsea dentists on Dental.me: https://dental.me/mi/chelsea/
Dental.me: https://dental.me/