Janeen Hughes, DMD, MEd

My family and my profession as an orthodontist are my passions in life. I feel blessed to be a part of this profession and to have patients let me into their lives each and every day in order to help them achieve their goal of attaining a beautiful smile.

I love combining the art and science of orthodontics to produce a healthy, beautiful smile, but the most fulfilling aspects of my career are getting to know my patients and their families personally and becoming part of the community where I live and work. I have found, over the years, that I learn as much from my patients as they learn from me. The best part of my day is seeing the happy faces of parents and patients every time they visit us, especially when we achieve the end result of a beautiful smile after all of their hard work and dedication.

Education

My desire to pursue a career in orthodontics began in middle school, as I personally experienced the profound and positive impact that orthodontics can have on a person. My formal education includes:

Bachelor of Science in Biology – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Doctorate of Dental Medicine – University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Master’s in Education – University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Advanced Education in General Dentistry – Camp Pendleton, CA
Certificate in Orthodontics – Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency Program
Board Certification 2007 to present

Continuing education continues to be an integral part of my life as a practicing orthodontist. I became board certified in 2007 by the American Board of Orthodontics and I attend annual meetings held by the North Eastern Society of Orthodontists, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the American Association of Orthodontists in order to remain current on the changing technology in orthodontics. This also simultaneously allows me to make sound treatment decisions based on the facts and research presented.

A Commitment to Country and Community

Following graduation from dental school in 2001, I began my career as a Naval Officer and the events of 9/11 changed America and my plans to pursue orthodontics immediately after graduation. A war was on the horizon, and I had to prepare for deployment to Iraq in support of Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom with the US Navy. In 2003, I was one of three dental officers from Camp Pendleton to be assigned to serve in support of the US Marine CSSB-12 unit, a supporting battalion to the Infantry. I then went on to become the only dentist on board an amphibious ship to Kuwait and the Gulf in 2004. While this meant delaying my career in orthodontics, I would never trade the valuable experiences and opportunities that I personally gained from these deployments. During my months in the war, I was given the opportunity to garner profound experiences in leadership and challenging supervisory roles. In addition, I learned that I was able to successfully treat even the most difficult of dental cases in an extremely hostile and austere environment.

Some fun facts about my Naval Career:

I became back-seat qualified and was able to fly backseat in an F-18 jet
I drove my ship (the USS Denver) during an underway replenishment while at sea during my training for the Surface Warfare Pin
I was one of 11 women on board my ship with a crew of 400 and ran the Physical Fitness Program
I was a Pistol Sharp Shooter back in 2004.

Outside the Office

I am a native of Pasadena, California, and while my time with the Navy led me to travel the world during my deployments (Hawaii, Thailand, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and Africa to name a few) and live in Philadelphia, San Diego, San Antonio, and Yokosuka Japan, I am pleased to be able to call Natick my home. Here, I lead a quieter life and get involved in the community where I actively promote dental health and education in our local schools, and participate in Natick events and fun runs.

My husband Kevin and I have been married for 26 years and have two daughters, Evelyn and Veronica, as well as two dogs, one cat, 12 chickens, a hedgehog, and a guinea pig. I guess you could say that we love animals! Outside of work, my old english sheepdog and I volunteer with Tufts Paws for People to bring smiles to those in need through pet therapy work. I also love to travel with my family and have been to over 34 countries so far. The Navy instilled a love of travel in me so I have tried to encourage that adventurous nature in my family life as well!