Readers’ Choice: Something to smile about
Photo by Maria Young
There are a good amount of people out there who hate going to the dentist. For some, it’s fear while others just don’t like visiting the dentist. But there are still a good amount of people who make appointments for a routine cleaning, cavity filling, root canal or other procedure. Drs. William Mestichelli and Michael Barnes, 1903 S. Broad St., have created such a comfort zone that their patients could not stop praising the team in the Readers’ Choice voting.
“We just appreciate all of the people who have been coming to us over the years,” Mestichelli said. “It’s the great staff we have that has been keeping people around.”
He has been a staple in the South Philly dental community for decades, with previous office locations at 1815 S. Broad St., 1727 S. Broad St., and 1905 S. Broad St. — the former home of Angelo Bruno.
Like many people in the medical field, Mestichelli has others to credit for giving him his start. Dr. Michael Ruggieri and Dr. John Vivacqua provided a strong foundation to his career path.
“I could not have asked for two better people to learn from and be in practice with,” he said.
He is a product of the Temple University Dental School, who has been practicing in South Philadelphia since 1982. Barnes, his son-in-law, has since joined the team. Daughters Amanda Rabena-McNally and Jaclyn Barnes are the co-office managers. The doctor’s ties to the area include being an avid Phillies fan and season ticket holder. One of his other hobbies includes doing construction — we are not talking about the inside-of-the-mouth variety. It includes doing work inside of his office space.
As far as what’s keeping him around all these years, Mestichelli simply enjoys his job.
“I’ve had a lot of fun over the years,” he said. “It’s more like a hobby for me.”
Moskovitz Dental Associates enjoyed a second-place filling and Dr. John Del Gaiso of Dr. John’s Pediatric Dental Team flossed in third.
