For metro Detroit patients who live with dental anxiety, need special-needs accommodations, or have spent years putting off wisdom-tooth removal, finding a practice equipped for complex care can take time. Many find their way to Oakland Family Dental in Waterford — and to Dr. Amanda M. Sheehan, DDS, MAGD, DABOI, DICOI, D.ABDSM, an Hour Detroit Top Dentist five years running: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Her credentials reflect uncommon depth of training. The MAGD designation — Master of the Academy of General Dentistry — is held by roughly two percent of US dentists and represents more than 1,100 hours of advanced continuing education. Her DICOI standing as a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists adds surgical and implant expertise. She has since earned board certification from the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry — becoming the first woman in Michigan to hold the ABOI/ID distinction — and is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. The practical translation: cases other practices refer out, Dr. Sheehan often handles in-house.
Sedation dentistry is one of her signature areas. Patients who have postponed care for years out of fear, sensory sensitivity, or past trauma come to Oakland Family Dental because the team has built a calm, methodical sedation program that lets treatment be completed comfortably — sometimes in a single visit. Options range from minimal nitrous oxide to deeper oral sedation, each plan tailored to the patient’s medical history, anxiety level, and procedure.
Special-needs dentistry is just as central. Dr. Sheehan and her team work with adolescent and adult patients on the autism spectrum, with cognitive or developmental differences, and with mobility considerations that make a typical visit difficult. Appointments get extra time, the environment is adjusted — quieter, slower, dimmer when needed — and communication is clear and supportive for patient and caregiver.
Wisdom-tooth removal is a procedure many patients dread, and another area where her training shows. Extractions are performed in-house with sedation when appropriate, sparing patients the extra step of being referred to an oral surgeon they have never met. Pre-op imaging is reviewed in detail, recovery instructions are walked through clearly, and the practice follows up afterward to make sure healing is on track.
Dental sleep medicine is another focus. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Sheehan treats sleep disorders and snoring without requiring CPAP — fitting custom oral sleep appliances that hold the airway open during sleep, and offering NightLase, a gentle laser therapy that helps reduce snoring.
Five consecutive years on Hour Detroit’s Top Dentist list reflect how the practice runs: appointments with enough time to answer questions, written and transparent estimates, and current technology — digital X-rays, intraoral scanners, same-visit crowns — kept at an unhurried pace. “Every patient deserves to understand what’s happening before it happens,” Dr. Sheehan says. “That’s the entire foundation of trust.”
Beyond the specialty work, the practice offers the full range of general and cosmetic care for teens and adults — cleanings and exams, whitening, veneers and bonding, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, and clear aligners. Seeing patients ages 14 and up keeps the team focused on complex sedation, special-needs, and surgical cases.
The practice works with most major dental insurance plans and provides written estimates up front. For patients without insurance, in-office membership and flexible payment options keep care accessible.
For patients told their case is too anxious, too complicated, or too long-postponed, Dr. Sheehan’s team is often the first practice in years where they finish what they came for. New patients can call (248) 674-0384 or visit oaklandfamilydental.com to schedule a consultation.
Practice Contact Information:
Oakland Family Dental — Dr. Amanda M. Sheehan, DDS, MAGD, DABOI, DICOI, D.ABDSM
4626 W. Walton Blvd, Waterford Township, MI 48329
(248) 674-0384
Website: https://oaklandfamilydental.com/
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