Education
Dr. Shlafer has enjoyed the privilege of training with well-known experts at some of the most respected institutions in dentistry. He began his training at the University of Michigan, where he studied under top-level reconstructive and cosmetic dentists to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1986.
From there, he moved on to St. Petersburg, FL and continued his education at the Center for Advanced Dental Studies. This is where he trained under renowned dental expert Dr. Peter E. Dawson. Dr. Shlafer credits this experience as well as his training at the Pride Management Institute for inspiring his flexible and patient-focused approach to dentistry. Dr. Shlafer is the ex-president of The Vedder Crown and Bridge Society.
Dr. Shlafer and his team follow a simple guiding principle — treat every patient as if they’re a member of your own family. This caring approach is the key to establishing trust and forming long-lasting relationships with our patients. Dr. Shlafer also takes pride in his creativity, often finding solutions for patients that their previous dentists couldn’t provide.
Community Work and Hobbies
Dr. Shlafer’s passion for dentistry is simple — he genuinely enjoys helping people and he feels extremely gratified when he can make a difference in a patient’s life. He also stays active in our community, making a difference by providing free dental care to Holocaust survivors.
As a refugee from the Ukraine who moved to the U.S. when he was 18 years old, Dr. Shlafer exemplifies the idea that anything is possible through hard work and determination.
When he’s not caring for patients, Dr. Shlafer enjoys spending family time with his wife and two children. Though he’s given up free diving with sharks at his wife’s request, he remains active through skiing, tennis, and golf. He’s also an avid reader who lists Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity is Near among his favorite books.
