As a native Staten Islander, “Dr. Joe” Merola graduated from St. Joseph by the Sea High School and from the College of Staten Island in 2010 with a B.S. in Biology. He then attended Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and graduated with a D.M.D degree in 2014. Dr. Merola then returned home to his hometown of Staten Island to continue his education, and completed a residency in General Dentistry at Staten Island University Hospital. It was during his residency that he had reconnected with his own pediatric dentist, Dr. Schwartz, who introduced him to the world of pediatric dentistry and changed his life forever thereafter.
He remained at SIUH to complete his residency in Pediatric Dentistry, and graduated as Chief Resident in 2018. While in residency, Dr. Merola was introduced to organized dentistry and became a member of RCDS in 2016 and served on the board during his residency. He remained on staff at Staten Island University Hospital for a short time before opening his own practice in New Dorp called “Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry.” he now serves as the current President of the Richmond County Dental Society.
Dr. Joe became a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2019. Utilizing his education and passion for dentistry to help others is a great passion of his. Dr. Merola is a member of Healing the Children,a non-profit organization and travels to provide necessary healthcare to children and adults worldwide alongside Dr. David Hoffman and Dr. Lydia Lam. He also serves as a Committee Chair for Young Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving pregnant teens, teenage mothers and their children by providing mentorship, counseling and of course, free dental care.
His passions outside of dentistry include spending time with his family, friends and dog, Leo. He also enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and traveling to explore different cuisines and cultures.
Dr. Joe and his staff look forward to meeting you at Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry! We strive to provide not only a comfortable experience for your children, but one that is FUN and memorable!!
