Meet Dr. Mark R. Maher.

Trained in engineering, dentistry, and the US Army.

Dr. Maher grew up in Sacramento, CA, and attended Brigham Young University, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He studied composite materials, computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM), mechatronics, and fluid mechanics — technical foundations that later shaped his approach to digital dentistry.

From BYU, Dr. Maher returned to his native California to pursue his DDS degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, on a US Army scholarship, graduating in 2004.

Soldier

Dr. Maher began his dental residency with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was awarded a one-on-one mentorship with distinguished specialists in oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and general restorative dentistry. He also attended Airborne School. (All the way!!)

Following Fort Benning, he was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii (Oahu) for 3 years before being deployed to Iraq. He served as the brigade dental surgeon for the 25th Infantry Division, deploying with them for 15 months to Kirkuk, where he was the sole dentist for around 3,500 soldiers.

Practice in Walnut Creek

Dr. Maher separated from military service in 2008 and took over the practice of Dr. David Gabor, who had been practicing in Walnut Creek for over 30 years. The practice has since grown to three times its original size. In 2019 it merged with the patients of the retiring Dr. Frank Skiba from a neighboring suite.

"Our vision is to provide each patient with a personal, supportive, and compassionate dental experience — with keen attention to their overall health and a strong emphasis on prevention and education."

Practice character

The practice is very general in nature, with a lot of “nuts and bolts” dentistry — cleanings, fillings, crowns, implants, bridges, and partials. Dr. Maher has a special interest in high-tech tools and aesthetic options like next-generation bleaching and Invisalign. He has over 12 years of experience making same-day ceramic crowns in office (CEREC / e.max), and uses 3D scanning and printing extensively to design and fabricate appliances like night guards, implant surgical guides, and orthodontics (Invisalign).

Dr. Maher is passionate about establishing and maintaining dental health for his patients as well as earning their confidence. He enjoys the education process — there are often several possible treatment options for a given problem, and he wants to help each patient make the best choice for their particular situation.

Outside the office

Dr. Maher is married to his wife Ellie and they have four children. He volunteers in his church community and has, in his words, “way too many hobbies.” His primary interests are skiing, biking, hiking, science, reading, all things French, and fixing cars.