Our Dentists

Dr. David I. Newman was born in Michigan and graduated with a degree in Dentistry from the University of Michigan Dental School in 1980. Dr. Newman followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Lawrence Newman, in becoming a dentist and working at the Dearborn Dental Office with his father of blessed memory. Dr. Lawrence Newman and Dr. David Newman were joined by Dr. Cheryl Newman and worked together for many years until his father’s passing of cancer and sister’s early retirement to be with her family.

Dr. David Newman understands how important your smile is and will make every effort to provide the highest quality, gentle dental care for you and your family. Dr. Newman loves practicing dentistry along side so many talented professionals and his wonderful staff. He has been a Dentist for 41 years and looks forward to many more years to come at Newman Family Dental.

When Dr. Newman is not at the dental office, he enjoys engaging in many outdoor sports, boating, and skiing with friends and family.

Dr. Melissa D. Moccia-Patton grew up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She began working as an office assistant at Newman Family Dental Center while attending the University of Detroit Mercy, getting her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2007. While obtaining her degree, she was also trained in our office as a lab assistant and dental assistant. Because of her wide scope of training as a medical professional and as an employee in our office, she has been a big contributor to the success of the business.

In 2020, Dr. Melissa became part owner alongside Dr. Newman at Newman Family Dental. Her training and wide knowledge of Dentistry, her familiarity of the many aspects of our office's operations and her drive to making sure patients receive the best quality health care experience in the community makes her an invaluable part of our office.

Dr. Melissa has been practicing general dentistry at Newman Family Dental since 2007. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society. Over the years, she has taken many postgraduate courses in different areas of dentistry, including endodontics (root canals), oral surgery and CAD/CAM (same day crowns).

Outside of the office she spends most of her time with her husband and children enjoying Michigan and all it has to offer!

Dr. Dale Garber was born in 1960 in Detroit and has been a Michigan native. His affiliation with the Newman family goes back to the early 1950’s when his father Fred Garber entered the University of Michigan Dental School’s Class of 1956 with Dr. Lawrence Newman and the families became lifelong friends. When Dr. Dale Garber graduated from U of M Dental School and later began practicing at Newman Family Dental.

Dr. Garber enjoys all aspects of dentistry and takes pride in making patients feel relaxed and comfortable through his gentle demeanor and sense of humor. He likes to keep current with the latest technologies and is a member of the American Dental Association. Getting patients beyond their fears and providing them with the confidence that a healthy, beautiful smile brings is what Dr. Garber enjoys most about his profession. In his free time, Dr. Garber likes to keep physically fit through biking, half Ironman triathlons, and marathons. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife Lisa, and his three children. He feels very fortunate to be a part of the Newman Family Dental team, for the past three decades!

Dr. Chris Clifford, DDS, is a highly skilled dentist who is dedicated to providing his patients with the best dental care possible. Dr. Clifford graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School in 2009 with high honors, ranking at the top of his class. He began his career in a large group practice, where he gained invaluable experience treating a wide range of dental issues to patients of all ages.

Dr. Clifford joined Newman Family Dental in 2023. He is a proud member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Michigan Dental Association, where he serves on the Committee for Continuing Education. Dr. Clifford is also a member of the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society.

His commitment to continuing education and professional development has led him to pursue advanced training in implant and cosmetic dentistry. He strives to provide his patients with the latest techniques and technologies in dental care to ensure their comfort and satisfaction. He is dedicated to providing his patients with the highest level of care. Dr. Clifford looks forward to caring for you and your family at Newman Family Dental.

When not in the office, Dr. Clifford enjoys spending time with his wife and five children, traveling, and tackling home remodeling projects.