Meet Dr. Austin

Dr. Shirley Austin brings over a decade of clinical and leadership experience to every patient interaction. A graduate of Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine, Dr. Austin went on to complete a General Practice Residency at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. There, she deepened her expertise in prosthodontics, endodontics, and restorative dentistry while managing complex dental emergencies and providing comprehensive care under general anesthesia to pediatric and special needs patients.

Following her residency, Dr. Austin built a broad foundation in general dentistry across private practice settings. She provided comprehensive dental care in the North End in Boston before relocating to California, where she treated patients in a private practice setting in La Jolla and cared for a diverse patient population, including many from the LGBTQ community at a health center in San Diego.

Dr. Austin’s career reflects a rare combination of hands-on clinical skill and health system leadership. She spent seven years as Chief Dental Officer at a large FQHC in central Massachusetts, where she provided clinical oversight for a team of more than 20 dentists across five sites, introduced new service lines including an implant program, periodontal surgery, CAD/CAM technology, and Invisalign, and helped shape policy and quality assurance for the department. She also served as AEGD Site Program Coordinator and faculty for NYU Langone Health, where she helped re-activate the dental residency program in Fitchburg and mentored residents specifically in treatment planning and endodontics.

At Commonwealth Dental Group, she draws on this depth of clinical and administrative experience to lead a multi-specialty practice dedicated to comprehensive, patient-centered dental care.