By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Dr. Stacey DeFranco is a Birmingham native and opened his Helena Family Dentistry practice in 1998, where he has been a staple in the community ever since.

DeFranco grew up in Hoover and graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1988. He then went on to complete his undergraduate degree at UAB as well as attending the UAB School of Dentistry where he graduated in 1998.

After graduating, DeFranco opened his Helena practice in August of 1998.

“I was the first building on all this development here and then a bank came and the Dollar General,” said DeFranco. “The city has been extremely good to me and I’ve watched it grow around me with all the new businesses coming here and I just want to continue being a valuable part of this community.”

Helena Family Dentistry sees a variety of dental patients, according to DeFranco.

“We do plenty of cleanings and preventive dentistry, a lot of fillings, root canals, extractions and a variety of dental procedures.

Helena Family Dentistry has five employees who are all local to the Helena and Alabaster area.

When asked to describe what makes Helena Family Dentistry different from other practices, DeFranco said the personal attention patients receive is what sets them apart.

“I think it’s the personal feel,” said DeFranco. “We try to get to know all of our patients. I can pretty much walk into a room with a patient of mine and tell you how many children they have and so forth. I really work hard to get to know my patients and we give them all individual attention and you’re not just a number here.”

Helena Family Dentistry also offers a plan to patients who might not have dental insurance.

“We offer an in house insurance plan that is called the Helena Family Dentistry Dental Plan and it is geared toward people who do not have dental insurance,” said DeFranco. “It is a very good value for what you get.”

Helena Family Dentistry is located at 1001 Ashley Brook Lane in Helena.

The office can be reached at 621-3100 and more information is available at Helenafamilydentistry.com