Nantucket, Mass. — Dr. Maged El-Malecki, the Boston dentist who treated Boston Celtics player Derrick White’s chipped tooth during the team’s 2024 championship run, is now taking dental care directly to patients.
El-Malecki co-founded FlossTime with President Mike Laskowski to make dental services more accessible. The mobile clinic travels to college campuses, workplaces, and private residences, including the home of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
“The way we contribute most is by helping people access care and detect problems early,” El-Malecki said. “That prevents higher costs and additional visits down the line.”
El-Malecki, who also practices at Boston Dental, said the COVID-19 pandemic inspired him to address gaps in dental access.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans live in areas with a shortage of dental professionals. More than half of these areas are rural.
FlossTime has worked closely with Nantucket, treating more than 100 patients in just a few days during a recent visit. Nantucket Public Health Inspector Sean Reid noted that the island has only a handful of busy dentists. Reid himself received a cleaning and fluoride treatment at FlossTime’s temporary office in July.
“They had openings at convenient times that fit my schedule,” Reid said. “And I work right next door.”
Laskowski said FlossTime has partnered with companies including Ocean Spray, Staples, and Whoop to provide on-site dental care for employees. The mobile clinic also serves college students, many of whom have not had regular dental care.
“The majority of our patients haven’t visited a dentist in over two years,” Laskowski said. “Some have never received dental care in their lives.”
At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, FlossTime is installing a full clinic on campus, set to open by the end of the fall 2025 semester. The clinic will serve students, faculty, staff, and eventually the local community.
Running a mobile dental clinic requires significant upfront capital and a Portable Dental Operation license, El-Malecki explained. Despite these challenges, FlossTime has treated 4,000 patients in the past year.
