Meet The Team
Dr. Nicki De Francesco
D.M.D., MSc. Physiol., MSc. Ortho., FCDS(BC), FRCD(C)
Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada
Assistant Clinical Professor, UBC Dental School
Certified Invisalign Provider
Dr. Nicki A. De Francesco was born and raised in Winnipeg, where she graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (D.M.D.) After graduation she completed an internship in the Department of Oral Surgery. Then she moved to Vancouver and spent one year in a hospital based General Practice Residency in the Department of Veteran's Affairs at Shaughnessy Hospital. Dr. De Francesco also completed her Master's Degree in Physiology at the University of Bristol, England. Then she returned to Winnipeg to study orthodontics and completed a dual degree in Masters of Science and Specialty of Orthodontics.
Dr. De Francesco is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Orthodontics at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.) Faculty of Dentistry where she is a consultant and teaches orthodontics to 3rd and 4th year students in the dental degree program. Dr. De Francesco has a total of 27 years of experience and has practiced in Vancouver and the lower mainland, the interior of B.C. and on Vancouver Island. She also recently worked in the Canada's High Arctic for POLAR BRACES in the Territory of Nunavut providing orthodontic treatment for the children living in the towns of Cambridge Bay and Coppermine.
Dr. Nicki De Francesco enjoys participating in several orthodontic study clubs and has many hobbies including gardening, golfing, skiing, yoga, singing, sculpting in stone and clay, and jogging. She also recently completed her Master's Level in NLP. Dr. De Francesco enjoys volunteering in the community, supporting local and international charities, particularly those charities involved in helping children living in disadvantaged circumstances, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Dr. Aly Kanani
B.Sc, M.Sc, MS.Ed, D.M.D., MS.Ortho.,Cert.Ortho., Dipl.ABO., FRCD(C).
Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists
of Canada
Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
Certified Invisalign Provider
Dr. Aly Kanani was born and raised in the Lower Mainland Area. He has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree from McGill University and received a Masters of Science (M.Sc) from the London School of Economics. He received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (D.M.D.) and also completed his Masters in Education degree (MS.Ed) at the University of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he has nearly completed his Masters in Public Health degree (M.P.H.) from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Kanani graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy with a Masters of Science degree and Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics in 2005.
Dr. Kanani previously taught clinical orthodontics to bright third and fourth year dental students at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.) Dental School clinic. His research has been published in the premiere journal of orthodontics
in North America, the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial
Orthopedics.
He practices mostly in Surrey and Langley as well as occasionally at our state-of-the-art Multi-Dental Care Clinic in Vancouver with Dr. De Francesco, who is our lead orthodontist.
Dr. Joel Fransen
B.Sc, D.M.D., Cert.Endo., FRCD(C).
Certified Specialist in Endodontics, College of Dental Surgeons of B.C.
Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada
Member of the Canadian Academy of Endodontics
Member of the American Association of Endodontists
At the Vancouver Multi-Dental Care Clinic, endodontic services are provided by Dr. Joel Fransen, a certified endodontist. Although born in Alberta, Joel grew up in the lower mainland and graduated from Richmond Secondary School. He earned his Dental Doctorate in 1998 from the University of British Columbia, School of Dental Medicine. He worked for several years as a general dentist on Vancouver Island and in Kelowna. In 2007, Joel completed the post-graduate endodontic programme at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas.
Joel practices the full scope of modern endodontics including differential diagnosis, non-surgical root canal treatment and re-treatment, and surgical endodontic procedures. He has lectured nationally in the United States on recent developments in instrumentation and obturation. To help keep you abreast of the latest and greatest developments in obturation of root canal systems a Colleagues for Excellence newsletter from the American Association of Endodontists is included with this letter.
After nearly nine years away from Vancouver, Joel is excited to back home with his wife Alison Fransen, a general dentist and fellow UBC graduate, and their three children Clive, Chloë, and Texas Jack (guess where he was born!). Joel enjoys skiing (former ski racer, coach, instructor and patroller), soccer (aka football), and crowd control (i.e. three children).
Joel served as President of the B.C. Society of Endodontists during the 2009-2010, and was vice president from 2007-2009. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in Endodontics, as well as an active member of the Canadian Academy of Endodontics, the British Endodontic Society, and the American Association of Endodontists.
Dr. Michael A. Rivera
D.D.S., A.A.I.D., I.C.O.I
Practice Limited to Oral Surgery and Dental Implants
Credentialed Member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
Dr. Michael Rivera has had a practice limited to oral surgery and implant dentistry for the past 15 years in Prince George and several years in Whistler and in Vancouver, He does not charge above the General Dental Practioner Oral Surgery Fee Guide set by the BC Dental Association, and he accepts assignment from many insurance companies. As a professional courtesy for his referring dentists, initial consultation appointments are provided at no charge to the patient. Dr. Rivera is an active member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Dr. Maria Isabel (Marissa) Garcia
D.D.S., M.Sc., Dip. Periodontics
Practice Limited to PeriodonticsAcademic Member, College of Dental Surgeons of B.C.
Clinical Asst. Professor, University of British Columbia Dental School