Beauty, Balance, and Science.
Toothology was built by two people who love this work and happen to love each other. Dr. Allison Tran and Dr. Steven Christofakis, husband and wife, designed this Richmond practice together from the operatory layout to the front desk script, with one shared question guiding every decision: how do you build a smile that’s beautiful today and still healthy 10, 15, 20 years from now?
The answer shaped everything. Fifteen operatories with the equipment to handle complex cases in-house. Sedation available on site, led by Dr. Christofakis. A clinical philosophy rooted in evidence, restraint, and treatment that ages well. And a team trained to treat every patient like the long-term relationship we hope they’ll be. This is the practice the two of us would want, designed for the people of Richmond.
Meet Your Dentist
Dr. Tran’s story begins far from Richmond, in a Vietnamese refugee camp where she was raised in circumstances that taught her early what perseverance looks like. That foundation shaped the dentist she became. She studied at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, one of the top dental schools in the world, and built her career around evidence-based, conservative care: smiles designed to look beautiful today and stay healthy decades from now. Giving back is part of how she practices. Dr. Tran donates to The UNC Foundation, sponsoring dental students on international service trips (she completed three of her own during dental school), and supports La Ola Orphanage in Mexico, helping educate young girls, including one now finishing dental school herself.
TOP 6% OF DENTISTS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA.
Dr. Tran will receive her Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry in June 2026, a credential held by only 6% of dentists across the U.S. and Canada. She is an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, a designation earned through rigorous written and oral examination and backed by more than 500 continuing education credits in implant dentistry alone. She is also a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Academy of General Dentistry. At Toothology, those credentials show up in the planning: every implant case, every cosmetic case, every comprehensive treatment plan is built on the science.
Meet Your Dentist
Dr. Christofakis came to dentistry through science. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Mary Washington, then a Master of Science in Physiology from Virginia Commonwealth University, where his thesis focused on head and neck cancer research. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University’s College of Dentistry, one of the most prestigious dental schools in the country, before completing a two-year general practice residency at VCU and the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond. He recently moved back to Richmond to be closer to family, where he and Dr. Tran built Toothology together. Outside the practice, he plays sports, plays a few instruments, and travels whenever he can.
TOP DENTIST, MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA. During his residency near Charleston, Dr. Christofakis was named Top Dentist in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. His training is unusually deep on the surgical side: his two-year general practice residency at VCU and the McGuire VA included advanced work in periodontics, implant placement, and endodontics, along with formal certification in anesthesia. That anesthesia training is the foundation of his sedation practice at Toothology, where he leads in-house sedation for patients with dental anxiety, complex treatment needs, or medical considerations that require a more careful approach. His clinical work pairs surgical precision with the calm, evidence-driven thinking that defines the Toothology approach.
Every treatment plan at Toothology is shaped by a partnership that started long before the practice did.
Meet The Team
Toothology is intentionally staffed: hygienists, assistants, and front office team members chosen for their clinical skill, their judgment, and the way they make patients feel during a visit. Every person on the team works to the same standard the doctors set.
Our hygienists handle the foundation of long-term oral health: thorough cleanings, periodontal evaluations, and one-on-one coaching on the home care habits that protect your smile between visits.
Our assistants stay with you through every procedure, anticipating what you and the doctor need next so the chairside experience feels calm, efficient, and unhurried.
Our front office handles scheduling, insurance verification, and treatment estimates with patience and clarity. If something about your benefits, your appointment, or your bill is confusing, they will sit with you until it isn’t.
Committed to Helping You
To deliver thoughtful, evidence-based dentistry that makes Richmond smiles healthier and more beautiful, today and decades from now.
Science: Every recommendation at Toothology starts with the clinical evidence. We trust the research, the data, and the long-term outcomes before we trust trends or pressure.
Restraint: We practice conservative dentistry. The right answer is often the smallest intervention that solves the problem and preserves your natural tooth structure for the years ahead.
Partnership: Dr. Tran and Dr. Christofakis built this practice together, and we extend that partnership to every patient: your treatment plan is a conversation, not a prescription.
Craft: From the office design to the bonding margin, we believe how something is done matters. We sweat the details so your smile reflects it.
