I love my job. It started really early on. I was born in Honduras, moved to the United States when I was 4, moved to the Chicago area, and my dad was a gastroenterologist. He opened up a private practice in Dubuque, Iowa. By the time I was in high school, I was filing. I was answering his phones. By the time I was a senior, I was making appointments. I was calling other offices, and I saw how he interacted with patients, and it really made an impact to me.
Prosthodontics, when I got exposed to it, I was like, “That’s something I’m really good at,” and that’s what led me to develop the passion that I have for it, and it’s what led to me go into my residency, which was two years, and then I also did an American Cancer Society Fellowship for a year. That exposed me to the world of implants, and I got to tell you, it’s an ongoing process. I’ve been doing it for 32 years. I have more excitement for it today than I did at the very beginning. Dentistry has been a joy. It’s been a privilege. The staff that I work for is wonderful. They’re so kind and giving, and they give their effort, and I love my patients.
They said that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. That’s what I felt that we got in our residency. But then, you couple that with a lifetime of learning, so over the last 30 years, I have probably spent maybe another 10, maybe another 15,000 hours of honing my skill. What it allows me to do is honestly, I look in a mouth today, I’m never surprised. I’ve seen it before. I know what’s there and I know where it’s going, and I can help you see that.
That’s the whole objective that I have is that if I’m able to show you what’s going on, where are you heading, what decisions do you need to make in order to prevent or avoid some obstacles. There’s no such thing as a shortcut. If there was a shortcut, and it was little risk, that would be called the way. The shortcuts just lead to more risks. What I like to do is have patients engage with me and see the direction that they’re going, and if I can help them, awesome. I think it comes off great. That’s what experience does. I’ve been there before. I know what I’m looking at and I know how to fix it.
Get to Know a Dentist Who Has Advanced Training in Prosthodontics
Dr. Pablo Cuevas is a prosthodontist with more than 40 years of experience dedicated to restoring, replacing, and enhancing smiles through thoughtful, comprehensive dental care. His approach focuses on long-term function, aesthetics, and helping patients make confident, informed decisions about their dental health.
After earning his dental degree from the University of Iowa, Dr. Cuevas completed advanced specialty training in prosthodontics, a field dedicated to complex restorative and implant dentistry. He went on to complete a prestigious American Cancer Society Fellowship in oncologic and maxillofacial prosthetics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, within the Department of Otolaryngology—an institution consistently ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. Cuevas was later recruited to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, where he served as a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. During his academic career, he taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses, lectured nationally, and conducted research focused on dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. He has also completed advanced training in minimally invasive bone grafting techniques to improve outcomes for implant patients.
In addition to his clinical and academic work, Dr. Cuevas has long been involved in patient education and community outreach. He previously authored a dental question-and-answer column for the Fairfield Citizen and has been recognized by his peers as one of Connecticut’s Top Prosthodontists for multiple consecutive years. He has also been named a Top Doctor, based on professional experience, training, certifications, and peer recognition.
Today, Dr. Cuevas leads Fairfield Smiles By Design with a philosophy centered on clarity, precision, and long-term dental health. Whether patients are seeking a first visit, cosmetic improvements, dental implants, or a second opinion, his goal is always the same: to provide thoughtful guidance and care that stands the test of time.