Specialties
Magis isn’t a thing—it’s an idea. An idea that dentistry can be more than pain and fear. That you can be taken care of, and that the people behind the masks truly care about you. Officially, Magis means “greater,” and that’s what we think dentistry should be. In a world that treats everyone like a statistic, we see you for who you are. You’re more than your teeth: you’re family.
We see more than your teeth: we see that the health of your mouth is intimately tied to the health of your body. Did you know that gum disease is associated with heart disease, pancreatic cancer, and dementia? And how can you eat in a healthy way if you don’t have functional teeth? It’s time to start seeing dentistry in a wholistic way: it’s about health, not just teeth.
And even more important: we see what patients carry inside of their hearts. Too often, a history of terrible dental experiences leave people anxious, scared to visit the dentist. Others are embarrassed of their smile—taking family pictures without showing any teeth or using their hands to cover their laughter. We’re here to help, to give you a dental experience that’s easier than you ever imagined. Because at Magis, we’re not just focused on your teeth, and we’re not only concerned with your physical health. We’re really about how you feel.
Because here, we build relationships, health, and happiness. We just happen to fix teeth along the way.
History
Established in 1980.
In 2023, Dr. Matthew Burns, purchased the dental office established by Dr. Richard Pellegrini. The practice specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry for individuals of all ages. We have over 20 years of experience serving individuals in the Joliet and surrounding area. We pride ourselves on the individualized and timely attention that each patient receives. Dr. Pellegrini is among a unique group of general dentists to be awarded a fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry, which signifies going above and beyond the basic requirements to care for his patients. Dr. Gabriela Baltierres will continue to practice with Dr. Burns at Magis Dental.
Meet the Business Owner: Matthew B.
For me, what’s really exciting about dentistry are the patients—getting to know them, their families, and their stories. And let’s face it: dentistry is scary when you’re in the patient chair—will this hurt? Will I be taken good care of?” What drives Dr. Burns isn’t only the quality of the fillings and crowns, but rather the quality of the care behind the treatment. “Can dentistry be pain-free and fear-free? Definitely! And when a patient sits up after a procedure and is surprised at how easy it was, that’s a real gift, to be able to take away a patient’s fear.”
Born in Boston, Dr. Burns attended MIT, then spent a year doing volunteer work with adults with developmental disabilities, where he met his future wife Molly, a fellow volunteer. After graduating from Western University of Health Sciences in 2014 with his dental degree, he joined the Air Force, where he spent a year in a dental residency program, providing advanced procedures and learning the latest research on treatments.
