Welcome Redwood Family Dental
Dr. Agnes Seong had been practicing dentistry in New York City for almost 10 years when she and her husband decided to relocate to New Jersey. She hoped to find a practice near home that was family-oriented and valued quality care and patient relationships, but that goal proved elusive.
When she expressed her frustration to Dr. Kevin Muench, owner of Muench Family Dental in Maplewood Village, he offered a solution: “Why don’t you just buy this practice? I’m looking to retire.”
Seong says, “I was pregnant at the time, so I was kind of apprehensive about taking a bigger role, because I knew I’m going to be a first-time mom.” She says Muench encouraged her, saying, “You’re enough, you can do this, and I’ll be here to help you along.”
Seong and her husband with baby Nora for her first Christmas.
Seong had met Muench several years ago when he was an instructor at the Pankey Institute, which provides dental education and professional development. She later became his patient to solve her painful TMD (temporomandibular disorder) issues.
“I had a lot of grinding and clenching to a point where I couldn’t function,” says Seong. “I had to take Advil every day.” To successfully treat someone with TMD, Seong says, “It’s very important to interview the patient properly and really get to know them … what they do from morning to night to see what unpacks their symptoms.”
Muench’s treatment for Seong was successful. She valued his personal approach, which is something that had also resonated with her where she practiced in New York. She says you can sense a practice that values quality of care “the way the front desk talks to you or how long the dentist spends time with you [to] get to know you.”
Seong’s journey to dentistry began in college. Coming from a family that emigrated from South Korea to achieve the American dream when she was 10 years old, Seong says growing up wasn’t easy. Her family was poor, so she worked as soon as she was able, spending many hours helping at her mother’s nail salon. The money she earned funded her college education.
With an interest in math and art, Seong pictured herself becoming an architect or civil engineer. But her mother suggested dentistry, which led Seong to shadow a couple of dentists during her college years. One dentist who balanced dentistry and motherhood made a positive impact on Seong. As she watched her work, she says she liked that “there’s a mixture of art and math in dentistry, and I just liked making things with my hands and making things pretty. Having engineering behind that fit really well with me.”
Seong has been at her new practice since October 2024, renaming it Redwood Family Dental. She says it was her mother’s example as a business owner that inspired her to buy the practice.
“My mom was like, ‘Go, go, go – do it. Running a business can be difficult, but you can do it. It’s worth it.’”
Muench, who spent 37 years building his private practice, is now working with Seong and plans to retire in June. He looks forward to seeing two of his three sons marry this year, spending time with grandson, Theo, and traveling with his wife, Eileen.
Of course, transitioning into retirement will take time, but he’s happy about passing the baton to Seong and says, “She’s great. It’s what makes moving along in life easier. I’ll miss the conversations with patients and staff, [who] I consider dear friends. So many times we all got to lean on each other throughout our time together – laughs and tears – all the hallmarks of trusting relationships!”
Seong is enjoying connecting with her new patients. She says, “This office is exactly my dream office where I grow old with my patients or have that relationship where I get to ask you about your child or you get to ask me about my baby.” She says that taking the time to know her patients is not only personally fulfilling but is the key to providing quality care.
Ellen Donker was a patient of Kevin Muench for 25-plus years and wishes
him the best in this next phase of life. She’s grateful to call him friend.
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