Dr Susannah Shirer

Dr. Susannah Shirer was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of South Carolina, where she graduated magna cum laude. Dr. Shirer then went on to pursue her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. During her time at MUSC, she was awarded the Dentsply International Merit Award, an award given by the faculty to one student in the graduating class that finished with distinction in the study of fixed prosthodontics (an area of dentistry that includes crowns and bridges). Following dental school, Dr. Shirer did an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency at the Ralph H. Johnson V.A. Medical Center, where she learned to expand her scope of practice. Dr. Shirer joined the faculty of the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2011 as a full-time instructor, and she eventually rose to the level of assistant professor during her time there. As a faculty member, Dr. Shirer was the course director for Fixed Prosthodontics I and IV, where she taught dental students about crowns, temporaries and how to restore endodontically treated teeth (teeth with root canals), among many other things. She has given continuing education presentations on the restoration of endodontically treated teeth, and she enjoys speaking on the topic. Dr. Shirer has also been published in Breastfeeding Medicine for her research on mutans streptococci (bacteria that causes tooth decay) and its transmissibility from mothers to their infants. While on faculty, she served as a clinical attendant in various areas of general dentistry, and she maintained a private practice through MUSC, where she treated her own dental patients. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, Dr. Shirer found Dr. Michael Shirer, and the rest is history! They have two adorable young boys, Perry and Gray. Dr. Shirer enjoys mentoring aspiring dentists and other members of the dental field. She also gives presentations to local schools promoting good dental health to our future generations. When she is not in the dental office, Dr. Susannah Shirer enjoys being involved at her boys’ school and their local church, painting, drawing, reading, and, most of all, spending time with her husband (Dr. Michael Shirer) and their two boys.