An inside interview with LocateADoc.com
Describe the most rewarding experience that you have had working with a patient?
The most rewarding experience happens every time I complete a smile makeover and I see the excitement in my patient's facial expressions! That smile of joyful
satisfaction is extremely rewarding.
What is your charity organization of choice and why?
There are two. I was a part of the faculty at Marquette University's Dental School for 26 years prior to coming to Homer. Each year, I taught senior class dental students how to do Head Start screenings for children. I continue to be involved with Head Start and do free screenings here in Homer. Preventative Care is so important and having the opportunity to teach little children the importance of taking care of their teeth is very gratifying.
Also, being a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry allows me to participate in heightening awareness of the need to help and support persons who have suffered from the emotional and physical effects of domestic violence. As a Dentist, I am privileged to be able to participate in life-changing smile restoration.
What does living in the Homer community mean to you?
I am living a dream come true here in Homer. It's a place filled with hope and joy, the geography is magnificent; mountains, glaciers, Kachemak Bay, the ocean, volcanoes. This is the most beautiful place I know of on earth. The people here are kind and caring. I am grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.
What is your favorite quote or saying?
"Perfect is close enough" in dentistry.
Finish this sentence: If I weren't a doctor I would be___.
a teacher - teaching both the clinical side and also teaching the art of dental aesthetics. I truly enjoyed encouraging students to use their imagination to find solutions!
Can you tell us in your own words what you consider a perfect outcome of a surgical procedure?
The perfect outcome for a surgical procedure, whether a full smile makeover or a single tooth implant, is when the patient is completely satisfied and the patient and I are the only ones who know that a procedure has taken place. A smile that looks and feels perfectly natural is always the goal. Providing excellent care and delivering imaginative solutions with results that exceed the patient's expectations - that's perfection!
What is your favorite procedure to perform and why?
Placing and restoring dental implants is my favorite procedure because the patient is returned to where they were before losing their teeth. There are very few Smile Makeover Specialists in the world who also surgically place dental implants. I am thrilled to belong to the small group of Dental Specialists who are trained and able to do this. The need for the patient to go back and forth between different specialists to have their work completed is eliminated. We do full smile makeovers from start to finish.
In a perfect world, when would you like to retire, where would you go and what would you do?
I love my wife and family, I love being a Dentist, I love living in Homer. I am filled with gratitude to be here in Alaska doing what I love to do. Carpe Diem!
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