Although I have been a faculty dentist and graduate instructor at the UCSF School of Dentistry for 11 years, what I enjoy most is taking care of the people who come to our office. Whether the treatment calls for overdentures, root canals or straightening teeth, I find the relationships with my patients to be the most rewarding part of my life. Restoring the smiles of the families that compromise the majority of our patients with grandparents, new parents, aunts, uncles and cousins is what I find is the best part of my work. Many of our individual patients live elsewhere but come here because they work nearby or they have friends here. With a strong background in hospital dentistry, I am confident treating patients with multiple medical issues.  As Director of Dentistry at Cook County Hospital in Chicago I began the hospital program for handicapped children and the One Day Surgery protocol for adults.  I directed the hospital dental residency at Cook County and I began the community-based graduate program in San Francisco for the University of California.  I have brought healthy, happy smiles to many underserved and medically-compromised folks during these creative years.

Invisible orthodontics and ultrathin porcelain veneers are 2 very popular new conservative dental approaches I can now use that have allowed many patients to improve their smiles beyond what is possible with whitening alone.  People find that when their smiles improve they care for their teeth better, and their overall health improves as well.  Every individual has different dental needs and concerns.  It gives me a great sense of purpose to coordinate each person’s care so they are comfortable and have a plan for continually improving their health.

As a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, I am committed to a proficiency in dentistry through quality continuing education courses and study clubs in order to best serve my patients.  By serving as chairman for the Academy in testing and training other dentists to improve their knowledge and skills I learned much more with this group than if I were studying alone.

After work and on the weekends I enjoy taking care of the foliage around the house in addition to hiking, bicycling and kayaking.  I also sing bass with 3 choral groups.  One group is traveling to Hungary this summer to participate in the International Choral Festival.  Fourth Street Beat is a smaller ensemble (14 of us) who volunteer to sing in nursing homes and retirement homes several times a year.  This year we got a grant from an anonymous donor to cover our accompanist and musical director.  Ann and I have 2 grown daughters who are both in loving relationships.  There’s more that I’ll be happy to tell you when you come in.

I am very pleased to have Dr. Mangrum heading up the office with her energy, enthusiasm and organization.  She has been able to bring our office to a higher level of efficiency in a very short time.  She has introduced new technology to the office including lasers, intraoral photography, digital xrays and Vizilite diagnostics that put us at the leading edge of dental care.  Together with the specialists in Oral Surgery, Periodontics and Endodontics, this is a good time to be a patient at Petaluma Dental Group.