A Passion for Changing Lives
I am truly blessed to work in a specialty that is so closely tied to the well-being of other people. I find great satisfaction in coming to work each day knowing that every person I meet will have taken another step forward toward improving his or her oral health and changing the beauty of the smile: all my patients are that much closer to a good bite and function, and a smile that radiates self-confidence!
Education and Experience
I grew up in San Jose and attended UC Berkeley for my undergraduate studies. Next came dental school at UCSF, where I received my Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Heading East, I completed my orthodontic residency and specialty training, and received a Master of Science, at the University of Michigan.
I’ve practiced orthodontics for almost 25 years and can honestly say I’ve loved every day of my career.
It is a pleasure to serve a diverse community and to get to know each patient as a person. I enjoy working with young people — children and teens — and seeing them grow into strong and confident young adults, ready to take on the world. I equally enjoy partnering with adults — parents, working professionals, even grandparents — and correcting issues that have impacted their self-esteem for years.
From visit to visit, I see visible changes in a person’s mouth, as the teeth are gently moved into the correct position. My patients see these changes, too, and their whole way of approaching life can transform: they walk taller, make eye contact and are quicker to interact with one another and my team, and, best of all, they start to smile without feeling self-conscious! By the time treatment is finished, each person is happier, healthier, and has a smile they’re proud to share!
Professional Affiliations and Continuing Education
I am an active member of the:
- American Association of Orthodontists
- California Association of Orthodontists
- American Dental Association
- California Dental Association
- Contra Costa Dental Society
Through these organizations, I have access to numerous meetings, as well as lectures, seminars, and publications. I attend many annual meetings with my team, to further my clinical knowledge and develop the clinical and front office abilities of my staff.
Continuing education keeps me and my team abreast of the current trends in orthodontic care. By carefully examining new methodologies, technologies, and treatments, we are able to adopt those which improve care and outcome. The latest is not always the greatest and I will not offer any treatment that I would not want used on myself.
Beyond the Practice
I describe myself as a single guy with a large family — whom I see many days a week at my office! Truthfully, my patients are like family to me. But, like a grandparent at holiday time, they go home and I see them again next time.
I spend a lot of my free time at the pool, where I can zone out and think about things while I’m making my way through the water. As of late, I’ve been spending a lot of time preparing for a foreign language proficiency test and putting together an extensive online family tree.