Hutchinson Dental

Services Offered

• Family dentistry
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Implant restorations
• Sleep apnea oral appliances
• TMD

Building Trust

Trust is key in any relationship. To build trust with patients, I make an effort to engage and learn as much about them as I can. This helps me understand what is important to them so I can align with their values to be their dental advocate. If there is a dental problem, I make an effort to be clear in what I see and communicate in a way they will understand. I like to provide patients with visual information about what is going on and what their options are so they can make their own decisions. Patients know that I won’t recommend treatment unless it is necessary. 

Ideal Staff

My ideal team member would be someone who is a “yes” person. Someone who takes initiative, is cross-trained to wear multiple hats and is committed to putting the patient first with integrity. Some would call it having a servant’s heart—to simply endeavor to be helpful and naturally do their very best. It’s something that really can’t be trained; you either have it or you don’t.

Patient Story

I share a patient with Dr. Estess, and this procedure took nearly a year to complete. It began with nearly a month of planning between myself, Dr. Estess and the lab for a successful and predictable outcome. Dr. Estess removed all of the patient’s teeth and placed implants in stages: the top arch first and the bottom arch a few weeks later. 

I added implant-supported temporary restorations after each surgery and the final restorations a few months after that. Once we crossed the finish line and completed the follow-up bite appointment, the patient described what this treatment meant to him. 

Not only did we help rid him of broken, painful and infected teeth, we also gave him a better smile to present to the world. The restorations gave him a more even chewing table to enjoy foods he hadn’t been able to eat in years. Who knew one could find joy in a crunchy crouton? 

Even from the temporary stage, he found himself engaging more often with strangers instead of hiding his smile. The way he shared all the ways this treatment improved different parts of his life is something I will absolutely never forget and always hold dear. As a thank-you, he made a bobblehead for myself and my assistant, which now reside in our reception area!

Wise Words

I encourage aspiring medical professionals not to forget the art of having a conversation and learning from mistakes. I feel the younger generation is detached and ill-prepared for the challenges real patients and their personalities pose since they have been trained via simulation. That’s not reality. Have the humility to learn what works in your hands and what doesn’t. Always turn a less-than-ideal outcome into an opportunity to learn and improve. There is no room in relationships or health care for arrogance.

Work-Life Balance 

I love what I do, but dentistry can be physically demanding. Sometimes I just need to step away to switch off. And if that’s what I need to keep going, I can’t deny the same to be true for my team. If they need time to recharge or they have something come up that is important to them, that time is always granted. It’s important to surround myself with good people because you can’t train that. So if my ladies have a need, it’s only right to honor that. I never keep track because no one abuses it, and they all pick up slack when one person is out.

Local Go-To

Sometimes I feel I’m the unofficial sponsor of Proudly Serving in Hermosa Beach. It’s a smash burger place near where I live. When the wind is just right, all you have to do is breathe in to enjoy and spare yourself the calories. Their burgers are simple perfection between the steamed potato bun, caramelized onions, cheese just gooey and thick enough to sink your teeth into, and the crispy ends of the beef patty. Mmm! And the duck-fat fries are somehow crunchy and soft at the same time and always perfectly seasoned. It’s a dangerous treat to have so close!

Photographed by Siri Berting