Forty years in dentistry has given us far more than a milestone to celebrate; it has given us a lifetime of meaningful relationships.
More than 150 patients, colleagues, and team members past and present joined us to celebrate the occasion this September. As we looked around the room, we realized that the evening wasn’t really about the number 40. It was about the people who have made those 40 years such a joyful journey.
Drs. Dennis and Marie Stiles. (Submitted photo)
When we graduated from Georgetown Dental School in 1986, we could never have imagined where dentistry would take us or the remarkable people we would meet along the way.
For us, dentistry has always been about much more than teeth. We have often said, “We have never seen a tooth walk in the door.” Every person who enters our practice brings a story, a family, hopes, concerns, and a desire to be cared for and understood. Over four decades, we have had the privilege of getting to know thousands of those stories.
Photo Booth. (Submitted photo)
We have watched young patients grow up and bring us their own children. We have shared graduations, weddings, new careers, grandchildren, illnesses, recoveries, and countless other moments of life. In return, our patients have become part of our story as well. That is one of the greatest gifts dentistry has given us.
Our journey has also allowed us to serve beyond the walls of our practice. Teaching students and fellow dental professionals has continually challenged us to learn, grow, and remain curious. Dentistry has changed enormously over 40 years, and we have tried never to stop asking how we can do things better and how we can better serve the person sitting in our chair.
Associate Dr. Elizabeth Wilcox and her husband Brent. (Submitted photo)
None of this happens alone. Behind every successful practice is an extraordinary community of people. We are grateful for the team members who have worked beside us, the laboratory technicians whose artistry brings our work to life, the specialists and colleagues who collaborate with us, and the students and interns who remind us of the excitement we felt when we first entered the profession. We are especially grateful to our families, whose encouragement and support have made this journey possible.
Our 40th anniversary celebration reminded us that the true measure of a dental practice isn’t simply how many years its doors have been open. It is the relationships built, the trust earned, the people cared for, and the community created along the way.
Dr. Stiles expressed gratitude. (Submitted photo)
After 40 years, we remain deeply grateful for the privilege of doing work that matters to us, surrounded by people we care about.
And perhaps that is what makes this milestone most meaningful: we are still enjoying the journey.
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