If you need a dental implant, maybe you should read this first

When my time came, it was Dr. Du who came to the rescue

When I was growing up in this small town of fewer than 3,000 people, most of the so-called “essential” services were located in the nearby county seat of Woodland.

And for some odd reason, they all started with the letter “D.”

The Doctor, the Dentist, the DMV and the Draft Board.

If Dad woke you up as the sun was rising and said, “Brush your teeth and put on your clothes, we’re going to Woodland,” you knew it wasn’t going to be a good day.

Dad’s college days at Oregon State had been interrupted by his service in World War II, so the decision was made to move our family of seven from Portland to the town formerly known as Davisville so he could complete his education in Plant Physiology at the 900-student University Farm.

Family members, five of whom were older than I was, voted 3-2 to bring me along, and while the plan was always to return to Portland when Dad’s education was completed, we literally never left.

I am now a certified old-timer who can point out to others where the drug store used to be and the grocery store and the bakery and the meat market and the five-and-dime.

While my sisters all had perfect teeth and million-dollar smiles, my older brother and I struggled to avoid the dreaded and seemingly inevitable cavities that came with chewing too much bubble gum, despite the fact we brushed our teeth at least once a week whether we needed to or not.

The only upside to chewing all that gum was that it came in a neatly wrapped package with five baseball cards of our favorite Major Leaguers, some of which are worth considerably more than face value today, if only I can find where my folks stashed them when I went off to college.

Back then, putting fluoride in drinking water was considered a communist plot, so I ended up with my share of cavities and a fair number of trips over the lone county road to Woodland.

Going to the dentist back then was only to fix something, not to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Fast forward a few decades and my teeth were generally a mess. But Davis had grown considerably and I no longer had to go to Woodland to see a dentist.

One of those Davis dentists took one look at what years of living had wrought and referred me to Dr. David Jolkovsky, a true expert in periodontics and implants.

In one long session 20 or so years ago, Dr. Jolkovsky sedated me just enough that I gave away at least 95 percent of the family secrets, but I walked out with a new appreciation of taking care of the teeth God had given me.

Yes, I needed a crown or two, one specifically to fix a front tooth that had been chipped years prior in a savage game of pickup basketball on the outdoor courts at West Davis Elementary School.

Our cat didn’t recognize me with the new crown, but everyone else in my life marveled at the dramatic overnight improvement.

Which brings me to Dr. David Du, who is now the man in charge of what is known as Davis Perio and Implant Center.

Dr. David Du

Let’s talk for a minute about that word “implant.”

When I was heading to that Woodland dentist so many years ago, there was no such thing as a dental implant. Truth be told, it still sounds like a complicated impossibility to me.

But one recent day I was told that one of those important teeth I’d had since childhood would have to come out. Turns out the tooth was as old as I am.

I suppose if you can lose your hair over time, you can also lose a tooth or two.

Still, it was not a diagnosis that made me skip for joy.

Among several options - one of which was to remain permanently ugly - was a dental implant. In fact, it was the recommended course of treatment if I wished to continue having the occasional well-marbled steak for dinner.

To be sure, it’s a process that takes a few months from start to finish. But, with Dr. Du calling signals like an All-American quarterback, it’s a road worth taking.

Dr. Du is a Board-Certified Periodontist with advanced training in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from UCSF, which is pretty much the gold standard in this field.

He also has a Master of Science in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.

But most importantly, he has a PhD in kindness and patience and humor and generosity.

His chair-side manner is such that you always know what is going on, what is coming next and how long you should wait before eating tortilla chips again.

To say he is “patient-centered” is an understatement. He wants to be sure you understand everything fully and have time to evaluate all treatment options. Plus, your comfort is front and center at all times. It’s the very definition of exceptional and compassionate care.

When the phone rings a few hours after you’ve been sent home, it will be Dr. Du on the other end asking how you are feeling and if there’s anything you might need.

The upside, of course, is that you’re pretty much required to ingest nothing but chocolate milkshakes for a day or two after dental surgery.

The entire staff reflects the values and treatment that Dr. Du espouses, which is why so many of them have been there for a number of years.

I consider myself lucky to have found all these folks.

I could go on and on about the care I’ve received, but now it’s time to put that steak in a pan and get ready for dinner.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com