What really brought me into dentistry was, I think might not be common for a lot of people or is, when I was a kid I was like anybody else and fair amount of cavities and I had big teeth and I had a really positive experience with an orthodontist who was, you know, helped me straighten my teeth because when you’re a young child and your teeth are misaligned you get teased a little bit and it was a real great experience and it also helped my father, happens to be a dentist, but a very old-school dentist but then I realized that dentistry is much more than what most people think about dentistry, you’re really helping people and it is in the truest sense, it’s a profession, it’s a unique skill and when people need you to be there for them, it’s sometimes heartwarming, sometimes it’s just a job, you’re helping clean people’s teeth, maintain their teeth, but it goes well beyond that and for me it’s special to have trust put in me by just being a dentist and we take that trust and confidence that people place in us very seriously. The most rewarding aspect of dentistry for me and I hope this doesn’t sound like a cliche, it really is working with the patients as a young dentist I was very technically good but you have to spend all your focus on the technical aspect and you sometimes miss a little bit of the interaction with your patients. Now my most joyful part is to really meet people and just have a conversation.
Sometimes we talk about teeth right away if they have an acute problem that needs to be addressed but that’s a rarer circumstance now, people are choosing to come to the dentist to prevent things and maintain their teeth so for me that to find out their children’s names, their pet names and just have a conversation and make dentistry less intimidating doesn’t need to be hard. We don’t even use the word pain so we use we say discomfort is the most anybody should ever experience in our office and then we’re gonna eliminate that. We take care of people and at the heart of it if you just take care of the person that the teeth are attached to you’ll have success.
Dr. Gerald Kennedy
As the son of a dentist, Dr. Kennedy grew up in the business of teeth. As a child, he was a typical teen who spent time as a patient in his father’s office. He also has the experience of more than three years of orthodontic treatment wearing braces to straighten his teeth. He is a dental patient just like you!
While attending OHSU School of Dentistry, Dr. Kennedy distinguished himself in his chosen profession. Upon graduation in 1991 with clinical and academic honors, he had already established a track record of achievement and excellence. He graduated near the top of his class and has received numerous awards and honors. Among those are:
- Graduating from the internationally renowned KOIS CENTER® that offers motivated dentists the most up-to-date and advanced training in order to provide his patients with the best care available.
- Earning his Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, an achievement that only 2% of all dentists gain during their careers, completing over 1,100 hours of continuing education and a rigorous written exam.
- Being the FIRST in Oregon to be accredited and licensed to offer Guided Biofilm Therapy, an innovative cleaning technique that removes harmful bacteria without scraping.
Dr. Kennedy and his team are dedicated to providing excellent care for you and your family, striving daily to deliver exceptional results for his patients. Come visit us and discover the Kennedy Dental difference!
