BSC, DMD, FICD
Dentistry has been a fascinating journey for me.
I still remember setting up my first practice and knowing that I was exactly where I needed to be. I loved it! Every day I was eager to get to work. I wondered if the shine might rub off someday, but it never has. Even today one of my favourite pastimes is ‘geeking out’ on new procedures and new research. I like to be up-to-date on the latest thinking, and I am constantly seeking out continuing education experiences to have more options to provide my patients.
The single greatest motivator in my career has always been the people. My patients truly feel like family to me and in some cases I am now treating the third generation. We feel part of the stories of their lives, and the loyalty they extend to us is a privilege that means a great deal to me.
For me, engaging with patients means meeting them wherever they are in their dental health journey. We have the opportunity to provide optimal care and to make a difference in the lives of our patients and that is both exciting and important! We set the bar very high for how we do dentistry, and how we treat people. I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.
I have always said “the harder I work the luckier I get.” And right now, I truly feel blessed to have alongside me my long-term colleague and classmate, Dr. Cheetham, and a new and enthusiastic partner in Dr. Alport. It is also pretty special to have my son join the practice as well as Dr. Gorman and Dr. Weiss. Together we make a difference in people’s lives and we share a commitment and vision for patient care that is unmatched.
DMD
I have always been a good listener. I am keen to understand a patient’s concerns about their dental health and what their goals might be. Together we create a plan and bringing that to fruition is a proactive approach to dental health that I am very committed to.
Dentistry can bring about a physical transformation which is certainly rewarding but what I find to be truly transformational is the often-direct relationship it has to confidence. To have a patient who never liked to smile, who never liked to show their teeth, and then to receive the right procedure or smile makeover and live the rest of their life smiling confidently, is life changing and truly rewarding.
I enjoy all forms of dentistry and have a special interest in esthetic and orthodontic work. It seems to suit my nature and my ability to focus on the details.
Landmark Dental means a lot to me.
I have spent my entire dental career here. As it grows, I can see the tradition of prioritizing patient comfort, patient education, and respect for all, thriving. I am humbled to be part of that legacy.
BSC, DMD
I always knew I would end up in a health-related field.
There is a long list of health practitioners in my family so it’s no wonder I ended up in patient care as it’s what I grew up around! It has meant a lot to me to be part of this tradition of care and to be able to have the opportunity to now pay that forward.
What I love about dentistry is the connection our dental health has to our well-being. My motivation lies in bringing this idea to my patients. I am very passionate about bringing a fresh perspective on everything from oral hygiene to esthetic dentistry and smile makeovers. Comprehensive discussions around current and future needs are what I enjoy doing with patients and to be part of facilitating a dental plan for others that is centred around their wants and their lifestyle is a bonus I get every day.
I chose to be a partner in this practice because at Landmark Dental, our approach to dentistry is not transactional. There is a real emphasis on getting to know our patients which I think is fundamental to how we have earned our reputation for providing the best care. Dental health is a long game and that is exactly how we play it here.
I feel at home at Landmark Dental, and I like the fact that my patients feel just as at home as I do.
DMD
I have always had an interest in helping people, which led me to the dental profession. The art and science of helping begins with listening to the person’s concern and understanding the effects it has. The ultimate goal of the patient is always optimal dental health. In order to achieve that goal, we discuss all possible treatment options, their pros and cons, the many new treatment modalities that are available and how it fits with the patient’s needs and expectations. Both the journey and the end result are what excite me. It is truly gratifying to see life changing events in the patient’s oral health and having been able to play but a small part in reaching that transformational change.
A large part of my career was spent as a solo practitioner. Being associated with Landmark Dental is allowing me to share my experiences and ideas with like-minded dental professionals. Nevertheless, I still enjoy learning “new tricks”.
BMus, M.M., B.D.S.
I am very fortunate to have two passions in life: music and dentistry.
While music has been part of my life from a very early age, my professional career began at sixteen. Since then, music has given me the opportunity to travel the world (over 60 countries!), to experience various cultures, and to see first-hand how music can connect people from different walks-of-life. Music truly is a universal language.
As I begin my career in dentistry, I find that much of what I have learned as a musician is applying to my work as a dentist. When you play music in a band or ensemble, over time, special relationships and bonds form where members feel like family. As I enter the work-force in a family dental practice, I see the parallels between music and dentistry. How, dedication to my craft, paying attention to the small details, and working alongside staff and patients brings out the best results.
Speaking of family dentistry, it is an absolute dream-come-true to be joining my Dad at Landmark Dental. While we share more than a few genetic characteristics, we also share a love for learning, dentistry, and music! Growing up around dentistry has given me a keen understanding that staff and patients are really just an extension of my family and that serving others is a rewarding way to live life.
Of the many countries I have been fortunate to visit, one holds a special place in my heart. I received my dental training at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. When I think about the five years I spent in Australia, it is very easy to picture the ocean or the many beautiful landscapes. But, when I reflect on my time there, I think a lot about the lasting relationships that I made with classmates, professors, and patients. While the memories are countless, one experience does stand-out among them.
During my 5th-year dentistry rotation in Tasmania, I was selected for a rare opportunity to assist with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital. For 8-weeks, I worked intensively with the unit’s registrar from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7-days a week. To say I learned and grew tremendously during that time would be an understatement. And yet, at no point did it ever feel like work! The experience reaffirmed my passion for dentistry regardless of the time or day!
My first visit to Landmark Dental was when I was 11 years old. My brother Bryce was playing in a local basketball tournament and had a toothache and couldn’t keep playing because of it. Landmark Dental was the only office my mom could get ahold of in Regina that day for a dental emergency. Dr. Friesen ended up treating Bryce that Saturday morning, getting him out of pain and back on the basketball court. My whole family has been patients here ever since.
I grew up in a family that believed in medicine and science and I always knew I wanted a career in some branch of healthcare. It is what we talked about at the dinner table growing up and it’s all I ever knew. I truly believe after seeing the care Dr. Friesen and Landmark Dental gave to my brother that day is what sparked my interest in dentistry. How Bryce went from a throbbing toothache, sitting on the bench at his basketball game, to being out of pain and back to normal that same day was amazing.
I’m very excited to be here at Landmark and pumped for the future here. Having so many good mentors under one roof is amazing for a new dentist and I’m very lucky to be here.
