Meet The Doctors
Meet Dr. Middleton
When I was young, becoming a dentist was the last thing I saw myself doing. It was something my dad did, not me. So when I graduated high school, I set off to be a forest ranger. Many years and changes to what I thought I wanted to do with my life led me to a degree in Psychology and enough science classes to satisfy the requirements for dental school.
Yes, I spent a great deal of time figuring out what I wanted to do. And changed my mind many times. But as I matured and learned more about what dentistry was all about I fell in love with it. The teeth come alive before my eyes, and I’m able to combine function with art, creating a smile that not only looks good, but works well. I've learned that the mouth is the key to the health of the entire body, and I am always on a quest to increase my knowledge so that I can keep my patients healthy.
It feels like just yesterday that I saw a patient for the first time. But that first patient came in recently and reminded me that he’s been my patient since 1992. I’m humbled by the faithfulness of many of my patients. The relationships that have been made and continue to develop between myself, my awesome team members and our incredible patients are priceless.
This practice is not exactly the same as it was when I first took it over. At the time, we were contracted with numerous HMO plans. The prevailing advice on how to practice while participating in those plans was to cut costs or diagnose additional procedures that were not covered under the plan. I wanted to develop a relationship with my patients, use the best products possible and invest in a highly trained team, so I quickly terminated those plans. A decision I have definitely not regretted.
Aside from the time that I was in Dental School in Wisconsin I have lived in California my whole life. I thought about starting a practice somewhere else when I finished up at Marquette University, but felt it was important to stay close to family. California has a lot to offer, and I try to make the most of it – from biking along the coast to skiing the Sierras, hiking the local trails and exploring the National Parks. Not as a forest ranger though!
