Years ago many children followed in their parents' career footsteps, but the notion of carrying on the family business seems to have dwindled over time. One Waukesha family of dentists, however, has been carrying on the dental tradition for over 100 years.
The family at Davies Dental can trace their dental heritage back to 1903 when Dr. William A. McFarlane opened his downtown Waukesha practice.
Four of William's five children: Elsie, Margaret, Kathryn, and William K., went on to become dentists.
Margaret married a physician named Dr. E.B. Davies and the two shared an office on East Avenue in Waukesha. The couple had five children, two of whom became dentists as well. Douglas became a general dentist while Robert became a pediatric dentist.
Robert now works with five of his eight children at Davies Dental. Four of them are dentists and one is a dental hygienist. Robert and his daughter Kirsten are pediatric dentists at Davies Pediatric Dentistry. Daughter Kristi and son Kent are general dentists at Davies General Dentistry. Son Kirk is the main doctor at Davies Orthodontics. Daughter Karin is a dental hygienist.
Expanding the family tree even further, Kirk's wife Tracy is also a part-time general dentist with the firm. During high school, Kent's wife Lindsey worked for Robert as an assistant, which is how she met her husband Kent. Lindsey will soon be joining as a pediatric dentist.
Watching dad
Kirsten and Kristi got a taste of the profession in high school when they worked as Robert's assistants. Watching her father help people "was a big influence on me," Kirsten recalls. Wanting both a family and a career, Kirsten entered dentistry.
"It's been great. We all get along very well," Kirsten said of the family. With eight kids in the family, "we all just learned to share."
One of the benefits to working with family is being able to get their advice on a dental concern. The best part of working with family is "knowing they will be there for you. We can count on each other," Kirsten said.
Family ties go beyond just the Davies. Peg McCarthy and Katie Held are a mother-daughter duo who work with the Davies: Peg as a receptionist, Katie as a dental hygienist.
A dental museum
In May 2001, the three Davies dentistry practices moved in together under one roof at 2117 Corporate Drive in Waukesha. Utilizing three separate suites, Davies Pediatric Dentistry, Davies General Dentistry and Davies Orthodontics offer one-stop shopping for dental care.
When patients first arrive at Davies Dental, they are welcomed by a large display case filled with the family's old dental tools, chairs and other memorabilia. The scene recreates what a dental office may have looked like years ago. Patients can follow the Davies family roots on the large family tree which hangs in the entry as well.
Theme rooms
The pediatric suite's waiting room features a large fish tank and plenty of games to keep kids occupied while they wait. Each of the eight exam rooms has a different theme, such as Disney, sports, music, space and transportation.
The waiting room in the general dentistry has a calm, modern feel. Exam rooms feature massaging chairs and flat screen televisions.
Students waiting for their orthodontic appointment can get a start on homework at one of the many study tables, or lounge on the large couch in front of a flat screen television.
FYI
Who: Davies dentistry - Davies Pediatric Dentistry, Davies General Dentistry, and Davies Orthodontics
Where: 2117 Corporate Drive, Waukesha
What's unique: Entry features vintage dental equipment; pediatric exam rooms have kid-friendly themes; general dentistry waiting room includes massage chairs and TVs; orthodontic waiting room has large couch and TV.
Information:
Davies General Dentistry, (262) 522-7878; www.daviesdentistry.com
Davies Pediatric Dentistry, (262) 547-5813, www.daviespedo.com
Davies Orthodontics, (262) 542-9151, www.daviesortho.com