I love dentistry," said Springdale dentist Charles "Al" Hanby. And because of that, he can't just retire.
Hanby has served Springdale residents for 40-plus years. He recently sold his practice but plans to continue seeing patients a couple of days a week.
At A Glance
Al Hanby
Years of Service
Springdale Water and Sewer Commission
Springdale Housing Authority Commission
Rotary Club board
First United Methodist Church, board chairman
Academy of Interdisciplinary Dental Therapy, founding member and treasurer
Academy of General Dentistry
American Dental Association
Pierre Fauchard Academy, member
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, board of admissions
— Source: Staff report
"I like to work," Hanby said. "I like to go to work. And it feels good to help people, those in bad pain. I feel like at the end of the day I've accomplished something."
"It's fun to see some of those smiles he's done," added his wife, Dorothy.
A native of Berryville, from a lumber family, Hanby earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas in electrical engineering. But a close family friend "kind of got me into (dentistry)," Hanby said. The friend put together dentures in his home, which Hanby found fascinating, and with that impetus, he wound up graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.
"I thought a bit about medicine, but I couldn't accept patients dying," he said. "I want to be helpful to people. I have a hard time telling someone they have a cavity."
Patients and progress
Many of the procedures are the same today as they were 40 years ago, Hanby said, but technology and new materials have prompted new thinking. For example, digital X-rays allow Hanby and his staff to see "things not there before," he said. Also, the emphasis has shifted from repairs to aesthetics.
"I try to look at a person overall," Hanby said. "It's not just the things we do. It's not just drilling holes in teeth. It's coordinating with specialists ... and it can be time-consuming."
Brenda Mayes of Springdale has enjoyed this privilege. Hanby accompanied her to an appointment with an oral surgeon, so she would not be afraid to have some teeth pulled, she shared. Mayes added that she graduated from high school with Hanby, and he has been her friend for 50-plus years.
"Al and I have got a history with my teeth, believe me," Mayes said.
"The thing I like about him is he tends to be very conservative," said Chris Stecklein, another patient.
So when Hanby told Stecklein "if I expected to have teeth at 50, we were going to have to fix it," Stecklein found himself "at 43-44 wearing braces again. But he came up with treatment plan and talked to me about options. He was completely up front and honest."
"And some kids think they've never had a shot," hygienist Debbie Van Pelt added.
The rest of Hanby's staff also sings his praises because he doesn't ask them to do anything he wouldn't do. He helps out by developing X-rays, sterilizing and wrapping instruments, even sweeping the floor.
NAN Our Town on 04/03/2014