My primary goal in working with children is to do whatever is necessary to have them grow up remembering that a trip to the dentist is a safe, comfortable experience. A good childhood impression of dentistry plays such an important role in adulthood; so many patients who had bad dental experiences as children put off needed dental work, leading to bigger problems and more complex solutions. Many eventually wind up with dentures or complex bridgework, all because they put off routine care due to fear that originated from a bad childhood experience at the dentist.
Children who come to our office grow up with no fear of the dentist. In fact, they enjoy coming! The primary things that we consistently offer children are an atmosphere of safety, friendliness, empowerment, and freedom from pain. As adults, they enjoy a lifetime of good childhood dental memories, which ensures regular preventive care.
I take great personal pride in staying up to date in my profession. It is not unusual for me to accumulate double the required number of continuing education hours each year. As a part-time instructor for over 20 years at OHSUs department of pediatric dentistry, I was able to learn as much as I taught, from routine procedures to unusual, complex treatments.
I grew up in Saginaw, MI, where the winters are long and cold, and ice skating on outdoor ponds is the best. My wife, Marney, and I were married in 1964 and moved to Portland in 1965 when I was accepted to the childrens dental program at OHSU.
We have three wonderful children. Michelle is married to Scott and lives in Arizona. Steven is married to Allison and they have a daughter, Coco. Shes a delightful eleven year old who gets a lot of our attention. Steven is the third-generation dentist in our family, after his grandfather and me. Fortunately, he chose to come and practice with me here in Portland. Its been such a pleasure practicing with him these last eleven years. My life is so much easier now that he is here. He not only has a wonderful way with children and their parents, but also is very organized and enjoys staying up to date with the latest research and materials. Our third child is Jamie. She also lives here in Portland, and works in the dental field as a dental hygienist. I know shes good at what she does, because she takes such good care of my teeth! Allison and Steven generously share Coco with us every Thursday, and Aunt Jamie comes over to help. Life doesnt get much better than that!
My main hobbies include old cars, woodworking, golf, and flying, but my passion is dentistry. My longest and most satisfying project was writing a book called Pediatric Dentistry: Building a No-Fear Practice. It explains how my methods of keeping children happy in a dental office evolved from the commonly accepted strict authoritative culture, to one of gentleness and empowerment, where a childs memory of a dental visit is just as important as the treatment itself.
The most rewarding aspect of my work is to help children feel more comfortable at the dental office. Its tremendous fun to meet all the interesting people who bring their children to the office. When parents tell me their kids are excited to come to the office, then I know weve done our job well. Its great to know there are so many dedicated parents committed to raising their children the best they can. Im honored that so many of these families choose to make our office their dental home.
Providing dental care to children while creating a positive experience is really a team effort. The people who work in our office are absolutely amazing! They are so great at engaging the kids and helping them to be interested in healthy teeth. Everyone here takes a very interactive approach to working with kids. We love to engage them in the whole process. The more that kids are involved, the more fun we all have.
I joined Dr. Pike Dentistry for Children in 2007, after working in the environmental field evaluating how chemicals in the environment effect peoples health. One day, my father, Dr. Allan Pike, asked if I would be interested in joining him. I said yes, and its been one of the best decisions Ive ever made!
Keeping up with the latest science allows me to deliver the highest quality care and provide a wide range of treatment options. I often attend CE in the areas of cariology, prevention, interceptive orthodontics, and behavior modification. The study of hypnosis has provided great insights into childrens behavior and helped me to make children more comfortable in our office.
When Im not working, Im usually spending time with my wife and our eleven-year-old daughter. I enjoy living in Portland and taking advantage of all the city has to offer. During the summer, I ride my bike to work, and in the winter, I love hitting the slopes!
I am very passionate about pediatric dentistry and a big advocate for improving oral health for children. I enjoy the preventive aspect of pediatric dentistry with a big emphasizes on positive engaging experiences in the dental office. Ensuring the development of life-long trustworthy relationships with the dental providers that motivate patients to tirelessly care for their teeth and maintain healthy dentitions.
What makes patient care efficient and safe is a child-friendly passionate team approach. Working with a team as ours is both gratifying and rewarding as it allows for personalized care with the patient and family being at the center of attention.
I joined Dr. Pikes office in 2018 after serving as the Department Chair for Pediatric Dentistry at Yale University and Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) respectively. I enjoy the evidence based approach to childrens oral health and am a big believer of non-invasive preventive approaches to restoring childrens teeth.
I am Canadian and grew up in Toronto and Geneva, Switzerland. I did my professional education in different parts of the US and am currently pursuing a MBA degree from OHSU. I have 2 young adult children who go to college in Oregon. On my free time, I enjoy reading, horseback riding and travelling with my family.
We recognize that all of our patients are unique and deserve to receive dental care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented dental team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding dental experience every time you visit our practice. We are pleased to welcome you and your family, and we look forward to working with you.
