Fifty-seven years ago, I met Mark Carpenter at the beach, here in southern California. Who would have known that by 2010, we would have celebrated a 40-year marriage, and be able to reflect on a relationship together that experiences constant growth, change, and commitment to each other and family...
During that time, after having worked as a journeyman carpenter, and then as a horseshoer, and already father of two young children, my husband still held on to his lifelong dream to be a dentist. With my blessing and support, he made the transition to go back to school to accomplish that dream.
In the spring of 1980, Mark graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry with his D.D.S. degree, and also welcomed the birth of our third child! That same year, realizing that the faith, integrity, and drive of my husband, were all something worth investing in, I pledged my 10-year teaching retirement into the purchase of our first, and only dental practice and we named it Mark Carpenter, D.D.S.
So...that 's where we are today, 40 years later! I have the pleasure of doing 'background' things in the practice, so you will see me in the office from time to time. For all these years, my husband and I have always worked as a team. The concept continues as together with our daughter, Erin Estey D.D.S., and her husband, Mark Estey, D.D.S. we proudly continue the dream of a family dental practice, Estey & Carpenter Family Dental Practice. - Barbi Carpenter
As the story of Estey & Carpenter Family Dental Practice continues there has been change. I had the priviledge of practicing for twenty years with my father before he had to retire in 2016 for health reasons. However, it has been so amazing to have the opportunity to step up and carry on the legacy of excellence he began in 1980 and he is always cheering us on! Dr. Mark Estey, and our dedicated staff are here to make sure the story continues and we are honored that you choose our office as your dental home! - Erin Carpenter Estey
Working alongside her dad on monthly mission trips to Mexico, Erin decided to pursue a career in dentistry hoping to make a difference. Upon graduating from the University of Redlands in 1994, she was accepted into Loma Linda School of Dentistry. While attending dental school, she met and married her classmate Mark Estey. Joining her Dad's dental practice upon graduation, Erin continues to balance her career, her compassion for people, and her family.
'I love my family and being a mom, and this translates into my practice of dentistry. Providing dental care for the entire family, often three generations of the same family, is why I love what I do!'
Outside the office she has held leadership positions in her local public schools PTA, community sports programs, and church. In addition she is a board member of the Foundation for WorldWide Health, and is committed to the legacy of volunteerism her father set before her.
Being the son of a dentist, Mark was surrounded by dentistry his entire life and spent much of his life working in his father's practice in Illinois. He entered Pacific Union College planning a career in biology education and graduated in 1994. A twist of fate led him to Loma Linda School of Dentistry where he met and married Erin Carpenter his classmate. He went on to receive his certificate of Prosthodontics from Loma Linda in 2001 and joined our practice.
Mark's passion for teaching was not to be denied, he became a full time faculty member at the School of Dentistry. He has served in various roles at the school, Section Chief of Removable Prosthodontics and The Director of the International Dentist Program. In February of 2017 he was named Academic Dean of the School of Dentistry. Mark has held many leadership roles in his church, profession, and community. In his free time Mark enjoys spending time with family disc golfing, salmon fishing, and as a mountain biking volunteer with the local middle school team.
I am Mark Carpenter. My best friend Barbi and I have been married for 39 years, have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. We both graduated from the University of Redlands in 1970 and I from Loma Linda University in 1975 (Masters of Public Health) and 1980 (Doctor of Dental Surgery). Our history goes much farther back in the Inland Empire. My great grandfather, Hiram Carpenter, was a lead carpenter in the building of the Mission Inn in Riverside. Barbi's grandfather, Harold Putnam, co-owned Putnam Brothers store in Redlands with his brother Clyde. We love this area. It is a great place to live and raise a family.