In 1997, when Dr. Kenneth W. Pierson chose Visalia, CA, as the place for his pediatric sedation dental practice, he started thinking about the best way to blend his services into the community. Instead of competing with local dentists, Hapy Bear became the trusted place where dentists could refer their pediatric patients if sedation would be the best option for the child.
The most significant change with the new facility is that it is an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). With The Joint Commission 's Gold Seal of National Quality Approval and the State of Californias Department of Health and Human Services Deemed Status Certification, Hapy Bear can now see more specialized cases and treat children that wouldn 't have any other option for prompt dental care. We are excited to provide greater access to dental care for kids in the Central Valley, says Dr. Pierson. Our goal is to prove to kids that going to the dentist is something they dont need to be afraid of... and well take good care of the parents while theyre here too!'
Some of the other benefits of having more space in the new facility is that there is room for a Play Zone in the waiting area for the kids, along with stroller parking to simplify life for Moms with babies. We have a large TV with cartoons for the kids to watch in the waiting room, and WiFi is free to help stay connected. There are also private waiting rooms so parents can be comfortable once their child is under treatment.
While choosing a name and logo for his practice, a friend drew a little teddy bear that Dr. Pierson chose to make his mascot. He decided to name the bear Hapy and the office would be called Hapy Bear Dentistry. He realized that spelling happy with just one p served several purposes; first, it started conversations that made the name hard to forget. Second, the unusual spelling made it possible to get the phone number (559) 732-HAPY and the toll free phone number (888) 310-HAPY. Third, it was a great marketing tool when people would call to let us know that our name was misspelled on a flier or in the phonebook.
When children see the fun Hapy Bear logo and the whimsical name it helps them feel more welcome and comfortable. The doors opened at Hapy Bear Dentistry in Visalia, CA, in September 1997 and the business grew quickly. In 2009, Dr. Pierson began the planning process for a larger, state-of-the-art facility in Tulare, CA, in order to better serve the communitys needs.
Hapy Bear Surgery Center is proud of our friendly, caring and knowledgeable staff. We have years of experience putting children at ease and helping them feel welcome and comfortable. We strive to provide the highest standard of personalized dental care in the most gentle and efficient way possible for children that can't have treatment done in a regular dental office. We want your child to enjoy a happy, beautiful smile.
Dr. Pierson was born in Minnesota and raised in the Mid West. He moved to California to attend Pacific Union College and then continued into dental school in Southern CA. He graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1971. After 2 years serving in the US Air Force he chose to move his young family to serve as a medical missionary to Blantyre, Malawi, in Africa. Ten years later they moved to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. While doing all types of dentistry in the mission field, Dr. Pierson realized his true passion was pediatric dentistry. In 1990, after 17 years in Africa, and with his 2 sons looking at college in the US, the Pierson family moved to Southern CA and Dr. Pierson joined the faculty at his Alma Mater. While teaching he was offered the opportunity of entering a residency program in Dental Anesthesiology. He realized that this was the perfect way to provide pediatric dental care to kids without having to put them through the stress and trauma so many kids experience. When he graduated from the 2 years residency program, Dr. Pierson moved to the Central Valley and opened Hapy Bear Dentistry in Visalia. As the practice grew and demand increased for dental services under sedation it became clear that Hapy Bear would need to grow to adequately serve the kids in the surrounding area.
In May, 2010, Dr. Pierson opened Hapy Bear Surgery Center in Tulare, CA. The new office not only is much larger than the old office, it is also designed specifically for kids, even incorporating an active Play Zone in the waiting room. I look forward to having kids come to Hapy Bear and leaving with a positive memory of going to the dentist, says Dr. Pierson. If we can make the experience fun and positive for both the child and the parent, while still taking care of any dental work that needs to be done, then weve done what we set out to do.
Dr. Pierson is married to Gloria Pierson, who serves as a Lactation Consultant at Hapy Bear. Their son Ken and his wife are both missionary dentists serving on the island of Saipan in the South Pacific. Their other son, Jeremy, is one of the administrators at Hapy Bear.
Dr. Fred Chun was born in Glendale, CA, and raised in the greater Los Angeles area. He graduated from the University of California Irvine in 2006 with a BS in Biological Science. After marrying his childhood friend, Mina Won, they moved to Philadelphia where he joined the Temple University School of Dentistry. Dr. Chun graduated with his degree in Dental Medicine (DMD) with the class of 2010.
Dr. Ken spent the first 17 years of life in while his parents served as medical missionaries. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology form Pacific Union College, and went on to dental school at Loma Linda University. He married Dr. Crystal Edmister, a fellow dentist in 2004. After serving as medical missionaries on the small island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands for 13 years, they moved to Visalia to join the Hapy Bear Team in 2018. Dr. Ken now serves as a full-time dentist and Dental Director at Hapy Bear Surgery Center. Ken and Crystal have four daughters and, while they miss their island home, they are enjoying being closer to family.