Michelle Aldrich and Kimberly Ross started practicing as dental hygienists in the Salem area in 1992. After raising their children (four boys in all), they decided to challenge themselves and pursue their dream of becoming dentists. But, once a dental hygienist, always a dental hygienist! Why is this significant? Dental hygienists specialize in disease prevention, not cutting away tooth structure. If a cavity has the possibility to be reversed, then it should be tried before cutting away that precious tooth structure!
Dr. Aldrichmoved to the Willamette Valley in 1980 from Union, Oregon. The plan was to get a degree in Music Education, move back to Eastern Oregon, and teach band.She married her high school sweetheart and moved into a small trailer park next to the college campus in Monmouth. It was there they met Dr.Ross and her husband. An immediate friendship was struck between the two young couples.
Several years later the two friends decided to go to dental hygiene school. They attended OHSU School of Dentistry and received their Bachelor of Science degrees in Dental Hygiene (BSDH). It was during their education at the dental school they first had an inkling they may want to eventually go on to become dentists. But as many dreams go, family priorities come first.
Over a decade later, Dr. Ross called Dr. Aldrich with information on going back to dental school. A few prerequisite courses and an entrance exam later, the two were off to dental school; Dr. Ross to Indiana University School of Dentistry and Dr. Aldrich to OHSU School of Dentistry. Sadly, after just ten short years in practice, Dr. Ross lost her battle with cancer. Dr. Aldrich continues to own and operate the practice and provide the type of dental care the two of them had always envisioned.
Dr. Wallace Dick started practicing dentistry in Sweet Home after graduating from Loma Linda University in 1994. He met and married his wife Brenda in 1996 and moved his practice to Keizer in 1998. When Dr. Ross became ill in 2019, Dr. Dick came in to help Riverbend Dental in their time of need. Part-time became full-time and many of his patients have joined him at Riverbend Dental. He has known Dr. Aldrich for approximately 15 years, dating back to his practice in Keizer when Dr. Aldrich was a dental hygienist in his employ.
Dr. Wallace grew up on a grain farm, a couple hours east of where the Alaska Highway originates on its way to the far north. After high school, he farmed with his dad and ran grader for the county, maintaining about 130 miles of gravel roads. In the 7 years between high school and his return to college, he worked for a meat delivery company driving various sized vehicles from small vans to tandem tractor and 42 foot trailer and also worked for a well stimulation company in central Alberta, performing the now infamous fracking with the average oil/gas well running at 5,000 to 12,000 feet in depth. At one point, he worked at an airport doing year round maintenance including snow removal, runway cleaning, hangar and equipment repair, steam fitting, and generalized grounds upkeep. Through all of it, the annual Canadian winter routinely made its appearance. He twice experienced 60 degrees below zero while working outside, and now heartily endorses the Oregon climate!
Dr. Wallace has a grown son, a daughter, and one granddaughter. He likes to golf, camp, bicycle, explore new states, build models, enjoys the coast, fly commercially, and would someday like to become a licensed sailplane pilot. He likes to find things he has in common with his patients, in order to connect with them. His attitude is to inform his patients of his findings as he works so that they are part of the process and feel connected, and perhaps share a smile and some humor on the way.