The practice as we know it came from an earlier location (c1960) along Bow Trail by Drs. Dave Dyrholm and Ted Mitenko. Those were the days that produced the teenagers of what we now know as the baby-boom where youth swayed the fashions, fads and politics. Barbie dolls by Mattel became cherished as did the first action figure for boys 'the 12 inch high G.I. Joe by Hasbro. Musicals were made into movies but most music was listened to on the radio. Mustangs, Cameros and Chevy convertibles like the Chevelle would cost as much as $2495.
The new location as it currently sits (c1965) was built by the dentists and Dr. Howard Gretton MD, his office in the basement. Offices and retail, later to house Canada Post, were on the main floor. Dave and Ted later left dentistry to literally birth the development of embryo transfer technologies in the Alberta (and North American) cattle industry.
On their heels were Dr. Nat (Nestor) Mitenko (brother of Ted) and graduate of Alberta (1959), who came from Westlock via Red Deer with his family. The year was 1975 but by 1977, Dr Jim (James) Innes, a graduate of McGill (1967) arrived, originally from St. Lambert, Quebec and then via High River and BonaVista.
There is a story of a patient (still seen in our office) that tried desperately to convince her friend to see Dr. Innes on 37th Street, but for whom would not under any circumstances leave her dentist in BonaVista, the one she couldn't say enough about! It turned out Dr. Innes was working in two different locations at the time.
Later, the structure was again modified to include a front foyer. The doctors (Emmett & Wilson, Gretton & Wegg) and the dentists bought the building from Dr. Dyrholm and they wanted to do up the front entrance, which had steep horrible stairs. They started right up on it and also built in one of the first elevators in a Calgary private practice.
By 2004, Drs. Innes and Mitenko were looking to spend more time with their grandchildren and came across Dr. Darrell Morden to take over both of their practices. This transition was significant as it merged two separate practices that cost-shared parts of the clinic. What resulted was amicable and both ended up working happily for several years. Both senior dentists retired when they felt ready, Dr. Mitenko by 2005 and Dr. Innes by late 2006.
A graduate of dentistry at the University of Alberta (2002), as well as Simon Fraser University (1998) and Trinity Western University (1996), Dr. Morden had important clinical experiences on both first-nation reserves in the north as well as in private practice Edmonton. He moved his small family to Calgary by 2004. He was given the clinic leadership without ever having worked a day in it prior, but only on the condition that one of the staff members (Cathy Taylor Joudrey) would assume the leadership as the first office manager! There was no question as to the outcome; it happened as if it were all meant to be and will be an ever-inspiration. The long-term staff graciously continued to work together as a team. Other dentists who have served the patients briefly through the years include: Drs. Robbie Robinson, Walter Jetz, Eric Brown, Janet Stewart, and Laura Taylor.
Adding greatly to the team today is Dr. Dawna Wetherell, also a graduate of the University of Alberta (see biography) who has maintained a balance of the practice for 16 years (since 2008). Dawna's friendly and approachable nature rounds out this caring team.
