I grew up in the Midwest, born and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota. I was taught your word is your bond, and character and reputation should match up. Upon my graduation from high school, I received a scholarship to Jamestown College, our local four-year, Christian liberal arts college. I was very serious about my choice of dentistry as a career, so I crammed all the science and math I could into the first two years, and was accepted into the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry at age 20! Minnesota awarded me both a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery at my graduation in 1964.

During my freshman year in dental school, I joined the Naval Reserve. My Dad was a Navy man, and I saw this as an opportunity to apply my knowledge after graduation as well as serve my country. Upon graduating, I married my sweetheart Linda, a U of Minn. graduate dental hygienist. We travelled to California on our honeymoon to report to Camp Pendleton for active duty, as a Naval dental officer attached to the Marines. While I was at Camp Pendleton, my commanding officer paid me the ultimate compliment: After observing my work carefully for a period of time, after my coming aboard, he called me into his office and let me know: “Minnesota has trained you well, Lt. Risbrudt. I know I won’t have to worry myself about supervising your quality of care.” I knew my school had an excellent reputation, and that was an important first assurance I had been competently prepared. I spent 11 months at Camp Pendleton, and during that time was sent to Field Medical School, which was advanced training for deployment into a combat zone. I spent the next 13 months in Okinawa and in a field hospital in Viet Nam--a life-changing experience!

After my discharge in 1966, I worked in a variety of practice settings, finally electing to associate in San Clemente. Soon after, I entered into a partnership with another former Navy dentist. This became another significant period of personal and professional growth. We hired our own private laboratory technician. Working closely with our personal laboratory technician taught me what is involved with proper tooth preparation, particularly for strength and esthetics—the learning curve was steep, but invigorating. During this time, I accepted an appointment as part-time faculty at USC’s School of Dentistry, and things really took off. I was affirmed again while teaching that I was well-prepared by Minnesota. (I learned many of the founding faculty of USC’s School of Dentistry, post-WWII, were U. of Minnesota dentists who elected to stay on the West Coast!) I noticed many similarities in tooth preparation and requirements I had experienced at Minnesota. I had auditing privileges as a faculty member, so I voraciously devoured every post-graduate learning opportunity available. Many of the legendary faculty of USC were in the zenith of their respective careers at the time. It was like standing on the shoulders of giants!! Another remarkable experience for me!

It was during this time I learned how to bond porcelain directly to teeth—a pioneering effort at the time. We didn’t have nearly the technology available then as we do now, but nevertheless the experience proved invaluable!

The events that shaped the remainder of my professional career began in the fall of 1971, when I first heard the man who was to become a significant mentor, Dr. L. D. Pankey of Coral Gables, Florida. Dr. Pankey had earned a national and international reputation as a restorative dentist, having developed a scheme of restoring occlusion (how teeth fit together in function) with two other professional colleagues which is widely taught today. I was pretty busy at the time, and had been spending considerable time with time and motion studies to improve the speed at which I could deliver dental services. Part of Dr. Pankey’s philosophy was to “slow down” and get to know the patients better. I had always wished I could do that, but had thought it to be an idea incompatible with contemporary dental practice. I saw to it I attended every seminar that Dr. Pankey offered on the West Coast during the next three years. In the fall of 1975, I had a life-changing encounter with this noble gentleman. I had just branched off on my own in a new office in San Clemente, where we remain today. During the course of a very small, intimate study club setting which included our wives, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Dr. Pankey. After hearing about my then extremely busy practice, and sensing my heart’s desire for a more personal level of care, he looked me in the eye and said: “Sooner or later, Tom, you’ll have to decide whether you want to have superficial relationships with a whole lot of people, or life-changing relationships with a few.” I remember that like it was yesterday—it literally changed my practice and my life!!

By that time, an institute for postgraduate dental education, The L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education, had been established in Miami. The Institute was started by a cadre of dentists who had similar life-changing encounters with this man in order to perpetuate the precepts he was teaching. Dr. Pankey had graciously consented to have his name attached to the Institute as its honoree, and made it clear he expected NO financial consideration. I completed the curriculum, and as part of a lifelong dream, now serve as visiting faculty where I have the absolute privilege of teaching dentists from all over North America and several foreign countries. (To learn more about the Pankey Institute, click here.)

Our practice (and I say “our” because my wife and my team are an integral part of it) is a comprehensive, esthetically-focused adult restorative practice. Comprehensive in this respect: We feel in order to help you make informed decisions for your dental health which are in your best interests, we need to be as thorough in the beginning as possible. In that way, if you’re new to us, we seek to enable you to completely understand the conditions present and every appropriate option for treatment. In the process, we co-discover, with your help, the conditions present and prioritize a sequence of treatment to suit your unique, individual circumstances, temperament and objectives. (You can learn more about this in the “philosophy” section of our website.)

As of June, 2007, I began my 44th year in practice. As part of “giving back” I actively mentor dentists in a variety of study club and structured learning situations. My focus is comprehensive adult restorative, which focuses my personal learning into the following areas: Esthetic and cosmetic dentistry; TMJ/TMD disorders; snoring and sleep apnea; implants; complex restorative dentistry; and health and nutrition.

Linda and I are on our 44th year of marriage. We have two wonderful grown children, and are enjoying being Nana and Papa to four grandchildren. (Click here to see a family photo.)

I was interviewed by “In a Spirit of Caring”, an international website and resource center for the relationally-oriented dentist to learn more about the practice of what we call “health-centered” dentistry. Health-centered implies it is patient-focused—that you, as a patient, own the locus of control over what goes on in your mouth. A very healthy concept, I feel, by the way!! If you want to learn a little more about my story, (click here to read In a Spirit of Caring interview.)