By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

He’s wanted to be a dentist since he was 10 years old, said Dr. Keith Davis.

“My dentist inspired me to like dentistry. I also enjoy working with my hands and interacting with people. Dentistry just fits me.”

He also enjoys sharing his knowledge of dentistry, according to a student in his Monday night dentistry class.

“He’s so generous with his time and knowledge,” she said.

Dr. Davis also shares with church mission groups.

“We donate slightly-used instruments to any mission field,” he said. “We support several church mission opportunities. I have found that, in Third World countries, they need anything they can get. I learned, too, that they use bleach to sterilize their materials, where in the United States we use steam. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to educate people, and to use the improved methods in our offices.”

Dr. Davis graduated from UAB School of Dentistry in 1996 and went to work in a dental practice in the Birmingham area. He also completed training in implant dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. In 2000, he opened his office in Chelsea, where he practices general and cosmetic dentistry. His expertise ranges from porcelain veneers to dental implants, crowns and bridges.

Later this summer, Dr. Joe Garner D.M.D. will join the practice from Georgia, where he practiced general and comprehensive restorative dentistry for many years.

“We are excited about having him join our team,” Dr. Davis said. “He will be bringing new and experienced work to our practice.”

The Davis clinic holds contests for “no cavities” kids and patients referring other people have won prizes like Kindles and 50” televisions.

Dr. Davis also holds a school, next door to his practice, called The Career Training Institute, where students get hands-on experience.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this opens for them,” he said. “We’re currently enrolling for our dental assisting and pharmacy technician classes. Later, we hope to offer certified nursing assistant and optometric assistant training.”

Dr. Keith Davis is located in Chelsea Corners. Phone: 678-2525. Web: Facebook or Buildingsmiles.net.

 

Shelba Nivens can be reached by email at Shelbasn@juno.com.