Christopher Chan
Dentist
DDS
Favorite Part of My Job
The best part of our job is seeing people come in here usually not in the best place, whether they're unhealthy, scared, anxious, mad, or in pain, and knowing that we have the skills and the expertise to make them better. It's rewarding to see them leave in a better place than when they came in.
Why I Chose This Profession
I chose dentistry because I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people and work with my hands. It really gives me a thrill when I see someone who is either in need or hurting, and I feel like I can do something about it. I can make them better. I can make them happier. That's one of the main things that keeps me going every day as a dentist.
Education
I graduated in 2002 from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry, California. I was there from 1999 to 2002, and upon graduation, I received my DDS degree, which is Doctor of Dental Surgery.
My father was a dentist and has since retired. When I was in high school and even in junior high, I worked in his office as a sterilization tech and sometimes did chairside assisting. I also helped up front filing charts, making copies, and going on McDonald's runs for the staff. That continued until I graduated from high school and went to college.
At UCLA, I did research with a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. After graduating from UCLA, I went straight to UOP for dental school. The school load was rigorous, so most of my time was spent taking care of patients in our clinic and studying for classes and board exams.
After graduation, I moved back home to San Jose and worked for my father for a year in his practice. He's a general dentist, as I mentioned earlier, in San Jose. We performed a wide range of procedures, including fillings, crowns, root canals, and extractions. It was a really good learning and introductory experience.
After that year, I moved to Sacramento and worked in a couple of different offices for a few years. One was a general dentist office in Rancho Cordova, where we did restorative dentures, root canals, and extractions. I also worked one day a week in another general dentistry practice in Sacramento, which offered a wide range of procedures. I gained exposure to many different kinds of patients and procedures.
In 2006, I opened my practice from scratch in Sacramento, California, in the Natomas region. We've been in the same location since then and offer a wide range of procedures and services, including fillings, crowns, dentures, root canals, extractions, implants, sedation, and Invisalign.
Memberships
I've been a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and Sacramento District Dental Society.
I'm certified in oral conscious sedation, having completed my training for that sub-specialty with DOCS Education. I've held that certification since 2009.
I've also done advanced training in implants with Sybron Dentistry, which included coursework and hands-on training with live patients.
Additionally, I've become certified in Invisalign through Align Technologies.
