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I decided to become a dentist when I was really young. My uncle was a dentist and I had a lot of dental issues from some medication when I was a child. I saw him a lot when I was 5, 6 years old, and at some point I decided, he was being nice at helping me and ... I certainly, growing up, went through faces of, “Oh, maybe I want to do this or that,” but I always came back to being a dentist. It was what I've always wanted to do, and it's been a great career choice for me. I still love it. It's a great job for me, it's perfect. I get to help people and it's fun.
After graduating from dental school, you don't have all the answers. I am a real big believer in taking continuing education classes. There are a lot of classes out there targeted to dentists. I have taken over 3,000 hours in my career of classes on the weekends and evenings and days off to learn how to do dentistry better. I've gotten an award, the Master’s award from the Academy of General Dentistry for continuing education. Only 1 percent of the dentists ever take that many classes and do that, but I think that it's part of my responsibility, taking good care of patients to make sure that I'm current.
There's no question that patients benefit. Doing things in a ... using materials that are more durable or more lasting or more cosmetically look ... I can match teeth so much better than we could. But even with all of the technology, the important part is giving the care to people while we're doing it. Once or twice a day somebody is overcome with how happy they are that we were able to solve their problem, and that's so rewarding. To help people that way, it's great. I love dentistry.
Dr. Kenneth Weddell had been a practicing dentist for more than 25 years before moving to Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and owned his own practice in western Michigan.
In September 2012, Dr. Weddell moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, to be close to his new grandson (and now his granddaughter, too!). Dr. Weddell, who has been in practice for over three decades, strives to deliver high-quality patient care to the community with help from his kind staff.
Dr. Weddell is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization that encourages continuing education for dentistry. In 2007, Dr. Weddell earned their highest award, the Mastership, accomplished by only 1 percent of general dentists. Dr. Weddell is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, which means he has completed and tested to show his advanced experience and knowledge in treating sleep apnea with oral appliances.
Dr. Weddell has taken many continuing dental education classes at the University of Minnesota as well. He was the second dentist to complete level III of their esthetic dental continuum in 2006. Throughout his career, he has been a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association, and now the Minnesota Dental Association.
Dr. Weddell is thrilled to be here in Minnesota. This is where his family is, and he looks forward to being part of the Bloomington community and surrounding areas for many years to come.