Memory Lane

Dr. Paul Anders

Dr. Paul Anders practiced dentistry on Santa Clara Avenue for 47 years. The retired dentist, just under 90 years old, sinks his teeth into reminiscing about the past.

How was dentistry different when you first started practicing?
The lack of fluoride in water. This created the need for a lot of dentistry. You’d be surprised at how bad people’s teeth were back then. There was no insurance available. People came in the office out of necessity, but then with insurance, they were able to come more regularly for checkups. We were busy before insurance became available and really busy after.

Do you miss dentistry?
I miss it very much. I really loved going into work every day. It was fun for me. Sometimes, if I feel like seeing old patients, I go visit Dr. Corazon Manaloto’s office. That’s the dentist who bought my practice from me. I always enjoy dropping in. It’s like old home week.

What was the professional atmosphere like early on?
We had a nice group that used to have meetings once a month to discuss dentistry. Unfortunately, most of my peers are gone now. I remember when the first high-speed hand piece was demonstrated at a dental society meeting in Oakland. I knew when I saw it that I had to have it. I was so excited. I ordered two of them right away. We were the first office in Alameda to have them. That device changed everything in dentistry — that and fluoride.

Any other good memories?
I had the hobby of making model impressions of babies’ fists. My patients thought it was a cute idea, so they would all bring their babies or grandbabies into the office and usually before lunch I would dip their little fists into casting plaster and then go to lunch. I must have made thousands of them. I never charged anyone for them..

Has anything stayed the same?
Some of the clubs I belong to have stayed pretty much the same. What’s different is that people used to drink more and hang around more. When I sit with my friends for dinner everyone seems to be talking about their new hips or new knees. In the old days, I don’t think people talked about these things so much. Now everyone shows their scars!

What’s something new that you like about Alameda?
I like how many coffeehouses we have. That’s relatively new. There never used to be so many choices. I meet my buddies every morning for coffee and enjoy getting together. It’s where I get my news and where we catch up with one another before we go separate ways. We hash things out until about 10 a.m. and then move on. Sometimes I have to tell the guys to watch their language and remind them that we aren’t in high school anymore.

This article appears in the December 2011 issue of Alameda Magazine
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