What would it be like to be a dentist on Mars?
Dr. Butler, an avid sci-fi reader, wonders that too. His favorite book is The Martian. While he would love to be the first dentist on Mars, instead of becoming an astronaut, Dr. Butler always knew he wanted a career in the medical field. While shadowing his family dentist in the 10th grade, he quickly fell in love with the dental profession.
“I saw how much of an impact a dentist can have on a person’s life, from relieving pain to improving their confidence in their smile.” Dr. Butler recalls.
This experience led to him attending dental assisting school during his senior year of high school. While pursuing his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Georgia, Dr. Butler worked as a dental assistant. He went on to attain his DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) degree from the University of Florida, where he excelled as one of the top 20 members of his class. He also received recognition from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons for his outstanding achievements in the field of implant dentistry.
Pretty awesome! But, how did a Southern gentleman end up in Utah?
“I interviewed for dental school at the University of Utah, and fell in love with the state while touring the National Parks,” explained Dr. Butler. “I was accepted at the U, but at the time it was a little too far from home so I decided to go to UF instead. But, I knew I wanted to move to Utah eventually. When I decided to do a one-year residency to improve my skills after dental school and learned they had a General Practice Residency at the U - it was a no-brainer to come out and give Utah a shot!”
After spending a year here for residency, Dr. Butler and his wife, Jessica, a Registered Nurse, fell in love with living here. “There are not too many downsides to the State of Utah,” praised Dr. Butler. “We enjoy the lack of humidity, and can’t get enough of the scenery. We just started skiing in February and love it so much that we’ve already bought season passes for Snow Basin!”
Another favorite pastime for the couple has been hiking. “Hiking in Utah is not the same as hiking in the South!” shared Dr. Butler. “When people in Utah say they’re going hiking what they really mean is they’re going mountain climbing! After being here for two weeks, my wife and I went for a hike at Grandeur Peak with some friends. It just about killed us!”
Of course he misses his family back home in Georgia, and he misses real southern cooking. Especially dishes like fried okra, barbecue, and sweet tea.
Dr. Butler met Dr. Wangsgard through the U’s residency program (Dr. Wangsgard completed the same residency in 2017 and is an attending faculty member at the U’s General Practice Residency now). While at the residency, working alongside our very own Dr. Marc Collman, Dr. Butler moonlit at Wangsgard Family Dental. When he and his wife decide to stay in Utah, they chose to move to Plain City and officially join Wangsgard Family Dental.
Dr. Butler’s top priority is helping patients feel comfortable and safe in the dental chair. “I take my time with patients, doing my best to ensure that they don’t feel intimidated. Helping people overcome their fears related to dentistry is very rewarding.”
Dr. Butler is accepting new patients and is currently available three-days a week, including Wednesday evenings and some Saturdays.
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