6 minute read
STEVESTON SMILES
People have been turning to family-owned Steveston Smiles for dental care since 1973 when Dr. Doug Nielsen and Dr. Bob Jamieson opened the Steveston Dental building.
Steveston Smiles takes pride in offering a caring family environment with dentists who listen and have the talent and skill to achieve the results you're looking for, whether it's a simple procedure or a life-changing transformation.
Dr. Doug Nielsen’s daughter, Michele Nielsen, worked in the office in her teens; she assisted at the front desk and with sterilization.
She says, “I wanted to be a dentist when I was 13 and saw a root canal procedure at the office. As I was finishing high school, I tried to think of any career other than dentistry to ensure I wasn’t just doing it because my dad was a dentist, and my mom was a hygienist. In that process, I realized dentistry truly combined everything I loved.”
Michele graduated from McGill University with a degree in dentistry and began working alongside her father in 2002; she took ownership of Steveston Smiles in 2012. Her father continued to work at the clinic until he retired in 2022.
“It has been strange not seeing him every week. I am happy for him; he dedicated his life to dentistry and the community of Richmond. It’s time for him to have time for himself. When he was working, he would often stop by on the days he wasn’t scheduled, even at 7:30 a.m. When he retired, I expected him to be by the office all the time; however, he has been able to step away. I’m proud of him for making himself a priority,” says Michele.
Many changes have occurred, including Dr. Jamieson’s practice becoming part of Steveston Smiles in 2015, which increased the clinic from two to four dentists. Dr. Selena Chow, Dr. Sajjal Pirzada and Dr. Casi Sutherland round out Steveston Smiles’ skilled general dentistry team. Sadly, Dr. Jamieson passed away in 2020.
“One of my first assistants always said, ‘Make friends with change.’ Dentistry is constantly growing and changing.”
We always want to be on top of the new advances and ensure we are up to date, growing and improving.
One reception area was created when the two practices merged. Rooms were reorganized to create a single doctor’s office for the clinic, and a centralized sterilization area with the most up-to-date requirements was added.
Five dental hygienists, five dental assistants, and four business assistants help this busy practice to thrive.
Michele sees patients three days a week, handles administrative business, and manages social media, newsletters, and special events planning. Her husband, Chris, left his full-time job in 2015 to be a stay-at-home dad and help manage the practice behind the scenes. In the fall of 2021, he became Steveston Smiles' office manager. Chris has an active, front-facing role in the practice and supports the entire team and their patients. He has taken dental reception training and specialized training in dental office management.
In 2017, Steveston Smiles acquired their first iTero scanner; they now have three.
“The iTero is my favourite machine in the office. It allows us to do dental health scans. We can do a 3D digital scan of the mouth that allows the dentist to evaluate the patient’s teeth, bite, gum health and detect decay. Future scans can be digitally compared to detect changes. It is a tool that supports our practice’s goals of prevention and keeping teeth for a lifetime.”
The Solea Laser can replace the dental drill in many procedures.
Michele explains, “Solea uses a wavelength of light delivered in thousands of pulses per second, providing an analgesic effect that takes away almost all the sensation. Most patients can skip anesthesia because they just don’t need it. We are excited to have this cutting-edge treatment available at Steveston Smiles.”
If snoring is a problem for you or your spouse, Dr. Michele is trained in Solea Sleep, which reduces or eliminates snoring by tightening tissue in the soft palate and reducing vibrations that cause snoring. Unlike surgical procedures that require incisions, stitches and long recoveries, Solea Sleep is a nonsurgical laser treatment that takes only a few minutes with no recovery time and offers immediate relief.
We are a family practice. We see patients from ages 0 to 102.
“Steveston Smiles focuses on prevention and education. We want to educate you about your oral health and prevent further dental work as much as possible. We provide the information and tools to help make the best decision for you.”
In addition to her work at Steveston Smiles, Michele is a forensic odontologist. She is a volunteer director with the Fort-BC Society (Forensic Odontology Response Team). Her role is treasurer and leader of the MUPs (Missing and Unidentified Persons) division. She participates in forensic dental identification and International Military disaster response training and assists in bringing closure to families with missing loved ones in B.C.
Michele and Chris have two sons, aged 12 and 14 years old. They also have two dogs, Shadow (9 years) and Russell (10 months).
Michele says, “Lately, my hobbies are training Russell and stopping him from eating our shoes. A lot of my “spare” time is spent doing social media for the office; I enjoy it, which is why I do it myself and in my volunteer role with Fort-BC society. I love art, and I paint rocks. You can see some around the office, and occasionally there are some at the front desk that patients can take.”
Steveston Smiles takes a proactive approach to tooth decay by offering all ghouls and goblins an attractive post-Halloween offer. Donate your candy during their annual Sweet Swap (between November 1 - 6) for a chance to win a $400 gift card to CF Richmond Centre. The contest is open to everyone; you need not be a Steveston Smiles patient to enter. Now that is sweet!
Happy fiftieth anniversary, Steveston Smiles, and thank you for all the beautiful smiles you create!
Steveston Smiles 3951
Steveston Hwy Richmond, BC V7E 2J9
Phone 604-277-1131
Story by Sarah Gordon. (Sept 2023)
