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Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play · Dr. Pat Freeman

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Page 1: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play

· Dr. Pat Freeman

Page 2: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles

Growing up in Oregon County, MO , Dr. Pat Freeman

always had a curiosity about Oregon, the state. His fam­

ily spent a lot of time with competitive waterskiing, as

he grew up near pristine Norfork Lake in the Ozarks of

southern Missouri. This was a lot of work and sacrifice for

his parents and family, but Dr. Freeman recollects that the

whole experience shaped his core personality and created a

desire for similar recreational experiences for himself and

his future family. In the late '70s, Dr. Freeman learned

how to windsurf, but once accepted to dental school his

recreational time was very limited. "So four years later, I

get out of dental school and I see a windsurfer on TV going

fast. The equipment had evolved to where the sport was

a lot more exhilarating." A year after his graduation, Dr.

Freeman bought his first board. He windsurfed the Great

In dentistry, two of the things Pat enjoys doing most are comprehensive

examinations and educating his patients to their current conditions. Starting with a comprehensive examination benefits the long-term oral health of his patients.

Dr. Freeman and his team share a common goal to provide qual ity, sound dental treatment in a comfortable atmosphere.

Page 3: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Plains for over a decade, which, he explains, can have epic

conditions, but it was often hit or miss and it required a lot

of driving time. "Windsurfing was a passion of mine for

many years."

In 2000, Dr. Freeman transitioned to kiteboarding and

has to wonder ifit wasn't some kind of"divine intervention"

because it parallels everything he's been involved with his

whole life. "With kiteboarding, you're flying a large inflated

kite that grabs the wind, and you're controlling it, and it pulls

you over the water. You can be either on a wakeboard-type

board, or a surfboard or a surfboard with straps." He can

barely contain his excitement as he tries to describe it: "It is

just so good. It is pretty much like walking on the moon. The

thing about kiting is that the forces are always pulling you

up or sideways. That allows a kiter to catch air and even land

softly (like a butterfly with sore feet) from a 30-foot jump. At

that time, when the sport just started to take off, there were

no instructors. We all learned from each other and tried to

keep the 'kitemares' to a minimum. Lessons are a must for

safety. You learn by flying a kite, learning the power zones

of the kite, and how it works . Then they teach you how to

drag yourself through the water and how to relaunch your

kite from the water after you crash, because those are neces­

sary skills. After you figure that out, you're given a board and

taught how to ride it."

HIS OWN OREGON TRAIL In 1996, after practicing dentistry for 13 years in Kansas

City, MO, Dr. Freeman was not feeling fulfilled with his life.

He was commuting over 40 miles roundtrip to his practice

each day. His wife, Camille, was also feeling the stress with

her corporate job with a major airline and her commute of

45 miles each way. And, they wanted to start a family. Dr.

Freeman vividly remembers, "Several times on my way to

work, I would get off on this exit to go to my clinic, and I

would ask myself, 'Do I really want to be here for the rest

of my life?' It was just kind of a nagging feeling." He was re­

ally into windsurfing then, and even though the conditions

were very good in Kansas for windsurfing, it was really hit

and miss. And he had to travel a lot. He would find himself

driving up to 240 miles in a day just to go windsurfing. "On

one particular day there ended up being no wind when I ar­

rived and all I got was the wheat report, a thunderstorm and

a goat's head thorn in the bottom of my foot. And then, of

course, the drive back home."

So on his 40th birthday, Dr. Freeman and his wife made

Staff picture from left : Valerie, Roseann, Dr. Freeman, Heidi and Mary.

the decision that he would take the Western Regional

Board Exam in Portland. They had previously vacationed

in Hood River, OR, and fell in love with the beauty of the

Columbia River Gorge. Once Dr. Freeman passed the board

exams, he sold his dental practice and decided to move to

Oregon. That was the turning point, but getting there was

not so simple. The first Northwest practice offered to Dr.

Freeman did not materialize. But shortly after that, Dr.

Freeman remembered the name of a Hood River dentist

who he suspected might be nearing retirement age. After

a simple phone call, they arranged to meet the doctor and

his wife the following weekend in a Hood River restaurant.

After dinner, conversation and a handshake, the deal was

made! Dr. Freeman had a practice and now they had a few

short months to sell their home and find a place to live in

Hood River.

Of all the places they could have chosen to move to, why

Oregon? "Because of our love of the outdoors, a move to

the Northwest seemed imminent." Dr. Freeman continues,

"Growing up in Oregon County, MO, I always had a curiosity

about Oregon the state and having visited Hood River pre­

viously, the answer seemed clear. It was an appealing place

to start a family, with its small-town vibe and multitude of

recreational activities." Now, more than 11 years later, nei­

ther one of them regrets the move. If you ask Dr. Freeman

to describe how he feels about where they've ended up, you

can see the excitement dance around in his eyes: "Oregon has

so much to offer. Where I live I am five minutes from kiting

on the river. My family and I can find world-class mountain

biking or road biking in less than five minutes, be on Mount

Hood snow skiing in 30 minutes, and my commute to work

is less than two minutes from home."

Page 4: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Interdisciplinary - Working Together for the Best Results

The patient's chief complaint was a loose filling on a lower

incisor. During comprehensive examination it was evident that

a collapsing worn occlusion existed, and #6 bridge retainer was

nonrestorable. This prompted further study with diagnostic

mode ls, occlusal analysis, radiographs and a full periodontal

assessment in order to formulate treatment options.

Being aware of the procedures available by the various

disciplines in dentistry certainly broadens the scope of what is

possible in treating our patients today.

Calling upon the knowledge Dr. Freeman gained through

Dr. Peter Dawson's courses and the two textbooks he read of

his, the latest being Functional Occlusion from TMJ to Smile

Design by Mosby, he found that it really makes treatment

planning and restoring these type of cases fun. Diagnostic

waxing all of his own cases allows him to learn most of the

idiosyncrasies and nuances of the case beforehand. In this

patient's case, the wax-up was helpful to evaluate the amount

of vertical opening needed for sufficient interocclusal space,

occlusal plane and guidance changes, placement of implant

and gingival margin locations.

The patient's anterior teeth positions, vertical and guidance

were worked out in provisional restorations. Dr. Freeman

likes to tell patients that these "temporaries" are really

"prototypes" of the final restorations and are used to guide the

dental laboratory so there are no surprises regarding esthetics

and function when the teeth return from the lab. A SO PA

(Simplified Occlusal Plane Analyzer) was used to correct the

posterior occlusal planes.

Page 5: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Growing up in Oregon County, MO, I always had a curiosity about Oregon

the state and having visited Hood River previously, the answer seemed clear. It was an appealing place to start a family with its small-town vibe and multitude of recreational activities.

THE PROGRESSION OF HIS PROFESSION The passion Dr. Freeman feels about his home and his

surroundings also spills over into his dental work. But it

wasn't always so. After graduation in 1983, he immediately

became an associate in a dental practice for about 18 months,

and then became a partner w ith the sam e practice in Kansas

City, MO. H e loved his profession, but he started realizing

that there w ere a lot of unanswered questions . He was often

left wondering why his patients were having the problem s

they were having; why teeth w er e worn; why they had jaw

pain; why some restorations w ere failing; why the patient

is saying their bite is uncomfortable. Sure, he could fix the

existing problems, but he wanted to know more about the

root causes. Going back, he remembers thinking, "I was

realizing that the education I got in dental school was ver y

fundamental and there was a lot more to learn." He had heard

of Peter Dawson , D .D .S ., and went to take his course in

Florida at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies.

"All of the dentists at the first seminar were very intrigued

with the course contents b ecause it was so informative and

it r eally hit home with them. Our eyes and ears were really

opened." From then on, Dr. Freeman took other courses

through Dawson in other locations . The following sum­

mer, he purchased Dawson's t extbook, Evaluation, Diaanosis

and Treatment ef Occlusal Problems. He spent hours and hours

reading and absorbing the text, and it just made everything

clearer and a lot easier to work day to day because finally he

had answers to the question s he was looking for.

Dawson's courses m ade a huge impact on Dr. Freeman

regarding the diagnosis , etiology and treatment of all types

of masticatory issues. "It has m ade the dental portion of my

life so much m ore predictable. Beginning with the end result

in mind teaches you so much about the case and how to deal

with the individual nuances required for predictable function

and esthetics. Combining the knowledge gained from Peter

Dawson and the conservative esthetic r estorative options

available have made dentistry a joy to be in. I enjoy doing my

own diagnostic wax-ups, TMD orthotics and surgical guides

myself. I couldn't have become a dentist at a better time." Dr.

Freeman goes on to say that his entire dental philosophy is

based on these principles. It 's not so much about procedures

as it is how your masticatory system works. The No. 1 thing

that he would recommend to any new dental school graduate

would be to take a course from Peter Dawson or the Pankey

Institute to get a clear handle on the function of how the hu­

man jaw works. "I can't imagine practicing dentistry without

that knowledge base."

The esthetic materials revolution starting in the 1980s

coincided with Dr. Freeman joining the AACD (American

Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) . He was fortunate to be the

423rd member to join in 1988. "There was a lot of energy and

sharing of information going on during the early years of the

AACD, which now has over 7,600 members representing 60

nations worldwide ." Dr. Freeman is honored to b e one of four

AACD accredited m embers in the state of Oregon . "Becoming

accredited in 1990 drove me to do better work by critiquing

myself through all the photography of cases and presenting six

different esthetic cases of my own to the AACD panel."

Esthetic Crown Lengthening

This 18-year-old female pati ent dis liked her teeth and refused any

type of orthodontics. A diagnost ic wax-up was made, illustrat ing t o t he

pat ient what was possibl e and to al low fabrication of a surgical index.

The index was used t o position the gingival margins apically at the

predetermined goal. The rel ative co nservative approach by placing four

feldspath ic veneers illustrates the dramatic resu lt s attainable.

Page 6: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Veneer Case - Erosion

This case illu st rates how conservative facial incisal veneers on teeth #5-12 and multiple class V facial com posites on posterior teeth can arrest the severe erosion of unknown etiology.

THE FREEMAN CLINIC In dentistry, two of the things Dr. Freeman enjoys doing most

are comprehensive examinations and educating his patients

to their current conditions. Starting with a comprehensive

examination benefits the long-term oral health of his patients.

They are geared to address the signs of occlusal dysfunction

that can shorten the life of restorations and the entire denti­

tion and TM J. He feels that his patients appreciate and pick up

on his thoroughness in diagnosing what's good and bad with

their masticatory system. Taking the time to explain and hav­

ing excellent tools for education is paramount in conveying

your message. Dr. Freem an says, "Addressing the patient's

initial concern is priority, but I am a firm believer in steering

the patient into a comprehensive exam where we get a good

handle on each patient's condition. Determining the cause

and knowing how to treat the source of the problem enhances

the final result of all the procedures we do in dentistry." Many

patients stop him halfway through the exam and say, "Wow,

I've never had anybody check my teeth like this !" He does an

exam that allows him to define the source of the condition that

is there. The patient then becomes knowledgeable and can make

a self-determined decision on their own . "It's not me telling

my patients what to do. I give them options ." Again, you can

see the lights in his eyes as he exclaims, "It has m ade a huge

difference in how I practice."

At the office, Dr. Freeman is supported by a talented t eam

consisting of a front office manager , two assistants and 2

hygienist s . Dr. Freeman is grateful to have a staff that shares

his philosophy. Their common goal is to provide quality

sound dental treatment in a comfortable atmosphere. _"I

have the perfect size staff for the way I do dentistry. It's not

too big, not too little." Camille's background in accounting

Combining the knowledge gained from Peter Dawson and the conservative esthetic restorative options

available have made dentistry a joy to be in. I enjoy doing my own diagnostic wax-ups, TM D orthotics and surgical guides myself. I couldn't have become a dentist at a better time.

is a tremendou s asset in relieving Dr.

Freeman of a lot of administrative du­

ties that go along with running a small

business. She has the convenience of

doing thi s from home while she juggles

household management and raising

their daughter, Madison .

Page 7: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

Using the software program BiteFX in educating Dr Freeman's patients has helped eliminate the confusion patients previously had when discussing t heir masticatory workings and occlusal education.

I f you have a really sound basis of how the

masticatory system works, then you can formulate the end result. Dentistry today has so many options available with the different disciplines that you can really get some amazing results.

GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY Dr. Freem an happened to be president

of Mid-Columbia Dental Society when

the ADA started the annual national day

to examine and treat, when appropriate ,

the underprivileged kids of America. He

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The BiteFX video animations can be easily customized depending upon your style and depth of presentation.

Page 8: Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Playpatfreemandental.com/pics/DoctorOfDentistry.pdf · Living Life to the Fullest, at Work and at Play Dr. Pat Freeman By Ali Skiles Growing

very modestly gives thanks to the many dentists in his community

who have participated each year since its beginning, noting that

with their help, it has been a great success. Several of the local

dentists, Dr. Freeman included, take on some of these patients

in order to complete their treatment pro bona in the next few

weeks and months following the national day. They schedule in

a couple a week for treatment until they're finished.

Dr. Freeman obviously enjoys this work a great deal: "It's

refreshing to be able to help kids in such a way. The last

couple of years we are seeing some of our efforts paying off

as we're noticing less decay and better home care from many

previous participants."

With kiteboarding, you're flying a large inflated kite that grabs the

wind, and you're controlling it, and it pulls you over the water.

The Freeman family loves the outdoors, whether they are mountain or road biking , skiing , camping or watching Dad kiteboard . The scenery around Hood River is breathtaking. Pictured at one of th eir favorite spots: Camille, Pat and Madison .

Pat enjoys an after-work kiteboarding session. Only 5 minutes from his office , it 's one of many reasons why he moved himself and family virtually along the Oregon Trail from Missouri. Even light winds of 12-15 mph can 't keep kite boarders grounded on a bluebird day in The Columbia River Gorge.

It's pretty easy to get Dr. Freeman to open up about the

things in his life that bring him great joy: his family, his work

and his love of the outdoors. When asked how moving to

Oregon has changed his life, Dr. Freeman says, "It's about

quality of life. I know my practice and family life would be

very different back in the Midwest. Let's just say, 'It's good

in the Hood."' •

Patrick Freeman, D.D.S. 1130 7th Sreet

Hood River, OR 97031

541-386-3525