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Member Spotlight: Say hello to Dr. Kevin Kunz

By AAE Community Manager HL Manager posted 03-02-2023 08:44 AM

  

We are proud to highlight active members of our AAE Connection Community

Say hello to Dr. @Kevin R. Kunz 


Position: 

Owner, Endodontic Specialists of Naples

Career Highlights:  

  • Served 9 years in USAF
    • AEGD at Eglin AFB in Destin, FL
    • General Dentist for 3 years at Hickam AFB in Honolulu, HI
    • Endo residency in San Antonio
    • Chief of Endodontics at USAF’s largest AEGD program in Washington, DC
  • Achieved diplomate status in 2017
  • Two years of Private practice at an Endo/Perio practice in Orlando, FL
  • Ownership of Endodontic Specialists of Naples since 2021
    • More than 700 5-star google reviews in less than 2 years!
    • Two phenomenal associates joined the practice at the beginning of my second year.

Why Endodontics:

I always knew that I wanted to be an expert at whatever path I chose to follow.  During my AEGD, endodontics was the only specialty where I looked forward to it EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I enjoyed the other specialties as well.  However, there was at least one day for all of the other specialties where I didn’t look forward to the work that day.  That never happened for endodontics.  I ALWAYS looked forward to it!

The things I liked most about endodontics are (1) the focus on saving the natural dentition, (2) the need to be an expert diagnostician (I wanted to be an expert at this), (3) the need for excellent clinical skills, (4) the need for excellent patient management skills, (5) the nice balance between non-surgical and surgical treatment options, and (6) the incorporation of a lot of new technology (such as CBCT at the time).

Best Piece of Career Advice: I had a few people who recommended hiring EndoMastery.  That was very good advice.

Endo Challenge: Finding the right practice fit was a challenge for me.  This is not a challenge unique to me.  I know many struggle with this.  For me, I carefully evaluated my options, but the first opportunity didn’t work out as I expected.  I looked at numerous other opportunities.  I joined a second practice with the expectation of partnership after a year.  That also fell through.  Ultimately, I decided that I needed to do my own thing.  I took the leap of faith.  I surrounded myself with excellent people who helped and guided me through my first year of practice.  My experience in private practice has exceeded my expectations!

Reason for Becoming an AAE member:  I wanted to show my commitment to the specialty of endodontics and connect with thousands of like-minded colleagues.  The AAE is also dedicated to advancing the art and science of endodontics and to promoting the highest standards of patient care.  I share those same ideals and so becoming a member was important to show my dedication.

Fun Fact: I participated in Pacific Partnership 2013, a US Navy led humanitarian effort in the South Pacific.  As a result, I became a “Golden Shellback” (Navy personnel will know what that is) and I hold an active dental license in Samoa!  We also visited the countries of Tonga, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and the Solomon Islands.  As a result of that experience, I made the commitment that I was going to volunteer my endodontic skills each year following endo residency.  Since 2016, I have regularly visited extremely remote areas of the Navajo Indian Reservation (Monument Valley, Montezeuma Creek) to perform pro bono endodontic work.  The last two years I began taking a staff member.  It’s a very rewarding experience that I look forward to every year.

Community Question: There seems to be a growing perception among many dentists that implants are “more reliable and more predictable” than root canal treated teeth.  What can we do to reverse this trend?

If you have a member you would like to recommend, please email your submission to communityadmin@aae.org

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