Meet Our Doctor
I have proudly been creating beautiful smiles since 1979. After completing dental school, I worked for the Indian Health Service which was a branch of the Public Health Department. I wanted to get more experience in general dentistry and because of that extra experience, I decided to go into orthodontics. I applied to, and was accepted at, the dental school I had just graduated from – the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
After completing my graduate program, I moved to Tucson, Arizona to work for Dr. Richard Matteson. He hadn’t taken a graduate orthodontic program, but instead completed preceptorship training with Dr. Charles H. Tweed. Dr. Tweed was one of the most influential orthodontists from 1940 until the time of his death in 2011. Dr. Matteson had completed his training with Dr. Tweed in the 50’s and the American Association of Orthodontists allowed him into our profession because of the training he received from Dr. Tweed. By the time I had graduated from orthodontic school, Dr. Tweed was no longer practicing. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Matteson and to learn from someone who had himself learned from Dr. Tweed. It was a tremendous opportunity to learn from, and be associated with, Dr. Matteson. I will always consider Dr. Matteson one of the finest orthodontists in Arizona.
After working for a few years, I felt a need to acquire more training, so I completed a two-year post-graduate program with Dr. Ronald Roth. I was in his first class and learned a different perspective of orthodontic care. During my time in Kansas City at the graduate program, I joined the Army Reserves to help pay my way through school. When I moved to Tucson, the Army Reserves sent me to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona for two weeks of summer training. After that, I moved from Tucson to Sierra Vista (Home of Ft. Huachuca) to set up my orthodontic practice.
Since that time, I have become involved in my community and am currently in charge of the Cochise County Dental Study Group and a delegate to the Arizona Dental Association. I am also a member in several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists and the Military Officers’ Association of America, just to name a few.
I stayed in the Army Reserves, eventually retiring with the rank of Colonel. I am not only proud of the fact that I have achieved the rank of Colonel, but that I had started in the army as a private in the enlisted branch, so it has been quite a journey for me, both in my military and professional endeavors!
Away from the office, I enjoy handball, weight training and bicycling.
Alan Kawakami, D.D.S
