Paul Reeves knows the drill

NO REGRETS: Dr Paul Reeves, in Kaitaia so long he's almost a local.

Kaitaia can thank Paul Reeves' father for the fact that it has benefited from his son's skill as a dentist for the last three decades.

It was he who suggested that Paul, a keen diver who had been leaning towards a career in marine biology, pursue dentistry, and he has never regretted taking that advice.

Earlier this month he celebrated 30 years of pulling, repairing and caring for teeth in Kaitaia, a milestone that was acknowledged at Te Hiku Hauora's dental clinic, where he has been practising since 2011.

He graduated from Otago University in 1976, beginning his career with the RNZ Army Dental Corps (seconded to HMNZS Philomel in Devonport) followed by almost four years in the UK, mainly working in the hospital system. While there, in 1983, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and in 1985 he bought an existing dental practice in Kaitaia's Hofstede Arcade, which he opened as Paul Reeves' Dental Surgery.

The practice moved to Puckey Avenue in 1996, and in 2011 he joined Te Hiku Hauora.

Dental practice manager Cheryl Britton said Te Hiku Hauora was very fortunate to have someone of Dr Reeves' expertise.

"Paul supports and mentors newly-graduated dentists, and final-year dental students who are hosted at the practice, as part of a joint placement with the Ngati Hine Health Trust. He also regularly shares his wealth of knowledge with the dental team," she added.

Kaitaia, he said, had had strong appeal 30 years ago by virtue of fact that patients could be treated under general anaesthetic at the local hospital, and the opportunities the Far North offered to indulge his passion for diving.

"There were very few practices for sale at the time, and this one came up in the Far North," he added.

"Several times we were made offers to move elsewhere, but we never thought we'd do better. The Far North has been a positive place to raise a family." (He and his wife Robyn have raised three now-adult children in the town).

But while he had witnessed huge advances in dental technology, he could not say the same about the state of dental health in general.

"The problems faced in dental health today are still the same as they were 30 years ago. Child dental health is still at a very low standard," he said.

"If I could say anything to people it would be to treasure dental health, because it impacts your general health. The uncontrolled consumption of sugar is the biggest issue."

He still enjoyed the clinical challenges his work provided though, and dealing with people.

"I enjoy the on-going relationships I have with my patients, and I am still seeing some of the people who I saw 30 years ago," he added.

"I still feel I have something to offer. I still enjoy it, particularly the contact with younger colleagues because they challenge my thinking.

"If I had my choice over again I would again choose dentistry as a career; my biggest regret is that I'm nearer the end of my career than the start."