It’s all in the family

Creating a dental dynasty was never Doug Wirth’s intention.

“I had no idea that anybody was going to choose dentistry,” Wirth said. “It wasn’t expected. It wasn’t pushed.”

His Oak Harbor practice Whidbey Dental Associates, established more than 30 years ago, is now also served by his sons Derek and Jared Wirth as well as Derek’s wife Hope Wirth.

The family also recently purchased Whidbey Avenue Dental Care and the doctors rotate time between offices.

Eventually, the family will move into a new location on Whidbey Avenue so that all four Wirths can practice out of the same location.

Derek and Jared had spent a lot of time after school “raiding the fridge” and doing homework at the dental office, but neither had really considered following in their father’s footsteps until later. Derek, 32, had originally wanted to pursue medicine.

“I just like taking care of people. I like getting to fix things,” Derek said.

Doug said he encouraged his older son to spend time with physician friends to make sure that’s what he wanted. Derek said after doing so he decided dentistry was a better route for him.

He appreciates being able to get to know all the patients, and knowing he can solve the problem they’re having every time.

Jared, 28, said he left for college with no intention of pursuing dentistry. An avid cook, he wanted to go into the culinary field or hospitality. He enjoys woodworking and metal work and knew he wanted to do something hands-on.

“I’m a very kinetic person,” Jared said.

He decided the family field could be a good fit while watching his brother in a lab at dental school.

“He didn’t do dentistry because of me, he did it because of his brother,” Doug said of Jared with a laugh.

All four dentists went to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, which is where Hope and Derek met.

Unlike Jared and Derek, Hope had known she wanted to be a dentist since she was a little kid.

Caring for teeth also runs in her family, as both her grandfather and great-grandfather had been DDMs.

In high school, Hope took a particular interest in art. She said dentistry provided her a good avenue to use some of her artistic ability while still fulfilling her childhood dream.

And all the Wirths will attest to the fact that there is a great deal of artistry involved in the job. Ensuring a crown or denture matches the other teeth, the person’s jaw and face can take some creativity, they said.

“And when you run into them later in town and they smile, it’s rewarding to see your work,” Hope said.

Doug paid for dental school by joining the Navy and then serving until 1982. After graduating, Doug was transferred to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He loved the small-town atmosphere mixed with the diverse population associated with the base.

He first opened his practice in 1982 on Pioneer Way.

Derek joined the family business in 2013, Hope came aboard in 2016 after practicing in Bellingham for a while and Jared completed the dental quartet in August. Recently Doug’s wife, Sherry, a retired teacher, became the office manager to make it even more of a family affair.

The family admitted they find themselves talking about dentistry and managing office operations perhaps too much.

However, when they aren’t in their white coats, Derek and Hope camp, hike and care for their baby daughter, and Hope enjoys jogging. Derek hunts and fishes, sometimes with his dad.

Doug raises bulls on a farm west of the city. Jared also hunts and fishes, and the whole family snowboards.

Although their work often comes home with them, a preoccupation with dentistry can be helpful for solving complex problems, they said.

“We all have something to contribute,” said Doug.

He said each one of them approaches cases and care differently. Jared added he recently encountered a patient with a unique situation, and said he was “able to rely on the fact that I know I’m going sit down with everybody here and we’re going to talk about that case.”

Doug agreed, and said although Derek might be a “dead ringer” for him in appearances — with the addition of more hair and a beard, he noted — “he thinks through a problem in a very different way.”

“… They end up getting all of us, even though they saw only one of us.”