Meet Your Dentist, Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD
You and your dentist may have a lot more in common than you think. Born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley, Dr. Davey Alleman returned to practice in Provo after serving with the United State Army Dental Corps in Seoul, South Korea and Tucson, Arizona. Below are a few questions to help you get acquainted with Dr. Alleman and his work, and he looks forward to getting to know you too at your next visit.
When did you decide you wanted to become a dentist and why?
Seeing my dad’s excitement as he spoke to my 7th grade career’s class about the improvements in patient outcomes with advanced adhesive techniques. I could see how passionate he was about fixing teeth in a more conservative manner that looked like teeth, rather than some of the older dentistry that I had had in my mouth as a kid. I wanted to fix teeth in this new way so the restorations looked beautiful and felt better. Being around my dad’s excitement as he was creating his protocols for biomimetic dentistry really fueled my own desire to become a dentist from that day forward.
What is your favorite thing about being a dentist?
Dentistry is different every day, eliminating monotony. Feeling like I can fix a tooth better today than the day before keeps me motivated. I love the feeling of offering the highest level of care to my patients and seeing my improvements as a provider. Biomimetic Dentistry offers our patients a better alternative than traditional approaches of cutting teeth down for crowns and root canals. So when I see each patient’s individual needs, I know I’m prepared to help them.
Why do you practice and teach biomimetic dentistry?
I practice biomimetic dentistry because I believe it is the best way to fix a tooth; we can preserve the vitality of the tooth but also conserve more of the patient’s tooth structure. Being able to do this allows for better outcomes over the lifespan of the patient’s dentition. I teach because I want other doctors to be able to offer this same level of care to their patients too.
When did you start teaching biomimetic dentistry?
I started teaching when I was in college. I would help my dad with his teaching programs. It was inspiring to meet these doctors and see how excited they were to fix teeth in a new way. Now with the Alleman Center I work with my dad to continue training doctors in biomimetic dentistry all over the world, we look forward to seeing more of the doctors we train at the office so they can continue to learn from the work we do.
What is one thing you wished all patients knew about dentists?
Not all dentists are the same and not all dental treatments are the same. Each dentist is drawn to this career for different reasons, and what drew me to dentistry is offering the highest quality care to my patients.
What is one thing you wished all patients knew about dentistry or their dental health?
I would like them to know that there are options for how a tooth is fixed. Oftentimes when a dentist says you need a crown or a root canal, there are longer lasting, more conservative ways to treat your teeth than what is proposed.
What is it like working as a family business?
It’s part of the reason why I wanted to come back to Utah and practice after working in the Army. I wanted to work with my dad at his practice before he retired. My dad still has a lot of experience and expertise and he’s my dental hero. Now I get to continue his work and legacy. You’ll still see him around the office from time to time excited about the dentistry being done.
What do you like to do when you aren’t practicing dentistry?
After I finished up work today I went to the skate park. I like to get out and ride my skateboard, play golf and snowboard.
