About Geoff Bell, DDS
As a young child and soft-drink-loving teenager who hated the dentist and had cavities every visit, my initial experiences with dentistry were much like many of you. As such, I have had more than my share of dental work. Because I share those experiences, I realize my job is to make you feel good about your teeth now, not guilty about the past. My personal perspective enables me to understand and relate to people who have significant fears and concerns about dental care. My childhood dentist would be rolling over in his grave if he knew my occupation today. He was not understanding, gentle, or concerned about why I had so many cavities. My mission is to empower you to become a better patient by making your dental experience comfortable and comprehensible through exceptional and gentle care. My most important role as a dentist is to help you understand how we can work together to prevent future problems. I am constantly exploring and researching new ways to help my patients stay healthy. I did not come to dentistry on a single career path. My journey of employment took many turns; I was a taco fryer at Taco Bell, deckhand on a tanker, waiter at the Hungry Hunter (I was a terrible waiter), houseman at La Costa Resort, dental lab tech, auto mechanic, ski mechanic, surf shop employee and a corrosion engineering technician. It probably doesn’t hurt that my father was a psychologist, but one of the most important things I have learned from these different jobs and life experiences is how to get along with all types of people. In addition, I also learned what I like to do best. My whole life I have enjoyed working with my hands, from jewelry making to working as an auto mechanic. (Working on dental implants is like working on an exotic car with feelings attached.) After graduating with high honors from UCSD in 1974, I found my life’s passion at the UCLA School of Dentistry where I was able to use my ability to relate to others and my hands to contribute to others. I graduated from UCLA School of Dentistry in 1980.I have lived all over the world including Chicago, Louisiana, Australia, India, Claremont, Mammoth Lakes, Pennsylvania, and finally Carlsbad, California. Having traveled around the world twice on ships, I can say with certainty, that there is no better place to live than Carlsbad. Today I am living my dream. I live in the community I love, Carlsbad, with my wife, Debi, the love of my life for 44 years, three blocks from my office. I have the successful practice I always dreamed of filled with my friends and neighbors. My daughter and son who were raised in Carlsbad have happy successful lives of their own. Our daughter lives here in Carlsbad and travels around the the US as a very successful program manager for a technology firm. She tries to explain to me what she does but it is way over my head. Our son Brandon joined our dental practice six years ago after graduating from UCLA dental school. Sharing my life’s passion with him is a joy. Everywhere I go people stop me to tell me what a great person and dentist he is. Every parent’s dream is for their children to be better than they are, I live that dream. Having lived in India as a teenager I realize how blessed we are to live in the United States and how much of the world lacks for even the most essential, simple things in life like a toothbrush.
