A visit to the dentist office in Pratt when he was 14 has come full circle for Pratt’s newest dentist Dr. Chris Polk.

Polk, who began working with Dr. John Mathes in August, is now taking care of Pratt smiles just like he was inspired years ago by another dentist, Dr. Lawrence Trimmell. Trimmell, a dentist from Hutchinson, came to Pratt and put braces on Polk’s teeth in Dr. Jim Van Blaricum’s office.

That event inspired Polk to want to be a dentist at the age of 14.

“I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school,” Polk said.

Polk visited with the dentists in town and was further inspired by them to take up the profession. Van Blaricum, Dr. Ron Ingram and Dr. E.F. Giannangelo were all kind and encouraged him to become a dentist.

When Polk was younger had dental work done by Van Blaricum. Polk has recently done a filling for Van Blaricum. 

Polk grew up in Pratt. His parents are Carlos and Barbara Polk who still live in Pratt, as does his brother Gary Polk.

Polk graduated from Pratt High School in 1986 then got a degree in biology from Pittsburg State University before heading to the University of Oklahoma to get this Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1994.

Polk then headed to Trinidad, Colo. and did a wide variety of dentistry for 14 years including orthodontics, implants and his favorite cosmetic dentistry. He got a lot of satisfaction helping people with serious dental problems including accidents and restoring teeth for women in a battered women’s shelter, Polk said. 

He fixed dental injuries like the girl was kicked in the mouth when she walked behind her horse or the girl who had teeth damage from a four-wheeler accident.

He likes doing a variety of procedures. If he had specialized he could do just one thing but he prefers performing many different procedures.

“I like to do a lot of stuff,” Polk said. “I like variety.”

Dentistry has had an image problem but that is changing. With new technology and equipment, the trip to the dentist is not what it used to be. Polk wants to be part of that new image.

He enjoys being able to give the patient a positive experience and help them have a nice, white beautiful smile, Polk said.

He likes dentistry more than other health care fields because he gets to take care of the patient’s problems not just treat the symptoms.

“You actually help the patient and that’s wonderful,” Polk said.

Polk is divorced and has a 19-year-old daughter Allison. After the divorce he came home to Pratt and spent time with his parents while he looked at places to practice. Mathes offered him a position and Polk took the opportunity.

Besides coming home to get re-established, he wanted to come back to Pratt because it is a special place for him. The people are great and important to the community.

“I can’t believe how nice the people are here,” Polk said. “One of Pratt’s biggest assets is its people.”

Besides being a dentist, Polk has been a licensed pilot for two years and just got his license to race cars in the Sports Car Club of America. He took up flying because he had an interest and decided it was something he needed to do.

It was much the same for car racing. He hasn’t had a race yet but he just loves cars and wants to go racing.