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Dr Joe Arnel
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    Dr Joe Armel is a caring, gentle, Marin dentist specializing in general, cosmetic and implant dentistry serving Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area  
     
     
 

You may not believe it, but I actually planned to be a dentist when I was 13 years old! In fact, I sent away for admission requirements to the American Dental Association at that time, and wrote an essay for my junior high English class "On Becoming an Oral Surgeon" long before I ever knew a scaler from a tooth brush. Strange you say? I call it fortuitous!! It created amazing momentum and focus for me, and once decided, I never looked back or questioned my choice.

Before I knew it, I graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in 1972 and went on to serve 3 years with the U.S. Army Dental Corps. in Aschaffenburg, Germany. After my discharge, my wife, two children and I drove all over the United States and Canada in our Dodge motorhome for a whole year, winding our way back to beloved California. The trip west was an outstanding experience, giving us a chance to see and visit with so many friends and family all over the country. We knew that this was our last chance to take it all in, because the next five years or more would be devoted to starting our practice.

Locating our first office was another amazing experience. Whenever I thought of where I wanted to practice, I felt tremendous yearnings for Marin County. However, when I asked anyone who should know, I was advised against it. My banker, my financial advisor, my old professors and finally my future landlord, all told me that Marin had too many dentists already and "shouldn't I look somewhere else?". Not being one who is timid about challenges, I told them all that Marin felt right, and especially this little office across the street from the College of Marin, because it was the ONLY space available from Santa Rosa to Sausalito that had good KSAN reception (my favorite rock & blues FM station).

Feeling totally confident, we opened our office with no clientele, publishing hours on our business cards, "open Noon til Nine pm". Our carpet layer turned out to be our first patient and we were off and running. Apparently, I was the first dentist in Marin to feature music on headphones, nitrous oxide, wine in the reception area, Saturday hours and a pretty laid back environment. The office was all done in redwood, with wine cork curtains strung on monofilament and a silk canopy weaving, hung from the fluorescent lights. Fortunately, we weren't busted as some sort of opium den!

Although our current private office door still sports the etched glass "Bar and Drill" logo, coined while serving wine to our patients as they perused our Music Menu, much has changed in our Corte Madera Town Center offices. First of all, juice, tea and coffee has replaced the white wine! However the greatest changes have occurred in our technology. The past 20-30 years have seen an explosion in new materials, instruments and techniques which is fueling a revolution in dentistry. This past decade, we've added intra-oral video cameras, lasers, digital x-rays, non-metallic alternatives for exquisite cosmetic techniques, implants, shot-less/painless air-abrasion restorations, synthetic bone grafting and much, much more. These enhancements are allowing us to communicate, educate and achieve far superior results for our patients than ever before.

Of notable interest, since we 1st opened in 1976, our practice has attracted national recognition from the media with articles in numerous publications including Newsweek Magazine. We were also written up by San Francisco's legendary columnist Herb Caen, and have been featured on broadcast television's "Evening Magazine" and "P.M. Magazine" for our unique approach to patient management and implant dentistry. In 1984, we were chosen and published in the Journal of the California Dental Association as one of the "Outstanding Dental Practices of California".

And all the while our miraculous practice was evolving, we managed to raise three beautiful kids.....Rebecca (a dentist), Joshua (a professional jazz saxophonist), and Zachary (an 11 year old "MBA"). In between breaths, we've dabbled with blues guitar, fly fishing and never-ending home remodeling. Our lives are full and we are very grateful for the opportunities we have been given in this exquisite County.

I want to personally thank you for visiting our website! We are fully committed to the highest standards of preventive, cosmetic and rehabilitative dentistry possible. Our emphasis is on gentle, yet thorough care for discriminating adults. Our primary goal is to keep your mouth disease free and make your visits inviting and fun (yes fun)! If you have found dentistry difficult or inconsistent in the past, we invite you to visit our office and experience our relaxed, non-traditional approach for happy patients and healthy teeth!


"If your smile is not becoming to you,
you should be coming to me!"

 

 
   

   

  Mission | Dr Armel | Credentials | Take a Tour | Where to Find Us
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