Maira Rodriquez is the latest newcomer dentist to move into a practice established by a now retiring long-time dental professional.
Thomas Burke retired on May 1 after spending 37 years as a dental practitioner in Dexter.
Rodriquez, 37, is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania. She spent her life in New York City, but found herself in Michigan at her husband's behest.
"He grew up in a Rhode Island suburb and never really got used to New York, so we moved to the Midwest," Rodriquez said.
She specializes in prosthodontics - the specialty of implant, esthetic and reconstructive dentistry.
"I have been slowly trying to make Dr. Burke's practice my own," Rodriquez said. "He kept up with the latest technology and I hope to add to that."
She is also working on a number of renovations to the building, now known as Broad Street Family Dentistry.
"I would like to enhance the charm of this beautiful historical Victorian home," Rodriquez said. "We plan on replacing the windows, painting and adding an English garden."
She and Burke first discussed the deal last year, but his retirement and her move to Dexter were stalled until January due to lingering retirement doubts.
"I wanted to come here so badly," said Rodriquez, who lives in Ann Arbor. "I told him I would come and work as his associate for free. That's how badly I wanted to do this."
When Burke called her and said he was ready after all, she came right over to see his practice, which would end several years of searching for a place to lay down her professional roots.
Burke says it is going to be tough and he's not sure that he won't return to his profession in some capacity in the future, although for now he's enjoying retirement on Lake Charlevoix up in Boyne City in northern Michigan, where he built a summer home.
He recalled fondly the day back in February 1976 when he moved to the Broad Street office, which used to be a barber shop. Burke first practiced dentistry in Dexter in June 1971 after graduating from U of M's school of dentistry in 1970.
Burke worked Downriver for one year, since he grew up in Detroit, although Dexter is where his heart is and where he raised a family of five children. He and his wife still have a home in the village.
"The schools served me well," Burke said. "I have two doctors, a dentist, a PhD doctor and an engineer, so if anybody ever says that Dexter doesn't have a good school system, tell them it's not true."
He recalls the centennial and 150 year celebrations in Dexter and working the Christmas tree sales for the Jaycees to get his name out in the community.
"The people received me very well and I just wouldn't trade my experience in Dexter for anything in the world," Burke said.
His last day on April 28 was quite difficult he recalled.
"The night before I left I walked through the office and thought about how much dentistry has changed," Burke said. "I'm old school."
At 5:30 p.m. on the 28th the reality set in. "I actually had a tear in my eye ... I was giving up something I had done for 37 years that I really loved doing."
Burke said that while his reasons for feeling that way were personal, they had nothing to do with the situation he was leaving his patients in.
"Maira has a lot of talent," he said. "She is a specialist in crowns and she went on for a couple more years getting her degree in prosthodontics, so I think she will be wonderful."
As some patients cried during his last day on the job, he recalled some of the cases he has dealt with.
Burke always loved to be challenged in his profession, especially doing full mouth reconstructions where 7 or 8 teeth need repairs.
One case in particular stuck with him.
"A man who was an alcoholic, but gave up the bottle came in and had reconstruction work done, and he had tears in his eyes when we were done," Burke said. "He said it was a confidence booster that we could do what we did."
It's that kind of achievement that Burke feels Rodriquez is capable of, which is why he chose her to take over his practice, he said.
Rodriquez is aware that the office she has taken on has been seeing patients since the early 1900's she said.
"I think my background has prepared me to deal with even the most complicated cases," she said. "And I hope that this practice continues to see patients for another one-hundred years."
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