Spencer Phippen – DMD

Before his career as a dentist, Dr. Phippen was a Medical Illustrator and created anatomical and surgical drawings for medical textbooks. Although he felt that the work he was doing served an important role, Dr. Phippen felt he wanted to have more of a personal and immediate impact on the well-being of others. He soon realized that dentistry would allow him to make a positive contribution to patients’ health, and would utilize the fine hand skills he had developed in his years as an illustrator. Dr. Phippen has now been practicing dentistry for more than 12 years.

Dr. Phippen believes that patients should always have a clear understanding of their dental needs and treatment options.

He says, “I often create drawings to help explain, and I take time to answer any questions. All patients should be treated with respect, and dental care should be provided in a culturally sensitive manner.” He understands that a trip to the dentist can be stressful, so his goal is to make the experience pleasant for his patients with compassion, understanding, and a touch of humor.

After finishing his General Practice Residency, Dr. Phippen had the privilege of working for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe where he provided dental care to the Native American population. During this experience, he found his patients to be profoundly gracious, friendly, and thankful for the care they received. It was here that he discovered that he wanted to be a part of a community health center because he found great satisfaction in providing thoughtful dental care to those who had difficulty receiving the treatment that they needed.

In his spare time, Dr. Phippen enjoys landscape painting, kayaking, hiking, and spending time with his family and friends.