“The dental field has always been female-dominated. Roughly 95% of all hygienists and dental assistants are women, and now the majority of graduating Dentists in North America are female," says Dr. Nancy Clayton, owner of , who presently has a team of seven women in her Squamish practice.
“To encourage more people to embark on a career in dentistry, my colleagues and I put together a scholarship fund for those entering full-time studies for dental assisting, which is a crucial segment of the dental profession that is in short supply,” she says.
Her dental office is named after the iconic and breathtaking Atwell Peak, beautifully visible from the lobby. The décor, with its spa-like, welcoming, earthy atmosphere, gives the office an authentically natural feel, which, being in Squamish, is important.
This isn’t downtown Vancouver, and Clayton wouldn’t have it any other way.
Originally from Scarborough, Ontario, Clayton graduated with honours from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry in 1999 before entering the Dental Internship Program at Vancouver General Hospital.
Once married with a family, “we decided to move to Squamish to raise our children.”
“We loved Squamish because it was beautiful, and we wanted to raise our kids in a small town that smells like cottage country,” she explains. “The air is so clean.”
The clinic’s high-tech equipment sets them apart, including the recently installed Surgically Clean Air hospital-grade filters throughout the office, which filter via HEPA and charcoal filters, using UV lights to kill viruses and bacteria in the air.
These instruments add an extra layer of protection and peace of mind for our patients and staff.
Clayton is a general family dentist who particularly enjoys providing “smile makeovers.”
Atwell Dental also offers , which Clayton describes as a “fun and safe procedure that many patients like to do while they are getting their teeth cleaned.”
“It’s confidential and convenient, as we are by nature,” she explains. “We are trained to be extremely good with injections, anatomy and the musculature of the face – it’s just a natural fit.”
“Changing smiles changes lives,” Clayton says, adding that our smiles are “integral to how we are seen, and our self-esteem. We believe a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
To learn more about Atwell Dental or request an appointment, visit .
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