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My education background is I started out in Civil Engineering and I did well at that, I liked that. It's funny, you liked playing in the sandbox as a kid, but I guess I just never outgrew that so I liked all the big equipment on the construction sites. The problem was I wanted to have a family life and I didn't want to travel and be on the job site until the job was done, so I started looking for something that I could do close to home and dentistry was just a natural fit. I joke and I tell people I used to build big bridges, now I build little ones, so they all like that. I used to be a civil engineer, now I'm a dentist and I love it. I love dentistry, I love that I can be creative, work with my hands. The main thing I love about dentistry is that I get to help people. There is no greater feeling than when someone is embarrassed to smile and they come in and we can just change their life. That, to me, is all the reward I could ever want, you know?
When you can help somebody ... say they're embarrassed to go to a job interview because they don't want to talk to somebody and smile. You know, when you can help somebody find employment, you know, just be confident about themselves and who they are, that is an enormous reward.
Originally from rural southern Indiana, Dr. Swartzentruber attributes much of his values and character to the life lessons learned on the family farm. Hard work and dedication are two of his core beliefs. Although often credited to his engineering training, Dr. Swartzentruber will tell you that his problem-solving and creative abilities are also a result of his farm upbringing.
Dr. Swartzentruber obtained a degree in civil engineering from Purdue University. After college, he volunteered with Engineering Ministries International for six months in Uganda, Africa. He looks forward to the day when his children are old enough to travel outside the United States to a “poor” nation and learn that material wealth is not as important as being rich in relationships.
Dr. Swartzentruber lived and worked in Indianapolis, IN for four years before going back to school. At the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Dr. Swartzentruber served as the vice president of his class and went on two international dental mission trips with Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama. He is currently a member of:
- The Alabama Dental Association, where he serves as officer in the Second District Dental Society
- The Academy of General Dentistry
- The American Academy of Facial Esthetics
He also donates his time to Donated Dental Services Alabama, part of the Dental Lifeline Network. The Swartzentrubers are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Swartzentruber has two young children, Thad and Paige. Thad loves baseball and attends Forrest Avenue Magnet School. Paige is blessed with Down’s syndrome and loves to dance to music.
Dr. Swartzentruber’s practice philosophy hinges on relationships and quality. Day-to-day decisions are made keeping these two pillars in mind. He hopes to have the opportunity to create a relationship with you and share his passion for what dentistry has to offer.