Dr. Bob Knudson: Your Dentist, Your Advocate

Some Things Change, But Some Things Are Better Left Alone

Growing up, my physician was Dr. John Richards. His office was just a couple of doors down from my dad’s dental practice. He wore his stethoscope and that classic round mirror with a hole in the center—something straight out of an old medical drama. He handled my vaccinations (“Isn’t there a pill for that!?”), and whenever I got sick, he prescribed what I can only describe as “green wonder” syrup. (I still suspect our pharmacist, Mr. Delany, was brewing that up from something he got from the cartels.)

Dr. John wasn’t just my doctor; he was part of our lives. There were nights he’d show up at our house, little black bag in hand, reassuring my parents that I would, in fact, survive whatever mysterious illness had suddenly worsened after office hours.

When I moved to Bellingham in 1983, I found the same kind of care in Dr. Denis Foster (one “n”). He was one of the last solo practitioners in town when he retired. My wife, Rose, and I also had Dr. Hull Cook and Dr. Steven Ban—both independent physicians who cared for our family. I remember them all being there when my daughter Kelsey was born. (“Rose, that one is not coming out, no matter how hard you squeeze.”)

But times have changed.



The Rise of Corporate Healthcare

Today, venture capital, hospitals, and insurance companies have taken over much of healthcare. The doctor-patient relationship just isn’t as personal as it used to be. Gone are the days when your doctor might show up at your door in the middle of the night. Now, you’re more likely to be seen by someone in a 20-doctor clinic, following a system designed more for efficiency than personal care.

Dentistry is heading in the same direction. Rising costs are forcing many dentists into large group practices. Private equity firms are buying up dental offices and turning them into corporate clinics. And now, in states like Washington, insurance companies are pushing for “dental therapists” with just two years of training to do fillings and extract teeth. Since detailed, high-quality fillings are one of the most precise things we do, I doubt this will go as well as they hope. But hey—it will be cheaper.



My Promise: Personal Care, Always

My point in all this? Personal care still matters. I grew up with it. I watched my father practice it. And I made a promise that I would always be that kind of doctor for my patients.

That’s why I’m moving my practice to an unrestrictive status with insurance companies. I refuse to let anyone—other than you and me—decide what level of care you receive. You deserve the best, not just what an insurance company is willing to cover.

No, I won’t be showing up on your doorstep, drill in hand, in the middle of the night. But I do want you to think of me as your dentist—someone you trust, someone who truly cares about your health, and someone who will always put you first.

He was always “Dr. John” to me.

To you, I always want to be… Dr. Bob.