Meet Your Provider: Dr. Kristopher Alpers

Read the full interview with Dr. Kristopher Alpers below!

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Q: Where are you from?

A: I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a great place to grow up as a kid. The unfortunate thing is I never really got into winter sports, so I knew I was destined to live in a warmer climate.

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Q: Who have been the most influential people in your life?

A: One of the most influential people growing up in my life was my mother. She was a single mother after my father passed away, and she raised both my sister and me. I admire how she worked hard to provide for us and did it all on her own.

The other really influential person in my life was Chris Carr. He was a mentor, a coach and a trainer for basketball. He was a former NBA player that essentially took me under his wing. I didn't really deserve it, and it's pretty amazing to look back and realize how he poured into a young kid like me. He helped me advance in basketball, and I was able to eventually earn a college scholarship. Without him, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today.

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Q: Where did you meet your wife?

A: I met my wife, Kelly, in high school at the very end of our senior year. She was in my Physics class, and I mustered up the courage to ask her to prom. I think she said yes to just so she could have a tall date to prom. (She's 6'2".) But regardless, she said yes. We really hit it off, and she couldn't get away from me ever since then!

We moved to Arizona in 2014, and we've owned the dental practice since 2018. It's special to be able to be on this journey with my best friend by my side. We have two little boys, and they are so much fun. There's nothing like watching them grow up.

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Q: You mentioned a college scholarship. Where did you go to school?

A: I spent my first year at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where I played Division I basketball. After my first year, I transferred to Michigan Technological University - not coincidentally where my girlfriend (now wife) went to college - and I played on their Division II basketball team there. I received my dental education and training at Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kelly and I loved Milwaukee, and it was fun to be near fellow Packers fans. It was a blast going to Brewers games at Miller Park, and we were even able to catch a couple of Packers games at Lambeau.

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Q: What prompted you to move to Arizona?

A: When I graduated dental school, I had to think about where I ultimately wanted to practice. Kelly and I decided to make the move to Scottsdale. I had grown up visiting my grandparents, who lived in Paradise Valley for many years, and I always loved visiting here. We love living here, and we are here to stay!

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Q: You mentioned your height. Inquiring minds want to know.... how tall are you?

A: I get this question all the time! I'm 6'9". I don't look as big to patients when I'm sitting down in my stool across from them, but I do shock people sometimes when I walk into the room. So rest assured, it's not just an optical illusion; I am 6’9”.

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Q: What inspired you to become a dentist?

A: Growing up, I kind of always knew I wanted to be in medicine. After exploring a couple of different career paths within the field, I eventually landed on dentistry. I loved the combination of being able to work with your hands and also interact with patients. Dentistry also involves a lot of artistry, and the fact that I could own my own business really appealed to me. To top it off, I'm passionate about mentoring and pouring into others, so being able to build a team and also coach and mentor them really ended up translating to dentistry being the perfect fit for me.

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Q: What do you love about being a dentist?

A: My favorite things about being a dentist are being able to form relationships and help people take care of themselves. Some patients come to us with pain, we're able to get quickly get them out of pain. Some people aren't confident with their smile, we're able to help them through that and help them achieve their dream smile.

The other really rewarding thing is when somebody is fearful or uncomfortable, and we're able to be really gentle and work them through it. When we hear a patients say that they used to be so afraid of the dentist but now actually enjoy visiting us, it's incredible. We know going to the dentist isn't everybody's favorite thing, but we really strive to provide the best experience for all of our patients.

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Q: What is your approach to dentistry?

A: When I first started practicing in the field, I was amazed at how inefficient and clunky it was for a patient to get the care they need. The process, in general, is not as streamlined as it should be. A patient can go to a general dentist and then be referred to multiple specialists, who never talk to each other or really take a "big picture" approach to what the patient needs. I felt compelled to do something about that and bring all of the latest cosmetic techniques under one roof.

Our office takes a more efficient approach to all of that, which ultimately provides the patient with a better experience. We are able to do dental implants, cosmetic improvements like veneers and Invisalign, and more - all within our practice. Of course, there are certain situations where we refer to other specialists. But in those cases, not only do we work with trusted partners who perform high-quality work, but we also champion the process for the patient so they stay well informed and have an active role in their treatment plan.

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Q: How do you stay on top of the latest techniques in dentistry?

A: We focus on ongoing Continued Education and training - not just with advancing our clinical skills and techniques, but also in areas like bettering the patient experience, collaborating well as a team, and growing as leaders. All of this translates to our patients walking out of our office with an unparalleled experience, knowing they received the best possible care and quality.

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