Three generations of over-achievers—all in the field of dentistry—are members of one family: the Nelsons of Redding, California.

Our story begins with Dr. Leon Nelson, a practicing dentist for 44 years prior to his retirement in 2003. With accomplishments that include being the founder of Nova Dental Supply and creator of its Dent-Award and Medic-Award Badges (for which he coined slogans such as “Clean Teeth Taste Good!” “We Cater to Cowards!” and “Happiness is No Cavities!”), publishing the first book on cosmetic dentistry (“The Bonding Book”), and holding leadership positions in numerous dental associations, Dr. Leon sites his proudest achievement in dentistry as something different: “Clearly, having my son, Mike, choose dentistry for his career, and then want to practice in close association with me.”

Shortly after Mike became the second Nelson to graduate from the University of the Pacific’s dental school in 1981, he and his father embarked on a “solo-group” practice, the space-sharing arrangement promoted by their good friend, Jim Pride. As two of the earliest clients of Dr. Pride’s Pacific Institute, and later of its successor, Pride Institute, this father and son worked extremely well together. In 1990, they moved across the street to a new, larger location, one that was featured on the cover of “Dental Economics.” As Mike recalls, “My dad and I worked alongside each other for 20 years, and to this day, we still love doing things together.” 

That had to serve as a role model for the latest in the Nelson clan of dental incredibles, Mike’s son, Chris. After attending Shasta High School, and graduating from the University of California, Davis, Chris accepted an offer to attend—you guessed it—the alma mater of his father and grandfather, now called the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.

In addition to spending Friday's at the office with Dr. Mike and the team, Dr. Chris is the full-time dental director at Hill Country Health and Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Round Mountain.  At Hill Country, Dr. Chris serves the community and continues the focus on quality inspired by his father and grandfather.