Dentist celebrates 100th Birthday

Friday, February 16, 2007

Dr. Arthur Victor has certainly seen alot of changes in dentistry since 1929 - the year he graduated from University of Michigan's School of Dentistry. Dr. Victor just celebrated his 100th birthday on February 14th.

He doesn't see patients as often as he once did, but turning 100 years old is a source of pride, he said. A lifelong passion for physical fitness is what Victor claims he owes his longevity to. He recently renewed his dental license.

"Dentistry will always be exciting," Victor said. "It sure is great profession."

In October 2006, Dr. Victor received commendations from the American Dental Association, the Michigan Dental Association and his alma mater honoring him for his 77 years of service.

Dr. Victor said he became a dentist because his mother "wanted me to be in a place where I was the boss."

Setting up his practice in 1929 in Detroit, and later became an Army captain and dentist in World War II before returning to private practice — this time in Roseville, Michigan. Although his son, Dr. Dean Victor now runs the practice, Dr. Arthur still consults, and still sees patients on occasion -— usually by request.

In 1964, Dr. Victor received recognition for creating a "tooth library" - different arrangements of wax teeth that were copies of natural teeth, that could be inserted onto baseplates. When an arrangement was selected for a particular patient, permanent denture teeth were then custom-processed to replace them on the resulting denture.

Dr. Victor has three other sons, one of whom is a retired dentist, and seven grandchildren.

"He really amazes me," Dr. Dean Victor said of his dad's longevity and sharp mind.