Erickson retires after 50 years

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
Dr. Wayne Erickson said that after 48 years in dentistry, it’s about time to “pass the torch on to the younger generation.” Erickson officially retired at the end of September from dentistry. In leaving his local practice, Erickson Family Dental, vacant, his many loyal patients, both local and distant, have been sad to see him retire. However, Erickson leaves quite the legacy of quality and personal dental care. 
Erickson was born in Afton, Wyoming, attending school there through high school and graduating in 1961. After high school, Erickson joined the Wyoming National Guard and was deployed when the Berlin Wall was built. 
After his deployment ended, he spent over two years on a mission in France and Belgium with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Erickson learned French through that experience and even later taught it at Newcastle High School in an early morning class. 
After his overseas mission, Erickson met the love of his life and Canada native, Suzanne, in the fall of 1965 in Provo, Utah. By the next spring, the couple had tied the knot. 
“I was the first girl he ever kissed at the age of 23,” Suzanne said, with a smile. 
“Except my mom,” Erickson clarified. “I was a timid boy from Star Valley, Wyoming.” 
Erickson started his undergraduate work at Brigham Young University in Provo and, after only two and a half years, was accepted into dental school in Chicago in 1968. He graduated from Loyola Dental School in 1972. However, Erickson also wanted his Bachelor of Science, so he attended night school in Chicago while there for dental school, earning his degree two weeks before he graduated from dental school. 
After his graduation, Erickson and Suzanne headed to Riverton, Wyoming, to stay with his brother until he decided where he was going to practice. Erickson took the dental boards in South Dakota and Wyoming in order to be licensed in both states.
On his way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to take his test there,
he stopped in Newcastle, where he ran into Dr. Ron Custis.
Custis told Erickson that Newcastle needed another dentist. So, the Ericksons thought about it and decided to start a practice in Newcastle. 
“It was Dr. Custis that talked us into it,” Suzanne said. 
Thus, Erickson Family Dental opened its doors in 1972. Erickson even had his own dental laboratory where he made his own crowns, appliances, etc., because he had been taught that in dental school. 
“I wanted to help people. I knew I was a good dentist,” Erickson said. 
Erickson told the News Letter Journal that dentistry has changed enormously through the years, from new and improved ways of doing procedures to specialization of the various fields of dentistry, such as oral surgery and orthodontics. 
It was always important to Erickson to keep up with the changes. For many years, Erickson’s practice was multifaceted, and he performed procedures from root canals to dentures to oral surgery. Over time, with the increase in specializations, he said, he referred patients to the proper specialists for their best care. 
“Everything he’s done over the years is what he thought was best for the patient,” Suzanne said. 
Erickson has worked diligently to be the best dentist he can be, he said, and his patients are like family to him, and he was always willing to be available at any time for his patients. 
“It’s very fulfilling,” he said. He has patients from within a 100-mile radius in every direction, he said. 
Erickson has a keen interest in the future of dentistry and in the next generation of those interested in the dental field. According to Suzanne, Erickson personally trained most of his assistants. 
In addition, Erickson has handed his interest and talent for dentistry down to a few of his sons. Joshua is a pediatric orthodontist in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Adam operates a dental lab out of his office. Aaron is a general dentist in Gillette. 
“I feel like I’ve duplicated myself quite a few times,” Erickson joked. He and Suzanne have six children — Jason, Afton, Joshua, Jaremy, Adam and Aaron. 
Now that Erickson is retired, he said he is excited to have more time to devote to his hobbies, such as hunting, fishing and gardening. He also has an interest in ham radio, ammunition reloading and researching family genealogy. 
This new chapter is bittersweet for the Ericksons, the couple said, because they will miss their patients and workers. 
“The patients have been really loyal,” Suzanne said. “They’re part of our family.” 
“I’d like to thank all my former employees over the years that have helped make our practice successful and rewarding,” Erickson added.