Dan Fong is known for being at the right place at the right time.
In 1972, he never intended to land a gig catering a Rolling Stones party. He never set a goal to become tour chef and photographer for the Doobie Brothers. Having his photos serve as cover art for 10 rock albums was not part of any grand plan.
Fong is someone who meets life as it comes.
“I’ve just always taken advantage of the opportunities as they were presented to me,” Fong said.
Recently, the 76-year-old counts being a satisfied patient in the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU SDM) Senior & Special Care Clinic as part of his cosmic flow.
“The universe always takes care of me,” he said. “And that includes getting my teeth fixed at CU.”
Post-pandemic dental woes
Fong had a dental procedure at a private practice just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The procedure didn’t go well.
“Everything shut down, and I couldn’t go see a dentist. So for a year I didn’t see one,” he said. “Basically my teeth were falling out and I was like, ‘What am I going to do?’”
After the lockdowns were lifted, Fong took to the internet to find a new dentist. He got an appointment with one that had great reviews. After taking X-rays, a staff member gave him an estimate for the work that needed to be done.
It would cost Fong $28,000.
He tried two more providers. They were less expensive but not by much.
“I figured I was just going to have to live the rest of my life without teeth.”
By this point, he was getting used to it. Fong had even given a talk at CU Boulder about his life’s work photographing rock legends like The Grateful Dead, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. It’s an exciting time for the CU Boulder grad, as his historic collection is the cornerstone of the library’s new Counter Culture archive and features many of his unpublished works.
Fong has a great sense of humor but admits it was embarrassing to not have all his teeth.
“It’s definitely something you think about, all the time,” he said, laughing. “Girls like you with teeth.”
Soon, Fong’s universe stepped in. This time through his brother, who recommended he make an appointment with the CU School of Dental Medicine.
Next-level care for a complicated case
Fong became a patient in the Senior & Special Care Clinic (SSCC), which provides comprehensive care for seniors ages 65+ and patients 16+ who have cognitive, developmental, medical, and physical conditions that may limit their ability to receive routine dental care. The SSCC gives dental students hands-on education under the guidance of faculty experts.
Fong's dental care was made affordable because he qualified for Senior Smiles, a state-funded program that helps people who are 60 and older with dental costs.
From day one, Fong was in awe of the level of care he received.
“When I went in for my initial examination, it took three hours. I've never been so thoroughly examined in my entire life. They told me stuff about my mouth I didn't know—and nobody had ever told me for 75 years.”
Fong needed a lot of care, including surgeries. It wasn’t his idea of a good time. At one point, he felt discouraged about the level of surgery he needed to get his dentures. He told the team he’d live with bad teeth and wouldn’t be coming back to the clinic.
But Associate Professor Sarah Dirks, DDS, helped him through it. Together, they came up with another plan for surgery that would make him more comfortable.
Fong also appreciated seeing student provider Lauren Wipf, DDS ’24. He was especially impressed by her motivations for being a dentist.
“She's interested in serving the unhoused and people who don’t have money,” he said, explaining how he learned that all CU Dental students spend time in the community working with patients who can’t afford to see a dentist.
After a nine-month journey, Fong’s back in business with a new set of dentures. He’s working on some new creative projects and is ready to be out in the world with the smile he deserves. He’s grateful to CU Dental for getting him through a rough patch in his extraordinary life.
“You know, you just stay positive about things. And eventually things start to happen. You’re in the right place. You find the right people. That’s the way my life has always been.”
The Senior & Special Care Clinic provides dental services to patients in Aurora and the surrounding communities. To become a patient, call 303-724-6951.
Header image, left to right: Sarah Dirks, DDS, Dan Fong and Lauren Wipf, DDS '24, in the CU Dental Senior & Special Care Clinic.
