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Western Springs dentist also rocks
Dr. Patrick Pendleton works on patient Niamh Griffin of Western Springs at his office. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Drilling deeper
Firm: Patrick C. Pendleton, DDS
Address: 604 Hillgrove Ave., Western Springs
Specialty: Family dentistry
Contact: (708) 246-2405, www.drumdoc.net
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Updated: December 12, 2012 7:56AM
WESTERN SPRINGS — Chris O’Hea knew his boss was coming into town.
What he didn’t know is that on the flight from Denver to Chicago, the executive would develop a killer toothache.
“He asked me for help. I called Dr. (Patrick) Pendleton and he was able to get my boss in after hours,” said O’Hea, a resident of LaGrange Park. “And one of Dr. Pendleton’s assistants stuck around. Dr. Pendleton was in the chair an extra 1 1/2 hours. He went the extra mile.”
Going the extra mile has seen Pendleton’s Western Springs practice reach 1,200 patients and created a need for more space. When the opportunity arose to get a bigger space just around the corner from his practice, Pendleton jumped at the chance and moved last month.
The move allowed Pendleton’s practice to go from 650 square feet to double that space.
It was the summer before his junior year at Albion College that Pendleton got the aha moment that pointed him toward a career in dentistry. Always interested in science, Pendleton was not sure what career path he wanted to take. A dentist in his hometown of Battle Creek, Mich. told Pendleton he was welcome to spend time with the dentist in his practice that summer.
Pendleton, who has had his own practice for the past 13 years, said he and his staff take time with patients, addressing their complete oral health.
He said the rate at which some other dentists go through patients in a day can be a cause for concern.
“I am not saying that quality dental work was not done,” Pendleton said. “I just work with one patient at a time. I will spend extra time with that person.”
That extra time is noted. Mary Carol Racelis of La Grange, who, along with her three kids, has been going to Pendleton for 10 years, said Pendleton provides “the perfect blend of professionalism and warmth. He takes the time to explain things to you.”
She said because of Pendleton’s demeanor, all three of her children, ranging in age from 11 to 17,actually look forward to going to the dentist.
“He’s hip. He knows what to talk to them about,” Racelis said.
One of the things that Pendleton will talk to teens about, as well as any other patient who will listen, is his passion for music.
Pendleton, who plays WXRT on his office sound system, plays the drums in a band. The website for his practice is www.drumdoc.net and has sketch art of Pendleton behind a drum set holding a pair of toothbrushes as drumsticks.
Pendleton started with piano at the age 7 when his mom put him in lessons. When he reached junior high, he transitioned to drums.
His band has performed throughout the Chicago area.
“It’s another skill where I can use my hands,” Pendleton said. “I love it.”
When asked whether his daughters, Kierstin, 7, and Kayleigh, 3, think it is cooler that dad is a dentist or a drummer, Pendleton said the girls are split. Kierstin “enjoys coming to the office and seeing what I do,” Pendleton said, while “Kayleigh is wanting her own drum set.”
