“I think it would surprise people how much art goes into dentistry,” says Dr. Benjamin T. “Tom” Watson, DDS, MAGD, now in his 41st year of practicing dentistry. Following dental school at the Medical College of Virginia, Watson began his work in Denbigh in 1983, later moving to Oyster Point Center. In 1998, Watson’s own practice moved to Thimble Shoals Boulevard.
Patrick A. Watson, DMD, MA, Watson’s son, joined the practice in 2021. Working together as father and son was a welcome adjustment for the elder Watson, who remembers working independently for years. “Now, I can’t imagine it any other way,” he says with a smile. Son Patrick agrees that the transition has been good.
This dental office provides patients with many dental care options, including cosmetic work, dentures and sports dentistry. The inclusion of a second dentist brings a sense of additional expertise.
“My dental school experience was vastly different,” Patrick recalls, contrasting his with his father’s. He graduated from Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine, where he received an Excellence in Patient Care Award. “Dentistry has changed so much,” Patrick says.
“By far, the younger ones [are] a lot better in technology,” Tom says regarding their generational dental school differences. “When I went to dental school, we didn’t have computers.” Watson was honored with two continuing educational awards by the Academy of General Dentistry: the Fellowship Award and the Mastership Award.
Now, both father and son agree that the landscape surrounding up-and-coming dental care continues to change rapidly. Patrick says that in the last 10 years, technology has moved ahead, leading the way to the goal of more efficient and effective dental care. Though there are concerning aspects of artificial intelligence, “AI is going to be making major leaps in the future in a lot of good ways, too,” he says.
“It’s moving so quickly,” Tom says. “Things are obsolete so fast.”
What isn’t obsolete, though, is the necessity for exceptional dentists who truly care about their craft. “Patients are unaware of what we like to do the most, and what goes into a lot of it. There is truly an art to dentistry.”
The younger Watson agrees. “It’s not just drilling and filling teeth,” he says, emphasizing the hands-on application of the industry.
Tom enjoys assisting patients with concerns for a better smile and the satisfying process of designing the smile of their dreams. He even has longtime patients who he first saw as children, now returning to the practice seeking care for their own children. Patrick appreciates the instant validation of cosmetic cases and getting patients comfortable to ensure quality dental care and a positive experience.
The Drs. Watson highlighted the gap between medical and dental care, emphasizing the need to recognize how interconnected they are. “The mouth is the gateway to everything, and there are a lot of signs and symptoms you can see just from the tell-tale signs of the mouth,” says Patrick.
Beyond their commitment to the wide world of dentistry, the Watsons make time for family and hobbies.
“My wife and I like spending time with our dogs, and I’m a big fan of movies,” says Patrick. Tom also enjoys watching movies as well as the outdoors and visiting with friends.
Sometimes, patients leave the Watsons’ dental office in happy tears because they’re so pleased with their results. “That’s when you know you did something good,” Tom says with a smile.
TO THE POINT:
Benjamin T. “Tom” Watson, DDS, PLC
Address: 729 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. 7E, Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: 757-873-3322
Email: drwatson@dr-watson.com
Website: www.dentistsnewportnews.com, www.dr-watson.com
