Type of business: Dental office

Location: 1520 Fulkerth Rd.

Contact information: 209-634-8800

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Specialty: Cosmetic dental procedures

History of business:

If you would have asked a young Dr. Surjit Chahal what he wanted to be when he grew up, he most likely would have told you that he envisioned his older self as a fighter pilot. Now, Chahal is grown up, but instead of fighting other planes in the sky, he is waging a war against plaque, cavities and crooked smiles right here in Turlock at American Family Dentistry.

Chahal’s practice began 20 years ago, when American Family Dentistry was located on Geer Road. But, with just five chairs and little room for technological advances, Chahal and his team moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility on Fulkerth Road last year, and recently celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Turlock Chamber of Commerce.

Not only does Chahal’s new location offer twice the number of chairs for patients, but it also has allowed American Family Dentistry to offer services that only high-tech techniques and equipment can provide, such as digital x-rays, which expose patients to 90 percent less radiation than film, intra oral cameras, computerized anesthesia and multiple dental lasers, which can treat cavities and perform small tissue procedures without the use of surgical instruments.

“It’s a night and day difference, and it’s way more rewarding because the patient is not in as much pain,” said Chahal. “You just go in with the guide and you can do a whole procedure with way less surgery.”

Chahal specializes in cosmetic procedures, such as complete smile makeovers, braces, and implant dentistry. He often corrects everyday problems that can affect a person’s smile, like crooked, chipped or missing teeth, gaps, and discolored or stained teeth. Having such a great impact on one of the first facial features we notice is a gratifying occupation, he said.

“When you change a person’s teeth and they look good, they can get more self-confidence,” said Chahal. “People aren’t that appreciative when you pull out their teeth, but if you give them a nice smile, they bring you a lot more gifts.”

Chahal’s gift for helping the Turlock community smile also runs in the family, as his two children are getting ready to finish dental school. By the time the pair embark on their journeys as dentists, Chahal hopes that there is even more technology for them to work with.

“Dentistry has been changing, and hopefully it will keep changing,” he said.