Keep on smiling: Longtime Clemmons dentist calls it a career

By Christian Simmons

For the Clemmons Courier

CLEMMONS — Dr. Paul Nifong Jr., a local dentist, has served his community for many years. Now the time has come to say goodbye to his practice to be closer to his family.

Early in his life, Nifong lived in Chapel Hill.

“Some of my first memories in life were in Chapel Hill, where the married dental students lived in Victory Village,” Nifong said. “They were small single family rental houses across the street from the dental school. All my friends and their fathers were also married dental students. When I needed any dental care, my father would take me across the street and he would practice on me.”

This father-son combo soon developed into a father-son dental practice.

However, oddly enough, the father wasn’t the one that encouraged Nifong to pursue dentistry alongside his father.

It was the mother.

“My father never encouraged or discouraged my interest in dentistry,” Nifong said. “It was my mother who suggested that I go spend my summer between and ninth and 10th grade working as one of his dental assistant. To see if I might be interested in dentistry as a career.”

As a teenager, he caught his first glimpse into the industry.

“I was 15 years old. I was able to see first hand what was involved with practicing dentistry,” Nifong said. “The decision to go to dental school was mine. It was not until dental school that I realized just how difficult it was to practice. Watching was one thing and doing it was another. In 1978, starting a practice from the ground up and working with him in the same office was a great learning experience on many aspects of the practice.”

Things weren’t all “peachy-keen” for Nifong.

Some of the “great learning experiences” did come with their own share of troubles and struggles.

“You make minor mistakes, but you learn from them,” Nifong said. “I was very willing to learn and he was ready to teach. He also had been my junior and senior high Sunday school teacher. So we got along very well. I felt very blessed to have practiced together for 28 years.”

Through the many advances in the dental industry, Nifong and his father kept serving their community with a smile. Giving each customer the care and attention they came to expect out of their practice.

And, deep down, Nifong wouldn’t trade any moment of it for anything.

“There have been many changes and improvements in all the specialties of dentistry,” Nifong said. “The list of i mprovements are long: materials, dental implants and dental techniques.”

While the changes have improved the field’s efficacy, it has still taken its toll on Nifong.

“Dentistry is physically and mentally demanding but most jobs are after 46 years,” Nifong said. “The stress and strain of working begins to affect one’s body and mind. I still love dentistry especially with my staff and my patients. I learned a lot in life listening to others and it has made practicing very interesting. Never a dull day.”

Nifong enjoyed it all through his practice — the ups, as well as the downs, but time passed on, and soon, he decided that it was time to retire.

“I am retiring in order to spend more time with my devoted wife, Melissa, family and friends,” Nifong said. “I wanted to leave my practice, patients, and staffs with someone who could do it better with new ways and more energy. I have been told by friends and retired patients that I will be so busy with many other interests from ‘A to Z’.”

Upon retiring, Nifong left the practice in the capable hands of Dr. David Hong.

“I feel blessed that Dr. David Hong and I found each other and I know that my practice will be in good hands,” Nifong said. “He will be my dentist. He will have his own website and the office telephone number will be the same: 336-766-6457. I wish the very best and many blessings for him and his family. I want to thank all my patients for putting their dental care and trust in me. My goal was to serve you well.”

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