Aurora Dentist - Neal Engel, DDS - Aurora, CO
My name is Neal Engel. I am a general dentist in Aurora, Colorado. I am the second child of five "Engel Kids" raised by my parents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I did both my undergraduate and dental school training at the University of Minnesota. I am proud of my education at Minnesota. Even today, the dental school is regarded as one of the best in the country. I ended up in dentistry because it is the perfect blend of art and science, both of which I love. It also allows me to be of service to my fellow man.
I practiced in the Minneapolis area for 4 years both in community health and private practice settings. My first job was treating kids in a dental clinic in an elementary school. It was the only one of its kind in Minnesota at the time. It was very fulfilling for me because I have always enjoyed treating children.
After I met and married my wife, Jean, we decided to move to beautiful Colorado. We are both avid outdoors people and love to ski, hike, run, bike and play golf. We also liked the fact that Colorado has over 300 "sunny" days a year and doesn't have a 6 month winter. I started my private practice in Aurora in 1981, knowing only 2 other people in Colorado, having no family here and no patients. It was a little scary at first.
I have been a long-time physical fitness buff. I started in dental school when a classmate of mine got me into running to relieve the stress of the arduous curriculum. I have continued with it since and have run 9 marathons. The culmination was when I did the Boston Marathon where I had a P.R. (personal record). Jean also ran Boston and I had made a promise to her that if I did well, I would retire from marathoning. So, as it turns out, I retired at the top. I still try to work out 5 to 6 days a week.
I have been involved in organized dentistry for a long time. Since Jean and I love to travel, we decided to make it a habit of attending the American Dental Association's annual meeting most every year. I think we've attended 25 out of the last 27 years. I, also, have volunteered at the local level and done various jobs for the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society.
I served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Prosthodontic Society, a long-standing continuing education club whose meetings I attend regularly. I held the position of president in the 2002-2003 year. I am a fellow of the International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy and was just recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Dentists, a national honorary dental organization recognizing dentists for their ethics, professionalism and leadership. This year I was selected by my peers to be included in the database of "topDentists" in the state of Colorado as seen in Denver's 5280 Magazine.
One of my other loves is music, both playing it and listening to it. I have played the piano since the age of 5 and, in addition, taught myself to play the guitar, mandolin and accordian. If you want to get me to light up, bring up your love of music.
I can't imagine anything I like more than being a dentist, but if dentistry wasn't in my future, I probably would have been a teacher at the high school or college level. Dentistry and teaching both involve helping, motivating, educating and striving for excellence.
My staff and I are fortunate to be able to treat a wide variety of patients young and old, but the patients that stand out in my mind are the ones that value having a healthy, comfortable and beautiful smile for a lifetime. I still get a warm feeling in my heart when patients tell me how special they feel when they are treated in our office. I love to hear our patients tell us how wonderful, kind and caring our entire team is and how professionally they have been treated in all aspects of their visit with us.
So that is my story. We are always accepting new patients and I would be honored if you would allow me the opportunity to be your dentist and to improve the quality of your life for years to come.