April 18, 2024

The Dental Practice celebrates 30th anniversary with ‘Movie Under the Stars’

By Kate Malott

Dr. Steven Rabedeaux stands next to his practice’s sign on 1919 First Ave. E. in Newton. Rabedeaux has expanded his business and grown his staff from five to 14 individuals. He celebrates 30 years of dentistry this month and is hosting a “Movie Under the Stars” at 9:30 p.m. Monday at Maytag Park. This event is free and open to the public. (Kate Malott)

Dr. Steven Rabedeaux and his staff at The Dental Practice want to thank his patients and the community for 30 years of support as he celebrates his 30th anniversary of dentistry this month. To do so, he organized a “Movie Under the Stars” beginning at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Maytag Park.

TDP has created a unique and fun celebration that will include games and a barbecue for patients and their families from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited at 8 p.m. for cotton candy, popcorn, bottled water, prizes and a showing of “The LEGO Movie.” The movie will be projected at dusk at the Maytag Bowl.

“One of our core values is to be an asset to the community, and it seemed relevant to use the 30-year mark to say thank you. Thank you for making us an important part of the community and for supporting the practice for the last 30 years,” Rabedeaux said.

As TDP staff have given to the community in various ways, the community has given back to them as well. The Newton Parks Department donated its facilities in support of the TDP as well as to encourage usage of local parks.

“One of the long-term goals for the parks is to host more programs and events. With limited funds, we have to look for partners to be able to do this. When Dr. Rabedeaux approached us to host a movie in the park, we could not pass up the opportunity. The staff at The Dental Practice have been great to work with on this project,” Administrative Park Superintendent City of Newton Nathan Unsworth said. “We are all very excited about this fun community event in Maytag Park.”

In 1984, Rabedeaux earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and began working with his father, Richard, at his practice on North Second Avenue in Newton. He started learning about dental procedures from an early age and has continued his education throughout the last 30 years.

Rabedeaux is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, which is an organization has been recognized by general dentists as a leader in the importance of continuing dental education above the standard.

He accomplished not only a fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry but earned the Mastership Award as well. Only between 1 to 2 percent of all dentists in North America achieve the master level of dentistry.

Within the AGD, Rabedeaux studied and completed both fellowship and mastership programs alongside longtime friend and fellow dentist Dr. Robert Hurley from Council Bluffs.

“Steve is an exemplary dentist because he has integrity, mastership training, is a visionary in the application of his construction skill sets to dentistry. He understood how and why things work more than the average dental student. The main thing might be is he loves to help people,” Hurley said.

Rabedeaux practices daily devotion, is passionate about and motivated by his family, and he loves his job still today. He enjoys the cosmetic challenges but most importantly the satisfaction from making a patient’s day — seeing them leave with a smile on their face.

“The most fun thing is the impact to be able to change people’s lives,” Rabedeaux said.

Whether it’s an ordinary teeth clean or an emergency surgery, he strives to relieve any possible anxiety, worry or concern a patient might face with enthusiasm and experience.

Rabedeaux doesn’t measure himself by what other dentists are doing or what the average American dentist is doing. He cares most about his personal potential and meeting patients needs. What’s important is that he makes the most of each day, helping patients in the best way he knows how.

“At The Dental Practice, we work as a team toward one common goal: helping people feel good about their smile. It is a great feeling when a patient says, ‘I’m not apprehensive to smile anymore.’ That is a wow moment. We have made a difference in their life. Our motto is ‘Service, Solutions and Your Smile,’ and I really feel that describes our office,” TDP Office Manager Tonia Montgomery said.

The staff at TDP look forward to Friday’s celebration and encourage all their patients, families and the community to join them for a popcorn and a movie.

“The evening is all about thanking our patients and the citizens of Newton and Jasper County. Our patients and the city have put their trust in Dr. Rabedeaux and our staff for 30 years and we want to say thank you and we look forward to many more years,” Montgomery said.