Dr. Fred Hepp

General Dentist

CHANGING LIVES, ONE PERSON AT A TIME

I was initially drawn to dentistry by the combination of science, medicine, design and artistry that it requires. What I hadn’t expected was how much the personal connections that I have established with my patients would mean to me. It’s these connections that have helped me grow as a person, and as a dentist, in so many ways.

I value the time that I get to spend with each patient and what they share with me. Our conversations, as they tell me about their lives and experiences, broaden my world and give me new things to think about. I’m not sure if my patients realize how much they teach me!

Whether I am providing a regular checkup, restoring dental function, or making a great smile a little brighter, my attention is always on the person before me. Every patient has unique dental needs and goals for treatment results. My responsibility is to understand their desires and concerns and to design and execute a treatment solution that achieves
those goals. My goal is to always deliver results that have my patients smiling!

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Santa Barbara High School, 1983
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology – UC Santa Barbara, 1987
  • Doctorate of Dental Surgery – 1991

What is amazing about dentistry is the constant development of new approaches, materials and technological innovations. The field has undergone remarkable changes since I started practicing in Santa Barbara in 1992. For patients this means more effective, efficient and comfortable procedures as well as better longevity of the work we do.

I keep abreast of new treatment options through participation in the Santa Barbara Study Club, where I learn with and from my peers and from oral healthcare specialists. I am also a member of the California Dental Association and the Santa Barbara-Ventura County Dental Society.

Through these organizations, I attend meetings, lectures and seminars. I also read their many publications to stay current on research findings and therapeutic discussions.

BEYOND THE PRACTICE

I am a fourth generation native of Santa Barbara. I grew up here on the Mesa and returned home after I finished dental school.

My wife, Jill, and my kids, Henry and Anna, though now grown, are my priority outside the office. I love going surfing with my son and daughter, doing gardening projects at home and the office, and going fishing, diving and surfing at the islands. I hope to travel and sail to more surfing destinations in the future.