“Three generations, one chair” is not mere marketing copy. It's the actual history of the dental office at 2535 Galen Drive, Anderson Dental, and it shapes our practice. So, how did we get here?
In 1961, Wells Anderson opened a dental practice in Champaign. In 1985, his son Scott joined him. In June 2016, Scott's own son, John, walked through the same doors as a newly graduated dentist, making Anderson Dental a genuine rarity in Champaign: a three-generation dental practice.
What Continuity Actually Looks Like Day-to-Day
When a practice passes from father to son, twice, what’s handed down isn't just a building or a patient list, but a shared philosophy and wisdom of care, refined and reinforced across decades. Scott Anderson grew up watching his own father practice, in a family that included dentists going back even further. That shaped his sense of what the profession should look like long before he ever picked up a tool himself.
John's path looked similar. Dentistry is also simply what he grew up with and has always enjoyed. This continuity shows up in the exam room too, where every patient can expect consistent techniques, a consistent, empathetic communication style, and, quite literally, experience treating several generations from the same families across decades. It’s not uncommon to speak with a patient at Anderson Dental whose grandparents were treated by Wells, their parents by Scott, and now their own kids by John!
In Their Own Words
Ask Scott Anderson what it's actually like working alongside his son, and the answer isn't corporate polish. "Working side by side with my son is one of the greatest blessings in my life," he says, a simple line that perfectly captures something truly special. And it's a sentiment that only means more with each passing year of work side by side (we’ll revisit the office music debates another time).
Why This Matters for Patients
For patients, this kind of multi-generational continuity translates into something concrete: continuity of care and a level of trust and accountability that's difficult to replicate in a practice that changes ownership groups or associate dentists every few years. When a family builds its reputation over 60 years in the same community, that means something. And it’s not something we treat casually.
A patient who started as a child under Wells Anderson's care, and is now bringing in grandchildren of their own, isn't navigating a rotating cast of unfamiliar providers. They're walking into a practice where the values, standards, and even the chairside manner have been passed down through love and experience. In an industry increasingly shaped by large group practices and private equity ownership, there's something genuine and genuinely different about a father and son sitting down together, most days, to treat the same families their own father and grandfather once treated.
A Practice That Grew Alongside the Community
The Anderson name has stayed the same, but the practice around it hasn't stood still. What began as a single dentist's office in 1961 has grown into an outstanding team that also includes Dr. Cesar Alburez and Dr. Joshua Koerner, expanding the range of care available while keeping the Anderson family at its core. This growth reflects something important about how the practice has approached its own legacy: honoring where it came from without freezing it in place.
Also, patients today have access to the latest technology, techniques, and a range of services that Wells Anderson could only have imagined in 1961. Of course, the underlying philosophy of treating patients like neighbors rather than appointments has been in place since Day 1.
A Full Range of Modern Dental Care, Rooted in Tradition
Even more than 60 years in, Anderson Dental remains state-of-the-art, offering a comprehensive range of services under one roof, including:
- General and family dentistry — For patients of all ages, from a child's first checkup to routine care for parents and grandparents.
- Restorative dentistry — Reinforcing and rebuilding smiles with dental implants, crowns, bridges, veneers, and full, partial, and snap-in dentures.
- Cosmetic dentistry — From veneers to teeth whitening, SureSmile® clear aligners and full smile makeovers, we are well-equipped to help you refine and rejuvenate your smile.
- Emergency dental care — For existing patients as well as those who aren't regulars at the practice, Anderson Dental provides caring same-day care for problems that just can't wait.
Our team also stays current with modern technology, from the most comfortable, precise numbing methods to the latest diagnostic tools, ensuring that decades of trust are matched by an uncompromising level of care. For patients, that means access to the full scope of modern treatment options with the personal, family-first approach that's defined the Andersons since 1961.
Experience Multi-Generational Care for Yourself
Whether you're new to Champaign or have been putting off finding a dentist your family can stick with for years, Anderson Dental offers a top-quality practice built not on continuity, community, experience, and expertise.
To see for yourself, contact Dr. Scott Anderson, Dr. John Anderson, and the welcoming and dedicated Anderson Dental team today to schedule a visit!