A letter from Dr. Holyoak on 50 years caring for Sun City

The following is a personal reflection from Dr. Robert Holyoak, who has been practicing dentistry in the Sun City and Peoria community since 1976.

I opened my dental practice on Thunderbird Road in 1976. Sun City was still pretty new back then, full of retirees who had moved out from all over the country to enjoy the Arizona sunshine. I was a young dentist fresh out of school, and most of my first patients were decades older than I was. They taught me more about patience, compassion, and honest communication than any textbook ever did.

What has changed in dentistry since 1976?

Almost all of the tools, and very little of the relationship. X-rays were on film, drills were slower and noisier, and anesthesia was hit or miss. A lot of patients came in carrying painful memories from earlier visits.

I figured that out quickly, and I made a commitment early on to make the experience as comfortable as possible, even when the tools we had were limited. The tools today are remarkable. Digital X-rays give us clear images in seconds with a fraction of the radiation. Crowns, fillings, and dentures are stronger and more natural looking than anything we had decades ago. Implants, which were not really a practical option when I started, have changed how we help patients who have lost teeth.

What has stayed the same?

The foundation of good dental care has not moved much. It still comes down to listening to the person in front of you, treating them with respect, and being honest about what they need.

The thing I am proudest of after 50 years is the relationships. Some of my earliest patients are still coming in to see me, or they were until they could not anymore. I have cared for husbands and wives and then continued caring for the one who was left behind. I have watched patients through health scares, medication changes, and the natural transitions that come with aging.

When you see someone every six months for 20 or 30 years, you know them. You remember what their mouth looked like the first time they walked in. You notice small changes a new dentist would never pick up on. That kind of continuity is the single most valuable thing a dentist can offer, and it is something corporate chains, with their rotating staff, really struggle to provide.

Why am I still practicing?

Because the work still feels meaningful. People ask me why I have not retired yet, and the honest answer is that every day I get to help people eat more comfortably, smile more confidently, and feel better about their health. That does not get old.

I am also grateful to work alongside Dr. Lisa Kubik, who shares my commitment to honest, personal care and brings her own skill and warmth to every patient she sees. We see patients side by side, and knowing this practice will keep serving the community gives me real peace of mind.

What would I say to the people of Sun City?

Thank you, and we are not going anywhere. To the patients who have trusted me with their care over the years, some for decades, you have given me a career I love and a purpose that gets me up in the morning. To those of you I have not met yet, I hope you will give us a chance to earn that trust too.

Copper Sky Dental is locally owned, community rooted, and committed to being here for the people of Sun City, Peoria, Sun City West, and the rest of the West Valley for years to come. If you are in Sun City West and weighing where to settle in for the long haul, our piece on what Sun City West patients look for in a dentist may help.

Dr. Robert Holyoak

You can read more about our practice, or give us a call at (623) 933-8410 or contact us online whenever you are ready to visit.