Spencer K. Wright, DMD
“The road to becoming a dentist is challenging but very rewarding.”
Coming from a family with no healthcare providers in it, Spencer K. Wright, DMD, relied on a network of dentists in his community to help him learn about the profession through hours of shadowing. It was these mentors, he said, who helped him ultimately become a dentist.
Now that he’s a practicing dentist, Wright said it’s his turn to take up the torch for the future of the field.
“The road to becoming a dentist is challenging but very rewarding,” Wright said. “Since graduating, I have always allowed undergraduate students to shadow me so I can be a mentor for students. I’ll continue to lend a helping hand to any student who needs advice and mentorship.”
Wright’s proudest accomplishment is acquiring his own dental practice in 2020.
“I always envisioned my office to not only be a place that provides healthcare in the community, but also a business that volunteers its time and resources to better the community and provides a livelihood for my employees and their families,” Wright said.
In addition to practice ownership, Wright is passionate about traveling and mission work, having served on five trips around the world dedicated to providing healthcare and basic needs to the underserved. Wright also has a minor in American Sign Language (ASL) and enjoys serving Deaf patients.
“While I am not an interpreter, being conversational in ASL helps to build rapport with Deaf patients and serve the Deaf community,” he said.
Samantha Shaver, DMD, FAGD, 2019–20 regional director of Region 6, noticed how Wright spearheaded a Kentucky AGD chapter at the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry.
“He moved to Alabama after graduation to work as an associate and was still an involved AGD member while also mentoring Deaf teens,” Shaver said. “Since he moved back to Kentucky to establish his practice, he has reestablished his ties to the Kentucky AGD. I see bright things in the future for Spencer and for AGD due to his involvement."