Get To Know Dr. Torres

I prefer to be called Chris, by the way.

I moved to Lakeport after serving in the US Army for 8 years. I am married to my beautiful wife Hope and we have 3 amazingly energetic boys.

I was born in a little Indian village called Santiago Asuncion in Oaxaca, Mexico. I grew up speaking three languages: English, Spanish, and Mixtec. I am most comfortable speaking English and Mixtec. If you are wondering if Spanish sounds different from Mixtec, the answer is yes. Mixtec sounds a lot like Chinese Mandarin. In fact, if I were to plug my nose, I wouldn't be able to make any sounds. The sounds are primarily nasal. In Mixtec, it matters how you pronounce everything. The same word could mean many things depending on how you say it.

I grew up in Fresno, CA and worked alongside my parents picking a variety of fruit in California, Oregon, and Washington from the age of 7- 17. I learned to enjoy work and enjoyed working in the outdoors. Ah, fresh air is so nice.

At home I enjoy gardening, walking, church activities, photography, and playing musical instruments. At my church I enjoy singing and playing the piano. Lately, I'm getting into cabinetry and woodworking. I think I just found my favorite hobby. Or maybe I just enjoy collecting cool shop tools. hmm.

Now, if you really want to, you can scroll further down and learn more about my professional background and my military experiences. But only if you really want to.

My educational background

This part is a little boring. It's best read when trying to fall asleep. Or with a cup of coffee. LOL.

Education

College: Pacific Union College, Bachelors in Interior Design, 1997-2001. Fast forward to 2020 and I'm still doing interior design. Quite literally. You know what I mean?

Dental School: Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, DDS, 2006-2010

Masters: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, MS in Oral Biology, 2014-2016

Residencies:

1 Year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (US ARMY), FT. Benning, GA 2010-2011

2 Year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (US ARMY), Schofield Barracks, HI 2014-2016

Military Assignments

I presently serve in the US Army Reserves.

The following is a list of the cool places I've called home and the jobs I've held in the Army:

AMEDD Officer Basic Course, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 2010 - Introduction to being an officer. Death by PowerPoint.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Ft. Benning, GA, 2010-2011 - I love the Army! They paid me to train.

Officer in Charge, MFO Senior Dentist, El Gora, Sinai, Egypt, 2011 – 2012 - Egypt was a great experience. Yes, I did see the pyramids and the great Egyptian temples. Awesome experience.

Assistant Officer in Charge, USA DENTAC Infection Control Officer, Ft. Bliss, TX, 2012 – 2014 - Keeping Soldiers safe at the dental clinic was a very important responsibility.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Schofield Barracks, HI 2014-2016 - I can't believe it! I got paid to train even more.

Comprehensive Dentist, Assistant Officer in Charge, USA DENTAC Patient Safety Officer, FT Cambpell, KY 2016-2018 - Can't be in school for ever. I had to start practicing all the things I learned from residency.

Honorable discharge, June 2018 - a sad moment because I really enjoyed my experience in the Army. But also good, because of the new opportunities I now experience.

Professional Memberships

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

Redwood Dental Society

Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry

Presentation and lectures

Comprehensive Treatment Plan for Board Patient 1, 1 hr, Ft. Benning GA, Oct 2010.
Comprehensive Treatment Plan for Board Patient 2, 1 hr, Ft. Benning GA, Feb 2011.
Oral Health Care for Children, Faith Middle School, 5 hours, Ft. Benning GA, Feb 2011.
Oral Hygiene, a Novel Approach for the high caries risk patient, 30 minutes, Ft. Benning GA, May 2011.
The Use of Orthodontic Elastomeric Bands in Conjunction with Prosthodontic Treatment, a case presentation, 30 minutes, Ft. Benning GA, May 2011.
Root Coverage for the General Dentist, 1 hr, Ft. Benning GA, June 2011.
DENCOM Infection Control Training, 1 hr, Ft. Bliss TX, Oct 2013.
Improving the Patient’s Quality of Life through Oral Hygiene Instructions for the prevention of caries, CE, Ft. Bliss TX, 1hr, Jul 2013.
DENCOM Infection Control Training, 1 hr, Ft. Bliss TX, Jan 2014.
Oral Health Care for Children, 1 hour, Makalapa Elementary School, HI, Oct 2014.
Comprehensive Treatment Plan for Board Patient 1, 1hr, Schofield Barracks, HI, Feb 2011.
Intraoral photography, Schofield Barracks, 1 hr, Schofield Barracks, HI, May, 2015
Pregnancy and oral health, 2 hr, Schofield Barracks, HI, Aug 2015
Management of medical emergencies in the dental office 1 hr 2016
Prevalence of the Middle Mesial Canal in Non-surgical Root Canal Treated Mandibular First and Second Molars in a Local Military Population, Table Clinic, Tripler Army Medical Center, Mar 2016.
Patient Safety Training, Fort Campbell, 2016, 2017.

A little more about myself

I was born in a little Indian village called Santiago Asuncion in Oaxaca, Mexico. I grew up speaking three languages: English, Spanish, and Mixtec. I am most comfortable speaking English and Mixtec. If you are wondering if Spanish sounds different from Mixtec, the answer is yes. Mixtec sounds a lot like a Chinese Mandarin. In fact, if I were to plug my nose, I wouldn't be able to make any sounds. The sounds are primarily nasal.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think.