The Life In Business: Douglas H. Dierenfield, DDS

When Douglas Dierenfield, DDS, first came to Kona in 1976, there weren’t many people and very few dentists, he said. “I was commuting to Molokai and Hana, Maui, via Royal Hawaiian Air Service and doing dentistry there a few days a week.” A little bit reluctant to settle in one place with a solo practice, he realized that having a new house and a family on the way required him to “bite the bullet” and settle down.

At the time there were very few desirable areas for office space in the village of Kailua-Kona, said Dierenfield. A zoning variance was the only thing that allowed him to move his practice into the distinctive building at Casa De Emdeko condominiums, at 75-6082 Alii Drive, even though the small grocery and deli that were there had been allowed. With the blessing of the planning department and a formal blessing, the business was launched.

The new office had an ocean view and plenty of parking, but the young dentist, who was physically fit, didn’t realize that a second-floor office with no elevator would be a problem. “ I used to joke that anybody healthy enough to climb the stairs was healthy enough to survive my treatment,” he laughs. But, as the years went by his clientele aged and drifted away to more accessible dentists. “Losing many of my favorite patients because of that onerous stairway has been disappointing and a challenge yet to be solved.”

One decision made 25 years ago that he doesn’t regret is not participating with insurance plans. “It has isolated me in some ways but liberated me in others. Tailoring treatment to a patient’s unique needs rather than their insurance coverage has facilitated treatment. Most important, the time constraints of an insurance-driven practice and the reimbursement levels are not an issue. We can spend as much time as necessary to listen and treat people’s dental needs.”

Dierenfield is proud of his staff, he says. “I have been blessed to have hired some of the most conscientious, loyal, caring and competent people in the business. Anna and Lee have been with me for 29 and 30 years respectively. Thorne and Lisa, from three to 10 years, but their dental background extends well beyond that. It is their collective experience with people and dentistry that makes operations smooth and outcomes great.”

The office may be contacted at 808.329.5251.