'The Snoopy Dentist' And His Commitment to Generations of Walnut Creekers

Step into the waiting room of Dr. Duane E. Spencer’s pediatric dental office in Walnut Creek and you can’t help but notice Snoopy.

Lots of Snoopy. Posters, pictures, figurines, stuffed animals – the infamous cartoon beagle is a fixture.

“The Snoopy Dentist,” as Dr. Spencer is affectionately known by patients, has provided 38 years of excellent oral hygiene, and a love of all things Charles Schulz to generations of families in the area. The late cartoonist, who lived in Sebastopol and has a museum of his work in Santa Rosa, created Snoopy in his Peanuts comic strip.

The connection with Snoopy began for Dr. Spencer during his time in the Navy as a young dental officer treating dependent children of military families while stationed in Japan.

“In 1967, somebody gave me a greeting card for my birthday and it was just a picture of a smiling Snoopy,” said Dr. Spencer. “In the Navy, you couldn’t decorate your treatment room. But my commanding officer did let me hang that card from a string. And it really worked with the kids because we didn’t have nitrous oxide and the things we have now. And I thought that when I went into pediatric dentistry, I would use Snoopy since it worked for me then and that’s how it got started. Of course, Snoopy was just a teenager then.”

Since then, Dr. Spencer’s collection of Snoopy memorabilia has grown not just from his own purchases, but from patients and families who have brought him Peanuts treasures over the years.

“Oh goodness, people have brought things,” he said. “Patients bring things to me. People give me gifts. I have lots of things at home, too. Whoever takes over this practice, they’re going to have a lot of Snoopy to deal with!”

While thoughts of retirement percolate in Dr. Spencer’s mind, he said he still thoroughly enjoys working, especially now that he finds himself treating children of former patients. “There’s rarely a day now when we don’t have at least a couple of parents who were, at one time or another, patients of mine. It takes years to get to that point, obviously, but it’s an incredible feeling.”

Spencer also feels grateful to follow his patients into adulthood and be privy to their accomplishments.
“That’s a high point for me,” he said. “We’re trying to see as many kids as we can now through their freshman year of college. Some of these kids just blow you away.”

Posted on a bulletin board in the lobby is a list of schools his patients attend – with the names of 43 different colleges proudly displayed.

A native of San Rafael, Dr. Spencer attended the University of Southern California, graduating from the USC School of Dentistry in 1965. He spent four years of active duty as a Navy dental officer and completed his pediatric dental residency at Children’s Hospital, Oakland. His connection with Walnut Creek began soon after his Navy service when he and his wife rented a house in the area.

“Growing up in Marin County, I had never been to the East Bay,” he said. “It was like a different world, but I felt like the future was out here.”

Dr. Spencer opened his practice in Walnut Creek in 1973 and since then has forged connections with many local organizations, including 23 years of service with the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America and coaching youth baseball teams.

C.S.I. Dentistry

What many might not know about Dr. Spencer is his additional work as a certified forensic dentist with more than 30 years in the field. As a consultant for a variety of law enforcement agencies, he has lent his expertise to a number of high profile cases, including the famous tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo, the recent dog mauling in Pacifica and the recent case of slain nursing student, Michelle Le. How does one bridge the gap from pediatric dentist to dental detective? Dr. Spencer believes one can be passionate about both.  

“I love my time with my patients and the children, but the forensics gets me out, working with different people. I took a weekend course back in 1974 and then just kept taking courses over the years and eventually got involved with a number of agencies. We call it C.S.I. Dentistry.”

Spencer now works with five coroner’s offices, local law enforcement and, at times, the FBI. “I’ve been involved in cases of child abuse and pattern injuries in children which then, of course, link back to my work in pediatrics.” Spencer is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology and hopes to continue his work in this field for years to come.

With 38 years as a Walnut Creek dentist, Dr. Spencer has seen his fair share of patients, parenting styles and advances in dentistry. What doesn’t change, however, are the ethics behind the work.

“It’s the most important part of our job,” he said. “There are a lot of pediatric dentists in the industry now who probably can’t spell ethics. And there are a lot of articles in the journals about just this topic – of ethics in dentistry.” Spencer says he sees quite a few young dentists, right out of school with plenty of debt who are, in his opinion, much too aggressive in their treatment.

“I’m very conservative and I just think that’s the way to be, especially with children,” he said. “There are many situations when I say to myself and the parents, ‘That can wait. Why put the child through it?’ But there are plenty of dentists out there who are more interested in themselves as opposed to the people they treat.”

Spencer’s commitment to professionalism and focus on the patients does not go unnoticed. Megan Rodriguez, whose two sons have been seeing Dr. Spencer for nine years and five years respectively, thinks his practice is downright excellent.

“Going to the dentist is not on the top of anyone’s ‘fun things to do’ list,” she said, “but somehow he and his staff make the kids comfortable and not scared. He always explains to the boys what he is going to be doing before he does anything. Everyone on his team is excellent and I love that my boys like going to the dentist.”

And what about the cartoon beagle? Rodriguez, while not a particular fan of Snoopy, respects Dr. Spencer’s commitment. “He has collected so much over the years it is pretty amazing. Does anyone call him Dr. Spencer or do we all refer to him as The Snoopy Dentist?”