OSKALOOSA — He helped build this dentist’s office to be what it is today — literally.

Dr. Eric De Boef has worked from Town Square Dental Care, 107 High Ave. E., on the Oskaloosa square since 2003. Now 38 years old, De Boef said he decided to work in Oskaloosa because he considers this area to be his true home. He said he also enjoys the friendliness of a smaller community.

“I enjoy the rural parts of the state,” explained De Boef, who also noted that much of his family lives in the area.

De Boef graduated from North Mahaska High School in 1992. He would eventually attend the University of Iowa’s School of Dentistry before practicing dentistry in Oskaloosa.

Before dental school, De Boef started a business in Des Moines. For two years, he worked in the construction field building homes. While in Des Moines, De Boef met his wife, Amy, with whom he has five children.

At Town Square Dental Care, everything that dentistry has to offer is available, said De Boef. He said the practice’s “bread and butter” includes exams, cleanings and restorations or cavity fillings.

Mouth rehabilitation and implant placement is also offered at De Boef’s office.

De Boef said he enjoys leading people toward a common goal, which is something he’s able to do at Town Square Dental Care.

“I enjoy working with people and working with my hands to make people’s lives better,” said De Boef.

There is also an artistic side to dentistry that De Boef enjoys.

Helping people in need and the relationships that are built with patients also  motivates De Boef at his dental practice.

Back in 2003, when De Boef was first staring his dental practice on the Oskaloosa square, he was able to use some of his construction skills to remodel the workspace into what it is today. De Boef put in his own sweat equity in to the property, working extensively on the remodeling in his free time.

De Boef said he worked with Rod Curtis of Curtis Architecture on the design of the office and had a lot of fun in the process.

As he worked at remodeling the space on High Avenue before his office opened, De Boef said he built relationships with those who would stop by to check on the progress of the remodeling.

Being located on the Oskaloosa square is also important to De Boef. He said he likes the fact that he’s able to help bring a liveliness to the Oskaloosa square, which he noted is beneficial to businesses neighboring his own.

“I think the community has appreciated that,” said De Boef.

When they first opened, De Boef’s office consisted of himself and his sister, Jennifer Grove, who did the office work. Today, the office has grown to include several more employees.

“I really value my team and we try to function as a family and I believe that speaks well to the community when they come here,” De Boef said. “The environment is fun and relaxed.”

For more information on Town Square Dental Care, visit their Web site at www.townsquaredental.org.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com.