Dockside dentistry: practitioner island-hopping around SE

Venturing into Southeast waters this summer, Dr. Victor Stime of Spokane, Washington, plotted out a working retirement for himself.

"I've been doing dentistry for 31 years," he explained. "I've been planning this for 20 years. It hasn't been too far from my mind for all of those years."

He was inspired by Dr. Fred Bache, an Aberdeen, Washington dentist who has been visiting rural Alaskan communities in the Jenny-B since 1969.

"We thought we'd maybe get the mantle passed on to us," said Stime.

The dentist explained the concept appealed to a number of the his interests: "I love boats, I love fishing, I love navigation, I love tinkering with things, I love dentistry. So you put that all together and what do you get? You get this."

After retiring from his practice last year, he acquired a fishing boat in Blaine, Washington, and spent a month turning it into a working office. On the back deck, a protective canopy covers an operating area where patients sit. Inside the main cabin, sinks, stores and computers form the practice's main office.

Thanks to advances in technology, previously bulky, energy-intensive equipment like the X-ray machine have been reduced to hand-held size, perfect for a clinic on the move. Such scans are now localized, not even requiring use of the lead-lined aprons of old. X-ray images are then digitized, showing up on a laptop inside the office.

"It's getting easier as the years go by because things can be smaller and more digitized," Stime explained.

Because of the relatively small size of the boat and the apparent rocking action that comes from being on the water, Stime decided to keep his new practice simple. "Mainly it's going to be a basic dentistry: extractions, fillings, both silver and composite fillings, exams, x-rays, cleanings, some diagnosis stuff," he explained. "Things we can't do is maybe root canals, crowns and bridges, implants and dentures. There're four or five things where it's really hard to be mobile and do those things really well."

Stime acquired his professional licensing for Alaska, and set himself up a little office on board a fishing boat. Many of his dentistry tools are from his private practice in Washington, while a number of items were donated by friends and well-wishers. Arranging everything was not overly difficult, and before long Stime was ready to head out for his first summer's run.

Christening his floating dental office Offshore Drilling LLC, he and nephew Luke Stime took the vessel on its maiden voyage in June.

"We hit Coffman Cove, we hit Point Baker, we hit Port Protection, and now we're here," the dentist explained. "We're not sure exactly where we're going next, but probably Thorne Bay or Thoms Place, or maybe Metlakatla."

Luke Stime helps his uncle out with transcription, as well as serving as the boat's crew. He assists with cooking, cleaning and quite a bit of fishing.

"He basically invited me along for the trip. I love adventure and wanted to see him do his dentistry up here, so I thought it'd be a lot of fun to come along," he said.

"Both of us fished here quite a bit in the past," Dr. Stime added. His nephew spent some time gillnetting up north, while the dentist worked on a seiner in Southeast. "We both have fond experiences in Alaska."

It's a pastime the two have continued on their travels. "Between towns we try to catch enough for the next few days of meals," said Stime. "We went salmon fishing the other day off Port Baker, and did pretty well."

The doctor's intention had been to stick to smaller villages and seaside communities, remote areas that may see only limited coverage. After their stops on Prince of Wales Island, the Stimes decided to swing into Wrangell late last week to see what a larger community would be like.

"We partly came here because we needed fuel, and we needed supplies, and we thought 'Let's give it a shot,'" the elder Stime said.

Knowing Wrangell already has a full-time dental office, Stime explained he was not interested in trying to compete for clientele, either here or in the wider region. Southeast Alaska Rural Health Consortium and affiliate Alaska Island Community Services both have coverage across Southeast Alaska, including limited assistance in a number of smaller rural areas.

"We wanted to make sure we are able to fill cracks where they aren't able to get," Stime said, limiting themselves to outlying communities and weekends. They put up some fliers upon arriving last Friday, and spent the weekend moored at Reliance Harbor and seeing patients. The practice accepts Medicaid, but also helps patients put together what they need to file with other insurers if needed.

Leaving Tuesday, Stime considered the visit a success. He and his nephew will continue making their runs through the summer, after which they will head home. Now retired, the dentist still finds time to do the work he loves, helping out at Spokane County Jail once a week, and doing fill-ins for other offices in the area.

Offshore Drilling Dentistry has built up a small following on Facebook as well, cataloguing the Stimes' adventures as they make their way from one island to the next.