Aloha Children’s Dentistry celebrates its 50th anniversary this month and reflects on its rich history of providing dental care and community service to generations of Berkeley children.
The clinic was founded by Dr. Joseph Wampler, a Pittsburgh native who settled in Berkeley after serving in the Navy and developed a passion for pediatric dentistry during a rotation at Children’s Hospital Oakland.
Dr. Wampler opened his first clinic in 1975 on Colby Street (across from Alta Bates).
Dr. Neil Katsumura, who joined the clinic in 1987, recalls Dr. Wampler’s love for Hawaiian culture and his tendency to wear a Hawaiian shirt instead of a white coat, a practice that put his young patients at ease.
Dr. Katsumura first visited the clinic with his 10-year-old brother, who has autism, and was impressed by Dr. Wampler’s ability to keep him quiet during the examination.
Katsuura subsequently interned at the clinic during summers and later became a dentist and a partner in Wampler’s clinic.
From the outset, the team has been committed to creating a child-friendly environment. The clinic arranges “comfort appointments” for first-time children to familiarize them with the staff and waiting area. They can watch other children being examined before leaving and receive stickers and toys as encouragement.
The clinic once chose a spacious treatment room with a row of dental chairs to accommodate multiple children simultaneously. In the 1980s and 1990s, arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong were placed in a corner.
Today, the treatment room is stocked with “retro toys” like Aqua Arcades and Etch A Sketch, which have unexpectedly become popular in the smartphone era.
Aloha also offers “sensory time” for children with autism, ADHD, and other special needs, and provides a variety of streaming programs to distract children who need soothing. The clinic expanded to North Berkeley in 1990 and opened a branch in Orinda in 2001.
The clinic’s name, “Aloha,” was adopted during this period of expansion, inspired by the founder’s favorite Hawaiian shirt. Katsura recalls that as the number of partners grew, calling out names at the front desk became cumbersome, so everyone adopted the name “Aloha” as the clinic’s name.
Community outreach is another key focus for the clinic. Aloha Bear, the mascot, regularly accompanies the team on visits to kindergartens, teaching children proper brushing and flossing techniques and providing dietary and nutritional advice.
The clinic’s dentists have also participated in numerous free clinics in Guatemala and the Philippines and helped establish a community dental clinic in Hawaii.
Katsumura explains that children in these areas often suffer from severe tooth decay and pain, making the free clinics both rewarding and deeply moving for participants.
Takamura’s two daughters, both pediatric dentists, also participate in these mission trips; his youngest, Mika, recently joined Aloha. Katsura retired from full-time work in April of this year and plans to gradually transfer his shares to his daughters.
After a brief retirement in the early 2000s, Wopler returned to the clinic, earning the nickname “Michael Jordan” from the staff, who expressed their reluctance to see him leave.
Wopler died in May 2024 at the age of 85, leaving behind five children, ten grandchildren, and hundreds of children who had been his patients.