Meet Dr. McLaren
I begin every day with at least these two goals: make a positive difference in someone’s life and learn something new. Thanks to our patients and the wonderful people I work with, those goals are met every single day. Due to the nature of chronic pain and disturbed sleep, often times the positive difference reaches the magnitude of life-changing. Having the opportunity to make such a large impact for people truly makes me a lucky man.
Pain, especially chronic pain, can change people. Human beings have a tremendous ability to adapt, but often times those adaptations have negative consequences that can be physical, emotional, or psychological. Taking the time to listen to patients allows me to get a sense for how their life may have been affected by their conditions. It is both amazing and extremely rewarding to see the positive changes occur as symptoms start to fade away.
It has been said that when a person finds their true calling, it no longer feels like work. For much of my life, I scoffed at that idea as I felt it was idealistic and unattainable. No longer do I feel that way. I have found a place within my profession that perfectly aligns my passions, experiences, talents, and empathetic nature. I cannot imagine a better fit!
Our office is uniquely patient-centered and strives to provide people with hope, education, and a path toward health. Diagnosis and treatment are very important pieces of the puzzle, but far from the only ones. We do our very best to help patients sort through all factors that impact their craniofacial pain, often to the benefit of their overall health.
I love my work and cannot imagine a better place to do it!
Education and Continuing Education
My undergraduate degree is from Emporia State University. I received my Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Oklahoma University College of Dentistry in 2015.
By the end of 2019, I will have accumulated over 350 hours of continuing education over a two-year span, including both lecture and hands-on learning. Additionally, I have the mentorship of Dr. Baba on a daily basis. Education is vital to remaining at the forefront of our field and fits perfectly with my love of learning. As long as I do this, I will remain dedicated to knowing and using the best techniques and technologies to benefit our patients.
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
- American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- American Dental Association
- Kansas Dental Association
- Wichita District Dental Society
Beyond the Office
I grew up in Cassoday, KS, with the Flint Hills practically in my backyard. Much of my childhood was spent in Wichita: attending Wichita State sporting events, playing baseball at Westurban, and visiting family and friends. Our family moved to El Dorado during my junior year of high school and I graduated from EHS in 1993. After high school, I spent most of a decade working as a technician for SBC Corp (now AT&T) in Emporia before eventually returning to school to chase my dream of becoming a dentist.
After graduating from dental school, I owned a small general dentistry practice in Midwest City before returning to Kansas to join Dr. Baba. I couldn’t be happier to be back in my home state, helping improve my patients’ quality of life. I have two teenage sons that help keep me busy and I enjoy being able to spend more time with my parents and extended family.
