Diving headfirst into a career as a dentist is a journey in itself, but for married dentists, this journey becomes even more unique when shared with a spouse who is also a dentist. Balancing a personal relationship with a professional one, while owning and working side by side in the same practice, adds layers of complexity to the experience. The journey of being married to dentistry, to a dental practice, and to each other presents both opportunities and challenges that only fellow dental partner couples can truly understand. Hear firsthand from Drs. Randy Jungman and Julie Kangas about their journey through a shared life and career…how they’ve made it work and the profound support they’ve had along the way.
Randy Jungman’s thoughts…I have always been intrigued by where people meet their spouses, especially in the context of dentistry. For many dentists, college is a common meeting ground—true for my parents and my brother. Given the extremely low percentage of women in dental programs during the 1970s, it was the least likely place I would have expected to find a future wife. Fortunately, I was able to attract one of only eight women in the program, who eventually became my wife.
In today’s dental programs, gender distribution is nearly balanced, which significantly increases the chances for dental students to meet and marry. It’s wonderful to see the many dental couples and hear their stories. Being married to another dentist has its own set of advantages and challenges. We always have something to discuss, though we must be cautious not to let dental topics dominate our conversations. When attending continuing education (CE) programs, we often face the choice between the “spouse” category and the “dentist” category, as the latter usually doesn’t offer a discount. Given that we are likely to be spouses longer than dentist partners, making these decisions can be challenging. Parenthood also introduces its own set of challenges, particularly in balancing CE courses and different practice styles.
Julie Kanga’s thoughts…As we progressed in our careers, attending CE courses both together and separately, we discovered the Academy for Private Dental Practice (APDP). This organization, more than any other, has significantly contributed to our success in private practice. Our relationships with our patients, our long-term staff, and ourselves have been deeply influenced by our membership in the Academy. Even after more than 40 years in practice, I still find immense enjoyment and enthusiasm in practicing dentistry and learning about new topics. I’ve seen many colleagues experience burnout, yet the dentists and consultants within the Academy continue to work joyfully for as long as they wish. Our love for dentistry has even inspired two of our sons to join us in the practice.
More about the Drs. shared experiences with APDP – and the impact the community has on their success in dentistry:
The APDP offers a range of speakers and programs that are unparalleled in dentistry. More importantly, the mentorship and relationships we’ve built with other members are unique. We haven’t missed a single meeting in over 30 years. The Academy introduced us to innovative concepts such as the Oral & Systemic Connection and Dental Sleep Medicine. We’ve also explored topics like Botox and corporate dentistry, which, although not directly relevant to our practice, are important to understand. The programs we attend are on the cutting edge of dental practice, addressing not just clinical skills but also broader life management issues.
Our involvement with the APDP has made us better dentists, employers, team members, spouses, parents, and community members. We encourage you to attend just one meeting to see if this organization can offer unique insights and opportunities, you might not find elsewhere.
Dr. Randy Jungman – APDP Vice President
“Dental couples are indeed a unique partnership, and as the first married dentist members of the APDP, we have always felt welcomed and valued. One advantage of being a dental couple is the ability to attend different programs simultaneously, thereby maximizing the value of our membership. Many dentists may not realize that almost all APDP programs are applicable to non-dentist guests. Life coaching, business and financial management, and whole-body health topics are valuable for everyone, and the APDP provides these options and more.”
Dr. Julie Kangas – APDP Longtime Member
The greatest value of our decades-long membership has been the mentorship and lifelong friendships we’ve gained. We were once in awe of dental icons such as ADA President Burt Press, Bob Frazer, creator of EI for dentists, Tom McDougal with his 1% value concept, and Charles Blair, developer of Practice Booster dental fee balancing. These APDP colleagues had a significant impact on our lives. Like many young dentists, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. The mentorship and friendships within APDP helped us confidently invest in consultants and professional training for our dental team. These supportive individuals helped us build the practice of our dreams, which we have now been able to pass on as a family legacy to our children. These invaluable benefits could not have been found elsewhere in dentistry.
Randy and Julie enjoy the 80’s celebration at the 2024 APDP Annual Meeting!
Learn More about APDP – Click Here!
Dr. Julie Kangas
Dr. Julie E. Kangas grew up in Idaho, and graduated from Boise State University with a BS in Health Science. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California dental school, where she met and later married Dr. Jungman. Dr. Jungman and Dr. Kangas explored many areas of California in deciding where to establish their dental careers and chose Escondido to establish a family dental practice.
Dr. Kangas has enjoyed specializing in cosmetic dentistry and dental care for anxious patients for over 25 years. She has also been a certified Invisalign orthodontic provider for over fifteen years. Her primary area of interest is in the expanding science connecting oral and systemic health. Dr. Kangas attended the Preceptorship program for heart attack and stroke prevention. As a member of the American Academy of Oral and Systemic Health, she was recognized for her advanced education as one of only 30 dentists nationwide to receive an Inaugural Fellow award by the
academy. Dr. Kangas loves to assist patients in improving their self-image and quality of life through optimal oral health. She is passionate about preventive health care and helping anxious dental patients conquer their dental fears.
Dr. Kangas served as a founding member and former president of the Escondido chapter of the American Business Women’s Associations (ABWA). In 2008, she was selected American Business Woman of the Year by the ABWA national organization. Locally, she is actively involved with the Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce, as an Ambassador, and Chamber board member. Dr. Jungman and Dr. Kangas are the first husband and wife dentists inducted into the American Academy of Dental Practice, and are active in many community programs such as Community in Unity and as supporters of Cub Scout Pack 659.
Dr. Kangas and Dr. Jungman are proud to be the parents of four adult sons, two of whom are dentists. She enjoys skiing, travel, reading, and is an avid player of Scrabble and all word games. She loves Boise State football and is a host of the San Diego BSU Bronco fan club.
Dr. William R. Jungman
Dr. Jungman is a San Diego County native and a graduate of San Diego State University. A second-generation dentist, he graduated from USC Dental school, and searched for his ideal community to live, practice dentistry and raise a family. Selecting Escondido, he and his wife and dental partner, Dr. Julie Kangas, chose the name Citracado Dental as it pays tribute to our agricultural heritage.
Dr. Jungman’s professional involvement includes volunteering at the UCSD student run dental clinics. He participated in 2 missions to the south pacific on the USNS Mercy hospital ship, providing humanitarian aid in the South Pacific. He mentors pre-dental students at all the universities in San Diego County and serves as the professional pre-dental advisor for CSUSM. Dr. Jungman is also the consulting dentist for the Escondido and San Marcos senior centers. His recent dental continuing education focus includes sleep apnea disorders as well as the connections between oral and systemic health. He has been nationally recognized as an Inaugural Fellow in the American Academy of Oral & Systemic Health.
Dr. Jungman loves dentistry and believes there is no profession better suited for him. The personal interactions with patients and our community, and the science and medicine of dentistry are a natural fit. Dr. Jungman truly enjoys connecting with and treating his patients as friends and family, ensuring that the dental care they receive is what is ideal for each individual.
Dr. Jungman has volunteered in community service all of his adult life. He has been a member of the boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego and the Boy Scouts of America. Volunteering in many positions in these and other organizations, he has received the city of Escondido’s Service to Youth award as well as others. He and Citracado Dental Group have sponsored the BSA Cub Scout Pack 659 in Escondido for many years.
Dr. Jungman’s hobbies include travel, wood building, hunting, fishing, and collecting antique memorabilia about San Diego. He is passionate about mentoring young people on their future goals and believes in investing time in youth whenever the opportunity arises.
Dr. Jungman and Dr. Kangas are the parents of four sons. Robert and Nicolaus are dentists with Citracado, and the other two are in engineering and software development. As parents, they are happy that all of them live here in Escondido, along with two granddaughters and daughters in law.
