Mid-America Dental celebrates 40 years of service in Mt. Vernon

Mid-America Dental and Hearing Center celebrated their 40th anniversary with a special reception in both of their locations on Monday, April 1. The event featured giveaways, refreshments and drawings for two-40-inch television sets.
During the reception, Mayor David Eden also presented CEO Brian George with a proclamation honoring the dental facility by declaring April 2019 to be “Mid- America Dental and Hearing Center Month” in Mt. Vernon.
George said a lot has changed during the 40 years since Dr. Harold E. George, his grandfather, and Frederick C. Lauer founded the facility, then Mid-America Dental Clinic, back in 1979.
“The original building was located on Hayward Drive, and it was really small,” he said. “So, we’ve added onto that building at least three times. And, we’ve added this facility on the Loop, and we’ve (also) expanded this facility and remodeled it (about) seven or eight years ago.”
The testament to the quality of dental care Mid-America provides, George said, is their customers. They have customers from across the United States, and even from around the world.
“We started off as a pretty local practice … and quickly we started pulling people in from across the entire United States,” he said. “I have a map with some pins in it. There are pins from all 50 states. I’ve got some pins from Russia; I’ve got pins from all over the world, people who have come to visit us here.”
Asked how Mid- America could attract customers from outside the United States, George said their reputation has spread mainly by word of mouth.
“Someone has come to visit us here, gotten good service and went home and told their friends and family about it,” he said. “Then they come and see us, and that just spreads and spreads and spreads.”
George said the credit for Mid-America’s success belongs in part to the Mt. Vernon community, who have made the area an attractive place for people from out of state to visit.
“We’re just grateful to Mt. Vernon for having us these 40 years and the (support) they’ve given us,” he said. “Whether it’s out of town patients staying in hotels and restaurants, it’s that full community effort to make our patients drive from 13 to 14 hours away to come see us.”