Dr. Nicholas A. Kubik visits with friends and former patients during his retirement open house celebration that was held on Dec. 3. Kubik has served at his dental practice in Tama for 39 years and said one of his greatest lessons was learning how to appreciate and enjoy the patients he works with. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Friends, colleagues and patients gathered last week to celebrate the retirement of Tama dentist Dr. Nicholas Kubik.

Kubik and his wife Margo stood and visited with over 70 people that came by the State Bank of Toledo Community Room to reconnect and celebrate his nearly 40 years of care and service to the Tama-Toledo community.

“That evening I found it was more like greeting my friends, not my patients,” Kubik said.

Kubik is a native of the Clutier area and a North Tama County alum. He said an interest in science at an early age was a likely factor that led him toward the pathway to dental practice.

After high school Kubik attended the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor’s degree and would go on to complete his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. He also met his wife Margo who was studying to become a dental assistant. She worked in the field for a time but later established a career as a nurse.

The staff at the dental clinic office of Dr. Nicholas Kubik organized a retirement open house for the long-time Tama dental practitioner. Pictured are Michaela Chyma, Shannon Crawford, Dr. Kubik and Paige Valline. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Kubik returned to Tama County in 1982 when he was invited to join Dr. Norman McCreary at his dental office space on McClellan Street.

At the time, Kubik recalls three dentists operating separate practices out of the building including he and Dr. McCreary as well as Dr. Hess. Up the street there was also the Plaza Dental Clinic located where the UnityPoint Family Health Center is today.

Kubik worked many of his early years with one employee who served as both an office manager and a dental assistant.

In 1998 Kubik purchased the building and a year later remodeled it. In 2000 he hired his second employee which afforded the practice a receptionist and an assistant.

Today, Kubik’s practice is the only one remaining in the red brick clinic, but he now employs three staff members.

Dr. Nicholas Kubik and his wife Margo Kubik visit with attendees at the retirement open house held on Friday, Dec. 3. The couple, who met at the University of Iowa while Nicholas was studying to become a dentist and Margo was studying to become a dental assistant, have been married for 39 years. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Employees currently with the practice include Receptionist and Dental Assistant Paige Valline, Dental Assistant Shannon Crawford and Dental Assistant Michaela Chyma.

Kubik expressed gratitude toward all of his staff members past and present for their efforts in helping to serve patients and for helping move the practice forward.

He said over the years advancement in tools and the availability of dental materials has made life a “lot better than it used to be.”

In reflection, Kubik said one thing he came to appreciate as he got older and more experienced as a dentist was his interpersonal relationships with his patients.

“Early on as a dentist it’s all about techniques,” Kubik said. “But as time goes on, you learn to appreciate your patients and what their goals are. You learn to enjoy your patients. I believe dentistry has truly allowed me to become a better person.”

Kubik, who will soon turn 67, said although he had informally thought about retirement sometime around his mid to late 60s, it was the experience his practice went through during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic that confirmed his desire to make the transition.

Although dental clinics were technically allowed to reopen in Iowa in May of 2020, it was not until July that clinics like Kubik’s in Tama would be able to access the materials they would need to perform even basic dental care procedures.

The official last day for Kubik and his dental practice is set for Dec. 30.

Kubik said he has delayed retirement for several months in hopes of selling the practice but thus far has had no takers.

“I would say for dental practitioners looking for an open market full of opportunity, this area is a good fit,” Kubik said. “If you enjoy small town living and being close to nature, that’s also another benefit I’ve enjoyed during my years here.”

Upon closing later this month, the Tama-Toledo community will be left without a dental provider.

The most recent departures have been the retirement of Dr. David Hall and closure of Plaza Family Dental in Toledo in the mid 2010s and the closure of the Kimball and Beecher dental clinic office in 2020.

Tama County’s only dental clinic now resides in Dysart, though Tama-Toledo patients could also need to travel to Marshalltown or Grinnell for dental care.