Dr. Wright attended private grammar school from age 8 to 18 years at Glasgow High School
for Boys, Scotland, which is the oldest school in Scotland established in 1124 A.D. in
Glasgow Cathedral. He played rugby, cricket, tennis, badminton and achieved full colours for
rowing.
Dr. Wright was accepted into Dentistry at Queens College, University of St. Andrews, which
is the oldest University in Scotland, established in 1413, and the third oldest in the United
Kingdom after Oxford and Cambridge. St. Andrews is where Prince William met Catherine
Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge. At University he learned to play squash and
thoroughly enjoyed that sport for about 20 years.
Shortly after graduating with his dental degree, Dr. Wright successfully completed Parts 1 &
2 of the Canadian Dental Board exams before immigrating to Canada and opening a family
dental practice in Clearbrook BC, which is located about two miles from the U.S. Border
Crossing at Sumas, Washington and about 60 miles southeast of Vancouver BC. Whilst in
general practice, Dr. Wright enrolled in a four-year, part-time diploma program in
orthodontics through the International Association for Orthodontics. Dr. Wright’s practice
had a large component of children’s dentistry and orthodontics but he also had a penchant
for fine restorative dentistry and for 11 years was a dedicated member of a Fine Gold Study
Club in Vancouver BC mentored by the late Richard V. Tucker, D.D.S. whom he and
hundreds of other dentists worlwide regard as the finest operative dentist to walk this
Earth. Dr. Tucker had a restorative practice located in Ferndale WA about 20 miles
southwest of Dr. Wright’s practice on the other side of the border so would periodically visit
Dr. Tucker to watch him treat patients and be amazed and humbled. During his time in
general practice, Dr. Wright was president, secretary and treasurer for a variety of dental
study clubs. Mount Baker ski resort was just one hour’s drive southeast across the border so
very convenient with ample snow and beautiful scenery above the clouds. Skiing is such a
healthy sport and a welcome escape from the gloomy winter weather.
In 1995, Dr. Wright pursued a five-year program of studies in education, research and
specialist practice at University of Southern California graduating with a Professional
Specialist Certificate in Advanced Prosthodontics, MS degree in Science Education and an
MS degree in Craniofacial Biology. In 1998, Dr. Wright completed a series of American and
Californian Board examinations to earn a California dental license. In 2000, Dr. Wright was
invited by world-renowned prosthodontist, Dr. Ed McLaren, to assist him in developing a
post-graduate program in Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry at UCLA. Dr. Wright was the
course director in occlusion and aesthetic restorative dentistry at UCLA teaching 10 days
per month from 2000-2003 whilst practising a further 8 to10 days per month at his
specialist prosthodontics practice, which he opened in Newport Beach CA. In 2003, Dr.
Wright had to return to England for family health reasons.
Dr. Wright developed an interest in the surgical side of implant dentistry and enrolled in a
two-year, part-time program in oral and periodontal surgery for implant dentistry at the
Royal College of Surgeons of England. RCS, Eng. which evolved from The Guild of Surgeons
of London, which was established in 1368. Dr. Wright received further surgical training in
implant dentistry through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland,
Universities of Frankfort and Tubingen in Germany and University of Lille in France. Whilst
in London, Dr. Wright opened a part-time private specialist prosthodontics practice at the Harley Street medical precinct in the West End. During this period, Dr. Wright completed a
series of examinations and presented a selection of completed cases to prosthodontic
program directors from Dental Schools across the country at the American Board of
Prosthodontics to become certified as a Diplomate of the American of Prosthodontics in
2005. In 2006, Dr. Wright was made a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics in
2006 and re-certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics in 2014. Board Certification
in prosthodontics only lasts for 8 years so Dr. Wright will have to face another examination
in December 2022.
Dr. Wright subsequently accepted a full-time appointment as Associate Professor of
Prosthodontics at the University of Saskatchewan teaching applied prosthodontics, theory,
laboratory and clinical, and dental anatomy. He enjoyed teaching and University life but
found that academic commitments, research and administrative tasks made it difficult to
treat prosthodontic patients who often require lengthy and complex reconstructive
dentistry. Although he enjoyed teaching and was honoured to have been voted by years 1, 2,
3 & 4 for the Students’ Choice for Excellence in Teaching Award; a first time in the history of
the dental school, Dr. Wright did not want to sacrifice his clinical skills for an academic
career so after two years of teaching decided to return to part-time specialist prosthodontic
practice treating patients at a comfortable pace. Teaching can be very rewarding and Dr.
Wright has been a mentor to many dentists throughout his career but successfully restoring
a patient’s dentition is particularly gratifying and a personal service unlike anything other
available in today’s hectic world.