Town of Mount Pleasant honors pioneering pediatric dentist
February 9, 2022
The Town of Mount Pleasant proclaimed Feb. 8 as Dr. Jan Day in honor of one of Mount Pleasant’s first pediatric dentists. Dr. Jan Wrobleski – Dr. Jan as he was known to patients and friends – passed away on Dec. 19, 2021, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Jan founded the town’s first pediatric dental practice more than 40 years ago. Dr. Jan Dentistry for Infants, Children, and Teens opened in 1979 on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard at the spot that now is a Walgreens near Staples and Whole Foods. His wife, Francette, worked at the practice as a dental hygienist and office manager.
Over the years, fluorosis was such an issue among Wrobleski’s young patients that he approached Mount Pleasant Waterworks to investigate the levels of fluoride in the town’s water source. He brought attention to the issue of fluorosis, and, by extension, children’s dental care.
Dr. Jan began to frame the conversation around proactive dental care, even speaking with local news outlets and on CNN. Through his community outreach, Dr. Jan became a respected figure in the town.
By 2004, Dr. Jan had two more dentists. Drs. Will MacDonald and Mike Myers joined the practice to keep up with patient demand. The practice name changed from Dr. Jan’s to simply, Kids Teeth. As Mount Pleasant grew, they built a second office in Park West. The original office relocated to a new location in Mount Pleasant near Crickentree Village. Dr. Jan retired in 2014, but his style and philosophy continues through Drs. Will and Mike as well as the staff at Kids Teeth.
A pioneer in pediatric dentistry, it is fitting that Dr. Jan Day coincides with National Children’s Dental Health Month in February.
Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie presented the proclamation to Dr. Jan’s widow Francette. Several Kids Teeth staff members and friends attended the ceremony. According to the proclamation, Dr. Jan Day will be celebrated annually on Feb. 8 in the Town of Mount Pleasant.
In a letter to the town recommending a Dr. Jan Day proclamation, Ken Ayoub wrote, “He was one of the truly good guys and, in his own way, helped make Mount Pleasant the community that it is today. He was one the best ambassadors that the town ever had.”
Dr. Jan was a member of the Charleston Rotary Club, an active member and volunteer at Seacoast Church, and a supporter of Windwood Farm Home for Children. He also provided free dental exams at the annual Hootie and The Blowfish Homegrown Roundup.
“One of Dr Jan’s best gifts was to make everyone realize that they are special whether they were a child or an adult,” Dr. Will MacDonald said. “This was present not only in the office, but throughout our community. This compassion has and will continue to make a lasting impact on Mount Pleasant.”
About Kids Teeth
Located in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Kids Teeth is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to infants, children and adolescents in a friendly and comfortable environment. Serving the Charleston area for more than 40 years, Kids Teeth believes that through the education and motivation of children and their parents, patients can maintain a lifetime of good oral health. Learn more at www.kidsteethsc.com.
