Some kids grow up wanting to be superheroes. Others idolize athletes or rock stars.

“My orthodontist was my childhood hero,” declared Dr. Matt Bruner at March 19’s grand re-opening of Bruner Orthodontics, 17130 Avondale Way NE, Suite 109 in Redmond.

Bruner grew up here in Redmond, where Dr. Stan Gile was not just his orthodontist but his umpire in Redmond Little League. When Bruner was a freshman at Interlake High School, Gile took him to lunch and encouraged him toward a career in dentistry. Bruner went on to graduate from Pacific Lutheran University and dental school at Loma Linda University, served in the Army Dental Corps and completed his orthodontic training at the University of Louisville. He fulfilled his military obligation as Chief of Orthodontics at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

In July 2007, Bruner, his wife and three children happily moved back to Redmond and he purchased Gile’s practice. Gile stayed on for six months to help Bruner with the transition and then retired to Palm Springs, Calif.

It all seemed like a dream come true, until the morning of April 2, 2008. Bruner got a call about a fire in the doctor’s office adjacent to his. The smoke destroyed nearly everything at the new orthodontic practice. However, there was a bit of saving grace. The digitally stored patient data was still available. With generous help from other local dentists, Bruner continued working in borrowed spaces.

He and his six full-time staff members are now back at the completely revamped Bruner Orthodontics location. With 2,200 square feet, six chairs and sparkling, new equipment, they see around 40 patients a day.

“This is the exact same space where I was a patient,” Bruner pointed out, during a tour of the office space, where the motto is “compassionate hearts, outstanding results.”

He said he wants to give back to the community that so warmly responded to his challenges.

“My kids go to Rockwell Elementary and I was just there this morning, teaching kids about dental health,” he noted.

Bruner also asked Redmond neighbors to give kudos to his colleagues who helped him get back on his feet: Dr. Anthony McLaughlin, Dr. Jeff Stonebraker, Dr. Ron Frost, Dr. Michael Kern, Dr. Randy Eggert, Dr. Kit Singh, Dr. Barry Moorhead and Dr. David Atherton.

For more information about Bruner Orthodontics, call (425) 883-3353 or visit www.brunerortho.com.