Captain Richard Whitlock, U.S. Navy Retired: He Challenged Me

By Ralph Larro, National Sales Manager, Yamahachi Dental

In 1976, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at a dental clinic in New London, CT, where I learned the ins and outs of removable prosthetics. My commanding officer was Captain Richard Whitlock, the best prosthodontist I ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Capt. Whitlock challenged me every day. No matter what task I was doing, he would ask, “Why are you doing it that way?” and I had to explain, scientifically, my method. He taught me that the key to success in any case was occlusion, horizontal and vertical, and encouraged me to learn as much as I could about it. He gave me plenty to read on the topic, including the work of world-renowned prosthodontist Dr. Jack Turbyfill, who, in my opinion, is the authority on removables. I read everything of his I could get my hands on, knowing full well that Capt....