For nearly 50 years, High Country families and visitors have turned to Dr. Greg Jungman DDS, and his team of dental professionals at Dillon Family Dental for comprehensive oral care in a community setting.

Jungman, who raised his family in breathtaking Summit County and cultivated a network of dental businesses from Breckenridge to Kremmling, is ready to hand over the reins of his beloved Dillon practice to his associate Dr. Isaura Cirillo BDS, DDS. She has worked with Jungman since 2011.

Cirillo, a native of the vibrant city of Veracruz, Mexico, has become an established figure in the Summit County community, working with the Breckenridge Social Equity Advisory Commission. Last December, she graduated from the Advanced Standing International Student Program at CU’s School of Dental Medicine, localizing the dental credentials she has long held. They also include a master’s degree in pediatric dentistry from Benemerita Universidad Autonoma in Puebla.

“Isaura shares the same philosophy of complete care that I have always had,” Jungman says. “I grew up with a dentist father myself who did not believe much in anesthetic and my passion has always been caring for people who are afraid of going to the dentist and providing gentle care that is affordable.” Dr. Isa’s leadership led her to be elected president of her class for the last two years.

Born in Minnesota with his father’s roots in Iowa, Jungman was raised in San Diego through his undergraduate years at San Diego State University, then the University of Iowa for dental school. After a tour in the Navy at Balboa Hospital in San Diego, Jungman moved to Summit County. He says it was a never regretted compromise with his deceased wife, Kathie, between staying in San Diego and moving to Alaska. She let him know that could be a solo move.

Summit County was the best option for them, and aside from the one year spent living in Keystone employee housing, Jungman has called Silverthorne home. He launched his first local practice in 1976 in the Dillon Plaza Building, eventually moving to the Little Brown Drug Store location across the street. In the mid-90s, he launched both the Breckenridge Family Dental and Kremmling Family Dental before subsequently being sold. Jungman taught hunter education classes for 30 years and served as a Scoutmaster. All three of his boys are Eagle Scouts.

Over the 50 years Jungman has practiced, and the population growth from 3,500 to 35,000 in the County, dentistry has also evolved. Some of the most notable changes include electronic records, digital films, Invisalign, and in-office crown molding to save clients time and money. A huge local change involved upgrading safety straps to brakes on skis. In the early days, facial injuries were occurring nearly every week, whereas now, it’s hardly ever.

Dr. Cirillo served as Jungman’s lead assistant until finishing her Doctorate at University of Colorado, where she then worked as an associate. Outside of work, Dr. Cirillo is married to her husband Dave Cirillo, whom she has two children with, Mila and David. Her identical twin sister, Joyce De La Torre and brother-in-law Michael Ulehla, own and operate both Frisco Bagalis and Bread and Salt.

After decades of dedicated six-days-a-week service and following a recent heart surgery, the 75-year-old Jungman says he’s ready to pass the practice to Dr. Cirillo for a bright future – though he’ll still be happy to fill in on vacations, when he doesn’t have a fishing rod in his hand or out enjoying the world with his longtime partner, Marguerite Ritchey, also a 50-year resident and retired Frisco school teacher.

Andy Stonehouse’s column “Mountain Wheels” publishes Saturdays in the Summit Daily News. Stonehouse has worked as an editor and writer in Colorado since 1998, focusing on automotive coverage since 2004. He lives in Golden. Contact him at summitmountainwheels@gmail.com.