Maybe you’ve been down the Google rabbit hole searching for the best dentist in Vancouver. Maybe you’re new to the area and looking for the right clinic. Or maybe you’re just curious about our Kitsilano dentists. Either way, you’ve landed in the right place.
One of the things that makes Kits Family Dental unique is that we’re a local, independent dental clinic. We’re not part of a big corporation; we’re privately owned by our three Vancouver-born-and-bred dentists, Dr. Robin Mak, Dr. Sakura Iwagami, and Dr. Michael Fenrich. These UBC Faculty of Dentistry graduates teamed up to create a practice where patients come first—not sales tactics, not quotas, just compassionate, personalized care for all ages.
As a family dentist in Vancouver, we believe great dental care goes beyond healthy teeth. It’s about trust, comfort, and making every visit a positive experience. In this Q&A, get to know the friendly faces behind Kits Family Dental as they share how they got into dentistry, what they love about their jobs, and a few fun facts.
Get to Know Dr. Robin Mak
Principal Dentist/Founder
- Why did you decide to become a dentist?
My father was a dentist and sometimes I feel like I was groomed as a child to follow in his footsteps….he would often bring me to his clinic when I was a child, and I would play with his instruments and carve little animals out of dental wax. Growing up, I realized I really enjoyed working with my hands. I started making a jewelry line as a teenager, and also my favourite subject was science, so Dentistry turned out to be just the right fit. - What do you love most about Vancouver?
That the ocean, rainforest, and mountains are so close and easy to enjoy. I’ve literally been able to walk on the beach during the day, then go night skiing at Cypress in the evening. I also love all the different ethnicities of authentic food available here. - What is the best part of your job?
Recently, it has been really fun and rewarding to see a patient that started coming to see me as a 3-year-old, now as a teenager! And I really love doing anterior esthetic cases, where just fixing a chipped tooth or leveling out uneven and fractured edges really changes someone’s smile. - What is your favorite 80s movie?
The first ones that come to mind are ET and Back to the Future!
Get to Know Dr. Sakura Iwagami
Principal Dentist/Owner
- What inspired you to go to dental school?
While I was in graduate school at UBC, I bumped into an old grade school friend who recently graduated from dental school. She told me how much she loved dentistry and thought it would be a good fit for me as I was looking for a career change at the time. She was right. - What do you like most about living and working in Kitsilano?
I appreciate being close to the beach and parks but still having access to great restaurants and shopping. It’s pet and family-friendly yet a great area for younger single people to live. It’s close to UBC and downtown so there is a diverse population living and/or working in Kitsilano. - How would you describe your approach to dentistry?
I believe in conservative dentistry where the minimum amount of healthy tooth structure is removed during treatment. I also believe it is my job to diagnose problems and recommend/explain treatment but, ultimately, it is the patient’s decision if they want to accept treatment. I can help guide and prioritize treatment if problems are more complex. - How long have you been playing hockey and what position do you play?
I started playing ice hockey in university. For some reason, there was an unusually large interest in women’s hockey amongst my medicine/dentistry classmates, and we had enough players for two women’s teams. I started out playing wing and can play defense if needed, but I prefer not to play centre (way too much skating!). More recently, I started ball hockey, which is also really enjoyable.
Get to Know Dr. Michael Fenrich
Principal Dentist/Owner
- What do you think sets Kits Family Dental apart?
We know that coming to the dental office isn’t everyone’s favourite thing, so we really try to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Personalized care and treatment is something we strive for. - What is something your patients would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a big fan of the Raptors and Bluejays! - What is the most rewarding aspect of being a Kitsilano dentist?
Being able to see our patients over the years, getting to know them, and becoming a trusted part of their healthcare team is very meaningful to us. Personalized care and seeing our patients happy throughout the treatment process and with the final outcome makes it all worthwhile. - What do you like to do when you’re not at the office?
Outside of the office, I love to get outdoors, as well as catch up on a good book or a movie.
Looking for a dentist in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC?
Whether you just started exploring your options or you’ve been on a years-long mission to find the best dentist in Vancouver, we’d love to meet you! With three talented, down-to-earth dentists, each bringing their own expertise, personality, and sense of humour, we’re confident you’ll find the right fit.
Let’s make dental care easy (and maybe even a little fun). Schedule an appointment today!
