From 2000 to 2002, Dr. Dannels lived in Torreón, Mexico, spending two years serving the Hispanic community. The experience profoundly shaped his perspective on healthcare, service, and the barriers many families face when seeking dental treatment.

Upon returning home, he pursued degrees in both Spanish and Biology, knowing his calling was to become a dentist who could bridge cultural and language gaps in healthcare. He later earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Southern California, where his bilingual abilities allowed him to care for Spanish-speaking patients who had never visited a dentist or suffered from significant dental anxiety.

Through these experiences, he witnessed firsthand how a lack of access to education, preventive care, and affordable treatment often led to severe oral health issues — and how many patients had simply never been given the resources to build healthy habits.

Driven by the belief that everyone deserves exceptional dental care, Dr. Dannels built Boca around a patient-centered approach rooted in compassion, education, and accessibility. For more than 13 years, his mission has stayed the same: quality care for every patient, no matter their circumstance.