The Andalusia Dental Group officially welcomed a new dentist to its office yesterday, and he’s no stranger to the group.

“I shadowed at ADG when I was going to Alabama,” Joseph Gantt Eiland said.

Eiland’s passion for dentistry started when he was only 18 years old, on a mission trip to Equador.

The trip was a medical mission, helping teach kids about Jesus while trying to help maintain their health.

“I went with a family friend who was a physician, and I thought that’s what I wanted to do,” Eiland said, “The dentists I met on the trip helped my decision. I saw that dentistry is not superficial, but very serious.”

From there, Eiland went on to the University of Alabama, and actually went on to shadow under Dr. Bill King.

“I’ve always loved the area, most of my family is from here,” Eiland said, “My parents owned a house here, and we’d visit a lot,”

After shadowing with Dr. King, Eiland was accepted to UAB’s School of Dentistry, and earned his doctorate.

He received an offer from ADG, and has been working there for about six months.

“From day one, my plan was to work in a small town like Andalusia. I knew the area, I shadowed here, and I love it here,” Eiland said, “Dentistry is a personal, one-on-one experience, and that’s why I chose it.”

ADG held a reception for Eiland Monday afternoon.