Polo dentist all smiles as he returns to his hometown

POLO – A dentist has returned to his boyhood home to care for the community that helped raise him.

Dr. Ryan Clayton, who grew up in Polo, graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dental School in Alton and on July 3 succeeded Dr. Steven Sorenson at the Polo Dental Clinic office, 1107 S. Division Ave.

​“In the back of my mind, I always knew I’d be back here. I got to talking about that one day with Dr. Sorenson, and he told me he was getting ready to retire,” Clayton said.

“I absolutely love it, being with the people, and seeing familiar faces. Honestly, the dental work itself becomes second nature."

The community has embraced the change.

“I expected to be a little slow coming fresh out of school, but it’s picked up right out the gate,” he said. “Monday, I see around 25 people in a single day, but an average day thereafter is still anywhere from 12 to 15.”

The 27-year-old 2008 Polo High graduate played football, basketball, and baseball for the school. He is the son of Lisa Clayton of Polo and Ken Clayton of Forreston, and the grandson of Harold Garber, former owner of Garber’s Big John septic cleaning service. His brother, Brix, 19, also lives in Polo.

He is accepting new patients at 815-946-3848.