A passionate dentist, devoted mother, and fitness enthusiast, she blends cutting-edge technology with heartfelt care, transforming smiles and inspiring confidence in every patient she meets.
Susan, we’re excited to get to know you. Give us a little background information about yourself.
I was born and raised in Roswell, GA. I attended the University of Georgia for undergrad and graduated from the Medical College of Georgia for Dental School. After dental school, I got married to my college sweetheart, David, and had two sons, Sam, and Jacob.
These boys are the light of my life and keep me inspired to be a great role model for them. She is currently the owner of CRE8 Smile Studio, a successful cosmetic dental practice in Jacksonville, Florida. I am also fascinated with learning about nutrition and how it plays a role in overall healing and evolving people to the best versions of themselves through epigenetics.
I keep a consistent fitness routine, as well as practice daily meditation to stay motivated and grounded in my day-to-day life. My all-time favorite activities include snowboarding, boating, concerts, and GA football games.
What inspired you to pursue dentistry, particularly with a focus on cosmetic and restorative dentistry?
At a young age, I learned that I was congenitally missing some of my permanent teeth. Luckily, I had a great team of dentists that helped me through all the transitional years of development, so that I never went with the appearance of missing teeth.
I understood first-hand the power and confidence that cosmetic and restorative dentists can give someone by enhancing their smiles. My entire life, I wanted to be just like my childhood heroes and give other people the gift of a beautiful, healthy, and functional smile.
Can you share more about your experience as a Key Opinion Leader for SprintRay and how it has influenced your practice?
I am grateful for the opportunity to be the Key Opinion leader for SprintRay, as it is the leading 3D printer manufacturer for the dental industry. As a key opinion leader, I have the first insight into all the latest advances in the technology, which has served as an invaluable tool to expand what is possible for patient care.
The latest printable materials are superior in strength, providing more predictable patient outcomes long term. Esthetics have also improved for printable veneers, which allows patients a more affordable alternative to porcelain veneers. This is however just a glimpse of how 3D printing has expanded the realm of possibilities in patient treatment and could be a topic in and of itself for another article.
How do you integrate the latest digital technology into your cosmetic and restorative dental procedures? I have two digital scanners, a 3D CBCT (Cone beam computed tomography), a Cerec mill, Exocad digital design software and two 3D printers. There are a multitude of applications for this digital technology. Just to name a few: The digital scanners allow me to get virtual models of a patient’s mouth.
I can do numerous things with these models. I have the ability to use the models to track physical changes in a patient’s gum tissue and dentition. These digital scans can also be utilized to design dental restorations, which can be printed or milled, depending on the case scenario. With the Exocad software, I incorporate concepts in facially generated treatment planning to create a patient’s smile design.
The Sicat Software allows me to merge the 3D CBCT radiographs with the patient’s jaw scans, to predictably execute virtual implant planning and create a virtual surgical guide, which I am able to 3D print for the surgical implant placement procedures.
Could you elaborate on the impact of your social media presence on your professional opportunities and patient care approach?
My social media presence has positively impacted my professional career and opportunities in a multifaceted way. Initially, I was able to just get a glimpse into what was possible by following world-renowned dental thought leaders and practitioners.
This led me into an explorative learning journey, as I am constantly signing up for high-level continuing education courses that will give me insight into how to achieve mastery in particular skills that I wish to conquer.
Through my travels, I have been blessed to encounter a network of the most inspiring and talented dentists imaginable, stretching my mind into new dimensions and creating limitless possibilities for the future of my patient care.
Just as roots in a tree, the social network continues to grow in an exponential way, creating different avenues of opportunities. Just posting about my different experiences and tagging people and companies within those experiences, has linked me with several dental companies and dental professionals that I never would have dreamed to meet otherwise.
Having these connections has led to speaking engagements, published journal articles, KOL opportunities and the list goes on.
What challenges have you faced as a business owner and how have you managed to balance your professional and personal life effectively?
As a business owner, there are challenges every day, some of which include but are not limited to financial strain, staffing, patient relations, growth, and development.
However, I try to consistently keep my overall vision in mind and take small strides along the way that align with my vision.
This allows me to continuously grow and evolve in a way that is not overwhelming. This mentality keeps me grounded, helps me maintain joy in what I do and enables me to focus on my family when work hours are over.
How do you prioritize self-care while managing a busy schedule as a dentist and a mother of two?
I have the mentality that one is far better at taking care of others if they prioritize self-care. Fitness, meditation, eating healthy and proper supplementation give me the energy to tackle everything that I need to do daily and the mental clarity to feel that all my responsibilities are manageable.
I also believe that self-care is the ultimate form of self-respect, and it helps to perpetuate positive self-talk and overall mental health. All these things are mirrored outwardly, allowing me to focus on spreading the love and care to others.
Could you share insights into your workout routine and its role in maintaining your physical and mental well-being?
I aim to workout 4-5 days a week for 45 minutes each session. During the week, I do a 5:30 am workout, which allows me to have enough time to get myself and my kids ready for the day. Weekend workout times vary, depending on my schedule.
I find that working out gives me a huge boost in energy and well-being. Morning workouts are hard, but they give a sense of accomplishment, and it makes me feel like anything that I need to do the rest of the day will not be a hard as my workout.
It took me some time to build up to this consistent workout routine. Before kids, I would work out in the evenings, but as a mom, your time is not always your own once everyone wakes up. I started with just one day a week in the morning at 10 minutes a session.
Once I had that mastered, I slowly increased the amount of time I was working out. After that, I increased to 2 days a week and so on. I still feel that it is important to take a day or two of rest to allow for muscle recovery.
The morning routine was just one of the two important changes to make this a sustainable lifestyle. It is equally important to have a night routine that enables you to get enough sleep. After I put my kids to bed, I allow myself an hour to watch TV before I wind down with a good book.
Magnesium spray and mouth tape are also key players in my nightly routine. Studies have shown that many people are deficient in magnesium and that it is very beneficial when it comes to a good night’s rest. I always have the most interesting dreams when using the Magnesium spray!
Mouth tape may sound a little odd, but nasal breathing has many health benefits. It provides you with more oxygenation to your blood, a better night’s rest and keeps you from mouth breathing, which leads to a myriad of dental, health and developmental problems.
Can you discuss the importance of empathy and compassion in your approach to dentistry, particularly in addressing patients’ cosmetic concerns?
Empathy and compassion are two of the most important qualities a dentist should have when it comes to managing patient care. As a lifelong patient myself, these characteristics come naturally, making it easy for me.
I understand the importance of feeling good about your smile, wanting to have a healthy and functional mouth and most importantly, trusting that your provider will be able to deliver the type of care that will meet expectations while providing a safe space.
What advice would you offer to aspiring dentists, especially those interested in pursuing cosmetic and restorative dentistry?
Never stop learning. Seek out continuing education courses that will keep you on the forefront of technological advances and the most efficient workflows, providing the highest-level outcomes for patients.
Either work towards owning your own practice so that you can be in control of your own evolutionary growth and continued development or find an associateship that aligns with your values. Seek out relationships with dental thought leaders that continuously inspire you to be better than yourself every day.
Make it a priority to take care of yourself and your well-being so that you have the energy to keep moving forward in a sustainable and enjoyable way. Take time to enjoy your family, friends, and other interests outside of dentistry, so you can stay balanced and not burn out.
