Inspiring Conversations with Richard Dawson of Smile Science Dental Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Dawson.

Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Dr. Turke and I met on our first day of dental school. We were fast friends, and we got along well. In many ways, our personalities complement each other. I can be rather loud, big, and perhaps at times brash. Dr. Turke is quiet, more subdued, and less in-your-face. I think we are a natural fit.

After dental school, we both got hired at the same corporate dental outfits together. We had a miserable time. The world of corporate dentistry is like a pressure cooker. You are constantly being pushed to do more, go faster, and see more patients. But, the ethical side of you wants to take all the time you need to ensure each patient gets the care they need and deserve. It’s really hard for most people to stand up to that.

Thus, Smile Science was born. I spent my first couple of years out of dental school planning my escape. I knew I had to get out of the corporate meat grinder, but I also knew that the only way to compete with them is to be well-prepared. So, I started planning. I spent countless hours creating a vision, and I have absolutely no regrets.

Now, Dr. Turke and I can focus our attention on the needs of our patients. We take all the time we need, and we ensure that our patients never feel rushed.

Although it’s impossible to make everyone happy, we try our hardest to do just that. We know it’s not much fun going to the dentist, so our entire office and team are focused on patient comfort. That’s how we got where we are, three months after opening our doors, we are working hard to put a smile on every patient’s face.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As I said before, corporate dentistry is a tough gig. Also, starting a business is insanely stressful. It’s kind of like having kids. Everyone tells you it’s tough, and you know it’s going to be tough, but you have no idea until you have one just how hard it is.

We have experienced so many things, like a contractor putting holes in our roof on accident, a water pump exploding during the first month we were open, and all of the pitfalls you can’t imagine until you’ve had to deal with the Kafkaesque nightmare of receiving payment from insurance companies.

We’ve been impressed with Smile Science Dental Spa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a dental office that specializes in patient comfort. We offer virtually every dental service in-house, and a slew of amenities and comforts to allow our patients to have a different relationship with dentistry than they are used to.

We plan to offer even better amenities in the future, so stay tuned!

Who else deserves credit for your story?
My business partner John Turke. My incredibly supportive wife Erin, is an absolute rock and keeps me grounded.

My mother is a great sounding board when I need to think through things or just vent. My team: Katie, Anthony, and Vivian. Our former marketing guru, Tori.

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive of us. Rosie, a Regional Director over at MB2 (a large dental corporation) has been a terrific advocate and friend of ours. The list could go on for paragraphs, so I’ll stop there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smilescience.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilesciencedental/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smilesciencespa
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/smile-science-dental-spa-glendale-2