Nothing motivates Mandy Dennis more than inspiring others. A registered hygienist with more than 24 years of dental experience, the Director of Hygiene Operations for 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics hires and trains staff in 7to7’s core values. “We are a customer service business that just happens to do dentistry,” she said. Mandy believes hygiene is the foundation of the office. Patients build their relationship with their dental office through regular cleaning visits. “Full body health starts in your mouth,” she said. We want people to have a great experience ensuring their gums, bones and teeth have a healthy foundation.” She strongly advocates patients visit every six months. "Coming to get cleanings is just like taking a car for an oil change - you By Amy Morgan DENTAL DIGEST wouldn’t wait 15,000 miles,” she said. “The mouth is the same way. We can identify if something is not healthy and address the problem before it gets bigger,” she said. Regular X-rays can reveal spots on the teeth where the enamel is not as strong. The dental professional can apply fluoride and re-mineralize the teeth. This may prevent cavities and the need for a filling. “If we do need to fill, we still can prevent a crown or a root canal,” Mandy added. The 7to7 Dental team realizes people lead busy lives and getting the family to the dentist is not always convenient. They designed their business model around the needs of their patients. Their location at the corner of Stone Oak Parkway and Evans Road includes 12 chairs so patients can schedule multiple family members for comprehensive dental care at the same time. Mandy reports summer calendars are open. “Don’t forget the college-age kids. Get them in now so they can come back in six months over their winter break,” she said. 7to7 Dental’s Stone Oak location dedicated an entire Saturday in April to initial orthodontics appointments. Several patients started with bands that very day. “I loved being part of that,” Mandy said. “We don’t want people to have to come back for another visit if there’s something we can do for them while they are already here.” Mandy recently published a children’s book, I Spy with My Little Eye ... at the Dentist, to reassure the youngest patients. The book captures what children see from their perspective as they come to the office (7to7 Dental starts “happy visits” at three). The book describes how children climb into the chair, clip on the “super guy” cape, and use the “super straw” to suction water out of their hand. Mandy reports writing the book was a bucket list opportunity of which she is professionally proud. The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics care about your oral health and are available 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., seven days a week, for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies. 7to7 Dental is a local business, grown in 14 years from the practice of one dentist and six staff. Co-Owners Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D, and Justin Coke and many of the 250 staff members live in Stone Oak with their families and are part of the community.