Dr. Mandy Shearer says she sank her teeth into dentistry because it's an art that people need in their everyday lives.
She keeps the smiles coming with Soddy Daisy Smiles, her family and cosmetic dentistry office.
"When I saw how much artistry goes into making teeth and making a smile, I was hooked," said Shearer, who's also passionate about artistic drawing.
She said she was struck early in her career by how devastating bad teeth can be. She said she saw many people compelled to smile close lipped or cover their smiles with their hands.
"When we are able to give them back that most basic thing, to be able to smile, the way their whole face lights up is priceless," said Shearer. "That moment is what gets me up every morning."
Shearer's staff is known for its friendliness, enabling otherwise anxiety-stricken patients to actually enjoy a visit to the dentist. Her husband, Dr. Robert Shearer, ups the ante with his training in sedation dentistry, which he brings to her office once a week.
Shearer's staff is known for its friendliness, enabling otherwise anxiety-stricken patients to actually enjoy a visit to the dentist. Her husband, Dr. Robert Shearer, ups the ante with his training in sedation dentistry, which he brings to her office once a week.
"We understand that many people have dental fear and anxiety that is so overwhelming they can't even set foot inside a dental office," Shearer said. "With the use of sedation dentistry, several of our patients have been able to overcome their fear."
Sedation makes a few hours seem like a few minutes, and patients usually don't even remember their visit, she said. Shearer and her staff always have time to discuss a patient's worries and goals, she added.
"We have made every effort to make time for our patients," Shearer said, "not only to discuss their care, but to build a relationship with our doctor and staff. We don't treat teeth, we care for people."
Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss - mostly due to tooth decay, periodontitis (gum disease), or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges, partials and dentures. But with the use of dental implants, Shearer has been able to help her patients replace their missing teeth with a more natural and comfortable feel. For example, if a patient has suffered from poor-fitting dentures that are uncomfortable and slip, causing slurred speech and requiring the use of dental adhesive, dental implants can be used to attach the denture or partial, which would allow the patient to speak without the worry that his or her teeth might slip or fall out, because they become part of the patient.
Shearer said continuing education is a big deal to her and she brings whatever new knowledge she acquires to the office and its staff whenever she can. Recently, she said, her eyes were opened at a Six Month Smiles seminar. The brand's clear braces system straightens teeth - without a mouthful of metal - in six months, on average.
"Honestly, I'm a passionate learner," Shearer said. "I'm constantly looking for ways to make my dentistry better."
Shearer earned her doctor of dental surgery degree from Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry in California, where she served as an assistant professor of restorative dentistry and a clinical instructor for several years. She said education is important for her patients, too.
"The best way to fix the problem is to prevent the problem," said Shearer, who recommends good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups. "Prevention is the least expensive way to maintain our smile. More and more people are judged by their smile. We are here to give our patients the tools to keep it at its best."
Shearer said her favorite high-tech gizmo in her office, the Diagnodent dental laser, can detect tooth decay so early that the patient can actually prevent a looming cavity. The laser is more perceptive than the human eye or an X-ray.
Though Shearer grew up in Ooltewah, she said Soddy- Daisy is her home now.
"Soddy-Daisy really welcomed me with open arms and I'm just amazingly grateful for that," she said. "I had no idea how much of a jewel this area is. It's beautiful, growing, and the people are the nicest. It's like being a part of a big family."
IMPROVE YOUR SMILE
Soddy Daisy Smiles offers a range of services in the categories of cleanings and prevention, cosmetic dentistry, gum disease and tooth restoration. The office is located at 9759 Dayton Pike. For more information call 423-332-5275, email soddydaisysmiles@gmail.com or visit www.soddydaisysmiles.com. Soddy Daisy Smiles can also be found on Facebook.