June 12, 2025 • 24 mins
Dr. Taylor Eliades takes us on her journey from a braces-wearing child to the owner of Aster Orthodontics, a brand-new practice in Franklin Lakes. Unlike many who dread dental appointments, Dr. Taylor fondly recalls her childhood orthodontist experience as "enjoyable" – a feeling she now aims to recreate for her own patients.
The conversation delves into what drives healthcare professionals to open their own practices. For Dr. Taylor, the desire for creative control and adding her personal touch to patient care outweighed the business challenges that come with transitioning from medicine to entrepreneurship. Despite not having formal business training, she's navigating the learning curve through research and networking with other business owners, embracing both the freedom and responsibility of being her own boss.
We explore fascinating developments in modern orthodontics that have transformed the patient experience. Dr. Taylor explains how clear aligners have evolved beyond just Invisalign, making treatment more accessible and comfortable for patients of all ages. She shares her practice's cutting-edge approach using digital scanning and 3D printing technology to create more precise, comfortable fittings – eliminating the discomfort of traditional methods.
The name "Aster Orthodontics" carries special significance, rooted in Greek mythology and Dr. Taylor's heritage. She explains how Astraea, a goddess sent to the skies, would cry when looking down at Earth's troubles. Where her tears fell, colorful aster flowers would bloom – a beautiful metaphor for bringing color and confidence through transformed smiles. Every aspect of her practice, from the logo font to the night sky-themed decor, was personally designed to create a welcoming, modern environment.
Ready to transform your smile or your child's? Visit Dr. Taylor at 779 Franklin Avenue in Franklin Lakes or call 551-209-1243 to schedule a free consultation. Summer appointments are available now – the perfect time to begin treatment while school's out!
Aster Orthodontics
Dr. Taylor Eliades
779 Franklin Ave
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
(551) 209-1243
Asterorthodontics@gmail.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast brought to youby the Bergen Neighbors Media
Group.
Today we are joined by DrTaylor Eliades.
People like to call her just DrTaylor, if they can't speak
Greek, I guess.
Hopefully I pronounced itproperly.
She is the owner of the brandnew practice in Franklin Lakes
Aster Orthodontics.
(00:32):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thanks for having me, and you were pretty close there
, eliades.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Eliades, okay, not Eliades, okay, eliades, okay,
close.
I did live in Astoria Queensfor seven years, so oh, so you
know, you've tasted some goodGreek food.
Yeah, my wife's grandmother,yaya, is from Cyprus.
There you go.
So, anyway, astro Orthodontics,you're located on Franklin
(00:59):
Avenue in Franklin Lakes.
We were talking before we wenton live that you're a new
practice.
Um, so tell me a little bitabout why, like why I mean we
can go way back, like to yourhigh school days.
Um, like when did you decideyou wanted to be a dentist?
Why orthodontics?
And then why start your ownpractice?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
sure, um, I think I always knew I wanted to be more
in the health care field.
The science was a little moreattracted to that area, and
growing up I had a really niceorthodontist.
He was, you know, very sweetand gentle and I was there all
the time.
I had everything from anexpander to a headgear, to
(01:41):
braces.
So I had my fair share of metalin my mouth, but it just was
like a very enjoyable experience.
I really I liked going there.
I liked the environment, howthere was always kids there, it
was high energy.
He's not sitting at a desk allday and so I kind of looked into
(02:03):
that.
And then, the more I thoughtabout it, I like the idea of
helping people out make thatnice smile, and people are very
comfortable to laugh when theyhave a nice smile and who
doesn't love to be aroundsomeone who laughs.
So I just thought you know thatthat would be a great avenue to
go down and I kind of pursuedthat all the way.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
So yeah, that's great , um, I mean, I think and I
haven't heard too many peoplesay you know, when I've had
dentists on the show talk abouthow they just want to help
people, you know with theirsmile, but you know how, you
know when you're willing tosmile and bare your teeth,
versus people that kind of coverit up, or you know they're a
(02:49):
little bit more hesitant tosmile as brightly and to let go.
So that's a really good kind ofa great why as to why you do
what you do.
So you mentioned, like you know, growing up, when you used to
go to his office and there werekids around and it was high
energy.
Is that why you started yourown practice?
I mean, so you went to dentalschool.
(03:10):
I mean first obviously went toundergrad and went to dental
school and got all yourcertifications and all that.
At what point were you workingfor someone else first, out of
you know, once you finished allyour studies, or did you go into
business right away?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
you know once you finished all your studies, or
did you go into business rightaway?
Yeah, so I was out of school.
After my residency, I went andworked for someone for two years
and it was a pretty fast pacedoffice, very efficient,
technology forward.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So that was really helpful in terms of just
practical skills, because inschool you kind of learn a
little more theory and it'sdefinitely not necessarily the
most realistic of a privatepractice.
So just kind of honed my skillsand learned everything.
And yeah, I worked with a lotof kids.
The office was a mixture ofkids and adults so I definitely
(04:06):
I mean I have fun with bothcategories, but kids are a
little.
They're a little more fun to.
You can kind of joke around alittle more and get a little
more out of them.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So do you get many adult patients in orthodontics,
or is it mostly kids like thatneed braces?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
So you definitely.
Nowadays we do see a lot ofpeople, especially with the
clear aligners, coming out yeah,and actually from covid.
Everyone was doing zoommeetings and they were seeing
their faces, so that they werelooking at their teeth and like,
oh god, look at my teeth andthen they yeah so that's why
there's been kind of a boom inthe adult.
(04:45):
Okay yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, interesting.
So when did you decide to startyour own practice?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I decided probably halfway through my last job that
I was at for two years.
I just wanted to kind of be alittle more in control and be
able to do it not necessarily myway, because I I agree with how
we were practicing there.
I just wanted to just have alittle more of my own touch to
(05:17):
it and right schedule and stufflike that.
So I just decided if I'm gonnado it, I'm gonna do it now that
so I just decided if I'm goingto do it, I'm going to do it now
, and now meaning just a fewmonths ago.
Yeah, so I just opened inmiddle of April.
So she opened.
You know the building looksgreat.
It's transformation.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, that's great.
Yeah, and you know the the.
The challenge I hear from a lotof doctors who go into business
is that you know.
Again, if I look at yourbackground of your educational
studies, you did yourundergraduate and bachelor's of
science.
You went to the University ofPennsylvania School of Dental
(05:59):
Medicine.
You did your doctorate ofdental medicine while graduating
top of your class.
You were a certificate oforthodontics at the Georgia
School of Orthodontics.
There's nowhere in here do Isee it says you have a business
degree, accounting or marketingdegree, or where is your
certification in entrepreneurial?
You know things like that.
(06:21):
You know what I'm saying.
So you know that's most peoplewho go into business didn't
study business that I have on myshow.
So what has that been like interms of you know there's
obviously there's marketing,there's billing, there's
employee relations and all theother things that you don't
learn at the School of DentalMedicine.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, there are a lot of aspects that are definitely
not taught.
You can try to seek out courses.
A lot of times they're notspecific enough to this field,
which is probably the biggestchallenge.
There are courses, but it's alot of just trial and error
asking someone else who's in thefield, who's maybe a little
older or someone who's you know,for example, payroll.
(07:05):
Most companies have to runpayroll, so asking a friend in a
different business, that'susually pretty similar.
So, but for the most part it isjust doing a lot of research,
seeing what's out there, pickingsomething.
You got to make decisions, somaking the decision and then, if
it doesn't turn out good, youjust go down a different avenue
(07:29):
and you'll figure it out right,right, yeah, so I used to work
for viacom, which is now calledparamount.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It was, um, the company that owned mtv,
nickelodeon in Comedy Central,bet and I got laid off in 2017
as technology and consumerbehavior shifted.
I was in consumer products, butspecifically in the home
entertainment division homevideo so you can imagine why I
(07:57):
don't work there anymore.
But I just saw that there werea big round of layoffs and
people were posting on LinkedIn.
After 17 years, you know, I'vejust been laid off and just, you
know all my hard years of hardwork and dedication and loyalty.
It just doesn't matter that.
That, that that, and yourealize that.
(08:17):
You know going off on your own.
Uh, as I did, as you did.
You know, like you just said,you learn as you go.
You don't have to worry aboutthe boss hanging over you saying
you did that wrong and now yourjob's on the line or whatever.
Listen you, you, you learn asyou go and hopefully you have a
steep learning curve.
Um, but you're free to makemistakes, but also free to to
(08:39):
reap the benefits of the of thegood decisions you make.
Um, I mean, is that one of thethings that you've?
I know it's only been, you know, half a year, not even.
But how is this one of thethings that you enjoy about
owning your own practice, or isit one of the things that are
more frustrating?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I guess it's a little bit of both.
The freedom aspect is nice,it's a little bit of both.
Yeah, the freedom aspect is niceand knowing that if I mess up
it's only me, that's necessarilythe consequence or the blowback
.
But um, yeah, it is some.
In the other aspect.
It could be nice to havesomeone else to fall back on if
(09:27):
you don't know what you're doing.
But I, I think overall I mean,I always knew I wanted to own my
own practice, so it was just amatter of time and I think down
the road the freedom is justgoing to be so much more
liberating than a lot ofcompanies now are getting bought
up by these big companies, theDSOs.
You don't really have control,and that's what you want in your
business.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah.
So one of the questions I haveis I have an 11-year-old son and
we've been to the orthodontisttwice to have him.
You know he still has someteeth left but he's definitely
got this like overbite Okay, butsome of his friends have just
gotten braces, but he's notready.
What age should a child beginorthodontic treatment?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
oh, so that varies for everyone.
Um, your first visit to theorthodontist should be at age
seven, just to get checked out,just in case you have.
You know, maybe there's a lotof crowding, they need an
expander.
But for the most part you'rekind of I'm assuming you're on
like a maybe a half a year check, something like that with him
(10:31):
yep yeah, typically wait for allthe adult.
The babies need to fall out andthe adult teeth to come in okay,
that way you're not sitting inthe braces forever, or the
liners whichever one you chooseum, because they are hard to
clean around and you know youdon't want them on longer than
you have to.
So usually, once all thoseadult teeth are in, you can get
(10:51):
going.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
So what's an aligner?
Is that, you know, is thatdifferent than braces?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yes, so braces are the metal little brackets most
people are familiar with.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, train tracks, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, and the aligner everyone thinks Invisalign.
Invisalign is just one company.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
There's many companies out there.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
It's the clear, basically sucked down shell that
has.
You get incremental aligners,trays.
Each tray has a little bit ofmovement in it and you just
successively move through thetrays until you're at your final
destination.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Okay, okay, and then that's more.
You know, that's not normallyfor 11 and 12 year olds, it's
usually for adults, as youmentioned, or even older teens
could be a candidate foraligners.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
So, yeah, they're actually a lot more.
The technology has come a longway.
It used to be, you know, wewere only doing it for adults,
for limited treatment, but now,because the aligner material is
so much better, we are doing alot more on younger and younger
patients and it's working.
And so, yeah, I offer alignersor braces to pretty young.
(12:05):
I mean, I don't want someonewho's not going to you know, a
seven-year-old wearing thatbecause they're going to lose it
, or something like that.
But, teens high school.
If they can prove that they'reresponsible enough to wear them,
then we'll probably work withthem to do the aligner.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
So when you get braces.
How long, I know it can vary,but what's the typical length of
time somebody wears braces for?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Oh, I would say like maybe 18 months Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah, you know, I was probably a candidate.
My lower teeth are all crooked,but for whatever reason, maybe
I didn't realize I was living inEngland at the time.
I wasn't.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Oh, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
It's really funny.
I mean, austin Powers does agreat spoof on that but I did
live in England, but I was acollege student at that point.
I was at uni, as they say,university and it is true, a lot
of British English people donot get their teeth quote
unquote fixed.
And you know, is it becauseorthodontics isn't covered under
(13:08):
their national health plan ordo they just not care so much?
Because I personally wasshocked that this guy had such
bad teeth and he had such a goodlooking girlfriend.
I was like damn, that wouldnever fly in America, or I would
say back in the States.
You know, it looked like histeeth were just thrown in, you
know, with a bunch of glue andyou just threw them in there.
They're like all over the place.
I mean, they weren't yellow oranything, but I was like damn,
(13:31):
you know spaces and this, andthat doesn't matter, you know,
in England.
I mean we're going back 30 yearsmaybe things have changed, but
yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
No, I think it's.
They just don't care over there, which I you know there's more
to it than just the looks.
It's the health of your teethand everything.
So yeah, it is surprising.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah, it is.
It is funny, but yeah.
So I don't know why I didn'tget braces when I was younger.
We didn't live in England, butyou know, maybe I was the fourth
kid in four years and man, Ijust kind of forgot.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, that happens.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Four and a half years .
So you have you know somethingyou're calling Summer at Aster
Smile, into Summer at AsterOrthodontics.
So what is that about?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
So right now we're just trying to get people.
Summer is the best time to getkids in, because there's no
school.
There's no you know we're nottaking them out of activities
that they need to essentiallycatch up on.
So we're trying to get as manypeople in to get the consults,
just to get informed, knowwhat's going on.
We're open some saturdays umconsults are free.
(14:36):
So you set up an appointment,come on in, we'll take an x-ray
pictures scan and just seewhat's going on in there.
And then we're also doing doingkind of like a limited time
discount just for people thatcome in, just some incentive off
of treatment.
So that's kind of interestingand how do like.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
How are people?
I'm on your website, that's howI saw that, but how else would
I know that you're doing that?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
I do have some Facebook ads running, so those
are going out there.
Instagram ads Okay.
Stuff like that.
Most people will look at thewebsite though, so I'm thinking
that's going through the website.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
But other than that, I'm around town, I'm trying to
do I did.
Well, I was supposed to do theWyckoff Day, oh no.
It rained out, even though itreally didn't rain day that got
rained out, even though itreally didn't rain.
I know I did franco mike's dayit.
It was very windy that day andthat one had to get moved
because of the rain as well.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So two years ago.
Almost every.
You know I have seven townswhere I have magazines and white
cough does theirs in june, um,but normally everybody else does
it after waiver day and somethey're all the same day.
So I'm like, oh, I can't be inthree places at once.
But two years ago I get almosteverybody got rained out, you
know and got, and it's tough toreschedule these things because
(15:50):
you spend a all the vendors bookthe time, but then you have all
the, you know, ems, emt, the,the permits and everything else.
So, um, I wonder if they'llcome a time when they stop doing
all these town days, because Ithink it's a bit of an overkill
now because every town, like Isaid over in Northern Valley
where I live, like HarringtonPark and Old Depends the same
(16:11):
day, maybe Norwood's the sameday and Northvale's the
following week, and then maybeHaworth and Demarest, it's like,
yeah, I was, you know, and forme, who has like a brand in each
of those towns, it's tough.
Sometimes I just go to the townday but I don't have a table.
That makes sense, Because Ican't you know I can't be
everywhere, but yeah, so youknow there's a lot of
(16:33):
orthodontics, you knoworthodontics practices out there
, so what do you think is youknow different about yours?
Or why would somebody want tocome to your practice?
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Well, yeah, no, no, it's all good.
I, I personally designed thewhole office.
So every little you know, everyhandle, every little thing, I
put, you know, a lot of thoughtinto everything that I designed.
I wanted to make it welcomingand kind of a calm vibe, but
also modern and clean upscale.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
So it's a little bit of both there.
And I think, in terms oftreatment wise, I'm using I
don't want to say the top of theline, because most people are
using that, but some more newtechniques that are a little
more comfortable.
So, for instance, when you getyour braces on, a lot of
orthodontists will place themone by one on each tooth.
(17:28):
But now what I'm doing and thisis, you know, what more of the
younger generation is doing isyou can digitally place them on
the computer, on the scan thatwe took on your teeth, and then
it gets 3d printed into a trayand then the tray just slides
onto your teeth.
So there's four quadrants oftrays that when you come in for
that bonding appointment, it'smuch quicker, much more
(17:50):
comfortable and it just helpswith maybe someone who's a
little, has a little dentalanxiety or anything like that,
yeah, wow so it's really coolyeah.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It is amazing, even x-rays today.
Yeah, you don't have to have.
You know those painful thingsin your mouth.
The film and then the camera,if you want to call it that
right up to your cheek and andand I love how you know they
could take a picture of yourtooth and put it right up on the
screen and see it and then showyou the patient's and sometimes
(18:25):
, like I don't want to see mymouth, I don't want to know
what's in there.
I don't want to see that.
I'll take your word for it, butyou know it's important.
I can show you right away.
Hey, this is what we're lookingat.
This is where we see this.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
So yeah, it's helpful to describe.
Yeah, yeah it's helpful todescribe, especially in
orthodontics, because it's hardto see what's going on in the
back of your mouth or your biteor something like that.
So we utilize the screens a lotto show with pictures, or I'm
using a 3D model on the screento flip it in such a way that
you can see it a little betterand understand issues.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Yeah, that's great.
And what are your hours?
Um?
Are you open every day, mondaythrough friday?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
now, obviously you have the saturday hours yeah, so
um mostly open every day here.
Um we're doing late.
Tuesdays and thursdays areuntil seven um eight to seven,
and then um monday, wednesday,friday, is eight to um six, and
then Saturdays are short, prettyconvenient, that's great.
(19:27):
It's good.
You know a lot of right now.
It's a lot of after school.
You got to be open for anyoneafter school but summertime
hoping to get those.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I mean, yeah, you're, I mean you are doing a lot, but
as as your, I guess, as yourhusband said, you, uh, you don't
sit still for very long, so, uh, that's great.
I mean that's an important, itis an important trait to have as
a new business owner, becauseyou do have to constantly grind
it out and and just hustle.
You know it doesn't.
(19:57):
It's as, you see, is you know,every business, including my own
, you just don't, you know, putthe door and say open for
business and everybody comesrushing in.
You know, I think we all wishwe could do that.
Or you hear these stories like,oh yeah, I have an Instagram
page and I got all my businessfrom Instagram.
I'm like, really, like somebodysaw you dancing around, like
I'm always shocked how I seedental practices or doctor's
(20:17):
offices and they have theirstaff, you know, dancing to
music and I'm like that'ssupposed to give me the
confidence to call you for anappointment.
I mean I get it drives, I mightstay and watch it, but and you
got likes and you got maybe somestickiness, but is that the
reason I'm calling a doctor or adentist?
Not not me personally.
(20:38):
But you know, listen, everylittle bit of keeping people you
know, getting their attentionand keeping them, keeping you
top of mind, I guess, is whythey do it, and that's the
business I'm in.
So I understand it to someextent.
But, um, the fact that youcan't sit still for very long, I
think, is a good trait to have,uh, when you're, you know,
opening your own practice.
(20:58):
So, my, my, you know my twocents, yeah.
So, um, you know the name ofAster and your and the font that
you use is a very Greek, uhtheme to it.
So you know your name.
I mentioned you have a Greekname, so is there anything else?
And I guess Aster was the Greekgoddess, uh, astraea, uh, what
(21:21):
was she?
The goddess of Astraea, whatwas she the goddess of.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
She was the goddess.
She became the goddess of theskies.
Essentially, there's a verylong story on her, but she was
banned from the earth becauseshe was too pure.
They sent her to the skies.
When she looked down and shesaw I guess this was a time of
like the war.
There were wars going on.
(21:46):
This was again back in Greekmythology.
She cried, and then, when shecried, her tears would hit the
earth and these little flowers,which are called asters, would
bloom, and they're very, verycolorful flowers.
So anywhere her tears touchedit would turn into color.
So, a little bit of Greekhistory there.
Yeah, that's great, but yeah, Ijust wanted to incorporate my
(22:11):
Greek background and somethingwith a little bit of meaning
that I could kind of yeah, Ilike the idea of a star or like
the night sky.
You know, my office is a littlemore night sky themed, so that
was just kind of kind of thepath I went down.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, I love that.
I love that.
I mean, it's you right, it's abit of who you are and it's not
just some sterile cookie cutterplace.
Yeah, and that's great.
Well, Dr Taylor, if I pronouncethat properly.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
That was pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I think that means thank you in Greek.
A few words I learned again inAstoria.
That's about it.
I don't know what do they saywhen you, when I, when I would
call the front desk at the hotel, they'd say yeah, yeah.
So, anyway, that's my Greekreek,uh, my, my greek culture, so I
(23:08):
apologize.
Um, this was great, so let'sjust I'm going to review.
You are on 779 franklin avenuein franklin lakes, new jersey.
Phone number is 551-209-1243and it's Aster A S T E R
orthodonticscom and Dr Taylor.
(23:29):
This is great.
I really appreciate you sharingwith us and you know, if you
have any parting words you'dlike to say, anything I left out
.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
No, this was awesome.
I had a lot of fun, and I guessI would say anyone who's
listening and has kids or forthemselves.
We are here to you know, toshow you everything that you
want to get done and come on in,even if you want to see the
building just come say hi, we'reopen.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Excellent, all right.
Well, we're just going to closeit out, with Chuck here and you
and I'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
All right Cool, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.
com.
That's gnpbergen.
com, or call 201-298-8325.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast brought to youby the Bergen Neighbors Media
Group.
Today we are joined by DrTaylor Eliades.
People like to call her just DrTaylor, if they can't speak
Greek, I guess.
Hopefully I pronounced itproperly.
She is the owner of the brandnew practice in Franklin Lakes
Aster Orthodontics.
(00:32):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thanks for having me, and you were pretty close there
, eliades.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Eliades, okay, not Eliades, okay, eliades, okay,
close.
I did live in Astoria Queensfor seven years, so oh, so you
know, you've tasted some goodGreek food.
Yeah, my wife's grandmother,yaya, is from Cyprus.
There you go.
So, anyway, astro Orthodontics,you're located on Franklin
(00:59):
Avenue in Franklin Lakes.
We were talking before we wenton live that you're a new
practice.
Um, so tell me a little bitabout why, like why I mean we
can go way back, like to yourhigh school days.
Um, like when did you decideyou wanted to be a dentist?
Why orthodontics?
And then why start your ownpractice?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
sure, um, I think I always knew I wanted to be more
in the health care field.
The science was a little moreattracted to that area, and
growing up I had a really niceorthodontist.
He was, you know, very sweetand gentle and I was there all
the time.
I had everything from anexpander to a headgear, to
(01:41):
braces.
So I had my fair share of metalin my mouth, but it just was
like a very enjoyable experience.
I really I liked going there.
I liked the environment, howthere was always kids there, it
was high energy.
He's not sitting at a desk allday and so I kind of looked into
(02:03):
that.
And then, the more I thoughtabout it, I like the idea of
helping people out make thatnice smile, and people are very
comfortable to laugh when theyhave a nice smile and who
doesn't love to be aroundsomeone who laughs.
So I just thought you know thatthat would be a great avenue to
go down and I kind of pursuedthat all the way.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
So yeah, that's great , um, I mean, I think and I
haven't heard too many peoplesay you know, when I've had
dentists on the show talk abouthow they just want to help
people, you know with theirsmile, but you know how, you
know when you're willing tosmile and bare your teeth,
versus people that kind of coverit up, or you know they're a
(02:49):
little bit more hesitant tosmile as brightly and to let go.
So that's a really good kind ofa great why as to why you do
what you do.
So you mentioned, like you know, growing up, when you used to
go to his office and there werekids around and it was high
energy.
Is that why you started yourown practice?
I mean, so you went to dentalschool.
(03:10):
I mean first obviously went toundergrad and went to dental
school and got all yourcertifications and all that.
At what point were you workingfor someone else first, out of
you know, once you finished allyour studies, or did you go into
business right away?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
you know once you finished all your studies, or
did you go into business rightaway?
Yeah, so I was out of school.
After my residency, I went andworked for someone for two years
and it was a pretty fast pacedoffice, very efficient,
technology forward.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
So that was really helpful in terms of just
practical skills, because inschool you kind of learn a
little more theory and it'sdefinitely not necessarily the
most realistic of a privatepractice.
So just kind of honed my skillsand learned everything.
And yeah, I worked with a lotof kids.
The office was a mixture ofkids and adults so I definitely
(04:06):
I mean I have fun with bothcategories, but kids are a
little.
They're a little more fun to.
You can kind of joke around alittle more and get a little
more out of them.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So do you get many adult patients in orthodontics,
or is it mostly kids like thatneed braces?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
So you definitely.
Nowadays we do see a lot ofpeople, especially with the
clear aligners, coming out yeah,and actually from covid.
Everyone was doing zoommeetings and they were seeing
their faces, so that they werelooking at their teeth and like,
oh god, look at my teeth andthen they yeah so that's why
there's been kind of a boom inthe adult.
(04:45):
Okay yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, interesting.
So when did you decide to startyour own practice?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I decided probably halfway through my last job that
I was at for two years.
I just wanted to kind of be alittle more in control and be
able to do it not necessarily myway, because I I agree with how
we were practicing there.
I just wanted to just have alittle more of my own touch to
(05:17):
it and right schedule and stufflike that.
So I just decided if I'm gonnado it, I'm gonna do it now that
so I just decided if I'm goingto do it, I'm going to do it now
, and now meaning just a fewmonths ago.
Yeah, so I just opened inmiddle of April.
So she opened.
You know the building looksgreat.
It's transformation.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, that's great.
Yeah, and you know the the.
The challenge I hear from a lotof doctors who go into business
is that you know.
Again, if I look at yourbackground of your educational
studies, you did yourundergraduate and bachelor's of
science.
You went to the University ofPennsylvania School of Dental
(05:59):
Medicine.
You did your doctorate ofdental medicine while graduating
top of your class.
You were a certificate oforthodontics at the Georgia
School of Orthodontics.
There's nowhere in here do Isee it says you have a business
degree, accounting or marketingdegree, or where is your
certification in entrepreneurial?
You know things like that.
(06:21):
You know what I'm saying.
So you know that's most peoplewho go into business didn't
study business that I have on myshow.
So what has that been like interms of you know there's
obviously there's marketing,there's billing, there's
employee relations and all theother things that you don't
learn at the School of DentalMedicine.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, there are a lot of aspects that are definitely
not taught.
You can try to seek out courses.
A lot of times they're notspecific enough to this field,
which is probably the biggestchallenge.
There are courses, but it's alot of just trial and error
asking someone else who's in thefield, who's maybe a little
older or someone who's you know,for example, payroll.
(07:05):
Most companies have to runpayroll, so asking a friend in a
different business, that'susually pretty similar.
So, but for the most part it isjust doing a lot of research,
seeing what's out there, pickingsomething.
You got to make decisions, somaking the decision and then, if
it doesn't turn out good, youjust go down a different avenue
(07:29):
and you'll figure it out right,right, yeah, so I used to work
for viacom, which is now calledparamount.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It was, um, the company that owned mtv,
nickelodeon in Comedy Central,bet and I got laid off in 2017
as technology and consumerbehavior shifted.
I was in consumer products, butspecifically in the home
entertainment division homevideo so you can imagine why I
(07:57):
don't work there anymore.
But I just saw that there werea big round of layoffs and
people were posting on LinkedIn.
After 17 years, you know, I'vejust been laid off and just, you
know all my hard years of hardwork and dedication and loyalty.
It just doesn't matter that.
That, that that, and yourealize that.
(08:17):
You know going off on your own.
Uh, as I did, as you did.
You know, like you just said,you learn as you go.
You don't have to worry aboutthe boss hanging over you saying
you did that wrong and now yourjob's on the line or whatever.
Listen you, you, you learn asyou go and hopefully you have a
steep learning curve.
Um, but you're free to makemistakes, but also free to to
(08:39):
reap the benefits of the of thegood decisions you make.
Um, I mean, is that one of thethings that you've?
I know it's only been, you know, half a year, not even.
But how is this one of thethings that you enjoy about
owning your own practice, or isit one of the things that are
more frustrating?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I guess it's a little bit of both.
The freedom aspect is nice,it's a little bit of both.
Yeah, the freedom aspect is niceand knowing that if I mess up
it's only me, that's necessarilythe consequence or the blowback
.
But um, yeah, it is some.
In the other aspect.
It could be nice to havesomeone else to fall back on if
(09:27):
you don't know what you're doing.
But I, I think overall I mean,I always knew I wanted to own my
own practice, so it was just amatter of time and I think down
the road the freedom is justgoing to be so much more
liberating than a lot ofcompanies now are getting bought
up by these big companies, theDSOs.
You don't really have control,and that's what you want in your
business.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah.
So one of the questions I haveis I have an 11-year-old son and
we've been to the orthodontisttwice to have him.
You know he still has someteeth left but he's definitely
got this like overbite Okay, butsome of his friends have just
gotten braces, but he's notready.
What age should a child beginorthodontic treatment?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
oh, so that varies for everyone.
Um, your first visit to theorthodontist should be at age
seven, just to get checked out,just in case you have.
You know, maybe there's a lotof crowding, they need an
expander.
But for the most part you'rekind of I'm assuming you're on
like a maybe a half a year check, something like that with him
(10:31):
yep yeah, typically wait for allthe adult.
The babies need to fall out andthe adult teeth to come in okay,
that way you're not sitting inthe braces forever, or the
liners whichever one you chooseum, because they are hard to
clean around and you know youdon't want them on longer than
you have to.
So usually, once all thoseadult teeth are in, you can get
(10:51):
going.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
So what's an aligner?
Is that, you know, is thatdifferent than braces?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yes, so braces are the metal little brackets most
people are familiar with.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, train tracks, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, and the aligner everyone thinks Invisalign.
Invisalign is just one company.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
There's many companies out there.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
It's the clear, basically sucked down shell that
has.
You get incremental aligners,trays.
Each tray has a little bit ofmovement in it and you just
successively move through thetrays until you're at your final
destination.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Okay, okay, and then that's more.
You know, that's not normallyfor 11 and 12 year olds, it's
usually for adults, as youmentioned, or even older teens
could be a candidate foraligners.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
So, yeah, they're actually a lot more.
The technology has come a longway.
It used to be, you know, wewere only doing it for adults,
for limited treatment, but now,because the aligner material is
so much better, we are doing alot more on younger and younger
patients and it's working.
And so, yeah, I offer alignersor braces to pretty young.
(12:05):
I mean, I don't want someonewho's not going to you know, a
seven-year-old wearing thatbecause they're going to lose it
, or something like that.
But, teens high school.
If they can prove that they'reresponsible enough to wear them,
then we'll probably work withthem to do the aligner.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
So when you get braces.
How long, I know it can vary,but what's the typical length of
time somebody wears braces for?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Oh, I would say like maybe 18 months Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah, you know, I was probably a candidate.
My lower teeth are all crooked,but for whatever reason, maybe
I didn't realize I was living inEngland at the time.
I wasn't.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Oh, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
It's really funny.
I mean, austin Powers does agreat spoof on that but I did
live in England, but I was acollege student at that point.
I was at uni, as they say,university and it is true, a lot
of British English people donot get their teeth quote
unquote fixed.
And you know, is it becauseorthodontics isn't covered under
(13:08):
their national health plan ordo they just not care so much?
Because I personally wasshocked that this guy had such
bad teeth and he had such a goodlooking girlfriend.
I was like damn, that wouldnever fly in America, or I would
say back in the States.
You know, it looked like histeeth were just thrown in, you
know, with a bunch of glue andyou just threw them in there.
They're like all over the place.
I mean, they weren't yellow oranything, but I was like damn,
(13:31):
you know spaces and this, andthat doesn't matter, you know,
in England.
I mean we're going back 30 yearsmaybe things have changed, but
yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
No, I think it's.
They just don't care over there, which I you know there's more
to it than just the looks.
It's the health of your teethand everything.
So yeah, it is surprising.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah, it is.
It is funny, but yeah.
So I don't know why I didn'tget braces when I was younger.
We didn't live in England, butyou know, maybe I was the fourth
kid in four years and man, Ijust kind of forgot.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, that happens.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Four and a half years .
So you have you know somethingyou're calling Summer at Aster
Smile, into Summer at AsterOrthodontics.
So what is that about?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
So right now we're just trying to get people.
Summer is the best time to getkids in, because there's no
school.
There's no you know we're nottaking them out of activities
that they need to essentiallycatch up on.
So we're trying to get as manypeople in to get the consults,
just to get informed, knowwhat's going on.
We're open some saturdays umconsults are free.
(14:36):
So you set up an appointment,come on in, we'll take an x-ray
pictures scan and just seewhat's going on in there.
And then we're also doing doingkind of like a limited time
discount just for people thatcome in, just some incentive off
of treatment.
So that's kind of interestingand how do like.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
How are people?
I'm on your website, that's howI saw that, but how else would
I know that you're doing that?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
I do have some Facebook ads running, so those
are going out there.
Instagram ads Okay.
Stuff like that.
Most people will look at thewebsite though, so I'm thinking
that's going through the website.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
But other than that, I'm around town, I'm trying to
do I did.
Well, I was supposed to do theWyckoff Day, oh no.
It rained out, even though itreally didn't rain day that got
rained out, even though itreally didn't rain.
I know I did franco mike's dayit.
It was very windy that day andthat one had to get moved
because of the rain as well.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So two years ago.
Almost every.
You know I have seven townswhere I have magazines and white
cough does theirs in june, um,but normally everybody else does
it after waiver day and somethey're all the same day.
So I'm like, oh, I can't be inthree places at once.
But two years ago I get almosteverybody got rained out, you
know and got, and it's tough toreschedule these things because
(15:50):
you spend a all the vendors bookthe time, but then you have all
the, you know, ems, emt, the,the permits and everything else.
So, um, I wonder if they'llcome a time when they stop doing
all these town days, because Ithink it's a bit of an overkill
now because every town, like Isaid over in Northern Valley
where I live, like HarringtonPark and Old Depends the same
(16:11):
day, maybe Norwood's the sameday and Northvale's the
following week, and then maybeHaworth and Demarest, it's like,
yeah, I was, you know, and forme, who has like a brand in each
of those towns, it's tough.
Sometimes I just go to the townday but I don't have a table.
That makes sense, Because Ican't you know I can't be
everywhere, but yeah, so youknow there's a lot of
(16:33):
orthodontics, you knoworthodontics practices out there
, so what do you think is youknow different about yours?
Or why would somebody want tocome to your practice?
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Well, yeah, no, no, it's all good.
I, I personally designed thewhole office.
So every little you know, everyhandle, every little thing, I
put, you know, a lot of thoughtinto everything that I designed.
I wanted to make it welcomingand kind of a calm vibe, but
also modern and clean upscale.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
So it's a little bit of both there.
And I think, in terms oftreatment wise, I'm using I
don't want to say the top of theline, because most people are
using that, but some more newtechniques that are a little
more comfortable.
So, for instance, when you getyour braces on, a lot of
orthodontists will place themone by one on each tooth.
(17:28):
But now what I'm doing and thisis, you know, what more of the
younger generation is doing isyou can digitally place them on
the computer, on the scan thatwe took on your teeth, and then
it gets 3d printed into a trayand then the tray just slides
onto your teeth.
So there's four quadrants oftrays that when you come in for
that bonding appointment, it'smuch quicker, much more
(17:50):
comfortable and it just helpswith maybe someone who's a
little, has a little dentalanxiety or anything like that,
yeah, wow so it's really coolyeah.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It is amazing, even x-rays today.
Yeah, you don't have to have.
You know those painful thingsin your mouth.
The film and then the camera,if you want to call it that
right up to your cheek and andand I love how you know they
could take a picture of yourtooth and put it right up on the
screen and see it and then showyou the patient's and sometimes
(18:25):
, like I don't want to see mymouth, I don't want to know
what's in there.
I don't want to see that.
I'll take your word for it, butyou know it's important.
I can show you right away.
Hey, this is what we're lookingat.
This is where we see this.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
So yeah, it's helpful to describe.
Yeah, yeah it's helpful todescribe, especially in
orthodontics, because it's hardto see what's going on in the
back of your mouth or your biteor something like that.
So we utilize the screens a lotto show with pictures, or I'm
using a 3D model on the screento flip it in such a way that
you can see it a little betterand understand issues.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Yeah, that's great.
And what are your hours?
Um?
Are you open every day, mondaythrough friday?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
now, obviously you have the saturday hours yeah, so
um mostly open every day here.
Um we're doing late.
Tuesdays and thursdays areuntil seven um eight to seven,
and then um monday, wednesday,friday, is eight to um six, and
then Saturdays are short, prettyconvenient, that's great.
(19:27):
It's good.
You know a lot of right now.
It's a lot of after school.
You got to be open for anyoneafter school but summertime
hoping to get those.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I mean, yeah, you're, I mean you are doing a lot, but
as as your, I guess, as yourhusband said, you, uh, you don't
sit still for very long, so, uh, that's great.
I mean that's an important, itis an important trait to have as
a new business owner, becauseyou do have to constantly grind
it out and and just hustle.
You know it doesn't.
(19:57):
It's as, you see, is you know,every business, including my own
, you just don't, you know, putthe door and say open for
business and everybody comesrushing in.
You know, I think we all wishwe could do that.
Or you hear these stories like,oh yeah, I have an Instagram
page and I got all my businessfrom Instagram.
I'm like, really, like somebodysaw you dancing around, like
I'm always shocked how I seedental practices or doctor's
(20:17):
offices and they have theirstaff, you know, dancing to
music and I'm like that'ssupposed to give me the
confidence to call you for anappointment.
I mean I get it drives, I mightstay and watch it, but and you
got likes and you got maybe somestickiness, but is that the
reason I'm calling a doctor or adentist?
Not not me personally.
(20:38):
But you know, listen, everylittle bit of keeping people you
know, getting their attentionand keeping them, keeping you
top of mind, I guess, is whythey do it, and that's the
business I'm in.
So I understand it to someextent.
But, um, the fact that youcan't sit still for very long, I
think, is a good trait to have,uh, when you're, you know,
opening your own practice.
(20:58):
So, my, my, you know my twocents, yeah.
So, um, you know the name ofAster and your and the font that
you use is a very Greek, uhtheme to it.
So you know your name.
I mentioned you have a Greekname, so is there anything else?
And I guess Aster was the Greekgoddess, uh, astraea, uh, what
(21:21):
was she?
The goddess of Astraea, whatwas she the goddess of.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
She was the goddess.
She became the goddess of theskies.
Essentially, there's a verylong story on her, but she was
banned from the earth becauseshe was too pure.
They sent her to the skies.
When she looked down and shesaw I guess this was a time of
like the war.
There were wars going on.
(21:46):
This was again back in Greekmythology.
She cried, and then, when shecried, her tears would hit the
earth and these little flowers,which are called asters, would
bloom, and they're very, verycolorful flowers.
So anywhere her tears touchedit would turn into color.
So, a little bit of Greekhistory there.
Yeah, that's great, but yeah, Ijust wanted to incorporate my
(22:11):
Greek background and somethingwith a little bit of meaning
that I could kind of yeah, Ilike the idea of a star or like
the night sky.
You know, my office is a littlemore night sky themed, so that
was just kind of kind of thepath I went down.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, I love that.
I love that.
I mean, it's you right, it's abit of who you are and it's not
just some sterile cookie cutterplace.
Yeah, and that's great.
Well, Dr Taylor, if I pronouncethat properly.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
That was pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I think that means thank you in Greek.
A few words I learned again inAstoria.
That's about it.
I don't know what do they saywhen you, when I, when I would
call the front desk at the hotel, they'd say yeah, yeah.
So, anyway, that's my Greekreek,uh, my, my greek culture, so I
(23:08):
apologize.
Um, this was great, so let'sjust I'm going to review.
You are on 779 franklin avenuein franklin lakes, new jersey.
Phone number is 551-209-1243and it's Aster A S T E R
orthodonticscom and Dr Taylor.
(23:29):
This is great.
I really appreciate you sharingwith us and you know, if you
have any parting words you'dlike to say, anything I left out
.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
No, this was awesome.
I had a lot of fun, and I guessI would say anyone who's
listening and has kids or forthemselves.
We are here to you know, toshow you everything that you
want to get done and come on in,even if you want to see the
building just come say hi, we'reopen.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Excellent, all right.
Well, we're just going to closeit out, with Chuck here and you
and I'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
All right Cool, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.
com.
That's gnpbergen.
com, or call 201-298-8325.
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