EP# 279: From Childhood Smiles to Balancing Family Life | Dr. Marcela Radojevic's Journey with ION Orthodontics

What makes Dr. Marcela Radojevic with ION Orthodontics a good neighbor?

What if the key to your child's future smile lies in a visit to the orthodontist at age seven? In this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, we chat with the vibrant and passionate Dr. Marcela Radojevic—affectionately known as Dr. Rad—who's transforming smiles and lives at ION Orthodontics in Port St. Lucie. From her early days helping out in her father's eye doctor office to becoming a leading orthodontist with over 500 active patients, Dr. Rad shares invaluable insights into the world of orthodontics. Discover why early intervention can prevent a host of dental issues and learn the truth behind common misconceptions about orthodontic care.

When she's not shaping perfect smiles, Dr. Rad is a devoted mother juggling the complexities of raising two energetic toddlers. She opens up about her balancing act between a bustling professional life and a lively home life, sharing both the joys and the challenges. This episode is a treasure trove of professional expertise and heartwarming stories, perfect for anyone seeking inspiration or advice on managing multiple roles. Don't miss out on Dr. Rad's expert tips and personal anecdotes that highlight her dedication to both her patients and her family.

To learn more about Dr. Marcela Radojevic go to:
https://www.ionortho.com/

ION Orthodontics
772-777-8283

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, GarfieldBowen.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you need of an orthodontist?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing you, Dr Marcella
Radovick.
How?
Are you doing today?
How are you doing?

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Well, I'm doing, well , how are you doing?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Listen, we're excited to learn all about you and your
practice.
Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Sure Ion Orthodontics is on the corner of Port St
Lucie Boulevard and MorningsideBoulevard and we've been open
for about five years now.
Methodonics is on the corner ofPort St Lucie Boulevard and
Morningside Boulevard and we'vebeen open for about five years
now.
I opened it from start nopatients and now we've got over
500 active patients in thepractice, from young kids to

(01:04):
adults in their 80s.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
I know everybody calls you Dr Rad for short right
.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, it's much easier to pronounce.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Okay, and it's Ion Author Dantix.
So how did you get into thisbusiness?

Speaker 3 (01:21):
I always really liked the competence of giving people
beautiful smiles.
My father was an eye doctor,and growing up I would work
summers in his office, and Ilearned very quickly that I
preferred to work with theyounger crowd, and so I pursued

(01:41):
general dentistry first and thenspecialized in orthodontics for
a few additional years afterthat.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
What are the myths and misconceptions of your
industry?

Speaker 3 (01:56):
The biggest myth I would say I hear a lot from
parents is that they don't thinktheir child is ready to see an
orthodontist until all of theirbaby teeth fall out.
And that could not be fartherfrom the truth.
We actually recommend startingto see an orthodontist around
age seven, and the reason behindthat is not so that we can slap

(02:19):
braces on every little kid, butbecause it's important to make
sure that growth and eruption ofteeth is going according to
plan, that the proper milestonesare being met and that teeth
are coming in properly.
And if all goes well, then, yes, the last baby tooth falls out.

(02:41):
We let you know when the childis ready for treatment.
That is probably the number onemisconception.
The other misconception I heara lot is probably just that
orthodontics is only for kidsand we treat children, teenagers
, adults and middle-aged andelderly, so we treat all walks

(03:05):
of life.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
I went to school for accounting so I may be ignorant
of the subject, but when you putbraces on the baby teeth, how
does that help the other teeth?

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, the purpose to put braces on a baby tooth is
not to give them straight teeth,it's usually to use it as an
anchor of some sort.
But now we're seeing so manyyoung kids walking around with
like chronic congestionallergies in Florida.
They're breathing through theirmouth.
Potentially they have likehistory of tongue ties where
they're not developing thepalate, and so what's happening

(03:42):
is a lot of teeth are gettingblocked out and not being able
to come in to the position.
So when one tooth comes in, twobaby teeth fall out and then it
just becomes kind of a trafficjam situation of permanent teeth
.
So the purpose of puttinganybody under the age of 12 in
braces is usually to help makespace for the permanent teeth

(04:02):
that are supposed to be comingin.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
So we got to prevent the traffic jam.

Speaker 3 (04:08):
That's exactly right, because if we don't prevent the
traffic jam, it becomes a muchbigger project in the future, a
much longer project.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Okay, so Dr Rad when you're not so busy with your
practice.
What do you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, I am a mother of two young toddler boys, a two
and a three-year-old so theykeep me very busy.
I wish I had time for hobbies.
I used to love playing tennispiano.
I have other interests, butright now my boys are keeping me

(04:48):
very, very occupied.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
I know my brother's two years older than me and we
used to wear my mother out and Ithink we put holes in every
wall we could find.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yep, we're at about that age where we're trying to
not only keep holes out of thewalls but keep heads from
knocking into each other.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
So let's switch gears a little bit.
Life often does its curveballs.
Let's talk about one hardship,one life challenge, something
that you went through.
You can look back to the inside.
You're better and strongerbecause of it.
What comes to mind?
You can look back today and sayyou're better and stronger
because of it.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
What comes to mind?
Well, garfield, I guess one ofthe things that comes to mind is
my father I mentioned was aneye doctor in the Port St Lucie
community for over 20 years andhe was diagnosed with cancer in
my first year of practice and Iwould say that was a pretty
difficult challenge for me tomanage because you know it meant

(05:51):
showing up as a boss at workand happy, you know like
pleasant and excited to betreating patients but kind of
dealing with that personal,private hardship on the side.
He passed it in my first yearof practice, which definitely
was a learning, I guess, ofresilience, being able to kind
of just move on with grief andsadness.

(06:11):
And being able to memorializehis name in my practice was
really meaningful because Iopened my practice just next
door to where his practice usedto be and I think it's overall
made me appreciate life so muchmore and realize that it's not

(06:31):
always just about work but alsoabout enjoying the life that
you're living while you're doingit.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's tough I lost a father as well and you never
really forget.
But oftentimes you can thinkabout what he would say or what
he would do, or you know whatadvice he would give in this
particular situation.
So it's always a good thing todo?

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yep, it's a good.
He gave me a very strong legacyto follow in terms of patient
care, and it's nice when I stillget patients coming into the
practice that were patients ofhis, so it's all when I still
get patients coming into thepractice that were patients of
his, so it's all come fullcircle.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
I'm going to put you on the spot a little bit.
I want you, I know there's alot you want to say about your
practice, but I wanted you tonarrow it down to one thing, one
thing that you want ourlisteners to remember about Ion
Orthodontics eye on orthodontics.

Speaker 3 (07:30):
I think educating the public on essentially knowing
that braces is not just aboutstraight teeth.
I know that that's usually themisconception also, that people
just want braces and peoplethink, oh, I don't need braces
because my teeth are fairlystraight.
But I think the beauty of whatwe do at my practice is we've
made it a goal.
We've achieved the goal to be100% custom, meaning I treat and

(07:50):
plan everything on the computer, which is the beauty of
technology.
Now we don't just put braces onone by one and eyeball it and
hope we get to the end with anice result.
Now we do very intentionalplanning on the computer screen
where I'm able to 3D printbraces to the end with a nice
result.
Now we do very intentionalplanning on the computer screen
where I'm able to 3D printbraces to the exact prescription
and movement that eachindividual tooth needs.
Or if we're going withInvisalign or aligners, we're

(08:14):
able to basically pre-planeverything so that the patient
can be in treatment shorter andhave a more customized smile to
that individual and what thatperson needs.
I think it definitelydifferentiates us in the area
because it's not a technologythat everybody's using and I
know sometimes I look youngerand inexperienced.

(08:36):
I've heard that before.
I don't get it as often anymore, but now I think the one thing
I do have that someone maybeolder in the area might be
different is that edge on thetechnology, as well as being
able to give patients abeautiful smile in a more

(08:58):
efficient manner.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
Okay, you still look younger, and my listeners are
probably have one question ontheir mind right now, and that's
how?
How can we get more informationon ion orthodontists?

Speaker 3 (09:13):
We are very present on all social media realms, uh.
So if you're uh into Facebookor Instagram, uh, you can find
us under Ion Orthodontics, aswell as uh even my young kids,
they find me on TikTok.
We uh like to go on there anddo some fun dances, but probably
the best place to find me isonline, on our website,

(09:36):
wwwionorthocom, and you canactually book a free
consultation right online.
Book a slot to come in and chatwith me just to see what
options are.
If anyone's ever been curiousabout what their teeth might
look like, we have even likesimulators, and I'd say probably

(09:58):
that is the most convenient wayto reach out to us or at least
schedule an appointment.
Even at midnight on a randomSaturday night, you can schedule
with me.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
For those that just want to punch the buttons on the
phone, is there a number you'dlike to share?

Speaker 3 (10:15):
Sure, Our, uh, our office number is 772-777-8283.
And, um you can, you can textus as well.
Uh, call us, and uh, usuallywe're very responsive.

Speaker 2 (10:31):
Well, Dr Red, I really appreciate you being on
the show.
I wish you and your businessthe very best moving forward.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
Thank you so much, garfield, it was a pleasure.

Speaker 1 (10:39):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast Port St Lucie.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpportsaintluciecom.
That's gnpportsaintluciecom, orcall 772-362-3840.