March 21, 2025 • 22 mins
On this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Dr. Aristo Shyn, owner of Link Dental Care, to discuss his journey from corporate dentistry to running a thriving private practice.
Key Takeaways & Highlights:
Key Takeaways & Highlights:
- From Corporate to Private Practice – Why Dr. Shyn left corporate dentistry to build his own patient-focused practice.
- The Power of Technology in Dentistry – How 3D imaging, digital scans, and upcoming Botox treatments improve patient care.
- Growing a Business – The challenges of launching and expanding a dental office without prior business experience.
- Community Involvement – Supporting local schools, charities, and offering free dental makeovers.
- Balancing Work & Family – Juggling a growing business while raising two kids.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The patient experience starts from the first time you call
into our office, from the time you walk through our
doors the first time, and the way you're doing.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You're listening to Peachtree Corners Life, a podcast sharing ideas, opinions,
and news about the city of Peachtree Corners, the community
we live in and the people that are your neighbors.
Now your Hostrigo Bigliolini.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Hey, everyone, this is Rico of Pigliaro Ulini, host of
Peatree Corner's Life. Here in the city of Peatree Corners,
Binette County, just north of Atlanta. We have a great
guest here today, doctor Risto Shin, who wants linkedental care.
Thank you for allowing us to do the podcast with
you today.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thank you for having us. I've been calling you our
very own Joe Rogan for years now, so it's an author.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I've done over two hundred and fifty episodes. I feel
like I could be Joe broken. I get the head
for it. Before we get into the show, though, let
me say thank you to our sponsors. We have two
Ivy remodeling Ink and Eli who owns it that lives
here in Peatree Corners. Great family, they do great work.
They do designed to build whole house renovation or your bathroom,
(01:16):
your kitchen, or in addition to the house, whatever you need.
They've done two hundred and sixty homes throughout the Metro area.
I think you should check them out. Ivy remodelingink dot
com is where you can find that. Vox popular. Our
second sponsor is also here in Peatree Corners. Also family owned.
So they take your brand and they bring it to life.
(01:37):
So think about it. You have a brand, you have car,
vehicle they do. I think this past year they did
over sixteen hundred vehicle wraps alone. You go to trade shows,
they'll put up a whole setup for you. You need shirts,
they'll do that for you. You need just one, when you
need a thousand, they'll do all that for you. If
you have a logo and you want to imprint it
(01:57):
on an object, bring it to them, challenge them. It's
amazing what they've done. So check them out. Box popularize
the company, and we appreciate the sponsorship of these podcasts,
the magazines and our journalism. Now that we've done the sponsors,
I appreciate the conversation we're going to have today. Arista
has been doctor schen has been our family Debt Says
(02:20):
for quite a while, for all my kids and my
wife and myself. So seeing you guys grow from a
very small office that was probably big enough few when
you started with.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
The beginning, very humble beginnings.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So just moving from that, I saw, you know, you
guys were getting more and more patience, the place was
getting filled. And now you're in a larger location, very
beautiful place here right on Jimmy Carter Bulevard Holkin Bridge
Road here. So tell us a little bit about your
origins where you.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Started all far back? Do you want me to go?
Where were you born? So?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I was born in Kansas City, URI, next to um Casey,
which is where my dad went to dental school. Wow.
And then moved to Alaska afterwards, in Alaska until I
from ages two to fourteen, and then I moved to
Florida Priscilla golf career and then naturally transitioned to dentistry
(03:21):
after that, naturally, yes, And then I've been in Georgia
since twenty twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
It's amazing you went from Missouri, where I've never been.
I'm a Brooklyn kid kid, no longer kid, but from Brooklyn.
So I don't know that place Alaska, which is for me.
You know, grizzly bears is what I think of. So
you went right from grizzly bear snowstorms to Florida alligators
(03:47):
or crocks and hurricanes in Atlanta, which you find almost
none of that.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Actually it's nice.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, it must be different, right, But you went to
start with a golf career. When did that even take hold?
Is that in Alaska of all places?
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah? I was pretty good at it, and you know
it again, we moved to Florida to pursue that, But
I think dentistry was my true calling and I think
I made the right choice.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, and you were kind of young too, I think
when you got your dental degree.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yes, I try not to talk about that too, but
I was twenty three when I graduated.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yes, I saw that. I was.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
That's amazing. And so you've been practicing since then obviously,
h Yeah. What so you're in Atlanta. You moved here
in twenty twelve. You decided to start your business in
less than a year of moving here.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah. I think my first job in Atlanta was it
was a corporate job, and I think I, yeah, it
wasn't for me to say the least. I think I
lasted about seven months before saying I got to do this.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I got to do something else.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I got to do this on my own end, and
that's how I came to Peachtree Corners.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So just to be clear for people to know, it's
corporate dentistry, is what you were working at?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yes, So corporate environment with multiple offices and stuff is
a whole different business model, I think.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Isn't it. He has to say the least.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yes, you might not want to say it, but I'll
say it. Corporate dentistry is not that great when you
don't have an owner that owns the business and doing
the work, that's passionate about his patients and his community.
It's way different than dealing with someone that's building out
of Texas. Let's say, or they have multiple twenty thirty
(05:47):
or ninety offices throughout the country and they sound like
they're local because they sort of keep the name of
the place so they sound local, but they're really not.
And so they're driven by money because they have a
big knuh to pay. Yeah, search is trying to get
me into trouble right now. No, No, I'm saying it.
So it's okay, And so when.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
You listen, I would in general, and this is from
my own experience and from what my colleagues have experienced
as well, it just a lot of and I don't
think I think they are good dentists there, but unfortunately
they don't have the autonomy or they control over the
whole operation. So I would say a lot of corporate offices,
(06:28):
a lot of chain offices are profit and production driven
versus being patient centric.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So I can't argue with that.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, for example, and this you'll
find often in the industry when you have your morning huddles,
a lot of times at those offices, you're looking at
the schedule for that day, and you know, if there's
not enough production on the schedule, you have to find
crowns or implants somehow, and a letter audience use their
(07:00):
own imagination for that one. But when we have our meetings,
we don't really talk about that, and we talk about
how to streamline logistics and how to improve the patient experience.
And these days, fortunately or unfortunately, we've been doing some
Instagram skits since I've been putting my staff through a
whole other level of stress. You all have to visit
(07:23):
the Instagram channel he has it. He comes up with
all the skits himself. Now some of them are really cool,
They're all pretty good, but some of them are hilarious. Yeah,
we really he would expect, you know, before and after
photos are selling something, but I think we're just trying
to have fun there. I really don't know what we're selling,
but it's fun. I think it still gives us exposure
(07:46):
in a different way. We have a live follower country there.
We're trying to get that up right now. So follow us.
What is the Instagram it's linked to at Link Dental Care.
There you go, so follow them hit a thousand like
you know so, But no, I think that's a great
team building that is be able to do that.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
It is.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
It's just that there's a lot of pressures sometimes in
doing work and such, and every day is different. I
think we would talk before a little bit about how
you you know, you go from one patient speaking English,
let's say, to another patients and speaking Spanish or maybe Korean,
So multiple languages here in the office, and you know
(08:27):
it's in multiple challenges dental challenges, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I mean it's I mean due to the range of
services that we offer from you know, fillings crowns to
root canals, implant surgeries, sinus surgeries. I mean where we get.
We get quite the variety of cases here. Yes, and
then you know there are days where in one room
I'm speaking you know, obviously English, and then the next
(08:53):
room I'm speaking Spanish. The other room I've seeking Korean,
and I think we did account earlier. We speak total
of nine different languages in this office. It's amazing that
you speak three languages at least.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
And a half.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
We'll call it three. Okay, you keep buying it. That's good.
So busy, busy work. Technology though, drives a lot of
dental practices now too. So tell us a little bit
about some of the technological improvements you've made here, some
of the technology you've brought in.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Well, everything's new here. So it's all digital, all new
X ray units. We have our three D phone beam
imaging machine. We have a three D scanner. We're doing
really cool stuff with digital photography, not just for before
and after cases, but also to to communicate with our lab.
(09:49):
We're doing botox and dermal fillers soon. Wow, busy, Yeah,
that's amazing. Botox, How does that work? Intental. It's I
think it's a It's been requested quite a bit, so
we haven't started it yet.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
We will very soon.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It's not just for I don't think it's just for cosmetics,
but it can do a lot with TMJ and related issues.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Now, when you started on Pea Street Park, it was
just you. I think your mom was helping at the
front desk. No, she wasn't there at the time. She
wasn't there. She came later, maybe, Yeah, it was. And
I think it was one thousand square feet. I don't
think anything was digital at the time, and I had
it was me, one and a half hygienist, one assistant,
(10:40):
and one person in the front. So yeah, I still
remember I could actually stand in the middle of the
office and if I did a three sixty, I could
see everything. Yeah, it was just chairs, that's how small
this place was. And yet this is how many square
food is this place? Oh, I think it's over just
(11:01):
over three thousand. And you took on a new also
an additional practitioner with you.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Oh yeah, new staff. Front office has expanded assistance hygienists,
another doctor. I mean she's been terrific doctor k yep yep.
So business has been going well, So that's good. Now
it's been busy.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
It's been busy, can't complain. And there are challenges, right,
So let's go back a little bit. Challenges of opening
a business would what would you say to an entrepreneur,
to another dentist that wanted to do the same thing,
what challenges did you have to overcome when you did that?
Speaker 1 (11:41):
When we first started everything, I mean I was still learning.
I had no business experience, I had no hr experience.
I mean I was still learning dentistry.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
At the time.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So you know, the normal the normal course for it,
I'd say acquiring a dental offices. You know, you're usually
out in the field for a few years and then
you pick up on things and you know, solely transition.
But everything happened at once for me. So I don't
recommend to do that because it's quite the learning curve.
But you know, going back to everyday challenges though, you know,
(12:17):
I would I would say half of my stress is
just due to my staff, which I love very much.
I love very much. Yeah, I think we have the
best staff ever right now. But you know, you got
to deal with staff every single day, so there's there's
always something, and then you know, beyond that, it's it's insurance.
(12:38):
Insurance is a it's a it's an issue for I
think everyone involved in an insurance game. And then after that,
it's just dealing with a wide range of patients and
cases that we have coming in, I mean, which is
also fun for me. But you know there's also some
you know, focus and stress, and you know, we were
always on our toes, so there's that aspect it.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
I think.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
I think part of that part of that stress probably
is because you're of your concern for your patients and stuff.
I mean, you're sharing that stress with them, right because
some of them because like you said, insurance can be
an issue. You know, they come in, they have to
do certain things, insurance may may not cover it or
or or you know, yeah, I mean, so has that
(13:22):
changed in the State of Georgia a lot over the
past decade.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Insurance is kind of like a foreign language to me.
I we try very best to be transparent with everything,
I mean, not just in my communication with our patients,
but also you know, with our front desk communicating you know,
regarding finances and numbers. But you know, we try our
best that's all I can say. No, that's good that,
you know. I mean that's the toughest part. I think
(13:47):
when it comes to medical and our front desk goes
to bet for patients. If there's any issues with insurance,
we don't just give up and you know all them
that it's on them.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
So yeah, I know my front desk works very hard. Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Oh, you know the kid that you shown into the
community as well, right, you're involved with the community. So
let's let's cover that a little bit as well. What
what what do you like doing in the community. What
have you done where you know, where has done dental
care been involved in when it comes to community organizations,
events and stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, it's it's very different now than when I first started,
and I'm very happy and proud of where we are today.
For example, I mean even last year we were able
to sponsor the Norcross High School Marching band, local photography club.
I've worked closely with Norcross co Op for quite some years, okay,
(14:42):
and it's you know, when we interview for dental school,
one thing that we're always saying is we want to
be part of the community. We want to be involved
in the community, and you know, that wasn't That wasn't
the case when we first started. Now now that we're here, yeah,
it's I plan on staying here and being more involved
as time goes on.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
That's cool, you know, I mean, I the biggest thing
that we do at the magazine and stuff is that
we'd like to be a cheerleader for businesses that are
given back to the community, doing things with the community,
especially if you're pulling from this community.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
You know, your.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Patients, your customers and all that, so being involved makes sense.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Yeah, and I think we've done quite a bit of
charity over the years. You know, we don't advertise it
or you know, we don't really post a whole lot
of it on social media, but outside of working at
voluntary clinics, we tried to take on at least one
one patient a year and give them a makeover which
they wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah, that's something I've been doing. That's cool. That's great
that you're able to do that when you know, when
the business gets to a certain point and you want
to you're facing these everyday challenges right at the end
of the day, what do you do to to release
(16:08):
that that stress? That pressure. I mean, what do you
do outside the office? You're not playing golf anymore? No,
it takes too much time. Do you get out of
the office sometimes?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Do you close? Well, it's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
I still like what I'm doing, okay, right, but yeah,
it's life's gotten busy.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So you know, the way I see it, it's.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
I mean, I do have a few hobbies, but I mean,
really it's it's been work and my kids right now.
So you know, when I'm working, the way I see it,
it's it's over time, you know, in a in a
you know, football, basketball scene, and then you know, when
I'm with my kids, it's you know, game seven, you know,
triple overtime. That's where all my focus has been after work.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Sure, we have two kids, I think two kids, good
looking kids. So you know you're expanding. You've done your expansion.
But this is the future, right, I know you want
to stay here, you want to expand. What does the
future look like for linkedental care?
Speaker 1 (17:09):
For you?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
We just we just moved in here. We're talking about
expansion again.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
You're brilliant. How long has it been in a few years?
She had just stop.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
I mean a few patients in staff have asked me
in the past, and what do I plan to do.
I plan on opening multiple offices or another location. And
to answer one part of that question, the I think
when you when a dentist branches out to two, three,
(17:46):
four offices, there comes a point where you've got to
stop being a dentist and become more of a businessman.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
And I I.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Still like, I still like what I'm doing a lot,
and I really want to keep our practice patient centric
and really emphasize that we are a people business, not
a tooth cutting business or production business. Right. But you know,
if I definitely plan on staying in Peace three corners,
(18:18):
We're not leaving. I mean, if there ever is another expansion,
you can rest assured it will still be under one roof.
That's been always important to me. And I mean going
forward though, I think we're just we're going to continue
doing what we've been doing. We're going to continue to
stay up with technology, continue to reinvest in the office
(18:40):
and the community.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
And yeah, okay, yeah, that's good. This is this is
a great place. People want to take the tour. I
mean three thousand, it's great food, there's a lot of space.
I think you have plenty of space to expand it
the what can what should know about you? Maybe that
they don't know. Is there anything anything interesting that you
(19:05):
want to.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Share, Oh, I can share our what our dental practice
focuses on. So I think a lot of times patients
and Denis alike, they emphasize, they put their emphasis a
lot on good dental care. And then that is absolutely important.
But you know, to us, you know, good dental care
(19:30):
alone doesn't really it doesn't always equate to a good
patient experience. And I care a lot about the patient experience.
So that means the patient experience starts from the first
time you call into our office, from the time you
walk through our doors the first time, from the way
you're greet it from the front office, from the way
(19:51):
you know our assistance or hygienas take you back to
the clinical area, so you know, bedside matters and having
clear communications. So you know, when you've put in all
those factors, you know, the receiving good dental care, although
quite important, it's not the only piece to the puzzle. Yeah, yeah,
so that's been my focus, cool patient centric essentially. Well,
(20:16):
we've been speaking to doctor Aristo Shin. It's a great practice.
You guys have I'm glad that he's my dentest also
my family. That test has been doing a great job,
so I appreciate you giving us some time and telling
us a bit about your business.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Thank you, Thank you everyone. If you have any questions,
you can actually check out the website which.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Is linkedentalcare dot com.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, and Instagram it's the same handle, linkedental care right
anything else we want to share and count is four
fifty five, so we need to get that up to
a thousand.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Apparently it was two hundred a three months ago. You know,
I'll tell you one more thing about Instagram before you
know we end this. I mean, within a couple of
months of us actually trying on Instagram, we went. We
actually went viral on one video. Did you have one interviews?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Damn?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Which radio was that? That was last year? It was
the one about our greedy scanner. So oh, I figured
it out and I was almost ready not to come
into work the next day.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And then here I am during a podcast with rap.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Sorry it's not a YouTube content with our creator yet,
but who'll get there soon. I'm trying. Thanks everyone. If
you have any questions, leave them in the comments. Of
course we'll have links in the show note, and you
could always find doctor ristoschin here at Linkedental Care. So
thanks again everyone good.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Here, Thanks for listening to Peachtree Corner's Life with Rico Figliolini.
You can listen to the show wherever podcasts are found,
like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Leave us a review too,
it helps others find the show as well. Don't forget
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(22:02):
notifications of our live simulcast video streams of the show.
Catch our other podcast shows at Livinginpeachtreecorners dot com.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
In fact, you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Can listen to our other popular show, The Capitalist Sage,
twice a month podcast about and four businesses. The show
brings you interviews with business owners, leaders and subject matter
experts find what you need to meet today's challenges that
every business owner faces. Check out the show at The
Capitalistsage dot com.
The patient experience starts from the first time you call
into our office, from the time you walk through our
doors the first time, and the way you're doing.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You're listening to Peachtree Corners Life, a podcast sharing ideas, opinions,
and news about the city of Peachtree Corners, the community
we live in and the people that are your neighbors.
Now your Hostrigo Bigliolini.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Hey, everyone, this is Rico of Pigliaro Ulini, host of
Peatree Corner's Life. Here in the city of Peatree Corners,
Binette County, just north of Atlanta. We have a great
guest here today, doctor Risto Shin, who wants linkedental care.
Thank you for allowing us to do the podcast with
you today.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thank you for having us. I've been calling you our
very own Joe Rogan for years now, so it's an author.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I've done over two hundred and fifty episodes. I feel
like I could be Joe broken. I get the head
for it. Before we get into the show, though, let
me say thank you to our sponsors. We have two
Ivy remodeling Ink and Eli who owns it that lives
here in Peatree Corners. Great family, they do great work.
They do designed to build whole house renovation or your bathroom,
(01:16):
your kitchen, or in addition to the house, whatever you need.
They've done two hundred and sixty homes throughout the Metro area.
I think you should check them out. Ivy remodelingink dot
com is where you can find that. Vox popular. Our
second sponsor is also here in Peatree Corners. Also family owned.
So they take your brand and they bring it to life.
(01:37):
So think about it. You have a brand, you have car,
vehicle they do. I think this past year they did
over sixteen hundred vehicle wraps alone. You go to trade shows,
they'll put up a whole setup for you. You need shirts,
they'll do that for you. You need just one, when you
need a thousand, they'll do all that for you. If
you have a logo and you want to imprint it
(01:57):
on an object, bring it to them, challenge them. It's
amazing what they've done. So check them out. Box popularize
the company, and we appreciate the sponsorship of these podcasts,
the magazines and our journalism. Now that we've done the sponsors,
I appreciate the conversation we're going to have today. Arista
has been doctor schen has been our family Debt Says
(02:20):
for quite a while, for all my kids and my
wife and myself. So seeing you guys grow from a
very small office that was probably big enough few when
you started with.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
The beginning, very humble beginnings.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So just moving from that, I saw, you know, you
guys were getting more and more patience, the place was
getting filled. And now you're in a larger location, very
beautiful place here right on Jimmy Carter Bulevard Holkin Bridge
Road here. So tell us a little bit about your
origins where you.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Started all far back? Do you want me to go?
Where were you born? So?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I was born in Kansas City, URI, next to um Casey,
which is where my dad went to dental school. Wow.
And then moved to Alaska afterwards, in Alaska until I
from ages two to fourteen, and then I moved to
Florida Priscilla golf career and then naturally transitioned to dentistry
(03:21):
after that, naturally, yes, And then I've been in Georgia
since twenty twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
It's amazing you went from Missouri, where I've never been.
I'm a Brooklyn kid kid, no longer kid, but from Brooklyn.
So I don't know that place Alaska, which is for me.
You know, grizzly bears is what I think of. So
you went right from grizzly bear snowstorms to Florida alligators
(03:47):
or crocks and hurricanes in Atlanta, which you find almost
none of that.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Actually it's nice.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, it must be different, right, But you went to
start with a golf career. When did that even take hold?
Is that in Alaska of all places?
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah? I was pretty good at it, and you know
it again, we moved to Florida to pursue that, But
I think dentistry was my true calling and I think
I made the right choice.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, and you were kind of young too, I think
when you got your dental degree.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yes, I try not to talk about that too, but
I was twenty three when I graduated.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yes, I saw that. I was.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
That's amazing. And so you've been practicing since then obviously,
h Yeah. What so you're in Atlanta. You moved here
in twenty twelve. You decided to start your business in
less than a year of moving here.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah. I think my first job in Atlanta was it
was a corporate job, and I think I, yeah, it
wasn't for me to say the least. I think I
lasted about seven months before saying I got to do this.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I got to do something else.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I got to do this on my own end, and
that's how I came to Peachtree Corners.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So just to be clear for people to know, it's
corporate dentistry, is what you were working at?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yes, So corporate environment with multiple offices and stuff is
a whole different business model, I think.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Isn't it. He has to say the least.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yes, you might not want to say it, but I'll
say it. Corporate dentistry is not that great when you
don't have an owner that owns the business and doing
the work, that's passionate about his patients and his community.
It's way different than dealing with someone that's building out
of Texas. Let's say, or they have multiple twenty thirty
(05:47):
or ninety offices throughout the country and they sound like
they're local because they sort of keep the name of
the place so they sound local, but they're really not.
And so they're driven by money because they have a
big knuh to pay. Yeah, search is trying to get
me into trouble right now. No, No, I'm saying it.
So it's okay, And so when.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
You listen, I would in general, and this is from
my own experience and from what my colleagues have experienced
as well, it just a lot of and I don't
think I think they are good dentists there, but unfortunately
they don't have the autonomy or they control over the
whole operation. So I would say a lot of corporate offices,
(06:28):
a lot of chain offices are profit and production driven
versus being patient centric.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So I can't argue with that.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, for example, and this you'll
find often in the industry when you have your morning huddles,
a lot of times at those offices, you're looking at
the schedule for that day, and you know, if there's
not enough production on the schedule, you have to find
crowns or implants somehow, and a letter audience use their
(07:00):
own imagination for that one. But when we have our meetings,
we don't really talk about that, and we talk about
how to streamline logistics and how to improve the patient experience.
And these days, fortunately or unfortunately, we've been doing some
Instagram skits since I've been putting my staff through a
whole other level of stress. You all have to visit
(07:23):
the Instagram channel he has it. He comes up with
all the skits himself. Now some of them are really cool,
They're all pretty good, but some of them are hilarious. Yeah,
we really he would expect, you know, before and after
photos are selling something, but I think we're just trying
to have fun there. I really don't know what we're selling,
but it's fun. I think it still gives us exposure
(07:46):
in a different way. We have a live follower country there.
We're trying to get that up right now. So follow us.
What is the Instagram it's linked to at Link Dental Care.
There you go, so follow them hit a thousand like
you know so, But no, I think that's a great
team building that is be able to do that.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
It is.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
It's just that there's a lot of pressures sometimes in
doing work and such, and every day is different. I
think we would talk before a little bit about how
you you know, you go from one patient speaking English,
let's say, to another patients and speaking Spanish or maybe Korean,
So multiple languages here in the office, and you know
(08:27):
it's in multiple challenges dental challenges, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I mean it's I mean due to the range of
services that we offer from you know, fillings crowns to
root canals, implant surgeries, sinus surgeries. I mean where we get.
We get quite the variety of cases here. Yes, and
then you know there are days where in one room
I'm speaking you know, obviously English, and then the next
(08:53):
room I'm speaking Spanish. The other room I've seeking Korean,
and I think we did account earlier. We speak total
of nine different languages in this office. It's amazing that
you speak three languages at least.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
And a half.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
We'll call it three. Okay, you keep buying it. That's good.
So busy, busy work. Technology though, drives a lot of
dental practices now too. So tell us a little bit
about some of the technological improvements you've made here, some
of the technology you've brought in.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Well, everything's new here. So it's all digital, all new
X ray units. We have our three D phone beam
imaging machine. We have a three D scanner. We're doing
really cool stuff with digital photography, not just for before
and after cases, but also to to communicate with our lab.
(09:49):
We're doing botox and dermal fillers soon. Wow, busy, Yeah,
that's amazing. Botox, How does that work? Intental. It's I
think it's a It's been requested quite a bit, so
we haven't started it yet.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
We will very soon.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
It's not just for I don't think it's just for cosmetics,
but it can do a lot with TMJ and related issues.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Now, when you started on Pea Street Park, it was
just you. I think your mom was helping at the
front desk. No, she wasn't there at the time. She
wasn't there. She came later, maybe, Yeah, it was. And
I think it was one thousand square feet. I don't
think anything was digital at the time, and I had
it was me, one and a half hygienist, one assistant,
(10:40):
and one person in the front. So yeah, I still
remember I could actually stand in the middle of the
office and if I did a three sixty, I could
see everything. Yeah, it was just chairs, that's how small
this place was. And yet this is how many square
food is this place? Oh, I think it's over just
(11:01):
over three thousand. And you took on a new also
an additional practitioner with you.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Oh yeah, new staff. Front office has expanded assistance hygienists,
another doctor. I mean she's been terrific doctor k yep yep.
So business has been going well, So that's good. Now
it's been busy.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
It's been busy, can't complain. And there are challenges, right,
So let's go back a little bit. Challenges of opening
a business would what would you say to an entrepreneur,
to another dentist that wanted to do the same thing,
what challenges did you have to overcome when you did that?
Speaker 1 (11:41):
When we first started everything, I mean I was still learning.
I had no business experience, I had no hr experience.
I mean I was still learning dentistry.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
At the time.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So you know, the normal the normal course for it,
I'd say acquiring a dental offices. You know, you're usually
out in the field for a few years and then
you pick up on things and you know, solely transition.
But everything happened at once for me. So I don't
recommend to do that because it's quite the learning curve.
But you know, going back to everyday challenges though, you know,
(12:17):
I would I would say half of my stress is
just due to my staff, which I love very much.
I love very much. Yeah, I think we have the
best staff ever right now. But you know, you got
to deal with staff every single day, so there's there's
always something, and then you know, beyond that, it's it's insurance.
(12:38):
Insurance is a it's a it's an issue for I
think everyone involved in an insurance game. And then after that,
it's just dealing with a wide range of patients and
cases that we have coming in, I mean, which is
also fun for me. But you know there's also some
you know, focus and stress, and you know, we were
always on our toes, so there's that aspect it.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
I think.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
I think part of that part of that stress probably
is because you're of your concern for your patients and stuff.
I mean, you're sharing that stress with them, right because
some of them because like you said, insurance can be
an issue. You know, they come in, they have to
do certain things, insurance may may not cover it or
or or you know, yeah, I mean, so has that
(13:22):
changed in the State of Georgia a lot over the
past decade.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Insurance is kind of like a foreign language to me.
I we try very best to be transparent with everything,
I mean, not just in my communication with our patients,
but also you know, with our front desk communicating you know,
regarding finances and numbers. But you know, we try our
best that's all I can say. No, that's good that,
you know. I mean that's the toughest part. I think
(13:47):
when it comes to medical and our front desk goes
to bet for patients. If there's any issues with insurance,
we don't just give up and you know all them
that it's on them.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
So yeah, I know my front desk works very hard. Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Oh, you know the kid that you shown into the
community as well, right, you're involved with the community. So
let's let's cover that a little bit as well. What
what what do you like doing in the community. What
have you done where you know, where has done dental
care been involved in when it comes to community organizations,
events and stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, it's it's very different now than when I first started,
and I'm very happy and proud of where we are today.
For example, I mean even last year we were able
to sponsor the Norcross High School Marching band, local photography club.
I've worked closely with Norcross co Op for quite some years, okay,
(14:42):
and it's you know, when we interview for dental school,
one thing that we're always saying is we want to
be part of the community. We want to be involved
in the community, and you know, that wasn't That wasn't
the case when we first started. Now now that we're here, yeah,
it's I plan on staying here and being more involved
as time goes on.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
That's cool, you know, I mean, I the biggest thing
that we do at the magazine and stuff is that
we'd like to be a cheerleader for businesses that are
given back to the community, doing things with the community,
especially if you're pulling from this community.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
You know, your.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Patients, your customers and all that, so being involved makes sense.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Yeah, and I think we've done quite a bit of
charity over the years. You know, we don't advertise it
or you know, we don't really post a whole lot
of it on social media, but outside of working at
voluntary clinics, we tried to take on at least one
one patient a year and give them a makeover which
they wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah, that's something I've been doing. That's cool. That's great
that you're able to do that when you know, when
the business gets to a certain point and you want
to you're facing these everyday challenges right at the end
of the day, what do you do to to release
(16:08):
that that stress? That pressure. I mean, what do you
do outside the office? You're not playing golf anymore? No,
it takes too much time. Do you get out of
the office sometimes?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Do you close? Well, it's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
I still like what I'm doing, okay, right, but yeah,
it's life's gotten busy.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So you know, the way I see it, it's.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
I mean, I do have a few hobbies, but I mean,
really it's it's been work and my kids right now.
So you know, when I'm working, the way I see it,
it's it's over time, you know, in a in a
you know, football, basketball scene, and then you know, when
I'm with my kids, it's you know, game seven, you know,
triple overtime. That's where all my focus has been after work.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Sure, we have two kids, I think two kids, good
looking kids. So you know you're expanding. You've done your expansion.
But this is the future, right, I know you want
to stay here, you want to expand. What does the
future look like for linkedental care?
Speaker 1 (17:09):
For you?
Speaker 4 (17:09):
We just we just moved in here. We're talking about
expansion again.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
You're brilliant. How long has it been in a few years?
She had just stop.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
I mean a few patients in staff have asked me
in the past, and what do I plan to do.
I plan on opening multiple offices or another location. And
to answer one part of that question, the I think
when you when a dentist branches out to two, three,
(17:46):
four offices, there comes a point where you've got to
stop being a dentist and become more of a businessman.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
And I I.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Still like, I still like what I'm doing a lot,
and I really want to keep our practice patient centric
and really emphasize that we are a people business, not
a tooth cutting business or production business. Right. But you know,
if I definitely plan on staying in Peace three corners,
(18:18):
We're not leaving. I mean, if there ever is another expansion,
you can rest assured it will still be under one roof.
That's been always important to me. And I mean going
forward though, I think we're just we're going to continue
doing what we've been doing. We're going to continue to
stay up with technology, continue to reinvest in the office
(18:40):
and the community.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
And yeah, okay, yeah, that's good. This is this is
a great place. People want to take the tour. I
mean three thousand, it's great food, there's a lot of space.
I think you have plenty of space to expand it
the what can what should know about you? Maybe that
they don't know. Is there anything anything interesting that you
(19:05):
want to.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Share, Oh, I can share our what our dental practice
focuses on. So I think a lot of times patients
and Denis alike, they emphasize, they put their emphasis a
lot on good dental care. And then that is absolutely important.
But you know, to us, you know, good dental care
(19:30):
alone doesn't really it doesn't always equate to a good
patient experience. And I care a lot about the patient experience.
So that means the patient experience starts from the first
time you call into our office, from the time you
walk through our doors the first time, from the way
you're greet it from the front office, from the way
(19:51):
you know our assistance or hygienas take you back to
the clinical area, so you know, bedside matters and having
clear communications. So you know, when you've put in all
those factors, you know, the receiving good dental care, although
quite important, it's not the only piece to the puzzle. Yeah, yeah,
so that's been my focus, cool patient centric essentially. Well,
(20:16):
we've been speaking to doctor Aristo Shin. It's a great practice.
You guys have I'm glad that he's my dentest also
my family. That test has been doing a great job,
so I appreciate you giving us some time and telling
us a bit about your business.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Thank you, Thank you everyone. If you have any questions,
you can actually check out the website which.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Is linkedentalcare dot com.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, and Instagram it's the same handle, linkedental care right
anything else we want to share and count is four
fifty five, so we need to get that up to
a thousand.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Apparently it was two hundred a three months ago. You know,
I'll tell you one more thing about Instagram before you
know we end this. I mean, within a couple of
months of us actually trying on Instagram, we went. We
actually went viral on one video. Did you have one interviews?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Damn?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Which radio was that? That was last year? It was
the one about our greedy scanner. So oh, I figured
it out and I was almost ready not to come
into work the next day.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And then here I am during a podcast with rap.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Sorry it's not a YouTube content with our creator yet,
but who'll get there soon. I'm trying. Thanks everyone. If
you have any questions, leave them in the comments. Of
course we'll have links in the show note, and you
could always find doctor ristoschin here at Linkedental Care. So
thanks again everyone good.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Here, Thanks for listening to Peachtree Corner's Life with Rico Figliolini.
You can listen to the show wherever podcasts are found,
like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Leave us a review too,
it helps others find the show as well. Don't forget
to like like our Facebook page and YouTube channel for
(22:02):
notifications of our live simulcast video streams of the show.
Catch our other podcast shows at Livinginpeachtreecorners dot com.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
In fact, you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Can listen to our other popular show, The Capitalist Sage,
twice a month podcast about and four businesses. The show
brings you interviews with business owners, leaders and subject matter
experts find what you need to meet today's challenges that
every business owner faces. Check out the show at The
Capitalistsage dot com.
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