In the 69th episode of the Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune interviews Dr. Ramin Tabib and Dr. Elisa Mello, a dental team and couple who have worked together for over 32 years in New York City. Instead of slowing down and preparing for retirement, this couple chose to completely reinvent their practice at the age of 61. They relocated to a larger facility and rebranded their practice as The Smile Code.
Reinventing Instead of Retiring
Although financially stable and successful, the couple felt their old 700-square-foot clinic no longer reflected the quality of care they provide. Rather than becoming comfortable with the status quo, they chose to make significant changes by relocating. They invested in a new 2,500-square-foot practice to create a better patient experience and renew their passion for dentistry. They explained that the new practice allowed them to work in an environment that better represented their professional values and clinical standards.
The Importance of Branding
The podcast emphasises that successful branding extends far beyond a logo or a practice name. Dr. Tabib and Dr. Mello stress that a dental practice's brand, office design, website, and patient experience must all align. Patients often judge quality before treatment begins, so the environment should reflect the level of dentistry being delivered. Their rebranding effort included changing the practice's name, redesigning the office, improving their marketing, and creating an identity that reflected the type of dentistry they wanted to provide. They argue that consistent branding helps establish trust and communicates the quality of care patients can expect — and that patients begin evaluating a dental practice before treatment even starts, often based on its appearance.
Commitment to Fee-for-Service Dentistry
Throughout the podcast, Dr. Tabib and Dr. Mello discuss their long-standing commitment to fee-for-service care. They intentionally chose not to participate in insurance PPO networks, even when doing so would have made it easier to increase patient volume. They believed that remaining independent would allow them to prioritise patients' needs instead of insurance requirements. Although this decision created financial challenges early in their careers, they remained committed to their philosophy. They explained that fee-for-service requires patients to recognise the value of exceptional care, which is why they focused heavily on building trust and delivering an outstanding, high-quality patient experience.
Working as Spouses
The podcast also explores the challenges and advantages of operating a dental practice as a married couple, since managing work and a relationship at the same time has always been a complex task. This couple, however, was able to manage it well. Dr. Tabib describes himself as the visionary and risk-taker, while Dr. Mello is more cautious and detail-oriented. In other words, one partner is more entrepreneurial, optimistic, and willing to take risks, while the other is more cautious, analytical, and detail-oriented. Rather than allowing these personality differences to create conflict, they learned to view them as strengths when making business decisions. They emphasised that open communication, mutual respect, and shared long-term goals have enabled them to successfully manage both their marriage and their dental practice for more than three decades.
Continuous Improvement
A recurring message throughout the episode is the importance of lifelong learning. The couple believes dentists should never stop improving their clinical skills or business knowledge, regardless of their experience. Throughout their career, they have continually updated their clinical techniques, invested in new technology, refreshed their website and marketing, and adapted to changing patient expectations. They stress that a successful dental practice must continue evolving rather than staying stagnant.
Main Lesson
The central message of this podcast is that professional growth does not have an expiration date. Dr. Tabib and Dr. Mello demonstrate that dentists can successfully reinvent themselves even after decades in practice. Instead of viewing their sixties as the end of their careers, the couple saw it as an opportunity to create the practice they had always envisioned. Their journey shows that investing in branding, modern facilities, patient experience, and continuous education can revitalize both a practice and a career. They encourage dentists not to fear change or assume that innovation is only for the young. Their story reinforces the idea that dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to quality can lead to long-term success.
Reference
- Dental CEO Podcast, Episode 69: The Husband-and-Wife Dentists Reinventing Themselves at 61.