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Office Visit: Keeping Up with the Giacobbis Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

Not only is Dr. Thomas Giacobbi the editorial director of Dentaltown Magazine and author of the monthly column "Professional Courtesy," but he and his wife, Dr. L. Grace Giacobbi, run their own dental practice in Chandler, Arizona. Learn how the Giacobbis started out in the profession, why they started a dental practice together and what techniques and equipment keep Chandler Dental Health a step ahead.
Name: Thomas J. Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD; L. Grace Giacobbi, DDS
Graduate from: State University of New York at Buffalo School of
                       Dental Medicine
Year graduated: 1995
Practice Name: Chandler Dental Health
Practice Location: Chandler, Arizona
Year when this office opened: 2002
Practice Size: 2,900 square feet, seven operatories
Staff: Two front office, four hygienists (two full time, two part-
         time), two dental assistants
Web site: www.chandlerdentalhealth.com

Office Highlights
Burs
• Komet
• SS White

Bonding Agents
• 3M ESPE Adper Scotchbond SE
• Kuraray Clearfil SE

Cements
• 3M ESPE Rely-X Luting Plus
• 3M ESPE Rely-X Unicem

Endodontics
• Dentsply Laillefer .06 Taper Gutta Percha
• Dentsply Tulsa Dental Endo Handpiece
• Dentsply Tulsa Dental Tapered Files
• Sybron Endo Sealapex Sealer

Implants
• Restoration of Nobel Biocare, 3i, Astra, Straumann

Impression Materials
• 3M ESPE Impregum Penta
• 3M ESPE Position Penta Quick
• Blu-Mousse Bite registration

Operatory Equipment
• Demetron Curing Lights
• Gendex GX-770 X-ray head
• Marus Dental Chair and Light
• Star Dental Handpieces
 Patient Financing
• CareCredit

Practice Management Software
• Dentrix

Restoratives
• 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus
• GC Fuji Triage

Technology
• Dexis Digital Intraoral Sensors
• Foramatron D-10 Apex Locator
• Gendex Orthoralix DDE 8500 Digital Panorex
• KaVo DIAGNOdent
• Sensimatic 600SE Electrosurge

Miscellaneous Items
• Dry Tips Saliva Absorbent
• Hygienic Dental Dam
• Microbrush Microapplicators
• Premier Hemodent
• Ultradent Sable Seek
• Ultradent Ultrapack Retraction Cord (#00 and #0)
• Ultradent Viscostat




Click Here To View Tom & Grace’s Top 5
Why did each of you choose dentistry as your career path?
Tom: I started with positive experiences visiting my family dentist, and with a strong interest in math and science, I made a commitment to pursue dentistry before I graduated high school. This is a wonderful and challenging profession that would be difficult to match. When times are tough, I still have a hard time imagining what I would do if I couldn’t practice dentistry.
Grace: I always wanted to be in the health care field, but what I liked most about dentistry is that there is an artistic side to it. The services that we provide, not only help our patients maintain a healthy mouth, but can also change the way they feel about themselves if there is an aesthetic facet to their treatment.

There are dental offices at nearly every intersection in Chandler, sometimes more than one. What do you do that sets you apart from other dentists in your area?
Tom: Health care is a people business, and our team distinguishes us from many other offices. Every day we focus on consistent service that exceeds patient expectations. Patients routinely compliment the pleasant atmosphere and kindness from start to finish.
Grace: We set a high standard for customer service in our office. We have always believed that if you just treat people the way you want to be treated, then you can’t go wrong. We also have a team that is exceptional and believes in our philosophy.

Why did you decide to open up a practice together?
Tom: It makes sense. One of the reasons dentists continue to practice in small groups or solo practice is the fact that they want to make their own schedule, choose which procedures they will provide and to be their own boss. Grace and I are able to do this together and support each other along the way.
Grace: Working together in our own practice allows us the flexibility to cater to our children’s busy school and sports activities. We want to be there for our patients, but we also want to be able to spend the time raising our three young children.

What sort of challenges do you face in working with each other each day?
Tom: The challenges include keeping work issues separate from your life at home and avoiding a "my patient," "your patient" attitude that frequently happens with non-married dental partners.
Grace: We actually work very well together. You would think that spending your days and nights together would be too much for anyone, but we only work together two days out of the week.
A well-organized sterilization area with redundant key equipment are paramount to running an efficient dental practice.
When you aren’t working or at home together, what do each of you like to do to wind down?
Tom: I spend a significant amount of my nights and weekends working on Dentaltown Magazine and managing the business side of our practice. When my work is finished, my time is focused on our children. They are very active in sports, and the time commitment increases with their ages; their events can be more entertaining than professional sports. I also enjoy playing golf and watching movies.
Grace: I am very much a fitness fanatic. When I am not working or at home with the kids, you can usually find me at the gym. I have competed in several sprint triathlons in the area so I do a lot of cross training. On any given day I could be swimming, running, biking, lifting weights, or going to a spin class. I love a good physical challenge so my training stays pretty intense.

Since you began your career as a dentist, what are the three biggest changes you’ve seen
in the profession?
Tom: Three things that immediately come to mind:
  1. Digital X-rays: This technology has finally taken root as the default method of imaging. While it does not represent the majority of market share, every new office should be equipped with this technology. Digital imaging has also made the paperless office an attainable goal.
  2. CAD/CAM: This is a category that CEREC started more than 20 years ago, and today it has come of age with the addition of other players in the marketplace. 3M Lava COS and Cadent iTero are making a move to replace impression material and CEREC and E4D Dentist are working hard to capture the dentists that want to offer same day restorations.
  3. Dentaltown: Yes, there is clearly a bias with this answer, but I graduated dental school when the Internet was in its infancy and dentists had to travel to conventions to interact outside of their communities. Today, Dentaltown is host to dental professionals from all over the world, and the ability to connect is having a real impact on the way that products are marketed, procedures are done and experts are established
Tom, how did you get involved with Dentaltown and end up as the editorial director for
Dentaltown Magazine?
Tom: I had just started working as an associate with Dr. Howard Farran as he was preparing to launch Dentaltown.com. My involvement in the early days would be best described as "a test market of one." As the magazine added pages, I started to write a column reviewing business and management books. In 2003, the magazine reached critical mass, and I was hired to select and edit the content for Dentaltown Magazine each month.

Grace, I know how much time and effort Tom puts into Dentaltown Magazine each month. How do you keep a balanced schedule with your personal commitments?
Grace: I know that Tom’s work on Dentaltown is very important, and we have developed a schedule that works. I like to get up early in the morning to workout before the kids are up and getting ready for school. When he is out of town, I am able to fill in at the office.

What is your biggest source of new patients? How do you market to new patients?
Tom: In our practice new patients come from many sources: internal referrals, new residents driving by the office, or picking our name from the Delta Dental or MetLife provider lists. At this point, the largest base is our internal referrals. We market to this group by acknowledging the referral via a thank you note and gift certificate.

What is your favorite procedure to perform?
Tom: I enjoy restoring implants the most.
Grace: I like doing extractions, but they slip to least favorite when I end up in a difficult predicament.
Chandler Dental Health team (from left): Jenny, Amber, Heather, Kathy, Dr. Tom, Dr. Grace, Kelly, Roce, Diane and Chelsi.
What is your least favorite procedure/specialty to perform?
Tom: Pediatric dentistry, because children are very unpredictable. However, I continue treating children because they are my future adult patients, and well-behaved pediatric patients can make your day.
Grace: A quadrant of Class 2 composites.

Tell me about your staff. What is their impact on your practice?
Tom: Many dentists will find it no surprise that our team is the most important part of our practice. We frequently receive compliments from our patients saying how nice everyone is, or how well run the practice is, and the highest compliment of all is the number of patients that have referred family and friends. One of our dental sales reps, who visits hundreds of dental offices, became a patient, and our UPS driver joined the practice simply as a result of her interactions with our staff. A terrific team makes it fun to go to work each day, and to work in the sometimes stressful situations unique to dentistry.

What is the secret to a great staff?
Tom: That’s a complicated question but I will try to boil it down to a few simple rules. Team members are involved in the hiring process. If someone isn’t working out, let them go, and have great systems in place to ensure consistent processes, rapid training and great service.

Aside from the obvious, how has Dentaltown changed the way you practice?
Tom: Dentaltown has opened my eyes to many new products that we have added to our practice. I will also credit Dentaltown with my keen interest in adding a laser to our practice and a renewed fascination with various CAD/CAM technologies. On a more philosophical note, I have a deep appreciation of the isolation that exists throughout our profession.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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