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Office Visit: Double the Grins Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

Welcome to the newest installment of Office Visit, where we visit Townies’ offices and profile their
equipment, design or unique practice philosophy. If you would like to participate or nominate a colleague,
please e-mail ben@dentaltown.com.

Generally speaking, according to various sources, the chances of having identical twins in the 21st Century is about three percent – which is fairly rare. Even more rare are for both twin siblings to realize early on that they want to become dentists and later attend dental school. Even more rare than that is finding identical twin doctors working at the same practice! Leave it to Dentaltown Magazine to find them! We are pleased to introduce you to Drs. Chadwick (“Chad”) and Shelby Denman, identical twins who work at the same dental practice in Austin, Texas. We interviewed the Denman brothers to find out what it’s like for them to work together and how they each decided to join the dental profession. We also learn more about their practice, The Smile Center, and what sets it apart even further from its competition in Austin.
Names: Drs. Chadwick (Chad) and Shelby Denman
Graduates from: Chad: Marquette University School of Dentistry; Shelby: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Year graduated: 2006
Practice Name: The Smile Center
Practice Location: 6611 Hwy 290 E, Austin, Texas 78723
Year when this office opened: 2008
Practice Size: 3,800 square feet, seven operatories
Staff (size): Five assistants, three front-desk staff
Web site: www.smilecentersaustin.com

Office Highlights
Bonding Agents
• I-Bond
• Prime and Bond

Burs
• Brasseler
• Henry Schein supplies

Cements
• Ketac Cement
• RelyX

Endodontics
• Profile System & Thermofills
• Root ZX apex locator
• Tulsa Dental Equip Rotary

Operatory Equipment
• Easy Dental
 Implants
• Biomet 3i entire implant system tapered to place and restore (encode abutments)

Impression Materials
• Alginate
• Blue Moose
• 3M Impregnum Penta

Miscellaneous Items
• Baldor Reliancer Industrial Motor .75hp power for air/water
• Ramvac Vacuum system 1hp
• The Cure Cordless (7) curing lights
• 3M ESPE Pentamix machine-impregnum impressions
• Tuttnauer 2540M autoclave sterilizer

 Practice Management Software
• Dentrix

Restoratives
• DENTSPLY Caulk Esthet-X
• GC America Gradia Direct

Technology
• Dell Computers w/LCD monitors, wireless mouses and keyboards
• Dentrix
• Dexis
• Orascopic in lenses loopes 1.5x magnification
• Samsung LCD TVs
• Scan-X by Air Techniques for scanning phosphor plate radiographs
Click Here To View Chad & Shelby’s Top Five
It’s interesting that you’re twins and you now work in the same practice together. Why did each of you choose dentistry as a profession?
Chad: When we were growing up, our best friend’s father and scoutmaster was also our dentist. He was a major role model for us. He provided well for his family, but also took a very active role in his childrens’ lives. He treated us, as patients, with the kind of caring and concern that sometimes seems missing in the medical field.

How did you both end up working at the same practice?
Chad: After graduating from dental school, Shelby moved back home to Florida while I took off for Texas. After I was asked to be a partner with the Smile Center, I knew I would need another top-notch doctor to help me out. At that same time, the company that Shelby worked for was changing owners, which promised a lot of upheaval for him. The timing worked out perfectly for us, so when I offered Shelby a job it didn’t take much convincing. It was the first time in more than a decade that we had lived in the same city, after attending different schools for undergraduate and dental degrees. We didn’t miss a beat, and our unique dynamic has been one of the sources of the Smile Center’s success.

What is your practice philosophy? How do you cultivate this philosophy in your practice?
Chad: Everyone deserves quality dental care. We provide quality service for patients who are underserved. We strive to improve their dental knowledge on home care, nutrition and the benefits of oral health, and to stop the cycle of poor oral health in this demographic. We see patients of all ages and demographics – including the mentally-challenged – and we provide services in-house that most dentists normally refer out such as: implant placement and restoration, root canals, pediatric care, sedation, full mouth rehabilitation, cosmetics and all extractions.

What does your practice do that sets you apart from other dentists in your area?
Chad: About 60 to 70 percent of our patient base are Medicaid recipients (individuals under 21). Many of our patients are lower income, so our fee schedule is less than that of the average dental office in order to make a healthy smile affordable to most everyone. Our average number of patients seen per day per doctor is approximately 25, which includes exams, cleanings and all treatments. The doctors complete all hygiene services themselves. We offer all specialties except for orthodontics, but we’re looking at ways to implement it into our practice in the near future.

What sort of challenges do you face in working with each other each day?
Chad: Being identical twins creates some confusion for not only the patients, but also the staff. For example, a patient came through the door recently who had previously worked with Shelby, and I welcomed her to the practice and asked her how she was doing. She’d assumed I was Shelby and started talking to me about her previous visit and dental work. After I asked her if she was here to see my brother, we all had a laugh about the mix-up.

Have you noticed any benefits in working with your twin?
Chad: We’re able to trust each other explicitly, and it’s nice to have someone really close to turn to when you’ve had an emotionally exhausting day. There are no office politics between the two of us, and we always have another person looking out for us. Despite the large number of patients, having two brothers working the same office projects the feel of a family practice.

Since you began your career as a dentist, what are the three biggest changes you’ve seen in the profession?
Chad: The growing acceptance of implants, the introduction of mainstream lasers and completely paper-less offices.

What piece of technology has the biggest “wow” factor for your patients?
Shelby: We use digital X-ray images, which can be displayed and utilized in any of the ops, including moving them from the room’s computer monitor to the flat screen television mounted in front of each chair. Our patients get a kick out of seeing their X-rays blown up and flashed up on their screen.

What is your biggest source of new patients? How do you market to new patients?
Chad: Our biggest source of new patients is those who qualify for Medicaid. We spend a lot of time in lower income areas of the community, sharing information about dental health and giving out toothbrushes.

Who are some of your dental mentors?
Chad: Dr. Tony Ziebert, Commission on Dental Accreditation Director for the American Dental Association; Dr. Richard Hagner, Professor for Marquette University; Dr. Hank Marcantoni, Oral Surgeon; Dr. Shayne Istre, Business Partner.
Shelby: Dr. Tom Schwartz, taught Business Aspects of Dentistry; Dr. Franson Tom, Aesthetics; Dr. Rob Michaud, Periodontics and Case Planning.

What is your favorite procedure to perform?
Chad: I enjoy placing implants on adults, removing wisdom teeth and seeing children for their first visits.
Shelby: I like doing crown and bridge work.

What is your least favorite procedure/specialty to perform?
Chad: Dentures. I feel that something could have been done prior to this to keep some teeth as anchors and retain necessary bone. It’s sad to see patients who are at this point.
Shelby: Hands down, endodontics.

What is the most rewarding experience you’ve had as a dentist?
Chad: Five years ago, I spent two weeks in Jamaica with my fellow Marquette dental classmates extracting and restoring as many teeth as we could, helping individuals who do not have access to care. In my practice it is changing patients’ minds on what dentistry can be like; getting patients out of pain, educating and saving teeth.
Shelby: I spent nine weeks doing an externship with a dentist whose practice was funded by private work for patients who couldn’t afford dental treatment. I completed mostly extractions and immediate dentures for people who have not been able to chew or eat well for years.

In your opinion, what is the secret to a great staff?
Chad: Having an open door policy and acting as a family (minus the fighting!). Everyone pitching in during the day to reach a common goal.
Shelby: Surrounding yourself with a team that is outgoing and confident in their work. Assistants trained from the beginning to discuss treatment and treat patients with respect, as if they were part of their family.

How has Dentaltown changed the way you practice?
Chad: It’s opened our eyes to different ways of approaching treatment and problems. Getting another viewpoint is always helpful. It’s also helpful to see the situations other dentists face in order to prepare for or prevent those same types of situations in our office.

When you aren’t working, what do each of you like to do to wind down?
Chad: I go to the gym a lot, enjoy outdoor activities, travel frequently, listen to music and just hang out with friends. Shelby: I workout at the gym several times a week before heading to work in the morning and play competitive tennis with a few organizations in Austin a few times a week.

If you weren’t a dentist, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
Chad: I’d probably have gotten my PhD in Nutrition and become a professor in that field.
Shelby: Math has always been easy for me, so I’d probably be an accountant.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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