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Office Visit: Family Practice Marie Leland, Assistant Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Marie Leland, Assistant Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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

This month, Dentaltown Magazine visited Topsham Dental Arts in Topsham, Maine. This family-run practice consists of father, Dr. Howard Sprague; son, Dr. Gregory Sprague; and daughter, Dr. Polly Nichols (Mom, Rosemary also works at the practice as a dental assistant). Together they share the reasons they chose dentistry as a career, the benefit of being able to consult with each other on complex treatment plans and they provide advice for other dentists considering practicing with family.
Name: J. Howard Sprague, DDS
Graduate from: Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 1962
 
Name: Gregory H. Sprague, DDS
Graduate from: Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 2005
 
Name: Polly S. Nichols, DDS
Graduate from: Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 1996
 
Practice Name: Topsham Dental Arts
Practice Location: Topsham, Maine
Year when this office opened: September, 2008
Practice Size: 2,460 square feet, seven operatories     Staff: 8
Web site: www.topshamdentalarts.com

Office Highlights
Bonding Agents
• Ultradent Peak LC Bond

Cements
• 3M ESPE RelyX luting cement

Implants
• Straumann

Impression Materials
• Replica

Patient Financing
• CareCredit
• Henry Schein Citibank program

Technology
• Dell Vostro 410 Computers
• Kodak 8000 Digital Panoramic
  System
• Kodak Practiceworks Software
• Kodak RVG 6000 Sensors

Restoratives
• Prep Cleaner: Ultradent
  Consepsis
• Etch: Benco Dental
• Flowable Composite: Septodont
  Image
• Filled Composite: GC America GRADIA
  DIRECT and Kuraray CLEARFIL
  MAJESTY
• Sealants: Pulpdent Embrace WetBond
• Base/Liner: Pulpdent Lime-Lite		 Miscellaneous Items
• 3M ESPE Sof-Lex Contouring & Polishing Discs
• A-dec 500 Dental Chairs and Delivery Units
• A-dec Assistina
• A-dec Sterilization Center
• A-dec W&H Electric motors with high and low speed attachments
• AMD Lasers, Picasso Soft Tissue Dental Laser
• Buffalo Dental No. 1A Vibrator
• Clinician’s Choice Quad-Tray Xtreme
• Colténe/Whaledent BioSonic
• Custom Cabinetry by Banner Woodworking
• Dentsply Midwest Rhino Motors and Attachments
• Dentsply Midwest Tradition Highspeed Handpieces with
  Fiber Optics
• Dentsply Tulsa X-Tip
• DUX Dental Alginator
• Foster Dental Model Trimmer
• Garrison Dental Solutions Composi-Tight 3D Sectional Matrix
  System
• Garrison Dental Solutions Wedge Wands
• HSW Ligmaject
• Invisalign
• Kerr Corporation, Demi
• Midmark UltraClave
• Milestone Scientific, The Wand
• Nordent Instruments
• Physics Forceps
• Red Wing Lathe
• Satelec Scalers
• SciCan Statim 2000 Cassette Sterilizer
• Sybron Elements Obturation Unit
• Ultradent Endo-Eze System
• Ultradent Opalesence 10%
• Woodpecker Dental Curing Lights
Click Here To View Topsham Dental Arts’ Top Five
Why did each of you choose dentistry as your career path?
Howard: My childhood dentist encouraged me toward dentistry by showing me his lab, dental models and examples of prosthesis he was completing. He also let me press the pedal and watch sterile instruments come up from the boiling water. His wife kept the books and assisted him. I thought I would like to have a close family like that. I also thought dentistry would be a good living since my dentist told me I could charge $70 for placing a crown!

Greg: Growing up playing and working in my dad’s office definitely influenced my decision positively. As a small boy I would slide off the patient chairs, light firecrackers in the lab with my dad, and play in the plaster – these are all fun memories. As I grew older I learned to assist and do just about everything else that goes on in a dental office including building remodeling and maintenance.

Polly: Dentistry was not a forgone decision for me. I think I considered nearly everything else first; from vet school to music education, but could not feel settled about any of those options. I knew that my dad found great satisfaction in his profession, and I had done every job in the office except being the dentist, so I decided halfway through my junior year of college to fill that gap in my resume. My dad never encouraged me to pursue dentistry. He said it was very demanding, confining work (and it is), but as soon as I decided to become a dentist I could tell he was very pleased and I have never regretted the decision.

How do your family dynamics work in and out of your practice each day?
Greg: Our family works very well together. We are not as good at playing.

Polly: Perhaps another way to put that is that we find pleasure in accomplishing things together, it is our play. Building our present office was a great adventure to enjoy together. We each have different strengths and we are learning to divide responsibilities accordingly. We share a great deal of professional and personal respect for each other. Having our dad and his 48 years of thoughtful experience at our fingertips is powerful.

Howard: The pleasure of being able to shift so much responsibility to Polly and Greg and see them “run with it” has been great. Being able to consult together and assist each other in various procedures is mutually beneficial. My wife, Rosemary, and I never dreamed of having two of our children practice with us so we are truly blessed.

What sort of challenges do you face in working with each other each day?
Polly: Clinically there really are no challenges. Administratively, sharing responsibilities can be a double-edged sword. Tasks are shared, but there are three times as many bosses for staff to interact with. Frequent and clear communication between the three of us, and also with our staff is important. Finding each other’s strengths is a critical process that is ongoing. This implies potential frustrations when we do not succeed in matching the right task (administrative, maintenance, you name it) with the right dentist.

What advice can you give other dentists who are considering practicing with family?
Howard: Having experience together in the office even before dental school graduation is helpful. Naturally, a shared commitment to excellence is critical. Beyond that and even more important is that the family members share a common world view and life goals. Otherwise, friction would be difficult to avoid.

Polly: I agree. Philosophy, world view and goals in life all have to mesh. Agreement in the philosophical realm translates into agreement on practical considerations such as salary calculation formulas and overhead sharing. We spent a good deal of time working these things out and putting them into official, legal formats that define our professional relationship.

Greg: It is important that each family member sees the others as colleagues who have unique information and insights to share.

What is your practice philosophy? How do you cultivate this philosophy in your practice?
Howard: Loma Linda University has a beautiful motto, “To Make Man Whole.” We share this in the sense that we desire to be available to serve our patients in more than just the dental dimension. Our patients come with many needs; social, physical and spiritual and our desire is to be competent; to encourage, share, grieve and rejoice with them as appropriate on all these levels.

Greg: We cultivate this philosophy by making sure that we have time with our patients; time to communicate, time to leave the topical on long enough, time to “get it right.” We send a good number of cards; get well, birthday, sympathy, etc.

Polly: Our team prays together each morning. We pray for each other and for our patients. Our mission is to participate in our finite way in the infinite healing ministry that Jesus began when He was here. As part of this we provide a good deal of donated dentistry within the practice, part of which is working with MaineCare, our state’s seriously under funded dental program, and Give Kids a Smile. We also have each participated on many occasions in overseas dental missions and plan to continue to do so. One of the strengths of our joint practice is that we have more freedom to share our time and skills than any of us would have if we practiced individually.

What is the competition like in your area? What does your practice do that sets you apart from other dentists in your area?
Polly: Maine has a shortage of dentists, so we have yet to sense competition even though we practice in one of the better dentally served areas of the state. The local dentists have been very warm and helpful toward us. We appreciate being in an area that has so many fine dentists.

We can think of two things that set us apart. First, the fact that we are a brand new office with state of the art technology is a draw. Second, the three of us practicing together means that we are able to provide a broad range of treatment including most endo, oral surgery and implant services. The ability to conveniently consult among the three of us regarding complex treatment plans is another benefit to the patients.

What piece of technology has the biggest “wow” factor for your patients?
Polly: The Wand anesthesia system and digital X-rays would have to tie for this honor. Digital X-rays have truly turned X-rays into a patient education tool. The Wand provides for practically painless anesthesia and is definitely worth the extra time it takes to administer.

What is each of your favorite procedures to perform? Do any of you specialize in a specific area of dentistry or prefer certain procedures over others?
Howard: Placing implants is the most personally rewarding thing I do. Being able to give patients a second chance at complete dentition is wonderful. For patients who have lost their natural dentition, using implants to stabilize lower full dentures is probably the most humane service we can offer.

Polly: I agree with my dad. Other things I especially enjoy are cosmetic procedures. The simple restorations that make such an immediate difference in a person’s smile or a full mouth reconstruction.

Greg: I’ve added Invisalign to my toolbox and am really having fun with this new piece of dentistry. I have good relationships with local orthodontists and consult with them regularly.

How has Dentaltown changed the way you practice?
Polly: We are used to “top down” communication in dental literature and it is refreshing to experience the horizontal sharing that is possible in the Dentaltown forum. Hearing from other “everyday dentists” is encouraging and educational. The willingness of Dentaltown columnists and participants to share their ideas and office forms is helpful. For example, we downloaded and are using a slightly modified version of Dr. Howard Farran’s patient financial policy.

If you weren’t a dentist, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
Howard: My dad was an osteopath. The deep satisfaction that he and his patients gained through his care influenced me greatly during my early years. Though I was only 11 years old when I lost him, the influence of his kindness and love of his profession almost tilted me in that direction. I think the one-area-of-the-body focus of dentistry, plus the information sharing of my childhood dentist tilted me into a dental career. After 48 years I’m more excited about being a dentist than ever and can’t seem to wish for retirement.

Polly: I considered medicine. If my dad was not a dentist I would likely have been caught in the medical trap and become a surgeon because I like to use my hands so much. On the other hand, perhaps a literature professor or a journalist. There are all sorts of addictions, mine is to the written word. But dentistry has been a perfect fit for my interest in the arts, health, people and using my hands as well as my head.

Greg: A professional snowmobile stunt rider… in my dreams! I thought about being a college biology professor. I spent three years of college as a lab assistant and really enjoyed that experience.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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