Dr Darchelle Braxton of Toothbeary Pediatric Dentistry: 5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career As A Dentist
An Interview With Luke Kervin
Having an Excellent Team. When opening your own dental practice, one of the first and most important lessons you learn is that you can’t do it by yourself. It is of the utmost importance to carefully select people who are highly qualified within their respective fields to help you along your journey. The vetting process should be meticulous, as you are not only searching for accomplished and knowledgeable individuals, but ones who embody the characteristics and energies that you want to be associated with your practice. Doing so ensures that you can provide your patients with your undivided attention, while still providing them with a warm and friendly environment whose logistics run smoothly.
As part of our series about healthcare leaders, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Darchelle Braxton.
Dr. Darchelle Braxton, DMD, MS is a board-certified pediatric dentist who strives to create positive and lifelong relationships with her patients and their parents. Her passion lies in improving oral health for all children. The dedication she demonstrates to her patients enables her to provide exceptional care. With her warm and loving personality, each patient is quickly put at ease while being treated gently and compassionately.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Pre-Med from Virginia State University, Dr. Braxton received a Master of Science in Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry from Virginia State University and the University of Iowa. She went on to earn her dental education from the University of Louisville before completing her general practice residency training at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. Soon thereafter, she received advanced training in pediatric dentistry at New York University. Today, she runs a successful practice, Toothbeary Pediatric Dentistry, in Glen Allen, VA.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! What is your “backstory”?
I am a first-generation dentist. Growing up, my parents always sought out medical professionals of African American descent in order for my sisters and I to understand how important it was to believe in ourselves and to know that people from our community are successful. On top of this, as a child I always had a love for the doctor’s office. Instead of being afraid, as most children are, I would look around in fascination. From the complex instruments to the medical vocabulary, I had always yearned to learn more. As a result, I developed an admiration for my pediatrician and looked up to her as a role model. From a very young age I had always known that I wanted to become a doctor and work with children. However, growing up always comes with changes and, after I was introduced to the world of dentistry, I became set on becoming an oral surgeon.
Due to my long-standing interest in medicine, I had always been a high academic achiever and developed a passion for science throughout primary and secondary schooling. I was blessed to partake in a dental assisting course through my high school’s technical center. Part of the course required internships at dental offices which enabled me to gain hands-on clinical experience in dentistry and, thus, began my passion for the field. While completing my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I used the skills I had gained in high school to work as a dental assistant during my free time. Upon entering dental school, I met Dr. Monroe Harris, a maxillofacial surgeon, who would then guide me as my mentor along my path to becoming a dentist. He provided me with the opportunity to shadow him in his practice and taught me many tips and tricks that I carried with me throughout dental school and that I still hold dear to my heart to this day. His influence was instrumental in my development. He allowed me to see how important a mentor is at every stage of a person’s life because even though when he met me, I wanted to be an oral surgeon, his help and guidance was no less impactful. His assistance was truly inspiring and has motivated me to become a mentor and a role model for youth as I now am on the path to opening my own dental assisting school in order to become a mentor to the young people whose position, I once was in.
Upon graduating from dental school, I entered a residency program where I received extensive training in the field of general dentistry. At the time, I had been studying implants in preparation for the increase in their use that would expand in the coming years. In an unexpected turn of events, my path to becoming an oral surgeon shifted. A residency program for pediatric dentistry residents began their training at the same site as mine. One of the requirements for my program was to rotate through their shifts. It was at this point where the love I had for pediatrics from my youth fell back into place. I realized that treating children was my true passion and I never looked back.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
My most interesting stories center around my dental mission trips to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and Yakutat, Alaska, where I provided dental care to adults and children in underserved communities. Each place consists of individuals who have no access to dental care and have not had treatment for many years, if they had received any at all. I provided care to adults and children alike and being able to do so was deeply emotionally fulfilling. In each instance, I saw people in lines that stretched for miles, patiently waiting for the care my team provided. At times, the state of these people would threaten to bring me to tears, and I would fall in love with dentistry all over again knowing that I was truly impacting the quality of life of so many people. It was through these trips that I knew that I wanted my practice to be inclusive of all individuals, regardless of whether they were able to afford private dental insurance. I knew that staying true to my heart would always override any monetary aspect. I feel so blessed and deeply humbled to have found my true calling in this life.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I first entered the world of business, I thought I had to save up every single penny of $500,000 to open my own practice. I called my dad, teary eyed and upset, because of how long it would take me to accomplish my dream. I couldn’t understand why he had sounded so unruffled by this awful news. That is, until he taught me about these wonderful things called bank loans! You don’t learn business education in dental school, and I had only gone off the information I had learned in a business course I had taken on the side. I learned that you don’t always have to deplete your personal funds to open a business and it reminded me of the importance of a great support system. I now read many books to help guide me along my business journey. “The E Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber is one of my favorites and I believe it is a must read before opening a business.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now?
Right now, I have an exciting new passion project in the works. As an extension of my practice, I’m on the precipice of opening a dental assisting school. The passion to complete this project stems from my own experiences, which include taking dental assisting courses when I was in high school and the process of recruiting dental assistants when opening my practice. I hadn’t realized that the medical and dental field had an overwhelming shortage of qualified dental assistants. Being that my dental assistant courses were integral in helping me along my path to becoming the dentist I am today, I am excited to be able to mentor young students and help them make their way into the field of dentistry. I am also very passionate about utilizing my skills in a way that will give back to the dental community by helping my colleagues find qualified, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic dental assistants.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I attribute much of my success to the values that were instilled in me when I was a child. My parents always emphasized the importance of a great education, excellent work ethic, and completing tasks to the best of my ability. I would watch how my mom would never complain about work or take a sick day. She never made excuses and would always get all work done with a great attitude. Additionally, much of my time was also spent with my grandmother, who was always kind and compassionate. I remember the big family meals that would come around every Sunday because she loved to bring people together. I think back fondly to my childhood and how she would always help anyone in need and would never turn anyone away. These experiences encompass the values that I hold dear today and that have been integral to my success.
Is there a particular book that made an impact on you? Can you share a story?
The experience of reading “Gifted Hands” by Ben Carson was incredibly impactful. The way that he explains the background surrounding his upbringing was inspiring and truly instilled the motivation in me to become a doctor. The fact that he came from a low-income household and was raised by a mother who, despite her lack of an education, was able to direct him onto his path of higher learning and success showed me that anything is possible. It allowed me to cultivate and maintain the persistence and drive I needed to know that it was truly possible for me to accomplish my dreams.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I have used my success to be a role model and mentor youth, especially those who are underrepresented. I strive to demonstrate to minority youth that minority women are just as capable of achieving high level dreams as those who are of groups that are often provided with more resources, support, and opportunities for success. Through my practice I make sure to create jobs for women and minorities that have diverse and interesting backgrounds.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story about how that was relevant to you in your own life?
“Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life” — Confucius
Every day, I wake up and I am excited to help children and ease the worry of their parents. The work I do for my patients is something I am truly passionate about. I have built my practice around helping to dismantle the stigma that children often associate with any kind of doctor’s office. When designing the setup of my practice, I wanted to create an atmosphere that was welcoming and fun so that kids would be able to find the same enthusiasm for doctors that I was fortunate enough to have in my youth. I love being able to instill a lifetime of good habits in children, and my practice’s colorful, exciting, and interactive environment helps young patients become passionate and, later, diligent about their oral health and hygiene. I am so grateful to have found a career and to have built a life around doing something I truly love.
Can you share your top three “oral hygiene tweaks” that will help people look and feel great?
If you want to enjoy a sugary treat, it’s best to finish it in one sitting. In every instance that you consume sugary foods and drinks, acid is produced by the natural bacteria in your mouth, which leads to cavities. Instead of snacking on the treat throughout the day and producing constant acid for cavities, eat it one sitting and wash it down with a glass of water. This way, you are limiting the likelihood of developing cavities.
Most people are unaware of the fluoride contained in the natural minerals of tap water. Try swapping your bottled water for a drink from the tap for stronger enamel.
Many times, bad breath stems from issues other than what’s happening in your mouth. If you’re noticing that your mouth has a smell during certain times of the year, you might want to visit your physician to get checked for seasonal allergies.
Ok thank you for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, what are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career As A Dentist” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Integrity
It’s important to establish a strong moral compass for use as the basis of trust between you and your patients. When patients sense your moral authenticity, they are more apt to trust you which allows them to let their guard down. This, in turn, makes it more likely for them to follow your advice and instruction, thus allowing your care to make a farther-reaching impact.
- Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is an incredibly important and often overlooked aspect of a field as demanding as that of dentistry. A dentist must always be in peak performance. This means that managing your time appropriately to schedule in time to take care of your mental and physical wellness is vital to the quality of care of your patients.
- Innovation
It is incredibly important to set oneself apart in the world of dentistry, and even more so regarding owning a practice. Your creativity must be an unlimited reservoir that is constantly coming up with new and inventive ways to provide top tier patient care by constantly improving both yourself and your practice.
- Having an Excellent Team
When opening your own dental practice, one of the first and most important lessons you learn is that you can’t do it by yourself. It is of the utmost importance to carefully select people who are highly qualified within their respective fields to help you along your journey. The vetting process should be meticulous, as you are not only searching for accomplished and knowledgeable individuals, but ones who embody the characteristics and energies that you want to be associated with your practice. Doing so ensures that you can provide your patients with your undivided attention, while still providing them with a warm and friendly environment whose logistics run smoothly.
- Diligence
The road to becoming a dentist is one that is long, arduous, and riddled with challenges; however, it is also inspiring, rewarding, and brimming with fulfilling experiences. To accomplish your goals as a dentist, you will be required to work incredibly hard. The path to success in this field is not a race; it’s a marathon that will require your dedicated persistence at every step along the way.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Integrating Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Integrating primary, dental, and vision insurance would greatly increase the oral wellness of people all over the country and would help us eliminate the disparities of dental health often found in people of different backgrounds. People fail to realize that the health of a child’s teeth plays a huge role in the development of their education. Every day, I see children from minority and low-income households that need to be rushed to the emergency room because their parents are unable to afford preventative dental care. These children have been attending school in high degrees of pain and are less able than their peers of higher socioeconomic status to concentrate and retain information, which highly impacts their level of performance. Moreover, many health care providers agree that the overall health of one’s body is very much connected to the state of their oral health. Similarly, problems in vision are usually diagnosed and treated in the very early developmental stages of children from financially advantaged families. This allows them the ability to completely absorb the information in their primary education, which serves as the foundation for high scholastic achievement. It is clear to see the ways in which a lack of access to proper vision and dental care severely inhibits children of lower socioeconomic status to reach their full potential. Combining these health care programs would allow children across the country to grow up healthier and more able to reach their full potential.
Financial Literacy/Student Loans
While many high schools tend to teach economic skills to their students, I believe implementing a required business and entrepreneurship curriculum in our public high schools would greatly increase the financial literacy and wellness of people across the globe. More often than not, only the children of higher-income households tend to gain the necessary tools that enable them to acquire financial freedom in their lifetime. If we were to extend this knowledge to students of all demographics and backgrounds, then we might be able to help steadily decrease the magnitude of this financial disparity.
Furthermore, presenting low-income and minority students that aspire to enter the fields of medicine, dentistry, law, and business with the financial resources necessary to overcome financial burdens such as student loans would also provide a movement with far-reaching impacts. Implementing a program that would provide these students with scholarships and student debt relief would allow minority and low-income children to have a greater chance at following their dreams. It happens too often that we see such children forced to hang up their aspirations of an inspiring career for the scholarship money that accompanies being a star athlete. Such students often suffer many head injuries that throw them off their track to graduation. Increasing their access to funds and mitigating the financial burden will encourage more truly passionate doctors and lawyers to enter the workforce, thus, increasing the quality of practitioners of those fields.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)
I have always admired Sheila Johnson for her investment skills and business acumen. While my passion is pediatric dentistry, owning my own practice means that I must also be a businesswoman. My interest in her has led me to visit Salamander Hotel and Resort, one of the many properties in her real estate portfolio, on a few occasions. The way in which she runs her company demonstrates her clear excellence in hospitality. To be able to sit down with her at Harrimans at the Salamander and gain insight into her business methodology in real time would be a dream come true and a wonderful learning experience for myself. During the private lunch, one question I would ask is: What is your personal blueprint for selecting the individuals that help run your company? It is difficult to navigate the world of business as a woman, let alone as one who is African American. For her to do so and become so successful despite all the challenges she faced is greatly inspiring. Furthermore, her aptitude for giving back to her community is something I would love to learn more about, as I am constantly looking for better ways to be a more impactful mentor to minority youth.
What is the best way for our readers to follow you online?
Visit us at www.toothbearykids.com. Please connect with us on Instagram at @Toothbeary, and on Facebook at @Toothbeary.
Thank you so much for these wonderful insights!
About the Interviewer: Luke Kervin is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of PatientPop, an award-winning practice growth technology platform. PatientPop is Kervin’s third successful business venture. Prior to co-founding PatientPop, Kervin co-founded and was President of ShopNation (acquired by Meredith Corporation) and was the first executive hire at StarBrand Media (acquired by POPSUGAR).