“Since we’ve moved, we’ve had steady growth,” Dr. Costanzo says. “Orthodontics is usually not seen as a necessity, so a lot of people have been putting that off. I think the new office has kind of helped me weather the storm, weather the economy, and not only prevent decline, but actually increase production a little bit even during these tough times.”

While the economy may have been gloomy, Dr. Costanzo chose Patterson in part for his team’s positive attitude. Prior to getting started on the project, he spoke with other dental supply companies that gave him the impression that it would be too much work and too costly to build a new practice, Dr. Costanzo recalls. “But after talking to Brett and Charmen, I just kind of got this feeling from them that, yes, this was the right thing to do,” he said. “Just their optimistic outlook – ‘Yes, this can work and we’re going to be there every step of the way to make it as easy as we can for you’ – that’s just the feeling that I got from them.”

Dr. Costanzo has fun with his patients, whether he’s wearing fairy wings if someone loses a tooth or taking fun pictures of patients and staff to put on the practice’s Facebook page and website. Last >> December, Costanzo’s young patients played a game where they photographed “Mini-Doc Jr.” – a tongue depressor with a picture of Costanzo’s face glued to it – and posted their pictures on Facebook. The patient who posted the most won a prize. Costanzo said he also gave a prize for the photo in the most exotic location, which had Mini-Doc Jr. “speaking” at the Pentagon. The “Mini-Doc” idea arose from an unusual office-warming gift from Constable and Brummer: a Dr. Costanzo look-alike bobble-head doll. “Mini-Doc has been a big hit in the office, and he also stars in a video about orthodontics that can be seen on Costanzo Orthodontics’ YouTube page,” Costanzo says.

It’s that positivity that gets patients excited for their next appointment and keeps Costanzo Orthodontics an upbeat place to improve smiles. PT