Catherine graduated in 2011 with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Throughout her time at school, she had thought about where to practice when she graduated, but kept returning to the idea of going into practice with her father. Carter didn’t pressure his daughter, just helped educate her on her options, including looking at practices for sale in the area.

“I certainly considered other opportunities in dental school but never wavered from wanting to be with him because I had seen what he does and thought it would be so much fun to work together. We have such a close relationship,” Sledge said. “I knew if I were working with him every day, I would have a great time doing it.”

Even two years after they opened their practice together, Carter still seems to be in awe of his daughter’s decision to go into business together. “I think it would be every father’s dream to have their son or daughter to come and work with them,” Carter said. “It’s a real honor that Catherine wanted to do that.”

As Catherine neared her graduation date from dental school, the doctors’ first order of business was to find space for a new office. Though Carter had kept up with dental technology during his 25 years in business — thanks to his relationship with Patterson Dental Territory Representative Martin Webb — his practice space was too small to comfortably accommodate two doctors.

A friend of Carter’s offered the doctors 4,500 square feet of space in a new shopping center in nearby Ridgeland. The suburb was growing, the shopping center was situated on a major road through town, and the office space was vacant. In addition to its economic selling points, the doctors fell in love with the high ceilings inside and the grand entryway outside featuring double doors, a copper awning and an eye–catching clock tower.

Carter was apprehensive about the upgrade and leaving the practice where he’d worked for 25 years, but with Catherine’s encouragement, took the plunge. “I was a little reluctant, being more ‘old school,’ but we have such a great trust in each other,” Carter said. “Catherine said, ‘Dad, it’s time. We need to move.’ If it had been anyone else, I don’t know if I would have listened as intently or taken it to heart as I did.”

The next decision was far easier for the doctors to make: selecting their office designer and equipment provider. Carter had been working with Patterson representative Martin Webb since the doctor was in dental school, and with Equipment Specialist Greg Bridges for 20 years. “It’s always been a pleasure; they’ve always catered to our schedule. It’s been a great relationship,” Carter said of Patterson.