Skip to main content
All Posts By

Lance Parman

Smile outlines strategic vision during EOS roll out

By Homepage Featured, News / Announcements

Last Thursday, Smile One Services closed its practices early and invited over 100 team members to the Beardsley Theater for an important announcement about the future.

To say that Smile team members are used to change is an understatement. Since opening its first practice in 2008, Smile has been redefining the way dentistry is delivered for over a decade. That innovative spirit inspired the creation of West Michigan’s first multi-specialty practice, combining general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and orthodontics under one roof. In 2017, Smile One Services was established becoming Michigan’s first multi-specialty Dental Service Organization. Two years later, Smile One introduced Daydreams Pediatric Center, a surgical facility dedicated to pediatric dentistry under general anesthesia. Today, Smile’s multi-specialty footprint has grown to include six campuses throughout West Michigan.

But this meeting wasn’t about looking back. It was about giving the team a clearer picture of where Smile is going and why. “We’ve had an amazing year of continued growth,” said Dr. Darren Riopelle, Founder and CEO. “But what’s really exciting is where we are going.”

Six months ago, Dr. Riopelle introduced his leadership team to EOS®, an entrepreneurial operating system designed to create focus, accountability, and a clear strategic vision for the company. After six months of hard work implementing the EOS tools and concepts, it was time to introduce EOS® to the entire Smile team and show them the goal for the future.

Dr. Riopelle and the Smile One leadership team took turns outlining that vision and the path moving forward to achieve it. “Smile’s passion is to reimagine dentistry and how people experience it,” explained Dr. Riopelle. “That’s why we’re building this. It’s not just about growing, it’s about changing the industry.”

Daydreams opens new facility to meet growing demand for dental surgery

By Homepage Featured, News / Announcements

Daydreams Procedure Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan is moving to a larger facility in order to keep up with the growing demand for pediatric dental care under general anesthesia. Daydreams opened in March of 2019 in response to the elimination of block time for dentistry at many hospitals. As that trend continued, Daydreams received patient referrals from dentists and healthcare providers throughout Michigan and currently delivers general anesthesia to 1,200 children annually. The new facility will provide three additional operating rooms to keep up with increased demand and ensure patient wait times are minimal. The new facility will also provide an opportunity in the future for Daydreams to include adult services like Endodontics, oral surgery, and implants. The new Daydreams location is located at 1471 E. Beltline Avenue and is scheduled to open in October 2021.

Smile One Services expands DSO footprint into Central Michigan

By Homepage Featured, News / Announcements

Smile One Services—Michigan’s first multi-specialty DSO—is excited to announce the acquisition of John Downey, DDS Family Practice in Ithaca, Michigan. The practice will be renamed Smile Ithaca and become part of Smile Dental Partners’ West Michigan dental group that provides multi-specialty dental care at six locations along the Lake Michigan shoreline and Grand Rapids.

Dental Case Study: How UV Angel helped Smile One Services grow 25% during a global pandemic

By Homepage Featured, News / Announcements

The following Case Study was published by UV Angel. The study tracks the impact of Smile One Services’ decision to install UV Angel products throughout its affiliate practices in 2020.

To receive a PDF of the complete report, visit UV Angel’s website.

Dental Case Study: Smile One Services

How one dental service organization grew their business in the face of a global pandemic by collaborating with UV Angel to implement next-generation pathogen control technology that helps keep patients, staff, and families safe.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE:

  • 25% increase in revenue compared to pre-pandemic business.
  • 168% increase in average monthly new patient appointments compared to pre-pandemic monthly averages.
  • 27,894 visits to the new Smile Safety Assurance page in just two months, contributing to a 158% increase in traffic compared to the previous year.

About Smile One Services

Smile One Services is a dental service organization that manages and operates over 70 dental operatories across 5 locations in the state of Michigan. Smile One Services was created to help dentists embrace technology and industry best practices without losing sight of the personal interaction with each patient. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the organization knew they would have to respond differently to be able to keep business going.

“We had a goal to raise the bar for the standard of safety in the dental profession,” said Smile One Services Founder and CEO Darren Riopelle.

And that’s exactly what they did. Dental settings are a high-risk risk environment for exposure to and spread of disease-causing pathogens, so Smile One Services set out to create a new standard for safety that would protect patients and staff not just from the current pandemic, but from any harmful pathogen in dental offices now and in the future.

“Smile One Services led the way in responding to the challenges presented in the face of a global pandemic. They researched potential solutions from a scientific perspective and evaluated available options thoroughly which led them down a path to UV Angel. The science and data clearly supports the effectiveness of our pathogen control technology. Even in the toughest environments like dental settings.” —Dr. Linda Lee

The Challenge: Responding to a global pandemic in an industry prone to pathogen exposure.

Smile One Services knew that thinking differently and finding a robust pathogen control solution was essential to keep the organization moving forward through the pandemic. While all dental facilities were in lockdown at the beginning of 2020, Smile One Services used that time to determine how they could reopen safely, and hit the ground running as soon as restrictions began to ease.

They started by looking at pathogen control solutions that would serve as the foundation for a new and improved approach to dental office safety but were met with a few initial challenges that extended beyond the pandemic itself.

Smile One Services needed a solution that could meet the following requirements:

  • They needed a solution that was unobtrusive. Smile One Services is dedicated to creating comfortable, relaxing environments for patients. They wanted a solution that wouldn’t get in the way of patients or staff as they went about normal operations, and that could fit seamlessly into their existing processes.
  • They needed a solution that put people’s safety first. From front desk staff to hygienists, patients, and families, every person at Smile One Services is essential. The company wanted a solution that would actively work to create a safe environment for every person in their facility. They needed protection across the entire office, not just in operatories or patient rooms.
  • They needed a solution that wouldn’t bring hazardous chemicals or dangerous byproducts into their dental environments. Many pathogen treatment options available today make use of hazardous chemicals or release dangerous byproducts like ozone into the environment. Smile One Services wanted a different, safer solution.
  • They needed a solution that could scale. Effective pathogen control requires more than just one approach. Smile One Services needed pathogen control technology that could create a foundation for a larger safety system, and that could scale to protect offices and operatories across the entire organization.
  • They needed a solution that worked. Above all, Smile One Services was looking for pathogen control technology that worked. They were looking for technology that could effectively neutralize pathogens at the source level.

The Solution: UV Angel products that deliver effective source-level pathogen control with patented UV-C technology.

After looking at a range of available solutions, Smile One Services decided on UV Angel’s Adapt and Clean Air™ products. Installed directly into the ceiling and onto shared, high-touch surfaces, these units neutralize harmful pathogens in the air and on surfaces 24/7, 365 days a year, with patented shielded UV-C light technology.

Fast, Seamless Product Installation

UV Angel and Smile One Services collaborated to determine how many units each office would need based on space, airflow, and office layout. Based on those recommendations, UV Angel was able to install 93 UV Angel Adapt™ desktop keyboard units, and 160 UV Angel Clean Air™ ceiling-mount units in over 70 treatment locations in just days.

As a whole, installation was seamless. UV Angel Clean Air™ units install directly into ceiling tiles, and feature an LED downlight that replaces the original commercial lighting so Smile One Services didn’t see any change in treatment room lighting. UV Angel Adapt™ units install directly onto desktop keyboards, again providing safe, effective UV-C treatment, without disrupting the daily operations of patients or staff.

UV Angel’s units were installed in just days to deliver the unobtrusive, effective pathogen control that Smile One Services was looking for and provided the scalable foundation they needed to develop an entirely new Smile Safety Assurance program.

Why Smile One Services Chose UV Angel Products:
  • Effective pathogen control. UV Angel’s patented, proven UV-C technology effectively neutralizes harmful pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi at the source level. UV Angel Clean Air™ and Adapt™ laboratory results showed elimination rates up to 99.99%.
  • Consistent, sustainable treatment. UV Angel units deliver effective UV-C treatment 24/7/365, and require little maintenance, making them a long-term, sustainable solution.
  • Entire office treatment. UV Angel Clean Air units install seamlessly into any office ceiling, in any part of the office. Adapt units sit conveniently above desktop keyboards to safely and continuously monitor and treat high-touch surfaces. Installation was simple across all 70+ Smile One Services locations.
  • A safe pathogen control solution. UV Angel Clean Air™ units make use of shielded UV-C, which is safe for occupied spaces. UV-C is long-studied and proven effective, and offers the added benefit of treating air and surfaces without introducing hazardous chemicals or dangerous byproducts to the environment.
  • Worry-free performance. Smile One Services didn’t want to wonder if their new technology was actively working. UV Angel units all come complete with sophisticated cloud connectivity so key team members and facility managers can remotely access performance data on any unit, and see at a glance how the entire system is performing.
  • Advanced analytics & a complete software platform. UV Angel’s complete software platform enables advanced analytics. The Smile One Services team uses the software to monitor organization-wide system performance, identify problem areas, and even glean usability data from operatories that may be underutilized.

UV Angel’s products met or exceeded all of Smile One Services’ needs for a sustainable, effective pathogen control solution that was safe for use in occupied spaces.

With UV Angel at the core of Smile One’s new Smile Safety Assurance, affiliate practices are now leading the charge for healthcare safety in the dental industry. This advanced approach to pathogen control, paired with Smile One Services’ robust marketing and clear communication strategies — including website, video, and text advertising — ensures Smile affiliates are able to provide patients with the confidence and peace of mind needed to successfully reopen and restore practice operations.

Let’s take a look at the results that the UV Angel and Smile One Services partnership has delivered.

The Results: Prioritizing people’s safety with next-generation pathogen control helped Smile One Services grow by 25%.

In 2020, the dental industry was down by as much or more than 20% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, dental practices were in lockdown from early March through June. Smile One Services used their time in shutdown to become early adopters of UV Angel’s innovative, source-level approach to long-trusted and well-tested ultraviolet light technology, and that decision put them on top.

When dental practices were able to reopen in June of 2020, Smile One Services had implemented UV Angel’s Clean Air units across all 70+ treatment rooms, and were able to welcome staff and patients back to cleaner, safer dental offices and operatories. That decision paid off.

Keeping Patients & Staff Safe With Effective Pathogen Control

After installing UV Angel’s units, there have been no cases of COVID-19 spread in any of Smile One Services’ 70+ treatment rooms. Just 10 staff members have tested positive since reopening, and none of those positive cases were spread through Smile One Services offices or treatment rooms. This is a testament to the effectiveness of both UV Angel’s technology and Smile One Services’ dedication to raising the bar for safety in healthcare.

Smile One Services Sees 25% Revenue Increase Despite Global Pandemic

Not only did installation of UV Angel’s technology succeed in keeping patients and staff safe during this pandemic, but Smile One Services’ investment also generated positive returns. While the rest of the dental industry was down 20%, Smile One Services increased revenue by 25%. Let’s take a closer look at these results:

  • 25% increase in revenue compared to prepandemic business revenue
  • 169% increase in average monthly new patient appointments compared to pre-COVID patient appointment averages
  • 158% increase in new user web traffic compared to the year before
  • 27,894 visits to the new Smile Safety Assurance page in just two months
  • Smile One Services even grew their team in the face of the global pandemic. They added: 5 dental assistants, 4 dental hygienists, and 4 doctors

Smile One Services’ investment not only worked to help them provide cleaner, safer dental environments for patients and staff, but it also contributed directly to their business’ growth.

After implementing a page on the Smile One Services website outlining their Smile Safety Assurance, the company saw a 158% increase in new user web traffic compared to the previous year, and 27,894 visits to that Smile Safety Assurance page in just two months. This data indicates that the organization’s success was largely due to their investment in UV Angel’s Clean Air technology and their new Smile Safety Assurance.

Smile One Services’ dedication to raising the bar for the standard of safety in the dental profession resonated strongly with their staff, and with patients — both existing and new. By prioritizing patient and staff safety and partnering with UV Angel, Smile One Services was able to grow significantly, even in a time of industry downturn.

The UV Angel and Smile One Services partnership is an exciting and successful one. This future-focused collaboration is sure to foster continued growth as both organizations work to raise the bar for the standards of safety and create cleaner, safer environments for all.

Now Hiring: Dental Hygienists & Assistants

By Employment Opportunities, News / Announcements

Smile Dental Partners is looking for Dental Hygienists and Assistants who seek a career opportunity that is fulfilling, supportive, and fun. Smile is West Michigan’s only multi-specialty dental practice, combining general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and orthodontics under one roof. Join the Smile team and enjoy these benefits…

  • Sign-on bonus
  • 401k plan
  • Student loan repayment plan
  • All new equipment and technology
  • One of the safest healthcare environments in the U.S.
    (featuring UV Angel’s exclusive pathogen control technology — learn more)
  • Standard of care, systems, and case acceptance methodology used
  • No weekends or evenings
  • Healthy work/life balance

To apply, send resume to clinical@smileoneservices.com
To learn more about Smile Dental Partners and our 4 West Michigan practices, visit SmileDentalPartners.com

Dental Anesthesiologist

By Employment Opportunities

A Unique Dental Anesthesia Position in West Michigan

The dental industry is evolving. In response, our group is offering a unique position for Dental Anesthesiologists interested in a new and emerging business model.

We are looking for an individual or two to add to our already strong pipeline of sedation cases. Smile Dental Partners is a multi-specialty group model that created its own dental surgical center to simplify the process and deal with the lack of consistent hospital time. We currently see 100 pediatric cases of general anesthesia sedations every month with strong, growing demand. In 2021, our group is moving into adult sedation and will also be adding Oral Surgery and Endodontics to the general aspects of dentistry.

Dental Anesthesiologists are typically asked to travel todifferent dental offices, most of which are not adequately equipped and do not understand dental sedation needs. Instead, we have created a dedicated surgical center where all our sedation cases are directed. This allows us to provide a simple, consistent, and positive experience for both our patients and our team. Our surgical coordinators are able to create the schedules and hold case criteria to a common standard. The result is a win win win—where our patients, doctors, and team members all win.

Dental Anesthesiologist  |  Smile Dental Partners

  • Full time position
  • Annual starting salary of $325,000
  • $10,000 starting bonus
  • $100,000 student loan repayment program during first 5 years
  • 401k plan
  • Malpractice coverage
  • Partnership path
  • 3 weeks paid vacation
  • West Michigan offers all the big city amenities of Grand Rapids (one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest and home of the Medical Mile) as well as the beaches, hiking trails, skiing, and resort towns of the surrounding lakeshore communities and nearby Lake Michigan.

I invite you to consider this exciting position and contact me to set up a time to discuss.

Darren Riopelle, DDS
Founder/CEO
darren@smileoneservices.com

Learn more about our multi-specialty dental practices at: SmileDentalPartners.com
Learn more about our pediatric procedure center at: DaydreamsPC.com

Safety during the pandemic

By News / Announcements

WZZM 13 Interview | 11-06-20

Is it safe to visit the dentist? What about kids? Many people are concerned about the recent spike in COVID-19 cases throughout West Michigan. WZZM 13 reporter Catherine Berhendt spoke with Dr. Darren Riopelle about safety and dental visits during the pandemic.

We’re growing and hiring!

By Employment Opportunities, News / Announcements

Smile One’s affiliate practices throughout West Michigan are growing and looking for talented individuals to join the Smile team. Below is a list of available positions with a link for each to apply online. If you have any questions about employment opportunities at Smile, please contact us at talent@smileoneservices.com.


Daydreams Patient Coordinator

The Daydreams Patient Coordinator works at Smile One Services and provides support for one of our affiliate practices, Daydreams Procedure Center. Daydreams is West Michigan’s premier resource for pediatric dental care under general anesthesia. The Daydreams Patient Coordinator coordinates patient appointments and treatment plans on behalf of Daydreams. Excellent communication and service skills a must. Medical scheduling experience preferred.

Click here for more information and to apply.


Smile Dental Partners

Smile Dental Partners is a multi-specialty dental practice that is supported by Smile One Services. Smile Dental Partners has four West Michigan locations and is currently hiring. For a complete list of employment opportunities at these practices, please visit Smile’s website.