If it weren’t for the striking resemblance (and same last name), you might think Drs. Tim and Andrew Kitzmiller were simply similarly minded business partners who happened to really enjoy one another’s company.
Dive deeper, and you soon realize that the CinciSmiles father-son partnership is not only real, but rare. After six years of working side-by-side, these two have created an office that goes far beyond cleanings and fillings, striving to deliver what patients really seek—the confidence to share their smile.
Dr. Andrew, did you always want to follow in your dad’s footsteps?
Andrew: Not always. I went to undergrad with the idea of going to dental school, but I also had an interest in entrepreneurship and business. I graduated with a biology degree, then spent my first year in the start-up scene honing my business, administration and sales skills.
But after being in start-ups and sales for about a year, I realized I wasn’t helping people in the role I wanted to. I saw there was a more worthwhile way of helping people and impacting their lives, so I went to dental school.
And then … your first day? Describe that.
Andrew: It was May 13, 2019. And I remember being scared. With my very first patient, everything I learned in dental school got thrown out the window … what I thought would be ideal treatment didn’t go that way at all. I asked my dad what to do, and he said, “You fix it and good luck.” And I did.
Dr. Tim, tell us how you feel about working with your son.
Tim: It’s been great watching his evolution … when Andrew first got out of dental school, he was following the rules. He’d tell me what not to do because of what he had just learned—and I’d give him his space. In dental school, they keep you in a box of predictable conformity, but then he evolved, learning about all the possibilities. And it was liberating for him.
Let’s talk about the cosmetic side of your dental practice.
Andrew: We’ve always had it, but now it has a new twist in that we can often do all the necessary work right within our office … without the need to wait between steps or go to a specialist. Here, our cosmetic services are a part of a comprehensive approach—from a functional and health standpoint, we’re taking all those factors into consideration.
So, what can new patients expect?
Andrew: There’s no cookie-cutter mold to anyone’s smile. We want to give everyone a concierge feel at the office—from the moment they first walk in through every step along the way.
Tim: That’s right—we work to give patients a realistic upgrade within realistic expectations. We treat people for who they are, and then meet them where they are. When they leave here, if someone asks how their appointment went, we want them to say, “They took the time to listen to me.”
You’re real-world experts—any tips or tricks for balancing work and family life?
Tim: I’m really thankful all my kids like getting together with us outside of the office. At first, Andrew and I would end up talking about clinical matters … now, we can bounce things around at work, so that outside the office, we can have a different relationship. One of our guilty pleasures? We ride motorcycles together.
Andrew: The biggest thing we’ve heard from colleagues and consultants is that business is business … but at the end of the day, we’re family. And we don’t let anything that happens with our business affect our father-son relationship.
And what about future plans for CinciSmiles—what comes next?
Andrew: To keep providing the best level of technology and comprehensive care.
CinciSmiles.com | 5722 Signal Hill Ct, Milford | 513.248.8848
“At the end of the day, we’re family. And we don’t let anything that happens with our business affect our father-son relationship.” - Dr. Andrew