Most people accept when they walk into a medical practice, treatment could come from one of many doctors, physicians’ assistants, or nurse practitioners. However, that’s not the case at Cassidy Orthodontics. Dr. Kevin Cassidy believes a genuine personal touch and experienced staff set his practice apart from the others.
Cassidy is the only doctor in the office, so he sees every patient each time they have an appointment. The plan is the same throughout their treatment because he’s the only one in charge of its implementation. The office staff knows the patient by name and also follows that belief in personal, one-on-one interaction.
“We have an incredible staff with many years of experience who have stuck with me for multiple years,” Cassidy says. “I’ve got one employee who has been with me and my dad for 37 years. Another has been around 18 years, and some others have been with me for 4 to 6 years, but they’ve been in the business for over 20 years. I feel very, very blessed that I’ve been able
to retain the staff I’ve got because I think longevity helps. It breeds familiarity with the office and the confidence of the patients. We all really do believe in our core mission of a personal touch for everything.”
Cassidy is a second-generation orthodontist. He grew up around his father’s practice, which started in 1972, and spent time working in the lab. After receiving a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Kansas, he went to dental school at the University of Iowa. Once Cassidy obtained his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, he went to the University of Tennessee for his orthodontic residency and Master of Science in Orthodontics degree.
In 1996, Cassidy joined his father’s practice in Topeka. He bought the business in 2002, and his father eventually retired in 2007.
“I feel very honored and privileged,” he says about carrying on the family tradition. “It’s fun when you look back, and it has been 50 years of somebody with the name Cassidy doing orthodontics in this day and age when you don’t get that very often.”
Cassidy is a tremendous champion of Topeka as a place to build a career and raise a family. His wife of 30 years, Marcy, is Superintendent of Schools in Burlingame. Since their two grown sons are off living their lives, the couple shares their home with French bulldogs Fiona and Petunia.
One of Cassidy’s great passions is the Mulvane Art Museum. He serves as a board member and was co-chair of this year’s art fair. He also is an active member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral, where he ushers and sings in the choir.
Professionally, Cassidy gives back to the community through three organizations. He provides treatment through the Marion Clinic at a reduced price. He donates orthodontic services through Donated Orthodontic Services and the Kansas City-based Smiles Change Lives, which offers low-cost braces to families who can’t afford the entire cost.
Providing these services is important to Dr. Cassidy because he knows how a lovely smile can increase a child’s self-confidence. “When you meet somebody for the first time, you see their smile,” he says. “You greet each other with a smile. And if you have a nice-looking smile, it begins the conversation better. Studies show that when you meet people and the have a nice healthy smile, it instills confidence in that person. We can provide orthodontic care for all our patients to really, really increase their self-confidence.”
Seeing the transformation in a person’s smile is what Dr. Cassidy finds most rewarding about his work. He says, “It’s really fun when we finish their treatment to go back and look at their beginning pictures to see the transformation in their smile from start to finish. It is a privilege and an honor to be able to do that and give them that smile.”
