A few years ago, a 92-year-old woman arrived at About Faces and Braces, being pushed in a wheelchair by her son. She longed for a new smile, but was never able to afford treatment for herself. Until now. Instead of turning her away, practice owner Dr. Shawn Lehman-Grimes said, “I’m your guy.”
“We had balloons and roses for her when her braces came off,” says Dr. Lehman-Grimes. “She was so happy! Clinically speaking, was it a perfect result? No. But I addressed her chief concern of crooked teeth, and it was one of the most gratifying cases I’ve ever done.”
Adults are unique that way, Dr. Lehman-Grimes adds, citing a lesson he learned from a mentor that stressed the importance of addressing their primary concern when it comes to treating adults. There may be an “A” option, the ideal scenario if all problems are addressed, but there’s always a “B” option that simply accomplishes the primary goal. For many adults, this may be as simple as straighter teeth as opposed to a lengthy treatment plan to achieve the ideal bite.
“It’s never too late,” Dr. Shawn shares. “As long as your teeth, bones, and gums are healthy, you’re never too old.”
The team at About Faces and Braces caters to every treatment plan to the specific person, whether that’s clear aligners or a more complex overhaul. In the past, this has included putting together plans for active duty military who weren’t able to have appliances, or celebrities that need to be camera-ready at any moment. Frequently, it includes the on-the-go parent who longs for a smile change.
Most cases range from six months to two years, depending on what goals are being tackled through a treatment plan. For teeth straightening alone, expect the process to last six to nine months, and treatment can start the same day as the complimentary consultation. The reason the About Faces and Braces team is able to take such a custom approach with each patient lies in the education it takes to become an orthodontist.
“You become a dentist, and then you specialize,” says Dr. Lehman-Grimes. “You wouldn’t go to your podiatrist for heart surgery. We all have our specialties, our lanes, and our niches we’re good at. Orthodontists go to school for an additional three years to get their training, to specialize, and to get very good at what they do.”
Orthodontists are the experts when it comes to bite alignment and tooth straightening, and they even have the potential to change the profile of the face through their treatment. Together with his business partner, Dr. Candice Coleman, Dr. Shawn is ready to tackle your smile in four Middle Tennessee locations – including one right in the heart of Bellevue at 7518 Highway 70 South, near Sawyer Brown Road.
“Your treatment is completely customizable,” says Dr. Lehman-Grimes, sharing that financing is also available in-house if cost is a barrier.
In addition to transforming smiles around town, Dr. Lehman-Grimes also hosts continuing education presentations with dental teams near and far, serves as the marketing director for the American Association of Orthodontists Insurance Company, and is a father to two girls. His wife, Mayra, is the CEO of About Faces and Braces.
“As long as your teeth, bones, and gums are healthy, you’re never too old.”
“You become a dentist, and then you specialize.”