Believe it or not, Toothman Orthodontics is not just a quippy company name. It is indeed the last name of the four-generational family behind this orthodontic practice. Delightful as it may be, that’s not the main thing that makes them unique. The real secret sauce? Their genuine love for people—and it has always run in the family.
It all started with Jeff’s great-grandfather Plennie George Toothman, a dentist from nearby West Virginia. His son, George, would grow up to follow his father’s footsteps, making a slight deviation to become an orthodontist in Western Pennsylvania. Jeff’s father, Dr. Ronald Toothman, would continue the trend and moved out to Hagerstown, Maryland to open his own practice. From hanging around their dad’s office to engaging in and overhearing talk about the business, Jeff and his siblings were naturally exposed to the world of orthodontics by way of being part of the Toothman family.
Jeff spent his high school years helping his dad out in his lab working on retainers and other hands-on projects. At the time, this was no more than a cool summer job that beat mowing the yard, but he’d later come to appreciate the crucial technical skills he gained through this experience.
Years later, Jeff earned his degree in both Physics and Philosophy from Bucknell University, and not seeing another career path that fit him in either field, he decided to follow in his elders’ footsteps after all. After completing his undergraduate program, he went on to obtain his degree in Doctorate of Dental Surgery, complete a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester, and a residency in orthodontics there as well.
While Jeff was pursuing his degree in dentistry, his big sister, Aimee, joined in on the family business action. A stay-at-home mother of two at the time, she began by taking care of payroll–something that she was well-equipped to spearhead as she held an MBA and had previously worked for a biotech company. Her role slowly grew more involved as the years went on, and became official in later years when Jeff and their father would purchase another location in 2012.
Fast forward to 2009, Jeff joined his father in the family business, and by way of his father’s open-mindedness and care, the transition to working together went wonderfully.
“I think entering the business was really pretty easy, because he was always open to learning new things throughout the course of his career, and I kinda came in and observed and learned because…he’d been doing it for 35 years at that time,” Jeff explained. “So he had a lot of practice, but he was…willing to let me kind of expand my horizons of what could be done. So I was very fortunate because I’ve heard that when you go in with a parent, it doesn't always work out.”
It certainly did work out for them, because just six years later, Jeff expanded the Toothman footprint and opened the Frederick location, with Aimee stepping into full-time HR management at both locations. They continued working together until 2020 when Dr. Ronald finally took his bow and passed the business on to his son, and while he is no longer in the office, his legacy certainly is, and it has impacted Jeff, Aimee and the business to their core.
In Jeff’s words, “He’s the kindest, most generous person that I know…” This is a man who possesses a genuine love for people, and he demonstrated that in every area of his life in a myriad of ways, including in his career as an orthodontist. Yet his passion for people wasn’t solely reserved for his family members or the people within his offices. “...Actually he has a Governor’s Citation for his work with cleft palate patients with giving away pro bono care for years, and there’s also a boys’ home in Washington County and he would always take care of people there…”.
To boot, his humility and openness in leadership was another shaping character trait that shaped their approach today. Aimee shared, “My dad was always reasonable and laid back, and he listens and tries to guide, and lets you figure it out but gives advice, and he always wanted our input too…he’s just a good guy all around.”
These are indeed big shoes to fill, but Jeff, Aimee, and their team are filling it with ease. In addition to their superior skill and expertise, welcoming and luxurious office, and high-tech treatment options, they are keeping one thing at the center of all that they do: you. How does this translate? For one, flexibility in treatment based on the patient’s “why”.
“...We’re keeping an open mind of what our goals are as we treat. And then how do we best accomplish it? And you try to accommodate patients because everyone’s an individual…” Jeff explained. “There’s more than one way to do things and you want to have an open mind…my job is to educate you and then lead you in a direction that’s best for you.”
And it looks like putting the patient first. “...If you do a good job and you take care of people, then that will pay itself forward…my job is to take care of people. My job is not to make money from taking care of people,” Jeff said.
This is the heartbeat of Toothman Orthodontics: putting the patient first–not primarily to get a good review, to earn more revenue, to increase business, or to build rapport, but because they care about people, and it’s the right thing to do. In other words? The Toothman family has a lineage of a heart of gold, and it continues to show from generation to generation.
Should you ever need to book an appointment with this family-owned business, there’s no doubt that you’ll be cared for wholeheartedly. In the meantime, you might find Jeff indulging in Dutch’s Daughter or Aimee enjoying lunch at The Tasting Room.
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