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| Mother Teresa once said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Unfortunately, many people hide their smiles because they don’t feel comfortable with the way their teeth look. It’s taking a shy smile and transforming it into a confident smile that is Dr. Theresa Shaver’s work and passion. Dr. Shaver, a petite woman with long blonde hair and a quick smile, enjoys talking about her work. She says that she and her staff make it their priority to go beyond their patients’ expectations of orthodontic care. “I consider what we do a gift,” she states. “You’re going to take a child that may otherwise not smile or be self-confident, and change their lives. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it in watching them grow. They grow into their teeth and grow into themselves.” Dr. Shaver grew up and was educated in Illinois before moving to Colorado to begin working as an orthodontist. She has had her own practice for the past 10 years, and she is involved in community outreach. When asked why she went into the field of dentistry and orthodontia, she explains that as a child she encountered a wonderful dentist, who happened to be the older brother of a good friend. Dr. Kaplan made dentistry fun and educational with school programs. Dr. Shaver saw how Dr. Kaplan enjoyed his job and helping others. It made quite an impression on her. As a result, as far back as age 12, Dr. Shaver knew her career path would involve dentistry. She says the choice was the right one for her, as it has given her more control of her career and her home life. The field Dr. Shaver has chosen is not without its challenges, however. She has found that there is conflict, and some of that conflict comes from being a woman at the helm. “In most dental practices, most of the staff are women, and women react differently to a man boss versus a woman boss. There’s a lot of different dynamics that I’ve had to overcome. It’s taken me a while to get comfortable in my own skin.” Experience has taught her that conflict, whether it’s with employees or patients is inevitable, but she has learned to deal with it. “Conflict is hard in my opinion. It takes a lot of practice to feel comfortable with it, to deal with it, to get through it, to not dwell on it or take it home,” she explains. It is perhaps her philosophy that has helped her to encourage harmony in her practice. “Just treat people the way that you want to be treated. Just do the best that you can, always keeping their needs in mind,” she stresses. Dr. Shaver and her staff strive to treat each patient as if he or she is the only patient that day. “We listen to them, and I think that wins them over a lot just because they can tell that we care. We have to be genuine, and we have to have their interest at heart in everything we do.” Patients who are seen by Dr. Shaver can also be assured that she is constantly doing her homework and staying up on the newest technology by attending classes, study groups, and meetings with other doctors. She believes in keeping treatments as simple and comfortable as possible. “We strive not to take out teeth. That is so traumatic, and honestly right now the technology that we have does not [require] you to take out teeth for crowding,” she points out. Lynnsey Stevenson, the parent of three of Dr. Shaver’s patients, is pleased with her method of treatment. She explains, “I have friends whose kids’ orthodontists pulled multiple teeth. Dr. Shaver didn’t do that with my son. She makes sure you understand why she does what she does. She wants your buy-in, and she wants you to understand why she uses the treatment plan she uses. (She doesn’t want you to) just take her word for it.” What some people may not know about orthodontia is that there may be different ways to treat the same problem. This might cause some confusion for patients or parents of patients shopping around for the right orthodontist. “The thing about medicine or even dentistry is that doctors have free will to treat the way they see fit. Yes there are standards of care, but a simple overbite or a crowding case can be treated completely different in two or three offices.” For this reason Dr. Shaver tries to explain everything, she says. She takes into consideration the individual needs of each patient. Even as she shares the treatment plan with parents, she makes it a point to include even the youngest patients in their treatment plans so they understand their own responsibilities for treatment. “I always tell them it’s a team thing, and if you were on the basketball team and you decided that you wanted to play and you didn’t go to practice, would you expect to do well or play in the games? It’s the same thing with your braces. I can only do so much as your coach,” she explains. Dr. Shaver says her patients enjoy the atmosphere of her practice. She finds out about her young patients’ interests, and she has fun sharing with them things that she has discovered about those interests. Shannon Rhodes, a parent of three of Dr. Shaver’s patients, shares what she finds special about the practice. “We really appreciate everyone that works with Dr. Shaver. It’s like one big happy family. They are always professional, accommodating, and friendly. The price was an important factor for us, and it is manageable.” Shannon describes how when her oldest child was in braces, Dr. Shaver would check her other children’s teeth so she could also keep an eye on what was going on with them. She would then make recommendations if necessary. She writes, “Dr. Shaver has a very well-run practice. She is a true professional, and you can tell she loves and believes in what she does. It is a very positive environment with a lot of good energy. That is hard to find these days.” If you’re looking for an orthodontist, you might want to consider Dr. Shaver’s practice. You can visit her Web site for more information (www.shaverorthodontics.com), or call the office to schedule a consultation at 303-751-1313. |
Theresa L. Shaver, |
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