The Making Of Evelina Smiles - SEVEN

One Month In: What Actually Happens When the Doors Open
 Ashley catches up with Dr. Rich Constantine for his first update since Evelina Smiles saw its first patient. Real numbers from opening week, the 90-minute new patient experience, a few good MacGyver moments, and the one thing Rich would do differently with his loan allowance.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

Opening Week, By the Numbers
First patient seen July 22nd. One patient on day one, five or six by day two. Now averaging four to eight patients a day with a team of four. Why it feels busy even when the schedule isn't full yet.

The 90-Minute New Patient Visit
CBCT scan, full X-rays, and an iTero Lumina scan before Rich ever walks in the room. Why hygiene leads the visit. How Rich drops chart notes for the team mid-scan so patients hear about treatment needs before he enters. Why extraoral photos are reserved for aesthetic and ortho cases only.

Scanners, Software, and Workflow Choices
The jump from older iTero models to the Lumina. Primescan for in-house restorative work, Williams Dental Lab for smile makeover cases. Why Rich chose B Smile over Invisalign for ortho and what that collaboration with an orthodontist looks like.

Growing Pains of a New Space
T-Mobile as an internet bridge while waiting on AT&T fiber. Occasional glitches with cloud-based imaging software. Why Rich says most of it comes down to a new team learning a new space together, not broken equipment.

Marketing Held Back on Purpose
Why Rich waited roughly three weeks before turning on Google ad spend. Getting in-network with insurance companies first. The one regret: not allocating more of his loan toward marketing from day one, and why he says the ROI is there if you track it.

Building the Team Around Full-Time, Not Part-Time
Four-day work weeks, Mondays and Wednesdays 8 to 4, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 to 5. Why Rich built around full-time staff instead of splitting people across multiple offices. Wednesday 2 to 4 team training, and why he's committed to keeping it even as the schedule fills.

Supply Runs and a Few MacGyver Moments
Running out of glycerin mid-delivery. Building a curing light tack tip out of electrical tape and a rubber dam hole punch. Why Rich still checks Amazon to dodge the dental tax, and how ordering runs through Benco for now.

Branded Merch, Round Two
Banded T-shirts from Rich's first startup, and why he skipped the toothbrush-and-toothpaste goodie bag this time around. Getting particular about Pantone matching, print quality, and fit before handing anything out. The B2B idea Rich heard on a podcast: marketing in-office membership plans directly to local businesses as an alternative to traditional dental insurance.

What's Next
A fall grand opening on the horizon, plus upcoming content days with Studio 8E8 and a second outside creator.

Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds
Connect with Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.com

Thank You to Our Partners

• Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.
• Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl
• Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.

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