Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jordan Hubbard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jordan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

When I first graduated from dental school, I was so excited to dive into the “real world” of dentistry and help patients improve their oral health and smile with confidence. It wasn’t until I first started practicing that I realized that in order to truly fulfil my dreams of treating patients the way I wanted to, while having the work/life balance I desired, the only way to do so was to own my own practice. After about a year of working at a large group practice, I stepped away to do locum or “fill-in” work for dentists who were out on maternity leaves, surgical leaves, or vacations. This gave me control of my schedule, time to see and learn from other offices and their systems, and time to look for a practice to call my own.

After months of searching, I found a practice that seemed the perfect fit. While the town wasn’t a town that I was particularly excited about, it was close to our home at the time, and it would mean we wouldn’t have to move which was a plus. The practice building was dated in its decor and layout, but I knew I could make updates as I went. The patient base was stable, though not growing, and it had a good reputation in the community. The selling doctor and I had different training, but our ideas of how patients should be treated was relatively the same. What I failed to see were the red flags, some of which I’m sure can already be seen by an outsider. I was so caught up in the sparkle and shine of finally having a practice to call my own that I didn’t see that the business numbers didn’t always make sense. I told myself that it was something I could fix post-sale. I knew that his associate didn’t have a contract in place, but that I could implement one myself and it would be ok. I also said that even though his wife wanted to stay on as the practice manager after I took over, it would be ok because she would fully support my vision as the new owner. Looking back, I can see that I was naïve and caught up in the excitement of it all to push these problems aside. Through what I like to call “divine intervention”, a week before the sale was supposed to close, the seller called me to back out of the deal. I was devastated. After the emotions subsided, I was able to see it for what it was – a blessing in disguise. I was able to see past the excitement and saw the red flags and I can only tell you how thankful I am now that it didn’t work out.

I continued doing locum work for the next while, and I had my first son. A few months after my son was born, a practice came for sale in Pinehurst, NC. My husband and I went to visit the town and it was perfect. Pinehurst truly is a “Hallmark channel” community. We could see ourselves planting roots and growing old there. The practice itself was THRIVING. The selling doctor and I had almost identical practice philosophies. He was rooting for me. He wanted me to succeed. He supported my vision and was excited about the growth I wanted to achieve. His wife, the previous practice manager, didn’t want to stay on, but wanted me to grow in my own way. I got to meet the staff, and he had prepared them for my arrival. They were excited and ready for a new spark to be ignited within the practice. The selling doctor introduced me to other professionals in town, and they were supportive and excited for a new relationship to grow between us. I felt supported, I felt loved, I felt at home.

In March of 2020, I was set to close on the practice. Then, a global pandemic shut down the world, and put that sale into question. I had already bought a new home in this town, moved my family, moved my parents, and it felt as if the shutdown had crushed my dreams. I felt the rug had been pulled from under me again. I had planned to still buy the practice once it was able to open back up. For 8 weeks, the seller and I continued to communicate about our wishes. With the sale on hold, we spoke often to reassure each other that we were still going through with the transition, but simply had to wait out the shutdown. At this time, I also learned that the selling doctor had a previous buyer who backed out of the deal very last minute as well. We both had scars and baggage and emotion that came from previous “failures”, which really helped our relationship grow closer because it was a hard loss we both could relate to.

Finally, in May of 2020, the sale went through and I owned my own practice. The practice I would pour my (literal) blood, sweat, and tears into in order to provide my patients the best dental experience I could give them. Looking back, I see that everything happens for a reason. It all had to happen in order for something better to fall into place. If I had to give advice to any other young medical professional looking for their own place to make their mark with, it’s to never settle. While a lot of changes can always be made to create your own “perfect” practice, there are certain things that have to be present to make the transition a great one for you, the selling doctor, and your patients. Most importantly though, know that anything is possible. There were so many people in my life who told me I couldn’t do what I’m currently doing. Use that as fuel for your fire, and you can move mountains.

Jordan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Dr. Jordan Hubbard. From the time I was little, I knew I had to be my own boss. I never had dreams to do anything else. That being said, I loved medicine and the human body. Science and math were always my two favorite subjects. I wanted to be able to combine business ownership with healthcare and after shadowing lots of medical professionals, and having my own father, who is a dentist, to watch and learn from growing up, it helped solidify my choice in dentistry.

Dentistry is a small niche, but it is such a diverse field and there is always something to learn more about. In my office, we are very focused on laser dentistry. We have two lasers in my practice, a SOLEA laser, and a THOR laser. Each are used for different things, but the SOLEA may be our favorite. It allows us to perform fillings without the need for a numbing shot! The laser also replaces the drill – so no scary sounds are near!

With the help of our SOLEA and lots of additional training, we were also able to grow our practice and offer infant and adult frenectomies. Our area, specifically Moore County, is lacking in providers for this service, and we are happy to help.

We also provide services such as cosmetic dentistry, crown and bridge restorations, tooth colored fillings and bonding, root canals, tooth extractions, partials and dentures, and even treatments like braces or clear aligner therapy. Hubbard dental is a family dentist, and we treat patients of all ages. We strive to provide your family with the latest techniques and most up-to-date technology to help provide a fun, fast, and great experience in the dental chair.

At Hubbard Dental, we pride ourselves on treating the patient as a whole – not just a mouth. We understand that the mouth is connected to the body and that many systemic issues first are seen in the mouth. We also understand that attached to that body is a person. We all have a story to tell and share, and that is important to us. Building relationships is the foundation of who we are, and our patients know that they are family to us.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Most of our new patients come from existing patient referrals. We don’t do a ton of marketing, and our loyal patients are the heartbeat of what we do. When someone’s friend, or family member, or another person they trust talks about a great experience they had with a medical provider, and shares the relationship they’ve built, the trust they have, and the care they receive, that is the best way to grow. So, we pour our hearts into caring for our patients, and know that when we do our job right, the word will spread.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

While dentistry is hard both physically and mentally, I don’t think I would change a thing. I love the art I create daily, the problem-solving aspect of my profession, the people I get to work with, and the rapid growth of technology within the industry. Nothing I do ever gets boring, and I love that there is always more to learn!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hubbarddentalnc.com
• Instagram: @jordanhubbarddds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HubbardDental/

Image Credits
Lolly Nazario, James