'I Know The Patients By Heart': Vienna Dentist Celebrates 30 Years In Practice

VIENNA, VA – Vienna dentist Nicole Van is celebrating 30 years in practice in Northern Virginia and reflecting on what it’s been like to grow as a professional alongside her patients.

Van began her practice in Vienna, worked in the Tysons area for about 20 years, and moved her business, Van Smile Design, back to Vienna a couple of years ago. She's lived in the town of Vienna for 20 years. In an interview with Patch, she discussed what it's like to look back on 30 years of practice in the region, and why she’s still excited to see patients.

Growing With Her Patients

“I have patients that've been with me since the mid '90s,” she says. “That's pretty amazing. Some of them started as children with me, and now they're grown adults with their own families.”

Being able to grow along with her patients is a highlight of her job, she says. And as her patients have advanced in years, so has the field of dentistry. “Of course, we still do family dentistry, but now I'm doing anti-aging with lasers and treating snoring and treating sleep apnea,” Van says.

Staying Rooted In Community

Maintaining a privately owned practice is part of what has allowed her to build these relationships, she says. At a time when dental practices are being bought up by private equity firms at ever-higher rates, keeping her business in her hands means she’s been able to provide stability and consistency at her practice.

“It’s just a different business model,” she says of the corporate practices that have been popping up in the industry. She sees corporate practices as not necessarily bad, but less personal, with patients seeing different providers all the time.

“You're probably not going to get the community feel … like, where everyone knows you,” she says. “I would say for me, I enjoy the practice because I know all the patients. I just know all the patients by heart.”

Evolving With Technology

In addition to watching Little League players grow into snorers, she’s seen decades' worth of advancements in her field. That keeps the job exciting, she says. “I love technology, I love advancements in our industry.”

In particular, Van says she’s excited about what data testing can reveal about sleep apnea, sleep disorders and periodontal health; about the increasing number of applications for lasers; and about AI tools that can act as “our assistant in understanding objective information before we create treatment that is more non-objective.” More data means more precision, she says.

All these advancements are also in service of an evolving idea of what dentistry can be.

“I know in recent years, I think, the feeling is that everyone wants to feel better, optimize their health, so we're kind of stepping outside of just working on teeth. That part has been fun,” she says. Now, her idea of her practice includes the aesthetics of the office and interior design, as well as help with snoring, sleep apnea, periodontal health, anti-aging treatments and more. “Whole wellness, aesthetics, function … keeping all the systemic health measures in mind,” she said.

Providing Perspective

After 30 years in business, she has some advice for new dentists: Stay curious and keep learning.

“This mindset has kept me passionate and inspired throughout my career,” she says. The opportunity to learn and evolve with all the advances in technology and make a meaningful difference in people's lives is what has made this journey so rewarding for me.”

Young professionals should have confidence in their training, but a great practice requires more than that. “It's not just about what you do anymore, but how you do things that will set you apart from your neighboring businesses,” she says.

“The main thing to keep in mind is the people that are in front of you.”

Are you a local business owner? Post a business listing on Patch! It’s an easy way to reach a local audience and connect with customers close to home. Go here to get started today.