Every Patient is Family at Innovative Smiles

Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice at Innovative Smiles at The Forum is that patients are treated like family.

“We’ve been here in this location for 17 and a half years at The Forum,” said owner Dr. Philip Talley. “I live in this area. I go to church in this area at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. We always say, ‘Welcome to our dental family.’”

A personal approach to dental care

Establishing a personal relationship with the patient is an essential part of treatment. Down-home care combined with state-of-the-art technology and up-to-the-minute techniques make for a winning combination.

“That’s our biggest thing—let’s get to know you and find out what’s important to you when it comes to choosing dental treatment,” he said.

“This is not a dental clinic. You’re not just a number. We want to call you by your name. We want to know when your birthdays are. We want to know what events are going on in your life. Because sometimes, we have to work around those events, or they might even be one of the reasons you came in,” Talley explained.

The practice prides itself on knowing its patients and being able to educate and clear up misinformation without any gimmicks or unnecessary therapies that have nothing to do with dentistry.

“We’re not doing paraffin wax or giving you massages, but we are checking up on you,” said Dr. Talley.

“When I take a tooth out or if I do a root canal, I’m calling you at home and seeing how you’re doing. … We’re not doing that other over-the-top stuff. But we are trying to do extraordinary things with ordinary procedures,” he affirmed. “We want to go over the top with our customer service because nowadays, many things are automated.”

Putting patients first

Dr. Talley and his staff keep up with the latest trends and often find themselves correcting online research that hasn’t come from reputable sources.

“Not everything that you get online is beneficial for you. And not all of it’s customized for you,” he said.

“We have the patient’s best interests at heart, and we’re not trying to sell you something you don’t need. We want to do what’s best for you long term because the best dentistry is the least amount of dentistry,” he explained.

He added that preventative maintenance pays off in fewer dollars and less pain.

“If we can keep you out of my chair, that’s the best. Unfortunately, most people only come in when there’s a problem, and once it’s hurting, it’s usually a little bit more costly, and dentistry doesn’t get cheaper if you ignore the problem,” he commented.

While much of his knowledge comes from constant training and keeping up with what’s happening in the field, Dr. Talley’s initial experience was working as a dentist during his stint in the Navy.

From a military career to a private practice

“I’m from Arkansas, so I went to a small Methodist school in Arkansas called Hendrix College,” said Dr. Talley.

After that, he attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Then came the Navy.

“I was a Navy dentist and did my residency in the Navy in Virginia Beach. And then I was in Japan for two years on a ship,” he said. “Working on Marines and Navy Seals and that whole group is very different from here at a private practice.”

One of the biggest advantages of being a military doctor is that no procedure was “out-of-network” or unapproved by an insurance company.

“There are no restrictions on what you need to do for somebody because money and insurance are not a question. So, whatever they have, you can work on it. You get a lot of good experience. And you get to work with a lot of good technology,” said Dr. Talley.

“I got to put my hands on a couple of things that I probably wouldn’t have been able to do if I went to a private practice at the time, and then just couldn’t afford that piece of equipment,” he added.

His last assignment in the Navy was at Kings Bay Naval Base in St. Marys, GA. His best friend in dental school was from Atlanta and convinced him to try the area.

 As luck would have it, a patient realized he’d be good son-in-law material and introduced him to her daughter.

“And three kids later, here we are,” he said, adding that his kids often help around the office and are active in sports and other extra-curricular activities in local schools.

Oral health relates to overall health

Through the years, Dr. Talley has honed his skills, driving the point home that all health leads back to the mouth.

“Everything that’s happened in your mouth is connected to the other parts of your body,” he said. “So, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes and you have infections in your mouth, they work hand in hand.”

For example, someone with clogged arteries probably suffers from a lot of plaque build-up on their teeth.

“That same calcium or tartar can go through your blood vessels, and it can harden your blood vessels. That’s why it’s related to high blood pressure and heart disease. And when it comes to infection, it doesn’t just stay in your mouth—everything’s connected from your head to your toes,” he explained.

So, if patients grumble about filling out a form for their entire medical history, to get their teeth cleaned, there’s a good reason for it.

“We have advanced cancer screening that we can do where we often catch things early. And, when it comes to more prevention, we talk about brush techniques, floss techniques and things like a Waterpik for people who don’t like to floss,” said Dr. Talley.

Meeting people where they are is a cornerstone of Innovative Smiles’ approach to dentistry.

Innovative Smiles by the numbers:

• 1 dentist,
• 6 hygienists,
• 3,500 patients served,
• 17 plus years at the same location and
• 125 years of combined experience.

Innovative Smiles at the Forum
5185 Peachtree Parkway
Building 1200, Suite 201
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Phone: 770-763-7470
Fax: 770-368-1114