My OrthoBrain experience didn’t start with a contract or a call. It started with connection. Years ago, I met my dear friend and colleague Dee Huston-Holloman during my CPS days.
Eventually, Dee branched off to blaze her own trail. We didn’t talk every day, but that bond and shared passion never left. It hummed quietly in the background, like a song you love that never quite fades. And though it feels like just yesterday, it’s been years.
Fast forward to this year. Through two incredible colleagues, Shannon Pace Brinker, CDA and Jean C. Ocasio-Hogue, I was reunited with Dee in the most unexpected way. I had been invited to serve as an unbiased, unaffiliated judge for the OrthoBrain and Pearl Inc Scan Battles (which were so fun and full of energy!). When Jean walked me to the stage and I locked eyes with my fellow Kentucky girl Dee, I lit up like the Fourth of July. It was as if two fireworks had been simultaneously ignited, we hugged like no time had passed. That moment alone would have been enough to fill my cup, but it turned out to be just the beginning.
Then came the full-circle moment.
Through my growing involvement with OrthoBrain, and Dee’s generous recommendation, I was connected with David Rodriguez, a respected previous colleague, who extended a formal partnership opportunity. What a light in the storm that was. It was truly a moment when one door felt like it was crumbling behind me, another opened wide in front of me, lined with purpose, clarity, and alignment.
We were part of a traveling tribe of dental educators. Like one big family of brothers and sisters, spreading knowledge about clear aligner therapy, airway, and malocclusion. It was one of those seasons in life where the people you work with become deeply woven into your heart.
Eventually, Dee branched off to blaze her own trail. We didn’t talk every day, but that bond and shared passion never left. It hummed quietly in the background, like a song you love that never quite fades. And though it feels like just yesterday, it’s been years.
Fast forward to this year. Through two incredible colleagues, Shannon Pace Brinker, CDA and Jean C. Ocasio-Hogue, I was reunited with Dee in the most unexpected way. I had been invited to serve as an unbiased, unaffiliated judge for the OrthoBrain and Pearl Inc Scan Battles (which were so fun and full of energy!). When Jean walked me to the stage and I locked eyes with my fellow Kentucky girl Dee, I lit up like the Fourth of July. It was as if two fireworks had been simultaneously ignited, we hugged like no time had passed. That moment alone would have been enough to fill my cup, but it turned out to be just the beginning.
It was during that event that I also met Richard, the president of OrthoBrain. Let me just say: this man redefines leadership. He is one of the kindest, most grounded humans I’ve ever met and an example of humility and vision working in harmony. During the Battles, I got a front row seat to see OrthoBrain in action.
If you haven’t looked them up do it now. They’re a clinical partner that blends orthodontic expertise with digital workflows, equipping general dentists with the tools, treatment planning, and support they need to confidently offer ortho in their practices without the traditional barriers or guesswork.
Their case refinement rate is among the lowest in the industry because of their expert designed plans and open face software model. More on that in an upcoming post! This all happened in January right before I officially launched Tooth & Talent in February. I knew I had to bring OrthoBrain to Bowling Green for dentists and their teams.
I told Dee what I was building and instead of offering a passive “that’s awesome,” she showed up in action. By March, we were the OrthoBrain/Tooth & Talent dynamic duo. And we’ve got some exciting surprises coming for dentists in our region. Stay tuned for more on that later this week.
If you haven’t looked them up do it now. They’re a clinical partner that blends orthodontic expertise with digital workflows, equipping general dentists with the tools, treatment planning, and support they need to confidently offer ortho in their practices without the traditional barriers or guesswork.
Their case refinement rate is among the lowest in the industry because of their expert designed plans and open face software model. More on that in an upcoming post! This all happened in January right before I officially launched Tooth & Talent in February. I knew I had to bring OrthoBrain to Bowling Green for dentists and their teams.
I told Dee what I was building and instead of offering a passive “that’s awesome,” she showed up in action. By March, we were the OrthoBrain/Tooth & Talent dynamic duo. And we’ve got some exciting surprises coming for dentists in our region. Stay tuned for more on that later this week.
Then came the full-circle moment.
Through my growing involvement with OrthoBrain, and Dee’s generous recommendation, I was connected with David Rodriguez, a respected previous colleague, who extended a formal partnership opportunity. What a light in the storm that was. It was truly a moment when one door felt like it was crumbling behind me, another opened wide in front of me, lined with purpose, clarity, and alignment.
The more I got involved with OrthoBrain, the more these incredible “six degrees of separation” moments unfolded.
I kept telling Dee that one of the team members names sounded familiar. Turns out, it was Barb Herzog-Blaine, my very first Invisalign rep from Destiny Dental in the early 2000s. After all these years, we were reunited!
Then I met Christina Haley on the same Zoom call and when we
Then I met Christina Haley on the same Zoom call and when we
exchanged info, she already had my number saved in her phone. I had been training at a venue sponsored by her manufacturer, and we connected way back then. Moral of the story? Never delete contacts. By the end of that Zoom, I was practically aching to hug them all in person. It felt like I had just
found extended family. Chills ran through me realizing how deeply we’re all connected, often with only a few degrees (or years) in between.
This post is to honor Dee. For her unwavering loyalty. For her heart. For her belief in me when I was rebuilding. For bringing me into the OrthoBrain family. And for reminding me of one of life’s truest lessons:
This post is to honor Dee. For her unwavering loyalty. For her heart. For her belief in me when I was rebuilding. For bringing me into the OrthoBrain family. And for reminding me of one of life’s truest lessons:
Don’t burn bridges.
You never know which ones will lead you home again.
Stay tuned for my next blog post: My First impressions pulling up to OrthoBrain HQ, my tour of Dental Ceramics that left me absolutely speechless.
Never miss out.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Copyright © Tooth & Talent 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Website designed by Kara Marie Copywriting, LLC.