Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photographer / Kristie Winbun
Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Jamie Lazin quickly fell in love with the Greenwood area and its residents.
“People really look out for each other here, and it’s been so rewarding to plug into this community,” says Lazin, a board-certified orthodontist who worked with Dr. Donald Darbro and his staff for more than a year before transitioning into ownership.
“I feel lucky that I learned firsthand from a master clinician while getting to know everyone here,” says Lazin, who is dedicated to giving back to his community in multiple ways.
“I was brushing my teeth one night when I thought how great it would be to fundraise for Riley Hospital for Children,” Lazin says. His daughter, who had experienced a seizure when she was just 16 months old, was treated at Riley and he was thoroughly impressed by the gentle care she received there.
For years Darbro gave out Darbro Dollars to reward patients for good oral hygiene habits. When Lazin assumed ownership, these rewards became known as Lazin Loot. He told patients he would match the total amount of Lazin Loot donated.
“In a span of three weeks, we had $2,500 of donations,” Lazin says. “Eight- and nine-year-olds who had been saving up for gift cards donated their dollars. It’s this sense of community and Darbro’s fostering of these relationships that sold me on the office. When you can have fun at work and serve a higher purpose at the same time, it’s a dream come true.”
This spring Lazin set out a decorated bin and asked patients to donate new or gently used shoes to Changing Footprints, an organization that collects footwear to send to homeless, disaster-stricken and underprivileged people.
“That bin was full two days later,” says Lazin, who holds raffles, contests and giveaways for gift cards and prizes for patients. A green screen in the office allows patients to show off their smiles before sharing photos on social media.
Because he cares deeply about his patients, Lazin is thrilled to offer state-of-the-art technology that has transformed orthodontic treatment. Kids and adults can opt for braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. Having multiple options gives Lazin the flexibility to tailor his treatment plan to suit each patient’s needs.
“There’s no difference between Invisalign and traditional braces in terms of cost, quality or treatment time at my office,” Lazin says. “Some patients come in wanting braces and are excited about choosing different colors. Others want Invisalign because they play an instrument or participate in sports. Some adults are concerned about traveling for work with braces. Either way, I have the ability to customize their treatment plan to fit their lifestyle.”
Additionally, the office’s intraoral scanner and 3D printer have eliminated the need for goopy, gaggy impressions. Advances in digital technology allow Dr. Lazin to create retainers, clear aligners, mouth guards, and TMJ/TMD appliances that not only require very little of the patient’s time, but also fit and feel better than ever before.
This technology will also allow Dr. Lazin to launch his own clear aligner product this Summer. “I’m incredibly excited for t
his new product and the team is working so hard on the final details,” Dr. Lazin says. “I’ll be able to combine the high-quality results of a product like Invisalign with the ease and affordability of a direct to consumer aligner like Smile Direct Club.”
Dr. Lazin hopes it will be the best of both worlds, something people of all ages can benefit from.
“I love what I do because every case is like a puzzle, and no two puzzles are alike,” Lazin says. “I also love getting to know my patients and watching them grow up.”
Lazin appreciates that his office has served three generations of Hoosiers.
“We have former patients who come in now with kids of their own – [the familiarity] creates a sense of trust,” says Lazin, noting that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children undergo an initial screening at age seven – a great age to evaluate skeletal and overall dental development.
If you are interested in orthodontic treatment, then call Lazin Family Orthodontics for a free consultation.
Lazin Family Orthodontics is located at 1901 Breckenmore Dr. in Greenwood. For more information, give them a call at 317-888-6090 or visit them online at lazinfamilyorthodontics.com.
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