Hello everyone. It's Anne Duffy. Welcome to the Just DeW It podcast. I am so happy that you're with me today, and I have a new friend that I just met about five minutes ago. please help me welcome Samantha Graham. Hey, Samantha.
Samantha: Hello. Thank you so much for having me here today. I'm so
Anne: excited.
Oh my gosh, I'm so excited you're here today as well. Let me tell my, listeners a little bit about you before we get started. I. Samantha is an accomplished businesswoman, a devoted mother of two boys and a third-generation dental laboratory worker. Her grandfather and father were both dental technicians and laboratory owners, and Samantha has built upon their legacy with over twenty-eight years of experience in the dental industry.
Alongside her husband, she established Ozark Dental, Laboratory in Dallas, Texas, specializing in crafting high-quality dental products, including crowns, partials, dentures, and clear braces. Samantha is the leading authority in the field, having educated numerous dentists on the latest dental technology and providing top-tier services to support their practices.
You're pretty amazing up front. I love it. Thank you. And again, thank you. Thank you so much for taking your time to be with me today.
Samantha: I'm so excited just to be able to do this with you today.
Anne: this is your first podcast.
You've never been on a podcast before?
Samantha: Nope. I'm in the twenty-first century now. This is my first time to ever do anything like this. Oh, I love
Anne: it. Well, you know, as I was telling you before, we, record, this is just a conversation. it's fun for me because a lot of times I know who I'm podcasting with and we already have this big history and I don't know hardly anything about you except you've got two boys.
And I love the legacy that you are carrying on from your, grandfather and your father. So tell me, I mean, your grandfather, my gosh. Is he still alive, by the way? Your
Samantha: grandfather? No. Unfortunately he has passed. But he was a wonderful dental tech and I remember him bringing me to work with him and me playing on the floor while he would be at the bench Fabricating cases.
even as a small child, I thought that was the most amazing thing anybody could do. He makes teeth. I would tell everybody he makes teeth. even, I was a child. I was just fascinated with the industry.
Anne: That's cool because I mean, obviously jeans don't deny for one thing.
No. So you obviously have a creative bent there and then growing up in it, has gotta like, give you like, headstart on all the other people that don't even know what they're doing until like the thirties and forties.
Samantha: you know,
I had my rebellious stage just like anyone when I was 18.
I was like, no, I'm not gonna make teeth. but I always came back to it you know, I went to college and, got my degree in education. I had to be a teacher, and I've taught off and on, nothing else just ignites that passion for me like it does for dental.
so I just said, you know what, like you said, I'm like this must be what I'm meant to do. Beth, we
Anne: talk a lot about that in the due community, about your strengths and due principle number one is to look for opportunities that build on your strengths.
And when you showed up today, and I see this beautiful hair color, our daughter's a hairstylist, so I I like it. I love the hair. I think her hair is, on the pink side right now. Yeah. It's like a really soft pink, little purple in it as well. But I mean, it's, she's always been creative and I think that lends itself to, you really have to have that tactile touch that brain for creativity. 'cause a lot of people, they go into something and they really have no idea. And
Samantha: that eye, you have to have an eye, the eye for color. That's what my dad always told me. He is like, you've got the eye.
He's like, you're gonna realize it one day. you've got the eye and you're gonna see that one day. And I'm like,
Anne: Ooh, I see it. No, dad, I'm not. I'm gonna go on and go get my education degree and I'm gonna do this and that, and then you come back. So that's so cool. It gives me goosebumps, honestly, Samantha, because the eye for color when somebody tells you that mm-Hmm. over and over again, you have to listen to that. That is a voice.
Samantha: Calling you. That is the universe talking to you. Yeah, I decided, you know what, I'm not gonna fight it I'm going to embrace it and I'm gonna immerse myself into it.
And so that is what I have done since my twenties. And I'm getting ready to turn 47 in a few days. I love working with dentists because. It's just so refreshing. We can just bounce off of each other because I don't see the patient side.
I'm the more of the technical side and they get to see the patient side and it's so exciting to see us come together and just make beautiful smiles for people at the end of the day, I feel like that's how I am. Using my life in service of us. Yeah. Meant
Anne: to, but that's what you're meant to do.
That is what you're meant to do. Like you're just lighting up right now. So, I mean, it's just like so cool to see that. And I mean, why dentistry though? most people come back to dentistry. It's just hard place to leave.
So why it,
Samantha: it's, and I just think that for me personally, I just. I saw so many times of how transformative it is for people. when they have problems with their smile, how it'll change how they smile, it'll change how they engage with people. And being able to work a case with a doctor and.
See that doctor put those teeth in for that person and just see how it transforms them. Yeah. And they beam. And they smile that person will never forget the day that they got their smile back. That will forever be a turning point.
Spend their life and it just, I felt like that's how I'm going to serve. That's how I'm gonna feel like I make. My difference on the world is I have made the difference in so many people's lives made it where they can smile again. that just fills my heart in a way that very few things do
Anne: well.
And also it's just that's so beautiful to say because we can never underestimate it changes lives. It does. I remember, years ago, she had beautiful teeth, but they were all crossed over. And she was a beautiful woman.
And I talked to our, orthodontist next door in our office and I said, can you help her out? She didn't have the funds and he was generous enough to help her financially, to get her smile. She was a totally different person after that. And then just even we think about the health that people are getting their smile.
I mean, That's one thing. She's got healthy teeth to begin with, but just when somebody has. Not had the care that a lot of us have been privileged to have. And to be able to give them a smile. I agree with you. It's one of the greatest gifts we can give. Yes.
Samantha: you realize what a privilege it is to be able to have good dental care, to be able to have. All of your teeth and they're working for you the way they should. I mean, It really is unfortunately, a privilege and you see that so much
Anne: Well,
And I also love your your integrity because, I'm a a retired practicing dental hygienist.
I forty-six years in, but I had seen a lot of. Dental work that wasn't well done. Yeah. And I can just tell by looking at your website and by who you are in just the short period of time that you stand out in the lab community, which is spectacular. And I would say that Samantha with your background, and I'm just guessing 'cause we just got to know each other with the legacy of your granddad and your dad.
Certainly you're not gonna let. That legacy down and then also your education with teaching. To me, that is a great way to communicate with dentists and then it's a collaborative process that you can actually learn from them. ' cause teachers are always learning, right? Oh, and then also communicating to them your vision for someone's smile.
Tell us a little bit about what makes you stand out.
Samantha: And like you said to be able to work with a dentist, I feel is a privilege. I feel that, a dentist can go anywhere and get a crown made, can go anywhere to get a denture made, like you said. but for me, I don't want to just turn out a product.
I want it to be something that is going to give that patient the best. Prognosis. I don't want it to just be like a manufacturing line where we're just spitting out products. it's all about the bottom dollar and you're spitting out products.
I want it to be where I feel comfortable knowing that if it's a product I've made, would put it in my mouth. I would put it in the mouth of one of my children that I know it's a good product because. Like we were talking about the privilege, a lot of these patients save up for these products.
The patients are having to pay out of pocket for these products. So it needs to be a product that I can stand behind and if it's not a product, I can't stand behind, it's not going in anyone's mouth. Yeah.
Anne: That's so beautiful. And you, there's so many, you know, if you're not a dental person, there's so many different nuances with a crown on even one tooth.
One tooth, if the crown doesn't fit right, it can throw your whole equilibrium off.
Samantha: it can havoc, it can throw havoc. if the crown isn't seeding well, it can seep, it can leak. It can cause where you can't, blossom between your teeth correctly, so then you have the adjacent teeth you have to worry about.
it can be a whole mess, just one crown. if you're not taking the time to make sure that crown. Is done correctly, you're not doing that patient a service.
Anne: Not only that, but just even collaborating with the dentist, it sounds to me like your dentist that you work with are like family, just like that you've grown up with, right?
Yeah. They,
Samantha: And that's why a lot of my dentists really like me because I'm, I'm more like a bossy sister. where I'm like, Hey, what do you think about this? What do you think about this? Hey, I was looking at this case.
I really think this patient would be better with this. What do you think? What are you seeing? I wAnnea be their partner. Yes, I wAnnea work with him. And of course, the dentist doesn't see what I see. He sees what's in the patient's mouth, so I need his view on that. And then I feel like he needs my view on, okay, this is what I know about the products, this is what I think is gonna work best for your patient.
And then the patient is the one that benefits 'cause we're working together. And like you said, every doctor has preferences on what they like and dislike and so I wAnnea know that. I'm like, tell me what you like and I can give it to you. Ooh. I love that. That, and
Anne: a lot of times, hardly anybody ever asks them these questions so much.
I mean, I think that's a, just a beautiful way to work and to get a, the best end result. Yes. '
Samantha: that's what it's all about. cause for my perspective, it's about transforming smiles. I want the patients to walk out of there feeling good. Looking good and just haven't be a positive experience.
way they'll go back to the dentist because as we know. People will fight you on going to the dentist. And I don't understand that, so I want it to be a positive experience that way they'll go back and continue to take care of their teeth
Anne: and then everybody wins.
So the office I worked in the lab that he used was local. they have a fantastic relationship. They each think that the other is like the best of the best. And I think that's, I love that. You know, and that's how love that, that's how you build your clientele, right?
And then you get to, spread the word. And also there are not that many female owned labs out there. No, there's not. you're a unicorn even with your hair. I mean, you're kind of a unicorn looking at you right now.
Samantha: and I think that more women should get into it because as women, I think we have that communication aspect.
we're not afraid to ask, Hey, doctor, what do you like? What do you not like? What are your preferences? What do you think about this? What do you think about that? I'm not scared to get on the phone and ask. I'm not scared to call up a doctor and say, Hey, when you have five minutes, gimme a call.
Anne: Yeah. That really builds a great rapport. And, And then also just, you know, I always say with the do's, that's why you're so do-ish. I just love you showed up to the do-callers and you, speak like a do as well. Like, We want everybody to win and we need our community and we need to make it strong.
I think women in, dentistry are so smart and they love beauty, and I think that men love beauty too. But there's something about, the eye, first of all, you have the eye 'cause your dad told you and your dad wouldn't tell you 'cause he wouldn't want you to do something
Samantha: that's gonna meant Right.
Yeah. He wouldn't tell me if he didn't
Anne: say it. Yeah. But also just the idea of, the woman's touch We love the guys. We know we're bash guys. 'cause I, you know, we, we love all the No, no, no. I just, I love,
Samantha: I absolutely love to see women in dentistry, whether it is dental hygienist, dental assistants, dentist.
other dental laboratory techs. I love to see women because I just think women just bring a little bit different of a bent to it. Not necessarily better, but just it's a different take on it, and I just love what it does for the industry. Yeah. It just makes the industry blossom.
Anne: I do think women love. Working with other women, especially if you don't have a scarcity mindset, if you're not competing, if you're compromising and collaborating, I think women love that and love the community. In fact, I'll have to introduce you. This is, let's bring it it back a little bit to do because it's so cool.
there's, um, couple of gals that are in the lab business that are in Charlotte, North Carolina.
They're amazing, and She designs, do you know she designs. It's a lab in, Charlotte, North Carolina. I,
Samantha: I'm not familiar with her, but I would, absolutely
Anne: ignore. See,
Samantha: like I said, I don't see other women in this even in their other women that own dental labs.
We're not competition, we're sisters. Yes. You are. Understand the industry. Yes. And I, it's wonderful. To see other women owners in
Anne: the industry. So that's what we like to do in the do you come in the do community and everybody is, there's no scarcity mentality. We all work together, we all try to help each other.
So I will introduce you to those ladies. They're amazing. And then also women in labs. Have you heard about those guys? The women in labs? So see, this is why I'm glad we were talking earlier. Samantha's like, I gotta step out. I mean, everybody is still coming out of the Covid cocoon, right?
Samantha: I feel rusty. Yep. You know, It's funny how Covid just knocked us all back a little bit I used to be very in the industry I would always go to the yearly conventions and meet people in the industry and just learn so much, and then covid came on and just knocked all that away.
like I was telling you before, I was like, I kept telling myself I need to get back out in there. I need to get back out there again. so this is a great first step for me to be like, you know what? It's time to start going out and meeting everybody again.
Anne: Oh, it really is. we have the coffee chats.
Or, well, I don't say coffee chats, they're called Do Connects now on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Those are great. and then also like, I'm gonna be in Dallas coming up here for productive Dentist Academy. So those are some really great people that you might wAnnea get to know. And then we've got a couple of dues that I know that live in Dallas and we're gonna have at the Do Retreat recommend that to you also, because we're gonna have about 220 women from all over the country in one room in Charlotte, North Carolina, in November.
we're having a big map with pins in the map where everybody lives because we have these little pockets all over the country of women just like you that wAnnea meet each other, get together. And like you said, I think it's funny 'cause your husband works with you in the lab.
Is that correct? but yet some of the problems or the pain points that women have the guys don't understand it as much as the Oh. Say a woman in the lab would understand. And so this is what it's important to like, get with your sisters.
Samantha: Yes. to be able to talk to other women that are not only in the dental industry, but kind of understand the same struggles. We all have the same obstacles and the same triumphs we all have. It's just great to be able to talk to someone that's just they'll understands exactly what
Anne: you're talking about.
Yeah. I mean, They celebrate. good to go outside of your circle, you know, your family kind of holds you at, at a point, which is great. We, know, love our families, but then some of our accomplishments. Maybe sometimes go unnoticed. Unless you're talking to somebody that's like, wow, Samantha, that is like unbelievable.
And you know, every once in a while we need one of those at Attagirls. we need an Attagirl file. But you love your community too. I know is this where you grew up in this
Samantha: community that you're in right now? Yes. I was born in Fort Worth. we moved for a little bit to Oklahoma and I I love my community. And I think that, for me personally, I work a lot with my community. 'cause I think one, getting your teeth cleaned and inspected is so important. And people, I don't think people really understand how important it is until they start to have problems. So I always go out there and advocate for people.
I know. It's for a lot of people, I have fear and anxiety when it comes to, visiting their dentist, but it's so important. And also kinda like we were talking about, we do like community give backs. So where we work with a dentist to help give products and work on teeth for people that couldn't afford it otherwise.
Mm. Beautiful. Um, like we talked about those, transforming those smiles. It's a privilege and I don't believe it should be such a privilege. I believe that it should be healthcare, More accessible to people, no matter their economic status. And so I think it's always important that since I'm in a place where I can give back to people.
I think it's important for me to do so. so every year we always do things to give back to the community because I just feel that's important.
Anne: That's beautiful though. I mean, I really, you know, I think so many of us believe in access of care, so like everybody should have A pain-free, healthy smile. I mean a he healthy teeth. it is healthcare. So, I don't know. I hope this happens in my lifetime. I don't know. We've been fighting this battle for a long time, but
Samantha: your smile can affect your health.
Anne: Oh gosh. Yeah. It's mind body. Yeah. Oral systemic is so huge and all of that. And we're a big part of that, on the front and the back end
Samantha: And I know you said you were dental heist. I know you saw it. I know You saw how people wouldn't come in until they had to and you wAnnea shake them?
I go, no, wait so long to come and see me, please. I know,
Anne: I know. It is just It's a tough row. But then again, we don't know what's happened in their life. I guess our job is to fix what comes in the door. Right. the best we can
Samantha: and support them the best that we can and to support them the best we can
Anne: when they finally come through that door.
And to have them wAnnea come back is really important. Right. And to have great dental, restorations. Can last a lifetime if they're taken care
Samantha: of. Right. That's what we talked about before. It's like you want them to leave there feeling like, oh, this was a good idea.
my tooth isn't hurt anymore. It looks beautiful. My dentist was great. I can chew my food. All that. Yeah. It wasn't this big scary thing I thought it was gonna be, and so you want them to have, that good feeling when they walk out that door. That way they will come back.
And dentistry
Anne: has come such a long way. and I think more and more people are gonna like going to the dentist. And especially the other thing I was thinking about too, Samantha for you, that's gonna help you as you build your business and you join our community, is that women are taking over dentistry.
know, And I think women like to work with another woman, so I think you're in a sweet spot,
Samantha: I love seeing women dentists, I love working with women dentists. the collaboration is just beautiful. Yeah. We just, the measurement, we just mesh so well when it's, when I'm working with a woman, dentist, It's beautiful. It's beautiful on so many
Anne: different levels. Speaking of that, how would a woman, dentist, or any dentist get in touch with you, because that's what we're here for. I wonder how do we get in touch with Samantha Graham and the Ozark Dental lab? would
Samantha: definitely have them check out our website, Ozarkdentolab.com.
It's got information about our lab, it's got contact information for us and just see if we'd be a good fit. That's what I always tell all my dentist, try me out, see if I'm a good fit. If I'm not a good fit, I will bless you and send you on your way. like I said, The Dental lab community is a community, like you said you've, seen where other dental labs have worked beautifully with their dentist and I love that so much.
I want dentists to have personal relationships with their dental lab. I would always encourage dentists to use someone local, someone that can have that relationship with, because that relationship is so important and if that can be me beautiful, they're welcome to call and ask for me.
I may chew their ear off. But they're welcome to call and I'm more than willing to answer any questions they may have.
Anne: Deliver a great product, which is wonderful and make their job easier. Because when you have, confidence in your lab, you have confidence in your end result, and that's all everybody wants.
You know, They don't want to have the patients coming back. The
Samantha: dentist can focus on what they need to focus on, which.
Anne: Yeah. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. I'm so glad to get to know you and I'm glad that we will get to know each other better and
Samantha: better. Yes. I'm so excited I found you guys. This is a wonderful thing that y'all have put together and I'm just so excited to be a
Anne: part of it.
I'm so glad too. But how did you find us, by the way?
Samantha: I don't even remember. I was searching like women and dentistry. Okay. And I was just, I was like, I gotta find my people. And I just came across y'all's website and I'm like, this is it. This is what I'm looking for.
This is what you're looking for. I'm excited to be doing this and get to know everybody here and just to learn and meet other, women in the industry. It's
Anne: gonna be beautiful. They're gonna love meeting you as well, and all career paths are welcome here. I think you got that from the website. If you're a woman and you happen to have a toe dipped in dentistry, come sit at our table and we will take good care of you and serve you up.
Yeah. We'll, yeah. Oh well Samantha Graham, so lovely to see you today. I'll let you know when this podcast. Goes out live. It'll also be on YouTube and we will share it and you can share it. And, we are good friends now. Welcome to do and welcome to the Just Do It podcast. And if everybody, anybody's listening out there, remember the most important thing you can do is to keep doing you.
Thanks everybody. We'll see you. Bye-Bye bye.
