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Entrepreneur, small business owner and community philanthropist Dr. Kim Glick recently reached a special milestone-40 years in the practice of Dentistry in Tullahoma. Dr. Glick paused in her busy day to answer twelve questions. She credits her family, her business partner, her staff and patients for her long tenure in dentistry. Read on to learn more about Dr. Glick.

1. Tell us a little background and about your education

I was born at Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA. As a child I moved around living in several states including Michigan, Arizona, South Dakota & finally Tennessee. After graduating from THS in 1977 I attended UT Knoxville, graduating with high honors in 1981. I went to dental school in Memphis & received my dental degree in 1985.

2. When did you realize you wanted to practice dentistry?

My interests always leaned toward health sciences so my studies in college reflected that, but after working in hospitals during my summer breaks I decided to go into dentistry to have a more balanced professional and family life.

3. Why did you decide to locate your practice in Tullahoma?

My father retired from the Air Force after 20 years in the military. His last assignment was at AEDC and with my brother and I both in high school, my parents decided to put roots down here. Dr Paul Bass, a Tullahoma dentist, was looking for an associate and heard of my pending graduation. We practiced together for several years before I took over the practice as the sole owner.

4. How and when did you partner with Dr. Woods?

Dr. Woods joined my practice in 1994 having recently graduated himself and looking for professional opportunities. We became partners in 1996 and have remained so for nearly 30 years. With the growth of our practice, it became necessary to acquire more space, so we built our current office in 2002 which more than doubled our available area.

5. How has dentistry changed over the years?

Obviously, over a 40-year career, there have been many advances in dentistry. The first one I experienced was the introduction of PPE (personal protective equipment) While certain measures were always taken, the AIDS scare took it to another level. Technology also computerized our office, introducing digital radiology, paperless records, and 3D imaging. Advanced esthetics & safer materials (removing mercury containing fillings) were introduced, and dental implant procedures were improved. We have also elevated our assisting and dental hygiene staff, where they are now trained and licensed to do more procedures similar to the way the medical field has registered nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Another interesting change in dentistry is the increase in women joining the profession. When I was in dental school females made up only 10% of our class. I personally, had never known of a woman dentist. Enrollment numbers now show females make up over 50% of the class. While in dental school I has a professor ask me if I was ever going to “practice” dentistry, a comment I took offense to. I later found out that at that time most female dentist practiced less than 5 years. I’d love to be able to tell him while most of my male classmates have long since retired, I’m still practicing!

6. What dental services do you provide?

Our practice is a general dentistry practice which treats patients of all ages with a focus on regular cleanings and checkups and preemptive restorative care. What makes that so rewarding to me is the long-term relationships you build. I’m now seeing a 3rd generation of patients, many who have been with me for my entire career!

7. How do you give back to your community?

Community involvement & service has always been an important part of our practice. We had sponsored an annual Easter Egg Hunt for over 25 years, created Project Smile, an educational program focusing on pre-k – 1st grade youth, and sponsored our yearly Check-N-Shine to provide preventive services for the uninsured. We also donate to various youth groups, reading programs, school activities & fundraising events. Giving back to the community that supports you benefits everyone on a local level. Seeing the impact that your support makes is extremely rewarding. One of my favorite cases was giving a young woman who had overcome her drug addiction her smile back.

8. Tell us what happened on the arrival of your 40^th milestone

So Tuesday afternoon my entire staff surprised me with a “40 Years in Dentistry” celebration. They were pretty proud of themselves since not a lot gets by me. Samantha Chamblee, my office manager, went to great lengths to make it very special. I told her I knew I had to be sure my hair looked okay because she would probably want to post a picture on Facebook but she did so much more, and the entire staff put time & energy into making it really nice – and doing it while taking care of their patients.

9. You have five employees that have been with you for 25 years or more

Probably the single most important reason that my career has been both successful and rewarding is that I have been fortunate enough to work with some incredible women (& men) for over 25 years. It is extremely rare to have employees that stay with you for that long & yet I have many – Helene (Ace) Jennings, Sharon Waller, and Tonya Austin as dental assistants; Tina McNeese and Bob Tucker as dental hygienists; and Amy Beard, Deanne Todd, and Sandy Hodges as administrative staff. They are the epitome of dedication, dependability & hard work and are not only employees but true friends.

10. Have you had any surprises during your career?

Probably the biggest challenge in my career was COVID. It was a time of so many unknowns and misinformation. We were on the front line where working from home was not an option. We were dealing with an airborne virus and using dental hand pieces that aero soled everything. We were fortunate to live in a state that allowed more personal freedom.

11. What is your key to success since very few businesses last 40 years?

When it comes to the longevity and success of any business there’s never a single factor responsible for that but a combination of many things, not the least of which could be luck! But seriously my parents played a vital role in helping me become the person I am today. They encouraged & supported me while setting a high standard. They stressed the importance of self-reliance & hard work & to never forget where I came from. My partner, Dr Larry Woods, whose friendship and support has allowed me to weather the ups and downs, challenges and successes, and shared in the responsibilities of running a dental practice for nearly 30 years Dr Paul Bass who gave me the opportunity to begin my career & become a practice owner while teaching me the intricacies of business management. My staff, especially the long-term ones that I mentioned earlier who were instrumental in helping me deliver high quality care.

Dr. Angie Hill, who joined our practice 4 years ago, played a vital role in helping us keep up with our patient care needs as our patient base continued to expand. But most importantly my patients for affording me the privilege of providing them with their dental care and putting their trust in me. I’ve gotten to know them over the years, shared in their joys and sorrows, caught up with their lives and enjoyed their friendships. I appreciate every one of them.

12. How long do you plan to practice?

While I, with mixed emotions, know my career is near its end, I haven’t decided exactly when that will be. One thing I had to make sure of was that I had to find the right person to replace me & would carry on the vision of the practice. They had to be someone with integrity and a passion for dentistry that matched my own. Dr Logan Smith joined our practice over 2 years ago and has proven to be that doctor. He brings with him new technology and fresh ideas and performs services that Dr. Woods didn’t such as extractions, root canals, and soon dental implants. He has a desire to treat people not just teeth. Our patients & staff have received him well so when the time comes for me to step away, everyone will be in very capable hands and the transition will be seamless. On a final note, I want to acknowledge the people most dear to me, my husband for over 23 years, Mike Melton and my two sons Tate & Ty. It is their love and support that brings joy and value to my life and reminds me of what’s really important.

The dental office of Glick and Woods is located at 208 N. Washington St. in Tullahoma.