Pediatric Dental Startup Adds 1,600+ Patients in First Year Using Relationship-Based Marketing
- 1,600+ patients and counting - all while staying out-of-network with major insurance plans
- Strategic social media ads and word-of-mouth created a “seen everywhere” effect before opening
- Grew from 0 to fully booked days with an associate and multiple hygienists within 12 months
Meet Dr. Sarah Severson
Dr. Sarah Severson opened Shine Pediatric Dental Co. in Round Rock, Texas with a bold goal: to create a pediatric dental experience that felt less like a clinic and more like a celebration. After years in traditional practices, she envisioned a startup that would reflect her values, energy, and commitment to family-first care.
Dr. Severson designed Shine to be a destination practice that is vibrant, inclusive, and full of personality. Everything from the name to the decor to the team culture is infused with intention.
Launching a pediatric dental startup in a competitive and fast-growing market like the Austin area came with major hurdles. Lease spaces in Austin proper were expensive and saturated with pediatric dentists. She needed the right data to confidently choose Round Rock, where she felt she could set herself apart from the competition.
Dr. Severson invested in branding and digital ads months before opening, and it paid off in a massive way.
After working as an associate for several years, she was unsure how her new practice would be received in the community and faced pressure to succeed early as a new practice owner.