40 UNDER 40 HONOREES

Lizzie O’Dell

  • Hurricane, West Virginia
  • Specialty

Age:

34

Name of Practice:

Creative Pediatric Dentistry

Specialty:

Pediatric dentistry

Education:

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry


Why They Were Nominated

Dr. O’Dell’s practice uses social media like a dental tool to spread her pediatric message. These efforts earned her practice nearly 2,000 followers on Facebook alone—not bad considering the town it’s in has just 6,000 residents. She’s also a member of the cleft-and-craniofacial team at the CAMC Health System in Charleston, West Virginia.

Why They Became a Dentist

“The moment I knew I wanted to become a dentist was during an internship at a practice in Milpitas, California. I was shadowing an operative procedure on a young child. She was anxious, and I was too. She asked me to hold her hand, and as the dentist managed to calm her fears, I witnessed a change from fear to trust. That experience was incredibly rewarding.”

Tool They Can’t Live Without

Isolite. “It’s the most amazing piece of plastic that helps tame wiggly tongues and keeps drool under control.”

Exciting New Trend

“Silver diamine fluoride is all the rage in pediatric dentistry. Keeping young kids who need dental work out of the hospital has really changed our industry and outlook.”

Sage Advice

“Treat your dental team better than you would treat your family. They keep your engine running.”

Something People Don’t Know

Dr. O’Dell is a lifestyle blogger with 24,000 Instagram followers. Follow her @prettypistachio to see what makes her smile outside the operatory.

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