Today we’d like to introduce you to Drs. Andrew & Joya Lyons.
Hi Drs. Lyons, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our love story began our junior year of college when we first met at an enrichment program for students who were interested in Dentistry. We didn’t exchange contact information on our first encounter, but we definitely left a lasting impression on each other. We always say that we were destined to be because three years later, we met again at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry as classmates. We did not let this second chance encounter go to waste as we immediately became friends, study partners and then engaged. Our love was solidified by marriage after graduation in 2011.
Before attending the same schools, Dr. Drew graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology; and I, Dr. Joya, procured a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hampton University. Post dental school, we completed a one-year general practice residency at John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Three years after we secured our dental positions post-residency, God placed entrepreneurship on Dr. Drews’s heart, and together, we opened Smile Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry in 2014. Since then, we have experienced exponential growth and massive change over the years. At the end of 2019, we made the difficult decision to rebrand our practice and focus on what we love the most in dentistry, which was all things cosmetic dentistry. Today, in year 8 of business, we can say that it was the best decision we have ever made.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? We are a firm believer that nothing worthwhile comes easy. With that said, we did experience many bumps in the road along our journey of trying to build our dream practice. It just so happens that the best business decision we made was also the riskiest and most challenging decision. That decision I speak of was the decision to rebrand our office to focus on cosmetic dentistry only in 2019. During this transition of our practice, the biggest lesson we learned was that we could not lose if we always chose to bet on ourselves. It took massive Faith to make such a decision during a pandemic but as always, God carried us through the pandemic with an even stronger practice and an even stronger faith.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We consider ourselves a boutique cosmetic dental office specializing in cosmetic dental procedures such as porcelain veneers, laser gum contouring, and Orthodontic procedures. We are mostly known for our ability to deliver natural, breathtaking, porcelain veneer smile transformations. We find the most fulfillment in watching our patients’ lives improve for the better once we have given them a confident smile.
We are proud of the fact that many of our patients have traveled across the United States to receive our veneer services. Every time we see a patient that travels from out of state, it substantiates our decision to focus on what we love. Some of the other accomplishments and titles we are proud of over our dental career include:
Becoming the Proud Dental Partner of an NBA team: The Charlotte Hornets
Being the first African American couple on the cover of a national Dental Magazine, Dentaltown in 2020.
Being voted two of Charlotte’s Top Dentists from 2018-2022 by Charlotte Magazine
Being voted Top 40 Under 40 Best Young Dentist award by Incisal Edge Magazine in 2020
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Whether you want to become a patient, collaborate or support us, we can be contacted via our Instagram @drdrewlyons_drjoyalyons or via our office email at info@smilesavvydentistry.com. We offer in-office and virtual smile consultations and both scheduling links can be found via our Instagram page.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.smilesavvydentistry.com
- Instagram: @drdrewlyons_drjoyalyons
Image Credits
Brandon Grate for LEPR Agency
