Meet Gerald Samson, Orthodontist, Educator and Consultant in Sandy Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerald Samson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Gerald. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by parents who were first born in the United States – the children of Russian immigrants. Interestingly, my father never finished high school – we never owned a home.

After graduating from Marquette Dental School located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1975 I worked on an American Indian Reservation in far Northern Wisconsin, treating mostly children of the Ojibway Tribe. That was a terrific experience but I felt the call to travel outside the United States, put my career on hold for a time and adventured to Europe. The purpose was to reflect on the life choices that lay ahead. While basking in solitude on the island of Crete, it at became obvious that pediatric dentistry was my “natural calling”. I returned to the United States and from 1977 until 1979 studied the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry. During that time, I became especially fascinated with the growth, development and the potential to non-surgically alter the dental and facial structures of growing children. That keen interest led me to apply for an orthodontic residency program and I was fortunate to gain admittance to Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago graduating in 1981.

From 1980 – 2016 I maintained an exclusive private practice of orthodontics and dentalfacial orthopedics in Marietta.

1985 saw the beginning of my career as an educator and founding of (g)nathos, inc – orthodontic and pediatric dental education. Currently, I maintain a full-time educational facility in Marietta. I am a Diplomat of The American Board of Orthodontics and Fellow of The American College of Dentists and have been the featured speaker for numerous regional, national and international meetings. A partial listing includes the American Association of Orthodontists, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, The Asian Pacific Orthodontic Orthodontic Congress, The Warsaw Orthodontic Congress, The Israel Society of Orthodontists, The Australian Society of Orthodontists, The Mexican Association of Orthodontists, The Colombian Association of Orthodontists and The Latin American Society of Pediatric Dentists.

Currently, I am Associate Professor at 8 university specialty training programs in the United States and Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas, San Antonio Health Science Center. In addition, I review orthodontic mechanics papers for The Angle Orthodontist and was co-guest editor of Seminars in Orthodontics, March and June, 2014 “Age Appropriate Orthodontics” and author of the orthodontics mechanics chapter in the 2016 reference text book by Wiley Publications, “Recognizing and Correcting Developing Malocclusions: A Problem-Oriented Approaches to Orthodontics” – Prof. Eustáquio A. Araújo, Prof. Peter H. Buschang.

Similar to medicine, the future of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics includes the substantial presence of corporate health care. Having an interest in that reality I am the Clinic Director for Spring & Sprout – a pediatric dental and orthodontic “dental service organization” centered in Michigan with pediatric dental and orthodontic offices in Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and expanding to various regions in the U.S.

Has it been a smooth road?
13 years of college/university training, starting a private practice, borrowing money, starting an education company – the “good times” are easy – persevering is the challenge.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
(g)nathos, inc. specializes in teaching orthodontics with a focus on children and teens. The challenging nature of the material causes many to lose focus. My approach is of offer lectures punctuated by antics, theatrics, occasionally edgy humor, audience participation, and a dollop or two of 1960s rock ‘n’ roll music to turn the glassy-eyed into energized learners. Take orthodontic biomechanics – a very tedious subject. Most doctors find a lecture on that subject difficult to absorb, let alone tolerate. Their response is to either fall asleep or fidget. But as difficult as biomechanics is to learn, it’s also perhaps the most important thing of all for an orthodontist to know. The way I overcome the barriers to learning this—or any subject, for that matter—is by teaching in the most entertaining and informative fashion possible.

Regarding corporate dentistry – that business is relatively new and with a mixed image. Spring & Sprout Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics focuses on superior customer service and the highest dental quality.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
From an access standpoint (airport and Southeast location), Atlanta is very good. However, the competition here is WILD. “Start ups” need a clear, customer based, strategic and necessary niche.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://gnathosce.com/
• Email: gnathosce.@gmail.com
• Other: http://www.springandsprout.network/

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