Dowlen said he wants his patients to get treated with respect, but he also likes to lighten the mood by joking around with them.
"I like to keep a light atmosphere," Dowlen said.
Dowlen thinks his ability to relate to people of all ages has helped him be a better dentist. He chose to provide a family dentistry office and has seen patients from the age of two all the way up to 81.
"I am just a well-rounded general dentist," he said. "I take pride in the fact that I am able to see everyone. We want to see the whole family. It keeps it interesting."
Initially, Dowlen and his three employees set a goal of 50 patients for the first month of business. The office opened Friday, July 20, and within the first week Dowlen Family Dentistry had already seen 50 patients.
"It has been surprisingly busy," Dowlen said. "I think this is because it is a new dentistry office, we accept a lot of insurance. Someone comes in to check it out and are pleased with what they find and tell their other family members."
Dowlen had not always had a dream to be a dentist. He attended Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., where he majored in exercise physiology and then became a personal trainer. Dowlen said this experience gave him a foot in the door on the mechanics of owning and running ones own business.
After some time passed, Dowlen was becoming a little restless with personal training and desired to help more people in a bigger way. He began spending time with his wife's father who was a dentist. The more time he spent at his father-in-law's dental office, the more he became interested.
At the time he was living in Alabama, but he had a friend in medical school at the University of Kentucky who recommended the school of dentistry. Dowlen visited and knew immediately it was the place for him.
"The professors were so nice and treated me with respect," Dowlen said. "I feel like I got a good quality education."
While finishing up his last semester in dental school, Dowlen found the location of his office and began multi-tasking.
"It was a long and difficult process of getting the building," Dowlen said.
Dowlen graduated from UK in May, and then starting working on the office.
"We knew we wanted a practice in Nicholasville," Dowlen said. "It has a growing population and is a good place to live. The office is in a good location because everyone knows where we are at - right behind Sonny's. It is an absolutely fantastic location."
Dowlen really does not take much credit for starting his business so soon.
"My wife was the backbone behind all of it," he said. "She has been in the business long enough. She is very good support."
Dowlen's wife just began working at his office as a dental hygienist. She previously worked in Lexington. His mother-in-law serves as the receptionist, so in essence this really is a "family dentistry."
He also credits his view of patients and different character traits for his early success.
"It is a comfortable dentist office where people can feel comfortable, relaxed and like they belong," Dowlen said. "Patience is the life-line of the business."
Dowlen Family Dentistry office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Dowlen also said for emergencies he is flexible and is willing to come in and serve patients. For more information about Dowlen Family Dentistry, call 881-9398.
