What started out as a “two year plan”, has turned in to a work of love for local business couple, Dr. Bradyn and Whitney Bishop of Prairie Vista Dental.
“When we first came here, we came as employees,” explained Whitney. “It was meant to be temporary, but we loved it here.”
Both originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, the Bishops first came to Ulysses about four years ago to work for Dr. Bret Holman, at Prairie Vista Dental.
“We were meant to be in a small town and didn’t know it," Whitney said. "We are both from the big city - now we are here forever.”
When the option came up to purchase the dental practice the two - “jumped on it.” Prairie Vista has been part of the Ulysses business community since 2011, the Bishops took ownership in April 2021.
They have 16 employees.
When asked what sets them apart, Bradyn said being locally owned and technology are key.
“We have a lot of technology many don’t,” he said.
Training
“We invest in many additional training hours for our team in order to use the technology,” she said, adding customers come first. “I feel sometimes when I go to the doctor’s office, I am kind of forced to go to a certain doctor just because of the location. We strive to treat our patients and run our business in such a way that even if it is more convenient to come to us, we don’t want them to feel that is why they come. We want them to feel they would drive 100 miles to see us.”
The duo are very invested in the community, sponsoring and being involved in local activities, including the high school shadowing program.
“We have a few previous Ulysses High School students who shadowed with us and then come back in the summers,” Whitney said. “One is in dental school and another is in school to become a dental hygienist. They come back and spend some hours with us.”
Ethics and honesty in business is important.
“I think when it comes to picking a dentist, it can be scary,” said Whitney. “Whether or not they do a good job, whether or not their diagnosis is correct - I am a dental hygienist and I can confidently say I would fully back up Dr. Bishop and I’m glad I can. You need to be able to trust your dentist.”
Bradyn doesn’t compromise on things like integrity, respect, and compassion, which is why he’ll always recommend the same care he would give his own family, the couple says. Treatments Bradyn recommends are done with careful consideration.
“He puts a lot of thought into it and it is the same for any patient, whether or not it is his mom sitting in the chair or who it is,” she said. “It could be our neighbor. It could be our employees’ parents..... We want everyone we see to have optimal health care.”
Parents bringing in children can rest easy as well.
“We recommend parents bring children in by their first birthdays or by the time they get their first tooth - whichever comes first,” Whitney said. “We show the kids the instruments we are going to use and may even use the polisher on their fingers to show them how it feels. The doctor will come in and take a peek at their teeth. We use the phrase with children, 'we are ‘just counting your teeth’ a lot.”
The Bishops recommend parents prep their children by doing such things as reading them books about a visit to the dentist or even watching a dentist episode of Daniel Tiger.
“Utilizing those types of resources and having a discussion with your kids - that helps,” Whitney said. “If they are coming in pain for their first visit, it is going to be associated with being scarier.”
It is important not to wait when it comes to dental care.
“Preventative medicine is key when they are young,” Whitney said. “We can prevent a lot of issues and address them before they have to maybe be sent somewhere else.
Why dentistry?
“I have always liked working with my hands,” said Bradyn, who actually wanted to be an artist - after all, “ceramics is his jam”.
But when a mentor, a dentist he shadowed when he was in high school, told him dentistry was the “perfect mix between science and art, he was hooked”.
Whitney and Bradyn are high school sweethearts, so when Bradyn made the decision to go in to dentistry - Whitney wasn’t far behind.
“I got in to dentistry because he was,” she said, adding, “I also like getting to do something different every day.”
Serving the community is number one with the pair.
“Bradyn really doesn’t like to refer people out,” Whitney said. “If he has to he will, but he really loves being able to do all of it here and provide those services to patients who are our neighbors. We love that we can save them a three to four hour drive and provide them with quality care.”
The Bishops just added four treatment rooms to their office building, and they are looking to possibly add more doctors this summer.
Whitney said expanding even further is a possibility.
“Expanding to another community or town is something we have talked about,” she said. “Bradyn would like to, but while our kids are young it isn’t in the immediate future.”
They have their own lab.
“We can do all in the same day crowns," Whitney said. "We try to do what we can because the turn around is annoying for the patient if they have to come back to finish the services needed.”
Patient care
“Customers can come to us and expect a friendly atmosphere and a good attitude,” Whitney said. “They are greeted with a smile and will receive prompt service. We put an emphasis on patients not having to wait. It’s not just about the treatment itself - we care about our patients.”
Bradyn loves helping people "live better, healthier, and more confident lives.”
“I like getting people out of pain," he said. "I think some people have a lot of fear - what is the dentist going to find? I encourage patients to reach out and not be scared - we will take care of you, that’s what we are here for.”
Bradyn lived for two years in Chile where he learned to speak Spanish. He attended Dental School at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentists and the Kansas Dental Association, and frequently attends continuing education classes. Whitney has her Bachelors in Dental Hygiene with an emphasis in Business. She helps manage the accounts and is the patient advocate when it comes to insurance.
When not busy in the office with patients, one can find the two with their five young children - the oldest is six years old. Whether together at the office or home, the Bishops "like to work together,” Whitney said.
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