Meet Erin Steib-Griffin, DDS | Dentist & Co-Owner of Universal Smiles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Steib-Griffin, DDS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I worked in corporate dentistry for years before starting my own dental practice. The experience and training I received from there is invaluable, but it made me realize that I desired to practice dentistry on my own terms. I wanted to treat my patients to the best of my ability in a relaxed, fun, and caring environment. I wanted to change the narrative of a dental experience from being frightful and painful to happy, relaxed, and pain free.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My husband Brad and I opened our dental practice Universal Smiles in Cypress, TX in 2014. We cater to our patients’ needs and build lifelong relationships with them. We treat each patient as a whole, not just a set of teeth and that’s what sets us apart from other offices. We truly care about our patients and listen to their needs and expectations all while maintaining an honest, fun, and relaxed environment. Patients are excited to come and see us and especially to Netflix and chill while at their appointments as we are a movie-themed office. You can expect to see movie related decor and even participate in movie trivia while at your appointment. The early years of starting our business was extremely hard, but we persevered while maintaining focus on our mission for starting Universal Smiles in the first place. We were determined to create a name for ourselves that corresponded with honesty, integrity, and true desire to care about people. I learned that with faith in God and hard work, anything is possible if you set your heart on it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, I would take her to the Post Oak Hotel for a spa day and then dinner at Steak 48! I absolutely love it there! We would also go to Houston Premium Outlet for shopping and then relaxation at the Boardwalk in Towne Lake. Those are my favorite places!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am confident that God ultimately led my path to my career in dentistry. As a chemistry major at Tulane University, I thought that I would graduate and then work in a lab at a chemical plant. Through a series of events, I ended up working for LSU Outpatient Dental Clinic and was immersed in dentistry. The dentist in the clinic exposed me to the different aspects of a dental career, and it immediately became an unforeseen passion. I went on to dental school at the University of Tennessee where I met my colleague and husband Brad. My coworkers Makula Lee and Tamara Johnson at my first job after graduation mentored and supported me daily and encouraged me to start my own practice. It was many years before that came to fruition but their support and confidence in me gave me the courage to proceed with the start of our private dental office.

Website: www.universal-smiles.com

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