Female Disruptors: Dr Grisel Martos of My Smile Miami On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
One of the biggest challenges female disruptors face is equality in the industry. My advice for women disruptors everywhere is to go for what they want in their careers and not to give up. Women should hone the skills necessary to give themselves those opportunities, such as communication skills, leadership development, and emotional intelligence.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Grisel Martos.
Dr. Martos is a Cosmetic Dentist providing services of oral hygiene and dental beautification in her clinic My Smile Miami. She has been serving the community of Miami for over two decades. She is recognized for her services over time, and her patients applaud her efforts.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
Thanks for having me. I was really young when my grandfather died of cancer. He had a tumor in his gums, and doctors thought his habit of smoking and bad oral health was to blame. When I grew older, I decided to save people from such a disease, and all I could think of was to become a dentist. I enrolled myself in the University of Havana for a degree in Dental Medicine and then went on to get into Nova Southeastern University’s prestigious dental school. After graduating, I didn’t hesitate to jump into my first job — opening a private office in Miami with the most up-to-date technology and equipment.
I have always been passionate about dentistry, and my main focus is to educate my patients about oral health and provide them with the best care.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
I have been helping people of color with dark gums issues. I have introduced the Gum Bleaching facility at My Smile Miami. This technique lightens the color of gums. Gingival hyperpigmentation, often known as “black gums,” is a condition in which melanin occurs on the gum tissue’s surface. It affects people of all races and ethnicities, but it is more prevalent in those with darker skin. Hyperpigmentation can occur naturally or as a result of smoking, systemic diseases, and certain medications. Hyperpigmentation is harmless and does not cause any health problems, but some individuals simply desire even pink gums, which gum bleaching can provide.
I am among those few dental professionals who have turned to the iTero Element Scanner for fast, accurate three-dimensional dental imaging. At My Smile Miami, I employ this simple-to-use scanner to get intraoral digital scans and create accurate physical dental models for restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, and implants. This scanner also aids me in identifying orthodontic issues and developing the most effective treatment plans for my patients.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
It was the second week of my practice, and I was doing a complicated tooth extraction when my cell phone started to ring. Yes, it wasn’t silent, and that too with a wildly inappropriate ringtone… “I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor.
It was embarrassing. But to make up for my mistake, I broke out into the song! I tried to laugh and make it into a joke. And from that day onwards, I always kept my cell phone silent while in my clinic!
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
Dr. Caroline Jonathan is my mentor, and I owe a great deal of respect and admiration to her. She made me realize that helping others can give you immense satisfaction and contentment. Her work ethic taught me how to stay focused on work and how to strike a balance between work and family. She is a woman of commitment, and I idolize her for it. When I assisted her, she once missed her flight to England for a very prestigious conference because she had to treat a patient with a severe dental injury in a road accident. This level of commitment to helping people is what has made an impact on me.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
Disrupting an industry can be both positive and negative. It depends on the service it is offering to the community. Artificial intelligence, 3D printing, Virtual/augmented reality, and the Internet are some of the things that positively impact the dental industry.
On the flip side, corporate dentistry brings about change that’s causing a lot of stress among dental professionals. This “disruption” is not so positive and cannot be ignored. It must be actively addressed for private practices to survive and thrive.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
A professor at my university once said, “A great dentist should be very detail oriented,” and his words stayed with me. While working in such a small space as the mouth, one can’t afford to miss even the smallest of details. Observation and attention to detail are what dentistry is all about. It helps to indicate some bodily ailment or a dental problem at the initial stage.
I was a timid girl, and my mentor Dr. Caroline made me realize the importance of strong interpersonal skills that make all the difference. I have learned the art of making my patients feel comfortable and putting them at ease. Being very kind and compassionate with my patients has played a vital role in making me successful in my career.
My mother once advised me always to have a great desire to learn because it makes me different from the rest, and it’s 100% true. Dentistry is an ever-evolving field, and new technologies are being introduced every day that make dental procedures more comfortable, effective, and affordable. My desire to learn and master all the latest technologies and science in dentistry makes me stand out from the rest.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
Next, I am working on offering tele dentistry services. Companies like The Teledenists and MouthWatch have successfully established that providing easier access to oral and dental care is possible. Tele dentistry is significantly cheaper and allows patients to consult with otherwise unavailable medical professionals. I am currently working on creating an all-in-one tele dentistry platform that will allow patients to capture images, send relevant information to my team of dentists remotely, and do a live consultation.
As remote care’s significance swelled during the pandemic, tele dentistry is also picking up steam, and The American Dental Association has issued a policy on tele dentistry that offers guidance on the modalities that such services can follow. I believe the future belongs to tele dentistry and will eventually make it a general practice.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
One of the biggest challenges female disruptors face is equality in the industry. My advice for women disruptors everywhere is to go for what they want in their careers and not to give up. Women should hone the skills necessary to give themselves those opportunities, such as communication skills, leadership development, and emotional intelligence.
Garnering support from other women is another challenge faced by female disruptors. Women should support and empower each other, starting with their basic principles of who they are — their morals, values, and integrity. Women must be just, and humble, showing togetherness, passion, and excellence to make big things happen.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
I love listening to Women of Impact, hosted by Lisa Bilyeu. This amazing show features women who have overcome incredible hardship to achieve massive success. The mission of this podcast is to empower all women to recognize that they really can become the hero of their own life.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love to do something massive in the field of tele dentistry, making it a thing that will no longer be exclusive to the elite. Software enhancements and developing technologies have made it easier for dentists and patients to meet on digital platforms and start connecting. I want to build an App or a web-based platform that can pave the way and turn teledentistry into a tech-centered industry. I am already working on developing a tele dentistry app that will network thousands of patients and dentists together from all over the world.
Can you please give us your favorite” Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” And I genuinely believe in it. There were times in my life and career that seemed impossible, but these words kept me motivated and strengthened my belief.
How can our readers follow you online?
Anyone can visit my official webpage https://www.mysmilemiami.com/ to connect with me.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Female Disruptors: Dr Grisel Martos of My Smile Miami On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.