Coastal Carolina Orthodontics

Dale Kratovil

The great review score brought me to this location for a root canal. 5 stars from me. A very well oiled machine here. Great check-in process, great staff great doctor. Dr Hockett took the time to explain and also to listen. I won’t have any fear coming to this facility for any procedures needed. Thank you!

June 25, 2025

Lesley Jakupczyk

The staff have treated my daughter with excellent care. They worked around her “autism” and “disability” moments allowing her to feel Like every other person. There have been days where she was having a “hard or Difficult time” and they not Only have been extremely patient and flexible but she left in a better mood and state than when she arrived because she was also aware that she was treated with same respect as any other individual.

Outstanding patience and genuine care and this Facility is deserving to be recognised for inclusion and genuine care for ALL People 🙏🏆👑🙌🏻 well Done.

April 22, 2025

Jeffrie Westmoreland

We had such a great experience with The Smile Makers! The team is always so kind and patient, and they’ve made my child feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. They’re professional, thorough, and truly go above and beyond. Highly recommend them to any parent looking for quality orthodontic care!

June 25, 2025

Khristen Hahn

For most of my life, I was ashamed of my smile. I spent nearly 25 years hiding my teeth from the world, from photos, and even from myself. I had been teased for as long as I could remember, and the insecurity ran deep. I learned to speak without showing my teeth. I perfected smiles that kept them hidden. And somewhere along the way, I began to believe that maybe I didn’t deserve to feel confident. When I walked into Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in February 2021, I carried all of that with me, not just the insecurity, but also a deep fear rooted in years of traumatic dental experiences. Growing up in foster care, I had been through countless dental procedures. . many rushed, many painful, almost all dehumanizing. Dental appointments meant bracing for discomfort, both physical and emotional. I never expected orthodontic treatment to be healing. I just hoped for straighter teeth. But what I found at Coastal Carolina was more than a clinical experience. It was a safe space. It was kindness. It was people who made me feel seen, heard, and valued.

Every visit chipped away at the fear I’d held for so long. The staff never treated me like just another patient. They treated me like a person, with warmth, respect, and genuine care. And by the time my Braces came off in September 2021, I had gained more than a new smile, I had gained a new sense of self. What you did for me didn’t stop the day my braces came off. That experience sparked something bigger. After I moved back to Indiana, I enrolled in dental assisting school and began working in an orthodontic office, eventually becoming the lead assistant. I loved the work, but I wanted to do more. Inspired by what you gave me, I began my prerequisites in 2023. I’m now a second-year dental hygiene student at the Indiana University School of Dentistry, working in the Orthodontic Clinic, and I’ve made the decision to apply to dental school in the 2027 cycle with the goal of applying for an orthodontics residency afterwords. And just last week, something extraordinary happened. I was invited to speak as part of Indiana University’s Kids College program- an initiative for middle school students who stay on campus for two weeks, meet professionals, explore career paths, and envision a future they may have never considered. I sat at the front of the room, in my scrubs, surrounded by bright-eyed kids, and I told them my story. I spoke about my journey to IUSD… and I spoke about you. Hundreds of miles away, Coastal Carolina Orthodontics was part of the story I shared. I told them how much your team changed my life. How your kindness helped me believe I belonged in this field.

It was one of the most empowering moments I’ve ever experienced. Because of you, I get to be that person for someone else now. I know in health care, you don’t always get to see the ripple effects of what you do. But I hope you know the impact you had on me was profound. You didn’t just align my teeth, you realigned my future. You made it possible for me to believe in something better. You made me feel like I mattered. You gave me a smile that I now proudly share with my daughter, who gets to grow up watching her mom chase dreams that once felt out of reach. Your impact didn’t just change my life, it’s shaping hers, too From the deepest place in my heart: thank you. I will never stop being grateful. And I will never stop trying to be for others what you were for me. I will always be grateful for the care you gave me, not just for what it did for my smile, but for what it did for my heart, my path, and my purpose. Thank you for helping me find the courage to heal. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for changing my life. — Khristen Hahn

June 19, 2025