Doctor Spotlight: Courtney Schiefelbein

Q: Dr. Courtney, you are a woman on a mission! How do you stay so upbeat and positive day after day?

A: I’m a big believer that life is too short to be miserable. We have more control of our lives and our emotions than most people think!

Q: Let’s start at the beginning, when did you first know you wanted to become an orthodontist?

A: I’ve wanted to become an orthodontist ever since I had my own braces at the age of 13. My Chicagoland orthodontist, Dr. Damon, was always so positive and always made me feel like a rockstar.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

A: When you are in dental school, every other person in the room is as motivated and as smart as you are. Getting into an orthodontic residency after dental school was super competitive and at times felt impossible due to the limited number of positions available. However, with a lot of hard work, some persistence, and a little bit of luck, things worked out!

Q: Fast forward to today, what would you say makes your patient care approach unique?

A: I want my interaction to be the best part of a person’s day. We have limited time with our patients, and if our patients leave our encounter a little happier than when they came in, that happiness will spread out into the world and possibly positively affect all the people they meet the rest of their day, too.

Q: That’s beautiful. Can you walk us through a day in the life of Dr. Courtney?

A: I start every morning waking up next to my significant other and recognize how grateful and lucky we are to “do life” together. 🙂 We turn on music, get out of bed and hit the gym to burn off some energy! Then, I attack the day trying to leave a positive impression on everyone I come into contact with. At the end of the day, I sometimes have to “turn off” and get off the grid so I can be ready to do it again the next day.

Q: What made you decide to become a Propel Provider?

A: Propel has been a game changer. I was originally “sold” [on VPro+ aligner seater] because I myself was a user for my own clear aligner treatment. I experienced less soreness, better fitting trays, and shaved off some treatment time, too.

Q: What benefits do you see in your practice as a result of utilizing VPro^™ high-frequency vibration?

A: Better fitting aligners, less discomfort during treatment, and more efficient results.

Q: What has patient response been like?

They love it! They love it so much I am trying to figure out how to factor them in to each new patient.

Q: We saw your review of the VPro device on your YouTube channel, can you tell us a bit about your personal smile journey and the role VPro played in it?

A: It was simple. I typically used the device at night while Instagram-ing and checking my emails, or early in the AM, while again, Instagram-ing and checking my emails. It was easy to travel with, too, and kept a charge for weeks!

Q: In your opinion, who is the ideal Propel patient?

A: Anyone who wants to get a fantastic result as efficiently, effectively and safely as possible.

Q: Finally, what are you most proud of in your career thus far?

A: I love being able to make people smile though my profession, my jokes, and day to day patient interaction. I hope to keep bringing joy to people’s lives so that we can all continue to pass it along. 🙂