Take the word family out of Sundance Family Dentistry, and it becomes just another day at the office. Not so with Dr. Kaitlin Donovan, who on her fourth birthday asked her oral surgeon uncle and hygienist aunt for a mask and gloves in order to play dentist.
Flash forward, including a four-year stint at her current and old digs, and she is on the cusp of opening a state-of-the-art facility at 5484 Lorkey Lane in Borrows West, a building that she and her husband own.
The new place is scheduled to open sometime in early 2023 and features what Donovan equates to a spa-like experience. In addition to the latest in comfortable dental chairs, which she describes as “next-level,” non-invasive imagery via scanners, and new software to streamline processes, clientele can enjoy essential oils diffusing in the office, a Spotify playlist of music, noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, blankets, Netflix and warm lavender face towels. She and Dr. Mary Crawford are the two treating dentists, and they begin seeing patients as young as 1 year old, focusing on making a dental visit as positive as possible.
Donovan grew up on Merritt Island and attended Melbourne Central Catholic High School before earning her bachelor’s degree in biology from Nova Southeastern and graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. Back to her roots, she has kept her sights on the importance of community involvement, sponsoring myriad sports teams and events at the local schools.
“We’re very involved in the community,” she said. “I want to be that hometown dentist. I’m in most of the schools during dental hygiene month, distributing packets and toothbrushes to the kids to learn about dental health. I may be out at the grocery store or dinner and see patients. We call each other by name. That family feel is really important to me.”
