Dr. Susan Maples isn’t your ordinary dentist. Describing herself as a “Total Health Dentist,” she’s spent her career focusing not just on teeth, but on overall wellness. She’s an author, speaker, and a visionary in the pediatric oral health space. But beyond her impressive professional credentials, what really stands out is how she blends her work life with personal passions, maintaining a vibrant balance that many strive to achieve. Let’s go “Outside the Op” and get to know Susan…
A Lifelong Learner Shaping Her Own Path
From her early days, inspired to pursue dentistry by personal health challenges and a knack for creativity, Dr. Maples has always been one to follow her own path. With degrees in dentistry and an MBA to boot, she views her education as merely the starting point of an ongoing journey of discovery. Whether she’s diving into new wellness methodologies or pioneering educational programs like the Total Health Academy, she’s a perpetual student at heart.
Navigating Today’s Professional Challenges with Grace
In the current climate where efficiency often trumps patient relationships, Dr. Maples stays committed to her vision of a wellness-oriented practice. This isn’t without its challenges, especially when it comes to finding like-minded team members amidst a competitive hiring landscape. Yet, she remains focused and optimistic, championing a preventive approach in her thriving dental practice. 
Keeping All the Balls in the Air
How does she manage it all? Dr. Maples would be the first to tell you—it’s all about balance and a strong support system. From daily workouts with her lifelong exercise buddy to whipping up new recipes in the kitchen, she keeps her energy high and her stress levels low. Her secret? Mixing work with play and making sure every day has a bit of both.
A Personal Touch in Everything She Does
Whether she’s hosting her monthly Wellness and Prevention Study Club dinners or teaching her family’s next generation how to cook via Zoom, Dr. Maples brings a personal touch to everything she does. Her approach goes beyond maintaining professional and personal life balance; it’s about weaving them together so seamlessly that they enrich each other.
Dr. Maples’s story is a powerful reminder that personal well-being and professional success are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they’re more intertwined than we often think. She’s not just making a difference in the world of dentistry; she’s showing us all how to live a fuller, more balanced life. Whether you meet her at a conference, over dinner, or perhaps in her dental chair, you’re in for a dose of inspiration, sprinkled with a bit of fun—because according to Dr. Maples, having fun along the way isn’t just nice, it’s necessary.
Here’s her full story in Susan’s own words…
