Home Oral Health Chairside Chats: A Word With…Dr. Mark Hamanishi

Chairside Chats: A Word With…Dr. Mark Hamanishi

by adminjay


Dr. Mark Hamanishi

Chief Orthodontic Officer at 123Dentist

How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy?

As a digital orthodontist, I’ve made it our goal to consistently deliver dream smiles using some of the most advanced technology available to us. We use digital treatment planning software and custom clear aligners, custom 3D-printed braces, and remote monitoring.

What are the two key qualities you look for in a new team member?

The first and most important quality for me is kindness. You can’t fake being a kind person and I owe it to my patients who have chosen to come to us for their treatment to be valued and appreciated the way they deserve. Secondly, I want someone who is motivated to keep advancing in their career and personal life. If I lose this team member years later to a more advanced role or different career opportunity, I smile knowing I had the pleasure of working with such an incredible individual and they gave our clinic their best during the time they were with us.

What is the one piece of equipment you could not work without?

There’s no question here—my iTero scanners. I would not practice Orthodontics today without an intra-oral scanner, and the iTero happens to be an integral component of our practice. We use it as part of every new patient consultation, for education, for monitoring oral conditions, and to fabricate both custom aligners and braces.

What is the most important piece of advice you would give to a new practitioner?

The sky’s the limit. It’s amazing that you became a dentist, but don’t stop there. Take business courses and clinical courses—don’t accept the status quo. Improve yourself each year because a better you equates to better treatment and experiences for your patients while improving the growth of your practice and career. As a dentist, you don’t have to be confined to four walls and hunch over patients all day. Dentistry is a fantastic profession because there’s so many different and unique opportunities outside of your practice.

What do you consider to be your best and worst qualities?

I’m told one of my better qualities is my calm demeanor. Being able to approach a problem with a more mellow disposition has allowed me to sometimes come up with solutions that I don’t think would be available had I come at them with a bit more aggression. Something I think I need to improve on is enjoying the here and now. As a forward thinker and a pre-planner, I’m often looking ahead and anticipating what’s next. I sometimes need to remind myself to take a step back and enjoy the moment to really appreciate where I am and the things going on around me.

What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?

I’d love to try acting one day! I’ve always admired actors for their ability to entertain us while transforming into a completely different character. They are life-long learners, requiring flexibility, dedication, attention to detail, a quick wit, and must learn to incorporate technology in their skillset. I’m 100% a rom-com guy!


Dr. Hamanishi is a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics. He grew up just outside of Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia where he received a BSc. in Nutritional Sciences. After his time at UBC, he moved to Boston and attended Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine where he earned his DMD. He completed his Orthodontics certification at the University of Pittsburgh and moved back to Canada in 2014. He is the Chief Orthodontic Officer at 123Dentist and a practicing Orthodontist in Metro Vancouver.


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