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Board Profile: Dr. Trevor Nichols by Sam Mittelsteadt

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Board Profile: Dr. Trevor Nichols

After working for years as an associate for one of the industry’s most respected orthodontists, Dr. Trevor Nichols decided late last year that the time was right to strike out on his own. “It has been difficult leaving such a monumental practice with an amazing reputation,” Nichols says, “but my family and I are ready for the next adventure.” In our exclusive Q&A, he shares how he’ll shape his upcoming new practice, as well as more about gummy smile treatment and gingival recontouring, which he wrote about in the case study that begins here.
What has been the biggest challenge, so far, when it comes to opening your own practice?

Leaving the existing team and patients, by far! Leaving felt like losing a family member, and a piece of my heart is still there with them. That being said, I felt called to move forward, to be challenged and learn more. After all, we can’t truly learn some things in life unless we go through them ourselves.

I didn’t feel ready to open my own practice right after I finished residency; I wanted time and experience in a position that would offer me as many “reps” as possible. While I was there, I focused my attention on clinical excellence at first—reviewing cases daily, studying the ones that were planned to start and analyzing ones that were finishing. Then, once I had developed clinical confidence, I could focus more attention on the people who were being treated. For me, this is where the joy in the profession comes in—combining the personal focus with clinical experience and confidence to improve a patient’s life and provide them with something spectacular.

What makes treating gummy smile cases so appealing?

It’s the impact! Many patients who come to me with gummy smiles are very insecure; it truly is a daily struggle for them. Eliminating that insecurity and providing them with a smile that becomes one of their greatest assets is so powerful! As orthodontists, the cases that have the most impact for patients also have the most impact on us.

The case featured in this issue, like others you’ve shared with Orthotown, includes gingival contouring at the end of treatment. Any tips/tricks you can share?

Gingivectomy is one of my favorite procedures; I include it in my treatment fee and offer it to all patients who need it. So many cases involve gingival hypertrophy or asymmetry that could be easily corrected with a laser. The smiles we create are our brand, so I want to do all I can to ensure every patient has a spectacular smile with all the details.

The biggest tip I have for docs curious about the procedure is to just do it! Like anything, the more you do it, the better you’ll become. I’ve found that the best time to perform these is during a portion of my lunch hour; this way, I’m not distracted by other cases. Take lots of before and after photos and learn from your cases—you’ll soon find you look forward to these cases, and you’ll see the amazing difference it will make for your cases and your patients.
Orthotown Magazine
September 2025
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