Stephanie Crise, DDS, MS

For Dr. Stephanie Crise, each day is another opportunity to impact the lives of those around her. Her favorite saying is, “Thankfulness is the beginning of happiness.” As a wife, mother, employer, friend, and successful orthodontist, she says she has a lot to be thankful for. “My goal has always been to live for God, family, and others. When I get that right in my home and in my office, that’s where I find true happiness.” 

Whether she’s leading her staff of 15 at Smiles Hollywood Orthodontics, helping her children grow and develop into their best selves, leading her weekly prayer group that she’s facilitated for over 15 years, or dedicating her time to speak to school children about the importance of dental health, Dr. Crise believes that true leadership is about impacting the lives of others for good.

Coolest Office in Town

Dr. Crise found her true calling in orthodontics. As valedictorian of Baylor College of Dentistry, she is also a lifelong thespian and a lover of movies. “When I started my practice in McKinney 25 years ago, I wanted to combine my passion for orthodontics with my love of movies and theater to create a place where going to the orthodontist would be fun for all ages.” 

The movie-themed office is one of a kind and has been voted best in McKinney 13 times. “It’s a fun place to visit and a fun place to work,” says Dr. Crise. It’s filled with life-size characters like Spider-Man and Yoda along with assorted movie memorabilia. Plus, there’s a real movie theater, slushie machine, cappuccino bar, as well as video game stations. It is extraordinarily unique and a true labor of love for Dr. Crise.

Life/Work Balance

Dr. Crise admits she wears a lot of hats. Being a mom to three kids, she can relate with moms on what a challenge it is to maintain a healthy life/work balance. “Between baseball games, school/work events and other activities, it’s difficult deciding where to devote our time and learning when to say ‘no’,” she said. “There’s no way I’d find balance without my awesome husband, amazing staff, and my outstanding associate doctor, Dr. Jessica Downs.”

Dynamic Duo

Dr. Jessica Downs joined the team nearly 20 years ago and the two form a dynamic duo. “Because we consult on every patient, patients are getting a built-in second opinion,” Dr. Crise said. “Dr. Downs is an excellent orthodontist, and two heads are always better than one. And since no two patients are the same, we tailor treatment to each person individually. Because we are detail oriented, our smiles stand out and dentists tell us they notice the difference.”

Highly Personalized Care

Dr. Crise says her favorite part of the job is “doing life” with her patients. “I just love our patient families!” she said. “I’ve been at this so long. I now have former patients bringing their own kids to me for treatment. We’ve shared a lot of milestones, like losing their last baby tooth, getting their drivers licenses and college acceptance letters. We’ve walked them through sickness, loss of loved ones, and other life changes. Our patients bless us every day. Thankfully, we are also blessed with the most caring, friendly, and knowledgeable staff members who truly love what they do. They love serving others and helping our patients through the orthodontic process and life.”

Specialized Orthodontic Experience

Dr. Crise and the Smiles Hollywood Orthodontics team have embraced many outstanding high-tech advancements such as Damon and In-Ovation braces, digital imaging, and 3D scanning. These advancements make getting braces and clear aligner/Invisalign treatment more comfortable and, in many cases, quicker.

Dr. Crise is also constantly amassing more knowledge in obtaining the latest orthodontic techniques through continued education. “Orthodontics is about more than just aesthetics. First and foremost, it’s about creating a smile that not only looks beautiful but functions the way it should. It’s important to find a qualified orthodontist (someone who has had 2-3 years of extensive orthodontic training versus a general dentist) and one who will be honest with you about your care from doctor to patient as well as mom to mom. Faster isn’t always better. The end result should always be a mouth that functions well but that also looks beautiful.”

Integrity Matters

Dr. Crise does everything she can to never be rushed or make her patients feel rushed. “Patient education is paramount,” she said. “I want them to understand everything I’m recommending and why. It’s also important that I listen to them and understand what they want their end result to be.”

Smiles Hollywood also works to make treatment more affordable with flexible payment plans and down-payment assistance. Their extended office hours are great for kids and adults who don’t want to miss school or work for appointments. Dr. Crise highly recommends all children come in for a first visit by age 8. Plus, your first exam is free!

Paying it Forward

As a proud McKinney resident, Dr. Crise is always looking for ways to give back to the community and to involve her patients in the giving. This includes annual food drives, blanket drives, and donations to local schools and sports teams.

She is also actively involved with supporting the Samaritan Inn, a local homeless shelter that she holds very dear to her heart. Mentoring students interested in becoming members of the dental field has always been important to Dr. Crise, and she has opened her office to many student interns throughout the years.

Outside of her practice, Dr. Crise connects annually with thousands of students, sharing the importance of dental health in a fun, creative, and theatrical way. She also leads in-home Bible studies and women’s retreats and often speaks at schools, community events, churches, and charity functions. “I just love helping people Smile through life!”