When Dr. Bob Schoettger left his private dental practice in Lincoln after more than 35 years, he didn’t close the office and retire. He became orthodontic residency director for the Department of Growth and Development at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Dentistry.Â
More importantly for Lincoln residents, the beloved orthodontist passed the thriving practice along to his children, Dr. Jared Schoettger and Dr. Anna Schoettger, both board-certified.Â
In the following interview, the two discuss their father’s legacy and what winning the Lincoln Choice Award for the seventh consecutive year means to them and their cherished team.
How did your father inspire you to become an award-winning orthodontist and enable you to grow the practice?
We were inspired to become orthodontists because we watched the joy our dad had in his career as an orthodontist for over 35 years in solo practice. He genuinely loved working with people to improve their oral health and smiles, and it motivated us to want to do the same. I think we got his passion for being the best part of someone’s day — a phrase of his we’ve adopted!
Please talk about your patients and the ways you serve them today.
We see patients of all ages at our practice — from 6 to 86 years old. Something many people are not aware of is that it is very normal to go through orthodontic treatment as an adult. We offer both digital, 3D printed braces and Invisalign treatment. We welcome anybody who has thought about starting the orthodontic process to come chat with us about all the options there are. We find that most are surprised at all the possibilities we offer!
Dr. Jared Schoettger and Dr. Anna Schoettger
To have won the Lincoln’s Choice Awards so many years in a row is extraordinary! To what do you attribute this achievement?
We have always loved the community and are so grateful to help Lincoln smile more! It’s because of our amazing team. We are incredibly proud of all the team members. They care so deeply about your teeth and smile but also that you feel comfortable every time you walk into the office. Patients say they feel the positive energy in just walking through the door! We also make the process fun and something that you look forward to in your day, instead of just another appointment.Â
Toward that end, earlier this year we invested in a soft-serve ice cream machine for patients to have something cool in their mouths after an adjustment. We’re always changing the flavors — it’s necessary, of course, to brush your teeth afterwards — and love surprising patients with a new giveaway or event when they come in.
What does winning the award mean to you and to your practice?
It feels surreal to be honored with winning this award for the seventh time in a row. We are so grateful for everybody’s support and for our patients for having taken the time out of their busy lives to send love our way with their vote.
Has anything changed for you and your practice since first winning the award?
We have grown in size since 2020 and our first win! It is amazing feedback to see that we have continued the same positive experience and only gotten better since then, and now we have expanded our building to better serve our schedule and our dynamic team.
Do you have any advice for young women and men considering becoming orthodontists?
Learn to love the process. The journey to becoming an orthodontist is not a short one and making sure you take time to enjoy every step of the way is important. Oh, and one more thing: Keep smiling.
Siblings Dr. Jared Schoettger and Dr. Anna Schoettger, both board certified, carry forward their father’s 40-year legacy in Lincoln with advanced technology and genuine care. Discover your Schoettger Shine today.
Visit schoettger.com to schedule a free consultation or for more information.
