Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Paige Prather.
Hi Dr. Paige, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As for my personal story and how I got started in dentistry, it all began with my dad, who is an oral surgeon. He encouraged me to consider dentistry as a career that would allow me to both support a family and have a fulfilling professional life. So I went to college, then dental school, earned my doctorate, and began practicing general dentistry—with a particular interest in emerging technology.
As my practice grew and my personal life evolved—especially after having children—my interest in holistic care and airway health deepened. What began as a desire to help my own kids eventually expanded into a passion for helping patients with similar needs and health goals.
I’ve always been a bit of a continuing education junkie. When something sparks my interest, I dive in fully—attending every course I can, shadowing experienced doctors, and building strong mentor relationships to deepen my knowledge. I’ve completed more tongue tie training than I can even count, along with education in many other areas—some of which I don’t practice directly, but still find valuable in helping me understand the full picture and guide patients toward the best care for their unique needs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road—it’s definitely been a winding one, full of detours and unexpected stops along the way. As I mentioned, I’m a bit of a CE junkie, and with so many different approaches and philosophies out there, I’ve felt compelled to explore them all. That process of learning, researching, and experimenting has helped me decide what truly aligns with my values and delivers the best outcomes for my patients.
It’s been just as much of a journey in my personal life, especially with my own family. I’ve seen firsthand how oral health and overall wellness are deeply connected at every stage of life. Through a lot of trial and error, I’ve worked to smooth out the rough spots so that my patients and their families can benefit from a more informed, streamlined, and compassionate approach to care.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Over the years, I feel like my business has grown into something that truly reflects who I am—not just professionally, but personally as well. In the beginning, I tried to keep business and personal identity separate, but that started to shift as the practice evolved.
One pivotal moment was when we were designing our logo. The designers were intentional about making it something that really captured me—my taste, my values, and what I stand for. They even joked, “We want to create something you’d love so much, you’d want it as a tattoo!” That process was incredibly fun and collaborative, and the final result is something I’m really proud of. I get compliments on it all the time because it not only looks cool, but it also symbolizes what we do day in and day out.
A big part of our identity is rooted in lip and tongue tie treatment, an area I’ve specialized in and tailored much of my practice around. I was one of the very first dentists in Nashville—and even in Tennessee—to pursue advanced training in this field. That commitment has helped establish our office as a leader in this space. As I continued learning, it became clear how often these issues persist into adulthood, often with more complex, long-term consequences. That realization is what led to the development of the airway-focused side of our practice.
Then there’s the holistic aspect of what we do. We provide comprehensive dental care with a focus on prevention, natural alternatives, and the most conservative, least invasive methods possible. It’s all connected—mouth, body, sleep, diet, habits. Unfortunately, conventional healthcare often treats these areas in isolation, which can lead to missed root causes and ineffective treatments.
So whether a patient comes to us for airway health, tongue tie treatment, or routine wellness visit cleanings, we always approach their care from a holistic lens. And because we’ve built an interdisciplinary team under one roof, we can often refer patients internally to address the other factors that may be contributing to their symptoms.
People are sometimes surprised when we start talking about sleep, gut health, or daily routines during a dental appointment—but once they understand how interconnected everything is, it all starts to make sense. Otherwise, we’re just chasing symptoms instead of solving the real problem.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
When it comes to mentors, my father was definitely a major inspiration in my decision to pursue dentistry. But it was my mother who deeply influenced my holistic approach to health. Growing up homeschooled, I spent a lot of time with her, and I always remember how committed she was to researching natural ways to keep us healthy. She avoided medications whenever possible—even for something as simple as a headache—always trying to uncover and address the root cause instead of just masking symptoms. That mindset stayed with me and continues to shape how I practice today.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to learn from many generous colleagues and mentors throughout my career—especially in more specialized areas like ALF and Crozat appliances. These are unique, nontraditional approaches to airway development and facial growth that require a high level of skill and training to implement effectively. While these techniques have been around for decades, few providers are trained in them, which makes this work even more meaningful.
To gain the expertise I needed, I’ve traveled across the country to learn from the top leaders in these fields—many of whom think well outside the box. I’ve had the honor of training with some of the foremost specialists in airway and functional dentistry, including several pioneers who are no longer with us. I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge they’ve shared and the foundation they’ve helped me build.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paigeprathersmiles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigeprathersmiles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paigeprathersmilestn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paigeprathersmiles9188
- Other: https://www.radicalwellspa.com
