What begins at the chair doesn’t always stay there. For Tara Mayo, a career built on patient care, problem-solving, and chairside confidence turned into a company reshaping how families manage orthodontic care at home.
In this conversation, Tara and I talk about what it really means to be a great assistant, why communication matters more than speed, and how a FaceTime call during the pandemic inspired her to reimagine emergency care at home. Tara shares the lessons she’s carried across practices, states, and seasons of life and why she believes patients and parents deserve better tools to manage braces with confidence.
“The orthodontist is responsible for the braces and the smile, but the patient is responsible for the management.”
We talk about:→ The difference between a good assistant and a great assistant→ How small details at the chair make a big difference in treatment→ The moment that inspired Brace Face and why it matters for parents→ What every orthodontist should know about helping families at home
About Tara MayoTara Mayo is the founder of Brace Face, a company creating practical, patient-friendly orthodontic kits that help families handle brace emergencies with confidence. She began her orthodontic career as a chairside assistant and has worked across practices from North Carolina to Washington State, bringing a unique perspective on patient care, leadership, and innovation. A mom and entrepreneur, Tara is passionate about bridging the gap between office protocols and real-life needs.
Tune in on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, and if this episode sparked something for you, share it with your team or a fellow ortho leader. Subscribe to the show and leave a review. Want to bring this kind of energy into your practice? Visit DiscoverEverbloom.com.
Episode Links & ResourcesShop the Kit: Brace FaceFollow along on Instagram: @bracefacekitCatch behind-the-scenes on TikTok: @bracefacekitCheck out the community on Facebook: Brace FaceConnect with Tara on LinkedIn: Tara Mayo
Connect with Everbloom and The Bloom Effect🔗 Check out the Website📱 Follow along on Instagram🎧 Subscribe to the Show
Episode Chapters00:00 Welcome and Tara’s orthodontic start03:12 From sterilization tech to chairside assistant07:40 The spark that inspired Brace Face12:28 Good vs. great assistants in the chair18:45 Communication, trust, and patient confidence25:10 How Brace Face supports families at home30:42 What orthodontists can learn from real-life emergencies36:00 Tara’s vision for patient-friendly ortho care40:20 Final thoughts and Everbloom’s mission
Topics we explore in this episode include:orthodontic assistants, patient communication in orthodontics, orthodontic emergency care, innovation in orthodontics, team growth in orthodontic practices, leadership in ortho teams, orthodontic parenting support, practice culture and patient experience

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