Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Lenius.
Jeffrey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I completed my orthodontic residency in Colorado in 2014 and moved to St. Louis to begin my orthodontic career. I joined a respected private practice there and practiced for six years, gaining invaluable clinical experience and mentorship until the end of 2019.
In 2020, my family relocated to Kansas City and I initially planned to partner with an orthodontist or open my own orthodontic office. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided it wasn’t the right time to take that leap and open my own office, nor could I find the right partnership opportunity that shared my treatment beliefs and practice goals. Instead, I joined a corporate dental group and continued practicing orthodontics while gaining a different perspective on the business side of dentistry.
In 2023, I finally opened my own private practice. My goal was simple but deeply important to me: to fully design and control the entire orthodontic experience. From the look and feel of the office to the treatment philosophy, patient communication, and the culture our team creates throughout treatment, I wanted every detail to reflect the type of care I believe in.
The first year was one of the best—and hardest—years of my professional career. Clinically, I felt prepared. But learning to become a small business owner was an entirely new challenge. I spent countless hours meeting with local dentists, introducing myself, and sharing my vision. Slowly earning the trust of the dental community has been incredibly rewarding, and seeing referrals grow year over year has affirmed that building relationships, focusing on clinical excellence, and staying true to your values truly matters.
Opening my own practice has allowed me to align my clinical philosophy, business principles, and patient experience into one cohesive vision—and that has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening my own office has absolutely had its ups and downs. It has been rewarding, but it certainly hasn’t been a completely smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges has been stepping into the role of a business owner. As orthodontists, we’re highly trained clinically—but opening a practice requires learning an entirely different skill set. From credentialing and filing with insurance companies, to hiring team members, managing payroll, and understanding marketing, there was a steep learning curve. Many of those responsibilities were things I had never had to personally navigate before.
Overland Park is an incredible place to raise a family, and that’s one of the reasons we chose to be here. However, it’s also a highly competitive market with many well-established orthodontic practices. As a new office, one of my greatest challenges has been differentiating myself among practices that have served the community for decades.
Early on, I made a conscious decision not to focus heavily on mass marketing. While there is certainly a place for that, I wanted my clinical treatment and results to be the primary driver of growth. Rather than positioning myself as the “new and flashy” office, my goal has always been to be the office where dentists and patients know they will receive a thoughtful, detail-oriented treatment plan and an excellent clinical outcome.
That can be difficult to communicate directly to the general public. Instead, I’ve focused on building relationships within the dental community—meeting colleagues, sharing my philosophy, and earning trust slowly over time. I’ve been fortunate to see that trust grow over the past three years, and watching referrals increase year over year has been one of the most meaningful validations of the path I chose.
Building a practice this way requires patience, but I believe long-term trust and clinical consistency are the strongest foundations for sustainable growth.
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?
Lenius Orthodontics is a privately owned orthodontic practice specializing in braces and clear aligner therapy, including Invisalign, for children, teenagers, and adults.
What truly sets our office apart is that we are intentionally small and highly hands-on. As the orthodontist and sole owner, I personally oversee every aspect of treatment and provide the majority of the clinical care myself. In many larger practices, much of the orthodontic treatment is delegated. In our office, patients can expect to see me consistently throughout their treatment journey. That continuity matters—to both parents and patients.
Because we are a small team, communication is also more direct and personal. When patients call or text the office, they are speaking with me or a team member they know—not a rotating staff or a different doctor at each visit. That familiarity builds trust and creates a more comfortable experience.
We are also fully privately owned. There is no private equity or outside ownership influencing how the practice operates. Every decision—whether clinical or operational—is made locally by me, with the patient’s best interest in mind. As a member of the community, I take pride in building something that reflects both my professional standards and my personal values.
What I am most proud of is the reputation we are building for quality of care. Our treatments include braces, digitally planned treatment simulations, and clear aligner therapy such as Invisalign.
It’s important for patients and parents to understand that Invisalign treatment is not identical from office to office. While providers may use the same aligner system, the outcome depends heavily on the skill, diagnosis, and treatment planning of the orthodontist. Similar to how two artists can produce very different results using the same tools, orthodontic treatment varies based on the expertise behind it.
I take great pride in the quality and consistency of the results we achieve with both braces and clear aligners. Our goal is not simply to provide treatment—but to deliver thoughtful, individualized care that leads to outstanding, lasting outcomes.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would describe myself as a fairly conservative person when it comes to risk. I’m not someone who makes impulsive decisions. My approach is to research thoroughly, understand the variables, and assess the potential downsides before making any major move. I want to feel confident that I understand the risk I’m taking.
Opening my own orthodontic practice was arguably the biggest professional risk I’ve taken. Starting a small business always carries uncertainty—there’s the financial investment, the responsibility of building a team, and the reality that success is never guaranteed. That can be intimidating.
However, I knew that owning my own practice was the only way to fully practice orthodontics the way I envisioned and to create the environment I wanted for my patients and my team. For me, that made the risk worthwhile.
While there is always the possibility of failure in any entrepreneurial venture, I believe risk can be managed with preparation and intention. You can make educated decisions that stack the odds in your favor—through careful planning, hard work, and a long-term mindset. When I opened my office, I wasn’t taking a blind leap; I was betting on my preparation, my work ethic, and my commitment to building something meaningful over time.
In that sense, it wasn’t reckless risk-taking. It was a calculated step toward building the kind of practice and professional life I truly wanted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LeniusOrtho.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leniusortho
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeniusOrtho
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lenius-orthodontics
