The American Reporter
2020
Dr. John Badolato is one of the only people in the world who gets to see his work on display across three of five major sports in North America.
As the St. Louis native turns on his television, he can watch Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker splash a three, or cram a dunk while showcasing Badaloto’’s mastery of the perfect smile as the NBA all-star smiles on national television.
Badolato and his dental practice Studio B Smiles are the official dental providers for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball League, Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball.
Badolato credits a strong mindset as a contributing factor to his vast and illustrious resume.
“Every time I have failed or made a mistake, I have learned valuable lessons that helped me move forward and be successful in my business,” he says.
Badolato almost pursued a different career before he chose to enroll in dental school at the University of Missouri.
“I initially planned to go to medical school to become a plastic surgeon,” he says.
After a conversation with a surgeon at an intern job before medical school, Badolato’s vision took a slight turn — cosmetic surgery was calling him.
“It’s like plastic surgery without the life and death stressors,” says Badolato.
After working in the field as an associate at a dental practice in Tempe, Arizona, Badolato believed he could create his vision of an elite cosmetic and family dental practice by himself.
The next step in his career was to open his own practice, and begin his journey as a dentist and entrepreneur.
Badolato opened the doors to his first practice in 2004, and with the help of his father, Bill — Studio B Smiles was born.
Today, Badolato owns two practices in Scottsdale and Downtown Phoenix and plans for a third in Arcadia in affiliation with the Phoenix Suns new practice facility.
Working with professional sports teams has brought new opportunities and learning experiences for Badolato and his team.
“We regularly travel to the Dominican Republic to care for the entire Diamondbacks organization in Boca Chica,” he says.
Studio B Smiles was also the official cosmetic dentist for six seasons of ABC’s hit television show, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.
While Badolato has experienced a great amount of success, he admits building a business from scratch comes with its fair share of challenges.
“Unfortunately, they don’t teach you how to run a business in dental school,” he joked. “I had to figure out how to run a business by myself.”
Badolato had valuable help along the way as his father Bill Badolato, an extremely experienced businessman, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and provided Studio B Smiles with the necessary structure and building blocks to succeed.
A family man himself, John recognizes the importance of a strong support when running a business.
“My family, team, and passion for helping others improve their lives is what keeps me going when times get tough,” he says.
Badolato says his patients provide him with life’s greatest pleasure — their joy and happiness.
“I can’t explain how great it feels to see someone cry happy tears when they see their new smile for the first time,” he says.
Studio B Smiles offers patients a wide variety of quality services such as dental cleanings, fillings, crowns, Invisalign, whitening, veneers and more.
