Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Allen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ken. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally from the south suburbs of Chicago, I was raised in a single parent family where I learned from an early age the importance of hard work and the ability to take care one’s self. At the age of 3, my father tragically passed away while fighting a fire for the city of Morris, IL. My mom was forced to adapt to these changes and went to school to become a nurse to support our family. As I grew up watching my mom work hard to care for me and others I naturally became interested in healthcare as a profession.
While attending Saint Xavier University on Chicago’s south side I had went to my dentist for a routine check-up and began talking about what I was going to do after I graduated. As we spoke, I became very interested in dentistry as a career. The ability to help others, the hands-on problem solving, and the opportunity to work for myself offered what I truly wanted to do for a career. After this I began focusing my studies toward getting into dental school and was able to be admitted to many dental schools across the country.
Since my father had passed in the line of duty, I was able take advantage of a scholarship offered by the state of Illinois that would pay for my tuition at any state school. This opportunity lead me to Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, IL. After my 2nd year of dental school I was informed by the state that my scholarship was only intended for undergraduate studies and was being revoked. This left me in a very difficult situation since I was half way through school, but now had no means of paying my tuition.
The solution I found was in the US Army. I signed a contract to serve my country upon graduation and served honorably for my 4 year commitment. I completed a 1 year residency in my first year of service where I was able to expand my abilities from the classroom to the real world. The army offered an endless supply of patients many of whom were in desperate need of dental care and with not having financial constraints for the patient to manage it allowed for the ideal treatment to be completed without compromise. My experience serving was very fulfilling on a personal level as well; being stationed in places like Alaska and Afghanistan allowed me the opportunity to live in very unique places that I otherwise would never have done.
I returned home to Chicago in 2011 and began efforts to open my own practice. After a year of looking and planning I found the perfect opportunity in the South Loop. Opening in August of 2012, Sloop Dental has been privileged to serve so many great people over the past 5 years that have made all the work well worth the effort.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since opening many of the struggles have stayed the same over time. Dental insurance is a very difficult subject to handle as there are an endless amount of rules and restrictions that are included in a single plan and there are millions of different types of insurance plans available. Even from a single insurance provider there could be thousands of different policies and each one of those policies is very unique. People have many preconceived notions about insurance and trying to overcome those beliefs is always a difficult road to manage. Especially when an insurance claim is denied and there is a balance left for the patient to pay. It take months sometimes to find out that an insurance claim is denied and will not be paid by the insurance company. Informing the patient that owe money months after something was completed is never an easy task. While we have many systems in place to give the most accurate estimate that we can provide we have no control on the timeliness of payment or the approval process.
This has been made even more difficult with individuals who are employed by the state of Illinois. Since the ongoing budget impasse the payments on state employee insurance plans has been halted and therefore all claims have been put on hold. This has created a significant gap in the amount of payments vs. treatment being provided.
Sloop Dental – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Sloop Dental is a general dentistry office whose mission is to be the South Loop’s neighborhood dental office. We specialize in a personal experience through a consistent staff and a single dentist. As opposed to many of the large corporate office that continue to open in the area and elsewhere, it is our focus to maintain a personal relationship in your dental care. Instead of being a name or a number on a chart we appreciate our patients for supporting our business and in return we make efforts to get to know who are patients are so that we can best serve their needs.
Dr. Allen is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and is working towards accreditation from this organization. The accreditation process is very difficult which requires passing a written and oral examination as well as multiple case presentations to show ones true ability at creating beautiful smiles. Dr. Allen’s cosmetic cases include using many advanced techniques such as Invisalign orthodontics, dental implants, and porcelain veneers.
Despite the focus on cosmetic dentistry and providing very advanced procedures, Sloop Dental’s primary focus is the individual patient’s needs and desires regarding their oral health care. This is unique in the dental field as most dental offices are either focused on high cost procedures that are very expensive or they are focused on getting as many people they can get in in one day. We provide a cosmetic approach with all of dental care, but do so in a way that does not neglect the basic needs even if it is less profitable. This approach has proved to be quite successful as seen by the continued growth of the practice.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment I have had in my career was being able to perform a complete rehab of my mother in-laws smile that turned out perfectly. Working on family and friends always has its unique difficulties, but the level of work that was planned was extensive and there were certain conditions that made things even more challenging. Beyond the procedural challenges there was the fact that the entire family would know what I did and would be able to see and judge the work being done. When all the work was finally completed the outcome was perfect. Being able to see her smile and knowing I was able to help was and is a proud moment.
I have many other patients that I have completed large amounts of dental care for that has turned out just as perfect, but the pressure of working on family made this one a little bit sweeter.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1440 S WABASH AVE
suite 101
Chicano, IL 60605
corner of 14th Pl & Wabash Ave (across from Coliseum Park) - Website: www.sloopdental.com
- Phone: 312-340-5761
- Email: patientcare@sloopdental.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLoopDental/
