Something to smile about: longtime orthodontic practice to expand with new space

Smiles Orthodontics, a longtime Wichita orthodontics practice, is getting a new building and is looking for a similar business to share it.

Orthodontists Kristen Sander and Suman Gorantla, who are partners in Smiles, are constructing an 11,000-square-foot building at the southeast corner of Central and 127th Street and will take half of it for their practice.

Currently, the business is in 3,800 square feet at 7015 E. Central between Woodlawn and Rock Road where there are the two orthodontists and 10 staff members who offer all forms of orthodontic treatment for children and adults.

Gorantla said they want “more open space so we can serve our patients better.”

Also, Sander said, they have 3-D printers to make some of their own appliances and “wanted all that to have its own dedicated space.”

“We’re doing a lot of in-house lab work. We just needed some more room to spread out and continue to grow.”

They are planning a mid-January opening in the new building.

“In order to really have enough space, we kind of had to come further east,” Sander said. “But this particular corner was attractive because it’s so close to the highway.”

She said K-96 makes it easy for west-side patients, too.

“That’ll make it a lot quicker for them,” Sander said.

“We have a fair number of small-town patients that come in, too, where . . . being close to the turnpike, close to Kellogg, I think those things will be really beneficial for getting patients here easily, so that was part of the draw for sure.”

Orthodontist Richard Crowder opened the business in 1984.

“He had a very good reputation,” Gorantla said.

Gorantla was looking to buy a practice in 2013 and wanted something established and so chose Smiles Orthodontics.

“I just wanted to take up the legacy and move forward with it,” Gorantla said.

Sander joined in 2020 and became a partner a year later.

Between the pandemic and the current economy, it may be a difficult time for an expansion, but Gorantla said, “If not now, when?”

Sander said they are “excited to have room to grow.”

They’re looking for a tenant to lease half the building from them.

“We would like like-minded people,” Gorantla said.

That could mean a professional business or possibly something related to healthcare.

Stephanie Wise of Street Commercial handled the deal for the new space.

Sander said that the practice’s new space is “going to be bright and fun.”

“It’ll be a place that feels cheerful for patients to come visit.”

There will be a dedicated children’s waiting room.

Sander said the colors and design will be playful and have sleek, modern touches as well.

“It’s definitely going to be a fun space.”