BuiltBy Design

Voice from the film

He can be from Paris. He can be French style. A lot of people say he is like Tom Ford, he can be Yves Saint Laurent from France. He can reproduce the result and give something very unique.

Dr. Jon Marashi

It is definitely one of my most favorite places in the world. Here we are, Paris, France. As a dentist, a lot of times people think that when you go on vacation, it is just to unwind and relax and reconnect with your family, and that is true. When I come to a city like Paris, it is to reconnect with my roots as an artist and find inspiration. I like to look at the city and draw inspiration from the art, the fashion, the culture, and think about how I am going to take that back and be more inspired with my dentistry and my craft, so I can continue to push those boundaries.

Dr. Jon Marashi

One of the great things about being in Paris is it makes you think about things that were built to last. These buildings have been here for hundreds of years. The art has been here for hundreds of years. And I think about my dentistry. I want to build things that are built to last, but I want them to have purpose, to be stylistic and fashionable, but also carry that subtle sense and delicacy. I really like being here because as you take it in, there is a sense of wonderment, almost a reverence for what has been here before you, to think about what you are going to be building in the future.

Dr. Jon Marashi

Check this out. This restaurant was founded in 1686, and it is still here. What does that tell you? It tells you that they have done something right. They have provided a service, a product, and they have built relationships with loyal clientele who keep coming here year after year. As dentists in our profession, that is how we have to think. It is not transactional. It is relationship building. That is how you get longevity. That is how your business and your practice are going to stand the test of time.

Dr. Jon Marashi

Vendôme is where all the fancy watches are. What I like about watches is that a watch not only tells you what time it is, it tells you about a point in time, what you were doing and how you associate with it. High horology watchmaking is predicated on craftsmanship, precision, detail and mechanics, and there is such a strong parallel to doing dentistry. A brand like this did not become a brand because of advertising. It became a brand because of what it represents, because of its legacy and commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Cosmetic dentistry can be the same way. You spend a lifetime in your practice doing enough of the right thing day in and day out. By default, you become known for doing that, and that is your brand.

Dr. Jon Marashi

There is absolutely a difference in taste and aesthetic preferences between what you see in the United States and what you see in Europe. When I compare Paris and Los Angeles, it is the difference between timeless, subtle elegance, quiet luxury that is understated, which is what I see a lot of in Paris, and Los Angeles, where it is a little more front and center. How that relates to aesthetic dentistry is that my style and taste have always been on the quiet luxury side. Bigger and whiter is not always better. Fashion trends change, how bright a color you want to wear or how much flare you want on the hem of your jeans. But your smile is something you take with you 24/7, and I think more and more people realize there should be a timeless aspect to it. Less is more. Subtle is better.

Voice from the film

Quiet luxury, because he adjusts the shape and the color to the face of the patient. He does not like oversized. He is very, very delicate.

Dr. Jon Marashi

It makes me feel incredibly grateful that someone is going to carve out this huge amount of time in their life. And it is not just the time. There is money, there is energy, there is jet lag, and they go through all of this to entrust me with their care. Even though this is my millionth time doing it, it is their first journey. I need to be present for them in every way to give them the experience they are looking for, and most importantly, the outcome they are looking for as well.

Voice from the film

It was one of the best decisions for my health, to see Dr. Marashi and not be afraid to travel the world. After all, as they say, health is priceless.

Voice from the film

After ten years with pain all over my smile, it was a deliverance to see Dr. Marashi and finally have a diagnosis. It was something full of hope.

Dr. Jon Marashi

The responsibility that comes with treating a global clientele is enormous. I would start with this: there is no substitute for the goods on the shelf. That means the quality of the dentistry has to be right every single time. When people travel a long distance, you do not have the luxury of time. If something did not go right, they cannot easily come back next week like someone who lives down the street. So I have had to adopt standards, methods and protocols to deliver that level of care, and most importantly, consistency. What I talk to my team about all the time is raising our standards. If our standards are higher than anyone else could possibly hold us to, most of the time it is going to work out. It all has to be at that very high level for the patient to have the experience they want, and for us as a team to deliver the service we aspire to.

Dr. Jon Marashi

1985, Back to the Future came out. Michael J. Fox, Marty McFly, on his skateboard. It was incredible. The moment I saw it, I was so drawn to it. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing, and that pull has never left. All skateboarding has ever represented to me is freedom. It is the only thing I have ever done where, when I put my feet on the board and start moving, the rules do not apply, because there are no rules. It is complete freedom of expression, and you get lost in the moment because it is just you, the board and the terrain.

Dr. Jon Marashi

Skateboarding teaches resilience on a whole other level. You do not step on the board the first time and land some amazing trick. It takes hundreds of attempts, if not more, and that has served me well in life. I have never been afraid to try things and fail, because I was never afraid of failing. It was always, okay, I am going to try it, and if I do not get it, that is okay, because I probably will not. But I will get closer, and I will keep pushing and keep trying. That is the difference that makes the difference for getting anywhere in life.

Dr. Jon Marashi

One of the things I think about is the experience people have when they come into my office. So many of them are high performing people, in entertainment or wherever, and they always have to be on point. They are performing, if you will, at their best. Coming into a dental office there is often fear and anxiety about what is going to happen. I have tried really hard to create a disarming and welcoming environment, and part of that is finding a way to genuinely connect with people. To become a place of safety, where they do not feel like they have to be on. They can shut it off and just come along for the ride for a minute. If we can create that connection while getting their teeth and their smile healthy and looking better, what a win, and what a great way to live your life.

Voice from the film

I went to L.A. two years ago and asked many dentists in L.A. if I could come and visit. He was the first to answer me, and I was very happy. When I came to visit, I said, this is a great guy. He is very talented, very humble, and a very good dentist.

Dr. Jon Marashi

One of the greatest joys of my life has been the friendships I have formed with my patients. My best friends, the people closest to me outside my family, are people I met in my dental office. I never would have bet on that in a million years. But when you deeply care about what you do and the people you do it for, you end up building relationships. There is a saying: people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. It is true.

Dr. Jon Marashi

I would hope that when the time comes that I am not doing this anymore, the profession and the patients remember me for two things. The profession would say, that guy really knew what he was doing. He did a great job. And if the patients would say, he really cared about what he did, he really took care of me, that would be the ultimate win.