Shelby BatemanOrthodontic Assistant
Shelby loves being part of each patient’s transformation, from creatively working with a challenging wire to watching a young patient grow in confidence and stature during treatment. For her, orthodontics is a combination of continual learning, hands-on problem-solving, and caring for people personally.
Shelby joined Kurti Orthodontics as a dental assistant in October 2024, bringing curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn something entirely new. With no previous dental experience, she learned on the job with the support of a close-knit team, an environment she describes as helpful, family-like, and unlike anything she had experienced before.
She is especially fascinated by the process of transforming a smile and enjoys the creativity involved in working with particularly crooked teeth. Shelby also values the personal attention patients receive at Kurti Orthodontics, from having their questions carefully answered to being seen quickly when something is uncomfortable. Whether she is watching a patient’s progress or learning from longtime team members, she continues to find something new and rewarding in the work each day.
Quick Questions & Answers
If I could instantly master any skill, it would be…
“To know everything off the top of my head.”
My favorite part of a smile transformation is…
“Watching the progress. And also, I love putting a wire in super crooked teeth. It’s fun. It’s different, and you’ve got to move the wire certain ways and try to tuck it in. I love it.”
The most rewarding part of my job is…
“Watching patients grow up. There was one kid today—I put his braces on, and now he’s a whole foot taller than he was.”
My hidden talent is…
“I can move my ears without touching them.”
In another life, I’m pretty sure I was…
“Probably a world traveler.”