LOVE AT FIRST BITE

Learn more about the power couple behind Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry and find out why the number seven has special meaning this year as their family blossoms.

The story of how Dr. Nick Riccio met his future wife, Dr. Susan Blair, has all the makings of a rom-com. Given that the couple are now proud proprietors of Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, it’s not surprising that their initial “meet-cute” happened while they were in orthodontic residency at the same New York hospital.

“She had just completed her pediatric dental residency. And despite being green in orthodontics, she was a seasoned New York pro at that point,” says Riccio (DMD, PC). “We became close friends while showing me and our co-residents all the amazing things there are to do in The Big Apple.”

Manhattan set the scene for an epic romance as that friendship turned into something more.

“Our first actual date was at The Spotted Pig, an amazing burger place near my apartment,” he continues. “Susan is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but I was more impressed with her appetite, that girl can eat! So, for me, it was actually love at first bite!”

He says they spent a lot of time during that period thinking about “the real world” and envisioning what their future careers and lives would look like as a couple.

“We have vivid imaginations, and are famous for half-seriously looking at local real estate when vacationing somewhere cool, so we pictured ourselves in many exciting places during those final school years,” says Riccio. “ But the core vision was the same in each—with us living happy, healthy, and successful lives surrounded by good food, good friends, and loads of fun.”

Today, all of those dreams have come true and then some. This is a particularly poignant year for the couple, both in business and with their growing family, with a special synergy around the number seven.

For one, it’s been seven years since Riccio and Blair took over a long-standing practice to launch Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry. But that seven-year anniversary happens to come at the same time their oldest son, Massimo, turns 7, which is ironically the age when they begin seeing most of their young patients.

“What’s special about this anniversary is that we have really blossomed into our full form. When we took over the reins of Klepacki Orthodontics in 2018, we were just focusing on upholding the reputation for the premier place to get braces and Invisalign,” explains Riccio. “Fast forward to today, and we now offer the convenience of pediatric dentistry for the kiddos and orthodontics for the whole family. This development represents us living up to our full potential, since Susan holds a unique distinction for the area in being dual board certified in both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.”

Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry operates on a patient-first model that caters to each patient’s evolving needs. Among the many things the couple shares is a passion for orthodontics, which Riccio says offers a combination of artistry, technology, and personal connection. Their goal is to improve the lives of their patients, one smile at a time.

As Riccio explains, the business has expanded even beyond Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry to Bloom Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, a separate but affiliated practice that Blair runs in Lombard.

“The order of those words in the business names does signal the soul of the practice,” he continues. “Now in our seventh year, this is our identity. We’re where we’re meant to be … you might even say we’ve come into full bloom.”

As the businesses expand and thrive, so has the family. In addition to Massimo (who they affectionately call “Mo”), the couple welcomed another son, Santino (aka “Sonny”), last year.

“In a cute plot twist, after years of hoping and trying, our family has blossomed into its full form as well. So come anniversary time, we will have a 7-year- old and a 1-year-old,” says Riccio. “The cuteness comes when you realize that those happen to be the initial screening ages—for pediatric dentistry at age 1 and orthodontics at age 7. So, our family life and professional life are blossoming and growing into quite the abundant, interconnected garden.”

At the time of this interview, Blair had just took a digital scan of Mo’s teeth to fabricate an expander and will soon be treated Sonny’s early pediatric dental needs. “So, it’s on,” he adds. “Now it’s real. It’s never been more real than this— living what patients see on their end.”

If the couple’s story were truly a film, it’s headed for a happy, feel-good ending. Susan and Riccio says they love living in the Lane School district with their sons and family dog, Barney, who was adopted the same year they moved to Hinsdale, bought the business, and welcomed baby Massimo.

“We are two very different people, very yin and yang—better together than apart,” he says. “In any ways I’m deficient, she pushes me, and vice versa. It works for our personal life and it works for our professional life. It’s good that we live together but our practices are separate.”

As each of them is about to turn 40 years old, Riccio says they feel nothing but excitement about what the future holds for their family and for their businesses.

“It feels like a pivotal moment. We are ourselves, we are who we are, all coming together in our 40th year,” he adds. “When you’re working hard in school,

the future seems far away but finally, we’re here. We’re building our skills, building our family, building our business, and building our forever home in Hinsdale. Now, every picture we hang is permanent. It’s kind of a cool feeling.”

Hinsdale Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry is located at 105 E 1st Street in Hinsdale. For more information, call 630-325-0100 or visit hinsdaleortho.com.