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Dentistry is like you're reconstructing, you're building, and you're repairing. That's what I'd work with my dad all those years and my mom was nurse and my brother in law he went to dental school so that's kind of how I fell in to dentistry.
I started out at a very fine college, Newberry College then I came back home because I knew that I was gonna be going on to higher grad school or professional school. I understood the value of a dollar and I wasn't gonna ask my dad to send me to some very expensive private school and then also send me to dental school. That's eight years and that's quite a strain on a family. I came back home to Francis Marion and Francis Marion has the highest percentage of people, the highest success of getting people in dental or medical school on a percentage basis. That was lucky for me and lucky for my dad. I got to spend time with him and so I went four years and got in my first year, a real blessing I got out in four years.I graduated, I was 24 when I graduated from dental school and that's where I got my education. I started at Newberry I went to Francis Marion then went to Charleston Medical University of South Carolina.
I've been to the Holbrook Institute as a mini-residency in cosmetic and mainly veneers. I've done quite a bit of implant training, marketing training, business management. If you're gonna excel at anything you gotta keep training. You can't just take the idea that I'm gonna get trained for myself, you've got to train your staff as well. We spend a lot of money on our staff and on ourselves but as far as continued education all the doctors ... the majority of my doctors are resident trained that means they didn't just go to dental school but they also went an extra year and of course we have a specialist in the practice too with Dr. Nichols who also teaches at the medical university and it just gives us a level of care and expertise and experience that really helps us to treat comprehensively when patients walk in the door. We're constantly talking back and forth to each other and it builds a lot of comradery and it makes coming to work a real joy.
The most rewarding part is to give some ... generally it's a lady, men aren't gonna get all emotional and cry on you ... and they're so excited about their new smile and then they send more people in or they send their children in. Right now I'm doing a son of a lady that I did her daughter and her so I've basically given three smile makeovers to the same family and that's happened to me multiple times. I'll do the father and the father sends the daughter and so that's probably the biggest bode of confidence you can get is you work on a parent and do their smile and then they send their daughter in and they send their son in. That is a big reward for me.
Many dentists have a parent who is a dentist too. That wasn’t the case for Dr. Joseph Griffin. His father had a construction business, and his mother was a nurse. Yet their parental examples did influence his career choice. Dr. Joseph Griffin learned both building and health care skills from his parents, skills he now uses to repair, restore, and build beautiful smiles.
A graduate of Francis Marion University, Dr. Griffin became a dentist at the age of 24 and practiced for a few years in Rock Hill, SC before returning to his hometown of Florence. He built his office with the assistance of his father. In fact, his father selected the location! His working-class roots also influenced Dr. Joseph Griffin to ensure the dental care he provides is affordable. He enjoys working with patients over time to get them to the highest level of oral care possible, and he does so by offering flexible financing options to fit nearly any budget.
Dr. Joseph Griffin loves to serve his local community! He is a proud recipient of the South Carolina Palmetto Patriot award, which is awarded by the lieutenant governor’s office in recognition of a commitment to community service. Francis Marion University has also honored him with its Lawrence F. Swails award for biology Alumnus of the Year in 2014 and an Alumnus of the Year award from the Kappa Alpha Order in 2015.
He is a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary Club International, a college trustee and board member at Florence-Darlington Technical College, and a proud member of Ebenezer Baptist Church. He is also an active volunteer in the Give Kids A Smile program, sponsored by the American Dental Association and the South Carolina Dental Association, and with the Mercy Medical Clinic for underprivileged children and adults.
He also has a strong commitment to continuing education to keep his skills sharp and up-to-date. He has received advanced training from the Hinman Dental Conference and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). He also serves as a consultant for NCGS, Inc., a medical research and drug approval corporation. He is a member of many professional organizations, including:
- American Dental Association
- South Carolina Dental Association
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Pee Dee Study Club
- CEREC Study Club
He is married to Susan J. Griffin. They have two daughters, Ashley and Hannah. When not practicing dentistry, he enjoys golfing, fishing, boating, traveling, and spending time with his family.