The same technology that sets them apart brought them together.
Dr. Paul Mitsch, who purchased Augusta Family Dentistry almost 30 years ago, and Dr. Robert Colt, who completed his dental training in 2004, had attended many of the same conferences for the last several years.
These conferences were tough on a young dentist. The technology was intoxicating.
The desire to have these tools to help treat patients was overwhelming, but so was the cost.
"We were at a conference and Rob (Colt) said 'This is great but how can a young dentist afford to buy it?'" Dr. Mitsch said at Monday night's Media Night at Augusta Family Dentistry. "I told him, well you could buy half of mine."
That was the first discussion of the two becoming partners. That partnership was cemented on Feb. 26 of this year.
In the past few months, the technology in the office has only increased, as have night and Saturday hours and other services the pair can offer.
Only a month after Dr. Colt came to Augusta from Denver, the pair purchased a machine called the E4D. Only 30 of these machines are in use in the United States. It is the only one in Kansas.
Perfectly Fit Crown
The device takes a great deal of the time and expense out of receiving a crown over a damaged tooth. Instead of several appointments and a huge expense to find just the right fit, sometimes this machine can produce a perfectly fitting and operational crown in only one or two appointments.
It uses laser scanning to get a perfect replication of the current surface of the tooth and computerized design of the crown. From this design, tiny diamond burrs grind the crown from a cube of porcelain to the ideal size to fit the patient's smile and bite. The accuracy of the device is measured in microns.
Another tool available in downtown Augusta that is revolutionary is the I-CAT. With the advance of this technology, the panoramic dental x-rays that so many people have grown accustomed are a thing of the past.
This 20-second imaging system uses similar technology to the CAT scans used by medical doctors. It produces a three dimensional view of all facial structures - and it used 3,800 times less radioactivity than a traditional x-ray.
"A term we use is biometric," Dr Mitsch said. "It gives us a more accurate way to quantitate and qualify our diagnosis much more accurately."
The technology doesn't stop there. They are also trained in special technology that helps them diagnose temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems.
All of these advances allow this small dental office in downtown Augusta to compete head-to-head with the largest metro-area dentists.
But the main this about the technology that will have lasting effect is that it brought the two together.
"If you are going to lead a community and help it grow, you have to leave a legacy," Dr. Mitsch said. "(Dr. Colt) is that legacy. I have been practicing in downtown Augusta for almost 30 years. I know now that August Family Dentistry will continue long after I retire."