As a child, he had a chemistry set he enjoyed a lot. He also enjoyed working with his hands and would disassemble and put back together antique phones his dad brought from work. When he got to know a wonderful pediatric dentist who embodied how he saw himself as a grownup and realized that dentistry would give him an outlet for his love of science, of working with intricate things, and of working with people, he made up his mind to become a dentist.
A formative experience occurred when he was 15. He was trying to sell his boat and motor so he could purchase a mini-bike. Someone was coming to see it, and his grandmother asked if he had washed it. He told her he didnt have to. She said, You go out and wash that boat, to which he protested, Why? She told him, You cant sell something that looks like crap! Her bluntness got his attention, so he washed the boat and sold it that day. He remembered that lesson and from that time forward he made sure everything he did was as presentable as he could make it.
Two years out of dental school, he was working with a dentist who had been trained at the Pankey Institute in Florida, where they teach advanced restorative dentistry and bite equilibration. After learning that Dr. Marion had headaches almost daily, the other dentist checked his bite and discovered that he had significant bite irregularities. After 15 minutes of bite equilibration, Dr. Marion was cured of his headachesthey were gone. So Dr. Marion decided to attend the Pankey Institute himself and qualify himself to provide that level of service. He now says of this work, When I equilibrate someone who truly needs this and they finally for the first time feel what a solid bite feels like, they look at me like Im a superhero. This brings me great joy!
Another of his principal joys in his work comes from his cosmetic dentistry. I had a CEO of a major company come to us, he says, and we noticed that whenever he laughed hed subconsciously cover his smile with his hand, pretending to be rubbing his chin. The first time we saw him after his smile makeover, he was literally a different man, coming in with confidence on steroids and a massive grin. It makes my day, heck, it makes my month to change someones life with a new smile!
Based on the recommendation of oral surgeons that he works with, Dr. Marion has qualified as an Associate of the American Society of Implant and Restorative Dentistry. He has also recently been elected a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry, an organization set up to honor the worlds leading dentists.
Dr. Marion has also pursued extensive post-graduate education. He is a graduate of the Dawson Masters program of the Pankey Institute in Florida where he was taught complex restorative dentistry, occlusion, and TMJ treatment.
Dr. Marion showcases his artistry outside of the dental office with his hobbies of woodturning and woodworking. In his spare time, Dr. Marion also enjoys exploring the Appalachian Trail and cycling the back roads and trails of Georgia and North Carolina with his wife, Paula. On one of their bike rides they found two kittens in a culvert, which they took home and adopted into their family. They have raised one son who is in college, and the two kitties are still at home.
Dr. Marion enjoys giving back to his community and helping those who cannot typically afford even basic dental care. He supports local sports teams and events and has an active share in providing professional volunteer dental services. Dr. Marion has been happy to give of his time to serve in the following capacities:
Outside of the dental office, Nikki enjoys running and working out, taking trips to the beach, and shopping. She also loves spending time with her family including her husband and high school sweetheart, Joe, her 2 daughters, and of course, her 2 dogs and 2 cats. Nikki is an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Falcons.
Dental assisting enables Tracy to help people by giving them a reason to smile bigger. She also loves working with the team here at Dr. Marions office because everyone gets along well and the patients are just like family to her.
Kim is the dental hygienist and co-diagnostician here at Dr. Marions office. Her goal is to identify signs of oral disease and show you how to avoid dental problems before they start. Kim may be relatively new to our practice, but she brings along an impressive 30 years of experience as a dental hygienist.
Kim loves her job because she enjoys helping our patients achieve good oral health. Kim is very thorough when it comes to cleaning teeth and detecting signs of disease and believes theres nothing more satisfying than seeing a patient leave our office feeling better about their smile.
When shes not helping Dr. Marion create beautiful smiles, Kim loves spending time with her husband David, her daughter Alyssa, and her four-legged child Maggie, a spoiled chocolate lab/pitbull mix. Kim spends summer weekends at Lake Lanier with friends and family and is always on the hunt for a great bargain at craft fairs, festivals, and antique shows.