From confidence-busting to confidence-building

Cecile Sebastian, DDS
Excellence in Aesthetic Dentistry

Cecile Sebastian had been a practicing dentist for several years as part of someone else's practice. After taking time off to be a full-time mom, she decided she wanted to start her own practice. She presented her business plan to the bank where she had her personal account but never heard back from them. "They kept stringing me along, which was really confidence-busting. I began to think I wasn't good enough; that I wasn't meant to have my own practice," she recalls. Her husband, suggested she contact Central Pacific Bank. "I got my business plan back - it still had the other bank's name on the cover! I took it to Candice Naito at CPB and got a call that same afternoon asking me when I needed the check.

That was back in 1995. Since starting her own practice, Dr. Sebastian has positioned herself well in the niche market of cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry. From general dentistry she expanded her focus to neuromuscular dentistry, which considers the muscles and joints that control the jaw position as well as the health and aesthetics of the teeth and smile. She uses the latest computers and instrumentation to deliver a highly refined dental product to patients.

Recently, Dr. Sebastian had the opportunity to take over a vacant office space next door. "It was a scary decision, to tell the building management that I wanted the space. I couldn't do it unless CPB said yes, but I was worried. My year-end figures weren't as good as they could have been and I wasn't sure CPB would go for it." But CPB saw things differently. They saw that the physical space was limiting the growth of the practice and that with expanded space, the practice would expand too. They believed in us." A few months later, after completely demolishing the old office and moving into beautiful new space that's more than double the size, CPB's vision proved true. "With the same size staff - one doctor and three full-time staff members - - we doubled production the first month in the new offices. Now we're continuing to do one-and-a-half times what it was before."

Dr. Sebastian likes the way Central Pacific Bank works with her. "If I call with a question and my relationship officer is not in, one of the other bankers on Candice's team calls me back right away."

"My patients are happy and we're happy. I always tell people, You've got to call CPB!"

To learn more about Dr. Sebastian and her practice, visit www.hawaiiansmile.com

For more Success Stories, click here.