All in the family.

Building a legacy in Colorado.

Pediatric dentist Dr. Patra Watana and orthodontist Dr. Mark Iritani began their careers by establishing a unique family-focused practice in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the community where they chose to live and raise their family. From adjoining offices, they offered a one-stop dental destination where children can receive comprehensive care — from their first tooth all the way through college. Cleanings and orthodontic adjustments can be scheduled, one after the other, in a single visit.

By cultivating deep roots in the community and treating each patient with the care they would give their own children, Dr. Watana and Dr. Iritani built a practice where patients return years later with their own children.

Inspired by the example set by their parents, Megan and Matt Iritani followed in their parents’ footsteps — Megan trained as a pediatric dentist like her mother, and Matt as an orthodontist like his father. It is a surreal experience for the four dental specialists to practice together as a family.

Outgrowing their space.

Over the course of 34 years in practice, Dr. Watana and Dr. Iritani have had to make changes. Because both Dr. Iritani and Dr. Matt teach in the orthodontic residency program at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, they are exposed to the latest advances in orthodontics, and have upgraded their practice with 3D printing, in-office aligner fabrication, and other new technologies. To maintain personal service, the dentists share their personal phone numbers with patients. “We want them to know they can call us at any time,” explained Dr. Matt.

The practice grew. By the time Dr. Megan joined, they needed more space. Their search led them not only to a new location across from the high school Dr. Matt and Dr. Megan attended, but also to Commerce Bank.

A new banking relationship.

“Over the years, we had seen Commerce at dental functions and other activities around town,” Dr. Matt recalled. “Commerce seemed different from other banks. When we met to discuss a loan for the build-out of our new office, they were willing to listen and work with us.”

“My sister and I didn’t have much work history at that time,” Dr. Matt added. “Other banks wanted our parents to co-sign for the loan, but Dr. Megan and I wanted to be solely responsible.”

Using a flexible, “multi-advance” approach, Commerce customized a loan that allowed the siblings to access funds incrementally, making interest-only payments for 24 months.

“Commerce was very accommodating,” Dr. Matt said. “They not only structured the loan to meet our needs, they also helped us by monitoring construction and managing lien waivers and other documents. If we had handled these things ourselves, I’m not sure we would have known what to do.”

A good match.

After securing the building loan in 2021, the Iritani/Watana family moved their business banking to Commerce. The dental practices now depend on Commerce for everyday checking and savings, as well as merchant services, bill pay and invoicing.

“The move to Commerce also resulted in technology upgrades that streamline and upgrade older business processes,” said Dr. Matt. “For example, our credit card terminal is now wireless, and we can now track transactions and payments on an online portal,” he said.

“Patients can also now use Apple Pay® or e-checks to make payments,” added Dr. Megan. “They appreciate having more options.”

Dr. Watana credits the children with pushing for change. “It’s harder for me and my husband to switch how we do things,” she said. “But for our kids’ sake, we must move the practice forward. It was the right decision.”

Individual family members have also shifted their personal banking to Commerce in recent years. The Iritani/Watana parents now entrust Commerce Trust opens in a new window with managing their investments. Dr. Megan recently secured a mortgage loan through Commerce for her first home. It’s in the same neighborhood she grew up in.

“We develop long-lasting relationships with families in our community and know our patients by name,” said Dr. Matt. “That’s the experience we wanted with our bank, and with Commerce we found it.”

Dr. Watana agrees. “We enjoy meeting with the bankers from Commerce’s investment group when they come into town from Kansas City,” she said. “We love them all.”

When not practicing dentistry, the family’s attention is focused on a new undertaking. Dr. Matt’s wife, Dr. Meg Dinkel — another dentist — recently gave birth to the couple’s first son, James.

And another chapter in the dental family’s success story begins.