Adam Langan, DDS, grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska, with a next-door neighbor who was a dentist. And that’s where his interest in dentistry began.
His neighbor told him he’d have a dentist practice ready for him if he ever decided to attend dental school. Adam knew he wanted to go into something in the medical field, so when he went away to college, he always had the thought in the back of his mind that he might want to be a dentist someday. Sure enough, after 8 years of schooling with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, Adam returned to Norfolk, and his neighbor was ready to sell the practice. Adam worked with him for about a year and then bought the practice from him.
Over the years, Adam has witnessed a remarkable transformation in his business. Langan Dental, which began in a modest double-wide trailer converted into a dental office 30 years ago, has now blossomed into a thriving practice. Initially, it was just Adam, a hygienist, a dental assistant, and a receptionist. However, with the support of Midwest Bank, Adam constructed a new building in 2016. This modern facility now accommodates a team of dedicated professionals, including two staff at the front desk, three full-time hygienists, one part-time hygienist, three full-time assistants, and two doctors.
When asked what makes Langan Dental stand out, Adam explained, “My goal has always been to make dentistry seem easy. Not everyone feels that way about going to the dentist. But I want people to come in and say, ‘You know, that was pretty easy.’ I want people to feel it was simple and didn’t take too long. I want people to feel comfortable and that it is clean, friendly, and bright. I don’t want it to feel like the scary, sterile dental office of my parents and grandparents.”
Langan Dental continues to grow and see more patients. Adam shares what he thinks is the secret to the success of the practice. “The secret for me is to never stop pushing. I don’t like being too comfortable, so I continue pushing myself and my team. And they also push me, they get me out of my comfort zone and give me advice when they know it will benefit them, me, and our patients.” Adam has a great team in place to help him continue to grow.
Building Smiles and Community
And when it comes to owning a business in Norfolk, Adam thinks the town is just the right size. “I grew up here, and my family is still here. I’m familiar with the area, and I love that we have patients from all walks of life here. We’re in the middle of Nebraska. We get business folks, but we also have farmers and factory workers. We have young kids, and we have patients from nursing homes. It’s never the same. I don’t think I could do one type of dentistry all day. My days are always different, but they’re exciting. I love being in Norfolk because it’s a community that is not so big that you don’t know people, but it’s also not so small that you know everybody.”
Adam’s goals for the future include keeping the practice on the cutting edge of technology. He and his staff are focused on comfort for their patients, ease of completing treatments, and making sure there are really no barriers to people getting what they want and need from a dentist.
Why Langan Dental partnered with Midwest Bank
We asked Adam about his experience working with Midwest Bank over the years. He said, “When I went away to college, Midwest Bank didn’t have a location in Norfolk. But, when I came back home, they had a new location on the corner of 25th and Benjamin. I ran into Jason Love at several events and participated in similar groups and committees. I spoke with him about my plans for the practice and asked him if the bank would be interested. He said, ‘Absolutely.’ I’ve worked with Midwest Bank on several different things, first buying the practice and then building the current office building. And they’ve also helped me with a few personal passion projects as well.” Our staff at the Norfolk branch enjoys working with Adam and helping him and Langan Dental succeed.
“I think Midwest Bank and their team really get to know who you are. Just like the city of Norfolk, Midwest Bank is just the right size. They’re big enough to have the capabilities you need but small enough that they know who you are. I’ve discussed things in the past with larger banks, and there were a lot of barriers; they put up a lot of roadblocks. I haven’t had that experience with Midwest Bank. It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and call the bank with an issue. They do it right there, not sending me to four different departments. I also like that I can walk into the branch; everyone knows who I am and understands what I need.”
And Adam provides this advice for other business owners looking for a bank to partner with. “I think Midwest Bank and their team really get to know who you are. Just like the city of Norfolk, Midwest Bank is just the right size. They’re big enough to have the capabilities you need but small enough that they know who you are. I’ve discussed things in the past with larger banks, and there were a lot of barriers; they put up a lot of roadblocks. I haven’t had that experience with Midwest Bank. It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and call the bank with an issue. They do it right there, not sending me to four different departments. I also like that I can walk into the branch; everyone knows who I am and understands what I need.”
“I would say, just like how I like to keep my practice easy for my patients, I feel like Midwest Bank does a good job of making things easy for people as well.”