What Mr. Wonderful Told Our CEO About Building SMILE-FX
Every orthodontic practice in South Florida can buy the same brackets, the same scanners, the same aligner systems. Equipment does not separate one practice from another. What separates the leaders from everyone else is something far less tangible and far more difficult to replicate: entrepreneurial vision, relentless determination, and an unwavering commitment to earning trust one patient at a time.
That philosophy is not just something we believe internally at SMILE-FX Orthodontics & Clear Aligner Studio. It is something that caught the attention of one of the most recognized business minds in the country.
A Personal Message From Kevin O'Leary to Dr. Akil Alexander
Kevin O'Leary — widely known as "Mr. Wonderful" from Shark Tank — recently recorded a personal, one-on-one video message directed to Dr. Akil Alexander, CEO and co-founder of SMILE-FX. In his own words, O'Leary acknowledged the difficulty of building a business in a competitive space and offered his genuine encouragement for what our team is creating here in Miramar, FL and across Broward County.
To be clear, this was not a paid endorsement or a commercial partnership. Kevin O'Leary is not a spokesperson for SMILE-FX, nor is he promoting or endorsing our products or services. What he did provide was a sincere, personal message of support — one entrepreneur to another — recognizing the grit it takes to build something meaningful in the dental and orthodontic industry.
And what he said resonated deeply with everything we stand for.
On Entrepreneurship and Determination
O'Leary opened his message with a statement that frames exactly how we approach orthodontic care in South Florida:
"One of the hardest things in the world to do is to start a business and grow it. It requires, obviously, a lot of determination, but it also requires executional excellence, consistency. You set up a plan, you execute on it, you build a business, you get word of mouth going on."
That word — consistency — is not a buzzword at SMILE-FX. It is the operating principle behind everything we do. From the moment a family walks through our doors for a free consultation to the day we remove their braces or deliver their final set of aligners, every step follows a deliberate, carefully engineered treatment plan. Families from Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, Cooper City, Davie, and Fort Lauderdale drive to our Miramar office not because we are the closest option, but because they have experienced — or heard from someone who experienced — the difference that executional excellence actually makes in orthodontic outcomes.
On Trust and Word of Mouth
Perhaps the most important insight O'Leary shared was about trust:
"It's about trust, too. People will use this device if they feel it's going to work, and you have to do that work. You've got to get people to use it, and then word of mouth takes over."
In orthodontics, trust is not built through advertising. It is built through results. It is built when a parent sees their teenager's confidence transform. It is built when an adult patient who avoided smiling for years finally looks in the mirror and sees the version of themselves they always wanted. And it is built when a board-certified orthodontic specialist — not a general dentist offering aligners on the side — takes the time to explain every option, every timeline, every cost with complete transparency.
Our patient reviews tell this story better than any marketing campaign ever could. Families across Broward County and South Florida consistently describe the same experience: genuine care, honest communication, and results that exceed expectations. That is the kind of word of mouth Kevin O'Leary was describing — the kind that cannot be manufactured or bought.
On Competing in a Crowded Market
O'Leary did not sugarcoat the competitive landscape, and neither do we:
"What I love about this is just the sheer determination to get out there and gain market share in what I consider to be a pretty competitive space. It really is. The whole dental area has been around a long time, and there's a lot of different products and services in it. So if you wanna gain share, you've got to deliver something really excellent."
He is absolutely right. The orthodontic and dental industry in South Florida is crowded. There are general dentists offering Invisalign after a weekend certification course. There are high-volume aligner mills that treat patients like transactions. There are corporate chains that prioritize throughput over outcomes. Families have more choices than ever, and most of those choices look the same from the outside.
SMILE-FX was built to be fundamentally different. Dr. Akil Alexander is not a general dentist who added orthodontics to a menu of services. He is a board-certified orthodontic specialist whose entire clinical focus, training, and career trajectory centers on one thing: moving teeth safely, precisely, and beautifully. When O'Leary says you have to "deliver something really excellent," that is not aspirational language for us. It is the baseline.
Why This Message Matters for Broward County Families
You might be wondering why we are sharing a personal video message on a public blog. The answer is simple: because what Kevin O'Leary recognized from the outside is exactly what our patients experience on the inside.
He did not see a polished brand deck or a pitch presentation. He saw a founder who built something from the ground up in a tough market. He saw momentum. He saw a team that earns its growth through outcomes, not shortcuts. And he responded to it the way any experienced businessperson would — with respect and encouragement.
For families in Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Hollywood, Cooper City, Davie, and Fort Lauderdale who are currently comparing orthodontic options, this context matters. When you choose an orthodontist, you are not just choosing a provider. You are choosing a philosophy. You are choosing whether your care will be guided by a specialist who built a practice on clinical excellence and earned trust, or by a corporate system designed to maximize volume.
The SMILE-FX Difference in Practice
The principles O'Leary highlighted — determination, executional excellence, consistency, trust — translate directly into what families experience at our Miramar office:
- Executional excellence means every treatment plan is designed using cutting-edge digital technology, including 3D scanning, advanced imaging, and precision treatment planning that eliminates guesswork.
- Consistency means the same board-certified specialist oversees your care from consultation through completion. You are never handed off to rotating associates or undertrained staff for critical clinical decisions.
- Trust means transparent pricing, honest timelines, and zero pressure. We offer a free Smile Quiz and virtual consultations so families can begin exploring their options with no obligation whatsoever.
- Determination means we treat the full spectrum of orthodontic cases — from straightforward cosmetic alignment to complex bite corrections — with equal commitment to outstanding results.
Whether your child needs traditional braces, you are considering clear aligners for yourself, or you are exploring other specialized treatments, every service at SMILE-FX reflects the same philosophy that an internationally recognized entrepreneur noticed from the outside looking in.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Behind Your Orthodontic Care
O'Leary closed his message with a line that our team has adopted as something of an internal mantra:
"The entrepreneurial spirit is not a destination, it's a journey, and you've started yours."
At SMILE-FX, that journey is far from over. We are actively expanding our reach across South Florida, investing in the most advanced orthodontic technology available, and continuing to build a practice that families across the region actively seek out — not because of proximity, but because of reputation.
Dr. Akil Alexander did not start SMILE-FX to be another orthodontic office in another strip mall. He started it to raise the standard of orthodontic care in Broward County and beyond. The fact that someone like Kevin O'Leary — a person who evaluates hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs every year — took the time to personally acknowledge that mission speaks volumes about the kind of practice we are building.
But ultimately, the validation that matters most does not come from television personalities or business moguls. It comes from the families who trust us with their smiles. It comes from the parents in Pembroke Pines who drive past three other orthodontists to get to our office. It comes from the teenagers in Weston and Cooper City who actually look forward to their appointments. It comes from the adults in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood who finally decided to invest in the smile they have wanted for decades.
That is the word of mouth O'Leary described. That is the momentum he recognized. And that is what continues to fuel everything we do at SMILE-FX.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kevin O'Leary endorse or invest in SMILE-FX?
No. Kevin O'Leary recorded a personal, one-on-one video message to Dr. Akil Alexander offering encouragement and support as a fellow entrepreneur. There is no endorsement deal, investment, or commercial partnership between Kevin O'Leary and SMILE-FX. His message was a sincere expression of support for the entrepreneurial journey behind the brand.
What makes SMILE-FX different from other orthodontists in Broward County?
SMILE-FX is led by a board-certified orthodontic specialist — not a general dentist offering orthodontics as a side service. We use advanced digital technology for precision treatment planning, provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and offer a full range of treatment options including braces, Invisalign, and clear aligners. Learn more about how we are different.
Do families outside of Miramar visit SMILE-FX for orthodontic treatment?
Absolutely. We serve families from across South Florida, including Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, Cooper City, Davie, and Fort Lauderdale. Many families choose to travel to our Miramar location specifically because of our specialist credentials, technology, and patient experience. Our office is conveniently located with easy access from major Broward County corridors.
How can I get started with SMILE-FX?
You can begin by taking our free Smile Quiz to explore whether treatment may be right for you or your child, schedule a virtual consultation from the comfort of home, or contact our office directly to book a complimentary in-person orthodontic evaluation. There is never any pressure or obligation.
Is SMILE-FX available for Spanish-speaking families?
Yes. We proudly serve South Florida's diverse community and offer resources in Spanish. Visit our página en español for more information.
Your Smile Journey Starts Here
Kevin O'Leary called the entrepreneurial spirit a journey. Your orthodontic journey — or your child's — deserves the same level of commitment, precision, and trust that built SMILE-FX from the ground up. If you are a family anywhere in Broward County or South Florida searching for an orthodontic specialist who treats every smile like it matters, we invite you to experience the difference firsthand.
Book Your Free Orthodontic Consultation Today — online or in person at our Miramar office. No pressure, no obligation, just honest answers from a board-certified specialist who built this practice to serve you.