Photos courtesy of Dr. Robert Forche
Dr. Robert Forche and son Dylan display some of their Lego creations.
It started off as a hobby.
Dr. Robert Forche had always enjoyed playing with Legos, and when his son, Dylan, took an interest in the activity, they began collaborating on some complicated projects. Some of their creations, such as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower, sit on display in the operating room at Kristal & Forche Orthodontics in Olde Pickerington Village.
But what began as a simple pastime between father and son has turned into a popular competition for patients.
This summer marks Kristal & Forche’s fourth annual Lego contest, running from June 1 to Aug. 15. During this time, patients can construct any orthodontic-themed sculpture out of Legos for the chance to win a $200 gift card to the Lego Store. Kids can submit photos of their creations online via Facebook or email, or bring the creation into the office for the staff to judge.
“Every year, (the contest) has gotten bigger and bigger,” says Dr. Forche’s wife and practice manager, Alison. “We probably had a good 25 entries last summer. And they build these creations from scratch. To sit down with Legos and come up with a creation … it’s unbelievable.”
In past years, Kristal & Forche has received all kinds of Lego structures, such as teeth, the doctors and assistants, the operatory area, and even the hot chocolate machine that sits in the practice’s waiting room.
“You would think you would have 25 people show up with a tooth with braces on it, but that’s not what you get,” Alison says. “You get a window of what resonates with them when they come to the office, whether it’s the doctor, the assistants, the way the office is laid out. It could be anything.”
The Lego contest provides children the opportunity to exercise their brains and creativity during the summer, Alison says. Rather than going to the Lego Store and purchasing a kit that contains instructions and a set number of bricks, kids can be flexible in creating whatever structure they want.
The staff at Kristal & Forche enjoys this opportunity to celebrate children’s creativity and connect with their patients on a more personal level.
“We’re so fortunate in what we get to do with our patients, to be seeing them over a one- or two-year period and watching them grow and develop,” Alison says. “You get to know them well, you get to know their personalities, and this is a whole new way that their personalities are displayed for us.”
For more information about Kristal & Forche’s 2015 Lego contest, visit www.kfortho.com.
Taylor Weis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
