In 1984,

Dan and Joy O’Rourke opened (then) O’Rourke Dental Studio in Peterborough, New Hampshire whose motto, “Where Beauty and Function Come Together” played a large role in their vision for the boutique laboratory. The vision was to create a laboratory to help dentist’s grow their practices and offer their patients the highest of quality within the industry.

Over the last three and a half decades, DOM has committed themselves to further education at institutes such as, The Schuster Center, The Dawson Academy, and the OBI Foundation amongst others.

Dan has written numerous publications for LMT, Dentistry Today and has lectured both nationally and internally, at institutions such as Harvard School of Dentistry. He has taught for industry leaders such as Ivoclar, Ultradent, and Bego.

With a strong passion for teaching, DOM has turned its focus to health and systems-based dentistry, co-founding programs such as Integritas, a multi-disciplinary approach to dental care and the Texas Center for Occlusal Studies and Minimally Invasive Dentistry from 2010-2016.

In 2016,

after twenty years of travel, understanding the cost associated with CE and how it was becoming a deterrent to so many, Dan and Joy founded Dentistry’s Optimal Model. The only online program in the world that teaches dentistry from a model of health.

Through the growth and success of the DOM online program, came the transformation of O’Rourke Dental Studio to DOM Dental Laboratory. The years of knowledge has allowed DOM Dental Lab to help dentists treatment plan and deliver life changing dentistry to their patients. Along with this growth came the addition of Hilary O’Rourke and Gurgen Melkumov. With backgrounds in both art and hospitality, they’re passionate about helping others and the creative process which comes with the profession.

In 2016,

after twenty years of travel, understanding the cost associated with CE and how it was becoming a deterrent to so many, Dan and Joy founded Dentistry’s Optimal Model. The only online program in the world that teaches dentistry from a model of health.

Through the growth and success of the DOM online program, came the transformation of O’Rourke Dental Studio to DOM Dental Laboratory. The years of knowledge has allowed DOM Dental Lab to help dentists treatment plan and deliver life changing dentistry to their patients. Along with this growth came the addition of Hilary O’Rourke and Gurgen Melkumov. With backgrounds in both art and hospitality, they’re passionate about helping others and the creative process which comes with the profession.

Meet Our Team

Dan O’Rourke

Founder

Dan started his career in dentistry in 1978. He attended the New England School for Mechanical Dentistry in Boston, MA. 

In 1984 he opened O’Rourke Dental Studio which he has owned and operated for the past thirty-six years. Dan has taken countless esthetic courses over the past three decades and has written numerous articles on the subjects of esthetics and occlusion in such publications as Dentistry Today and Lab Management Today. 

He has lectured both nationally and internationally for some of dentistry’s industry leaders which include Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Ultradent, Bego and Ivoclar. 

For the past two decades he has focused on occlusion-based dentistry graduating from The Dawson Academy in 1999. He also attended The Schuster Center for Professional Development in 2001-2002. He is a graduate of The Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry where he earned his certification in 2006. 

In 2008 Dan became one of eleven Bioesthetic Dental Technicians in the world and was named to the Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry’s faculty where he served until 2013. In 2014 he Co-Founded and Co Directed the Texas Center for Occlusal Studies where he was involved until December of 2017. 

In January of 2018, Dan became Founder and CEO of Dentistry’s Optimal Model. The driving force behind the development of the program is to change the current structure of dentistry and elevate this great profession. Dan lives with his wife Joy in Bozeman Montana and together they have two grown children. 

Professional Credentials

Co-Owner and CFO

Joy O'Rourke

Joy O’Rourke is the Co-Owner and CFO of DOM Dental Laboratory as well as the Co-Founder and Executive Director at Dentistry's Optimal Model.

Joy O’Rourke is the Co-Owner and CFO of DOM Dental Laboratory as well as the Co-Founder and Executive Director at Dentistry's Optimal Model.

Joy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mount Wachusett University as a Registered Nurse and has specialized in ICU and Oncology the past 20 years. Joy enjoys expanding her knowledge, both personally and professionally, allowing her to give back and educate others. Caring for and helping humanity is her true passion.

When she is not in the lab, you can find her enjoying quality time with her family and friends exploring the outdoors in Montana. She has a strong love for the arts, fly fishing, golfing, boating and thoroughly enjoys all that nature has to offer. Joy has proudly raised two children, Hilary and Daniel.

Lab Technician

Hilary O'Rourke

Hilary O’Rourke grew up around teeth. Her parents started their dental laboratory in New Hampshire before she was born.

Hilary O’Rourke grew up around teeth. Her parents started their dental laboratory in New Hampshire before she was born and she spent her younger years both observing and working in the lab. This in turn, led her to fall in love with both fields of art and science.

With a strong sense of curiosity and a personality that always wanted “more”, Hilary went to school in Boston, MA for both pre-dental hygiene as well as photography and finally settled on a Bachelor’s degree in fine arts. During her time in college, she paid for her rent with a job as a dental assistant.

Over the past 12 years, Hilary’s background experience has grown, adding seven years of hospitality, sales, marketing and office management roles to her list. In May of 2019, her strong love of the outdoors brought her 2,000 miles from Boston to Bozeman where she joined the family’s business and is currently learning how to run a dental laboratory.

She spends her weekdays in the lab and her weekends out in big sky country photographing, camping and hiking with her dogs.

Lab Technician

Gurgen Melkumov

Gurgen Melkumov was born and raised in Eastern Europe and moved to the United States when he was fourteen years old.

Gurgen Melkumov was born and raised in Eastern Europe and moved to the United States when he was fourteen years old. He worked as a hotel manager in the hospitality industry in Boston, MA for seventeen years, which sparked his love of helping and interacting with all kinds of people. This love eventually led him to the dental field where he was able to combine his passions for helping others and working with his hands. In May of 2019, Gurgen drove across the country and moved to Bozeman, MT to train under the DOM Dental Laboratory.

As a perfectionist, the laboratory work comes naturally to him, as fine details play a huge role. When he isn’t working in the lab; he can be found building, creating, ATVing in the mountains, traveling and eating all the Ramen Bozeman has to offer.

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