Photo provided by Peter Robbins.
Dental Office Design Pavilion Helps Clinicians
Start and Expand Practice, Into Retirement
BOSTON, MA - New to this year’s Yankee Dental
Congress in Boston was the Dental Office Design Pavilion.
A collaborative venture between Henry Schein Dental and
the Yankee Dental Congress, this unique concept offered
attendees ideas for building new practices, upgrading cur-
rent practices, and tips for preparing to sell an existing
practice with an eye toward retirement.
While touring the pavilion, attendees saw the latest
in operatory, imaging, and waiting room designs, and
they were treated to demonstrations of the latest equip-
ment, including the E4D CAD/CAM System (See side-
bar). Several equipment, financial, and design experts
were featured in a panel discussion at the pavilion to
address the needs and concerns of dentists at different
stages in their practice. The panelists included Jim Ham-
mon, architect and Henry Schein Equipment Specialist;
John Mattson, a builder; Philip Riley, a Henry Schein
Equipment Specialist; Mark Rosen, a CPA; Gary Sever-
ance, DDS; Mark Tholen, a dentist who has an MBA
in Office Design; and Natalie Westfall, Henry Schein
Financial Services.
Starting Up
Responding to an audience question about building a
practice, several panel members recalled the old adage,
“location, location, location.” Mattson said that the
current economic situation has freed up a lot of sites,
but he said, “You want to make sure you ask the broker
or realtor at first if the area is zoned as an office.”
Riley noted the importance of being realistic in terms
of what can be done with the space that is being pur-
What’s Ahead in Dentistry
Opportunity is knocking all the time, and with new tech-
nological advances, you can answer the door, according to a
featured speaker at the Dental Office Design Pavilion at this
year’s Yankee Dental Congress.
In his presentation, “CADapult Your Dentistry,” Gary Sever-
ance, DDS, honed in on the importance of modern dentistry.
Dr. Severance noted that new technology has opened new
doors to clinicians.
“Twenty years ago, if you needed a crown you had to prep
the tooth, take the impression, and 2 weeks later, it’s ready,”
Dr. Severance said. These days, he added, the whole process
can be done in about an hour with the E4D systems. Through
units like the E4D Dentist system, clinicians can manufac-
ture crowns with no compromise in fit, form, or esthetics and
without the need for a dental laboratory, Dr. Severance said.
In his presentation, Dr. Severance highlighted the need to
use technology that will “amass the most return on invest-
ments.” He also added that delegation is key, noting that
trained dental assistants can run the E4D System.
Before diving into the world of CAD/CAM, Dr. Severance
suggested looking into how a system like E4D might fit into
a clinician’s individual practice, noting the many benefits of-
fered by the E4D System, including the ability to scan, mill,
and design in the office. He also noted the system’s precise
results; intuitive DentaLogic software; and onsite training for
2 in Dallas, TX as just a few advantages. - Elyse Featherman
Gary Severance is a 1987 graduate of the University of Min-
nesota School of Dentistry. Dr. Severance is currently the VP
of Marketing and Clinical Affairs for D4D Technologies in Rich-
ardson, TX.
Dental Learning
chased. “I knew a clinician who bought his father’s
practice, and he wanted to expand it, but there was no
handicapped access. Plus, it would have been a shoehorn
operation,” he said. “Then he mentioned that there was
a newer building down the street, with a space that was
unrented. We discussed that option, and he decided to
keep the existing building as rental space, and then he
built an office with 5 operatories and everything else.”
Westfall noted that it is important to also keep the fi-
nancial services end involved from the very beginning—
including the preapproval process — to the time the
practice is built. Many panel members recommended
working with an accountant who has dental experience,
as well.
“If it’s your first practice, you want to gauge how
much you want to spend,” Dr. Tholen said. “Generally,
finishing 1600 square feet, buying the equipment, and
then having money left over to live on while the practice
builds, is going to consume most of your startup funds,
which are generally around $500,000 to $600,000.”
The entire panel agreed on finding a space that will
leave room for growth.
Hammon said it is also important to consider which
architect you will work with at the early stages, because
he or she can provide prices on preliminary designs,
equipment, and serve as the liaison with the plumbers
and electricians who will wire the office.
Building Up
For those clinicians already in practice, the panel of-
fered some advice on building up. Many panel members
touted the purchase of some of the equipment featured
in the pavilion as a good way to meet patient needs
while bringing new sources of revenue into the practice.
“If you ask what is going to be the future of den-
tistry, it is going to be communication,” Dr. Severance
said. “Between cone beam technology and CAD/CAM,
scanning through tissue, eventually, you’re going to
be more of a diagnostician. Keeping that in mind, you
want to think about anything that will facilitate com-
munication, including internet connections.”
Retirement
Responding to another question from the audience,
panel members also addressed the prospect of preparing
an office to be sold in preparation for retirement.
“The last 5 years before you sell are very important,”
Dr. Tholen said. “Your valuations are based on the last
5 years you are in practice, so you want to wax not
wane with the practice.” He said the focus during these
years should be creating a good patient base with good
production numbers. Also, consider sprucing up the
front, he said, for curb appeal.
Communication Is Key
The panel agreed that no matter where a clinician
is in their practice, just starting up, 10 years in, or 15
years from retirement, having an office that facilitates
communication is going to be key. And the audience
agreed. One dentist who attended the event who said
she is starting up a pediatric specialty said she was very
thankful to have the opportunity to visit the design pa-
vilion, and found it very helpful. —Colleen Platt
www.dentallearning.net