New Office Allows Doctor to Fully Embrace His Passion for Aesthetics

SK Smith: Advanced Periodontics, Dental Implants, Facial Aesthetics

King of Prussia, PA | Scott K. Smith, DDS

For Dr. Scott Smith of Dr. SK Smith Advanced Periodontics, Dental Implants, Facial Aesthetics, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, the road to building a new office was two years long and paved with thoughtful analysis and projections of how it would impact his business. Now, five months after opening his gorgeous 3,100 square-foot practice, he’s seeing those projected numbers become reality.

Growth Leads to Move to New Office, With Spectacular Views Dr. Smith has been practicing since 1994 when he opened his own 1,200 square-foot dental practice, specializing in periodontal and dental implants. After three years, he purchased another practice and ran both. Three years later, after running out of space in the original location, he consolidated his operations into that second location, which was bigger, but more dated. For another three years, he saw patients in that office, but always with an eye towards building his own office.

“My previous practice was limited in office flow, cramped operatories, old equipment, poor patient views (overlooking parking lots), and it could not house a CT scan,” said Dr. Smith.

When another owner purchased the building, it was a catalyst for the doctor to begin looking around for another location of his own—in a building that aligned with the aesthetics of his own high level of patient care and attention.

Working with Dan Mulvey, Henry Schein Equipment Sales Specialist, and a local broker, the doctor toured several different sites before finding an office building on a busy street.

I wanted continuity with all of my operatories, which necessitated a similar cabinetry and delivery scheme, noted Dr. Smith. “I enlisted the help of my Henry Schein representative who introduced me to those within Henry Schein to help with the architectural design and flow, according to my desires,” explained Dr. Smith. “It was at that point I essentially turned over the initial dealing with location, space requirements, and local regulations to my Henry Schein team. It was relatively easy after I knew I had the right team in place that I could trust.”

The fluid lines of Midmark’s Elevance chair along with the organic Lumicor resin panels featured in the company’s Artizan cabinetry line, give the operatories a refined feel that’s evident in the rest of the practice.

The building offered an excellent space for the practice; the building was visually appealing, and it housed another large dental practice, and together they could partner as referring sources.

The i-CAT FLX 3D X-ray system is positioned as the focal point of the practice. It integrates with Dentrix practice management software, which the doctor also adopted, and it provides the necessary detailed images used in large, full-mouth cases.

“The setup of the suite that was available allowed the doctor to build a beautiful practice that reflects his excellent dentistry,” said Mr. Mulvey. “It’s a corner space, so two of the walls are windows, and it looks out into nature, which is especially nice in the surgical suites for long procedures.” Dr. Smith added: “I opted to build new to provide a more appropriate environment, one with a calming view from the patient perspective, one with esthetic beauty, one that reflects state-of-the-art technology.”

Even the grand professional building that sits back from the road in a sanctuary of beauty is freshly renovated, upscale, and modern. Its smooth façade is filled with windows. Inside the practice, patients are greeted by plush patterned carpeting that leads them into the reception area, with a stacked tile wall, rich solid surface counters, and paint in warm tan, white wainscoting, and oversized traditional moldings.

The carpeting continues into the hallway that leads to the treatment rooms, adorned by niches that hold softly lit artwork. Once inside the six operatories, two of which are larger surgical suites, wood flooring that is both durable and beautiful takes over.

“I wanted continuity with all of my operatories, which necessitated a similar cabinetry and delivery scheme,” noted Dr. Smith. With Mr. Mulvey, he studied many different brands of equipment. The cosmetics of the Midmark Artizan Expressions line of cabinetry visually appealed to the doctor, particularly the Lumicor resin panels on the 12 o’clock cabinets, which are fabricated with organic materials, fabrics, and metals. After a VIP trip to Midmark, he decided to also invest in Midmark Elevance chairs for the treatment rooms.

“The doctor was equally concerned with the comfort and aesthetics,” said Mr. Mulvey. “His choices were based on ergonomics as well as the quality of the gear.” The doctor was particularly interested in providing comfortable seating for the surgical suites because some of the procedures he does last several hours.

Added Space and Technology Expands Type of Care and Services

On the technology side, the doctor—along with his associate Dr. Robert Delie—handles large, full-mouth cases, and his equipment needed to be upgraded to the most advanced possible to provide superior patient care.

“We eliminated our outdated office software and updated to Dentrix, which has largely made us a paperless practice,” said Dr. Smith. “Additionally, I needed to incorporate an in-house CT scan, and Henry Schein provided us with a beautiful solution and actually a focal point of our practice.” The doctor chose the i-CAT 3D X-ray system because of the high-quality scan that met his clinical needs, but also the ease of using the software for implants. The Midmark Integra sterilization center is large, convenient to all of the treatment rooms, and is ultra-sleek from a design perspective, with its blue glow visible to patients as they walk by. The sterilization center also houses a Midmark M11 autoclave.

Dream Office Allows Doctor to Expand into Non-traditional Services

The office, first and foremost, has given the doctor and his team a practice they are proud to work in and a place where patients find great assurance that the level of care is exceptional, just based on the beauty and exceptionalism of the office experience. However, moving into a larger office is also giving the doctor the chance to add additional services to the community.

The first is the creation of the Center for Advanced Dental Construction. Dr. Smith is opening up space in which he’ll invite colleagues to use his equipment and facilities and to collaborate with him and his team to recommend treatment plans. His colleagues will do the majority of the patient care in his office, without the need to invest in their own resources. It’s innovative, providing a revenue source for Dr. Smith and a reduction of expenses for the other doctors. He is also incorporating facial rejuvenation into his care, in line with his desire to create beautiful smiles.

“This is an area I am particularly passionate about,” admits Dr. Smith. “Following comprehensive facial analysis, patients can benefit from our years of experience with neuromodulators, dermal fillers, thread lifting, laser re-contouring, and maintenance systems.” He anticipates that with greater demand, the office may need to enlarge to meet the new facial rejuvenation service demands.

“The new design of the office has stimulated us to revamp our way of thinking. Many of our staff are now cross-trained, and overall, we take a more patient-centric approach to care.”

When asked for the advice he would give to other dentists who are building a new office, he offered several suggestions: “First, identify what it is that gives you passion about our profession and build it into your office. For me, it was attention to detail, an eye for aesthetics, and a heart and mind for technology, while also keeping the patient’s perspective and comfort as a priority. Second, work with a team that has the experience and the ability to pull these qualities out of you. I was so grateful to have such a team with Henry Schein.”♦

This article was originally published in Sidekick Magazine.