As a renovation, the practice minimized the amount of down time during construction by keeping the floor plan intact. Getting permits for the work and other elements of the construction process were simplified because the initial footprint was already in place.

“When renovating within the confines of the way your space is already set up, your timeframe, your cost, your expecations are all very predictable,” Carr said. “And there's no way to truly know how a space feels until you've been in it. If you feel strongly enough about your space, it's certainly a good option.”

The changes in the office brought on a learning curve that the staff embraced and it was made easier by the fact that while new, the office layout remained the same. Watching the practice transform — from the big things like new equipment and technology to the little things like paint color — was an eye–opening experience.

“The colors of the practice were one thing that were a lot of fun, and a lot of fun for our patients,” Carr said. “Now, a lot of our patients have become accustomed to an office that makes them smile, that doesn't feel like a dental environment. That was one of our big goals. We tried to avoid the typical, deep–set fear that a lot of patients have. Coming in and seeing something so bright and fun takes their mind off of what's going on.”

It wasn't just for the patients, though. Improving the office was important for Jensen and Carr and their employees. The changes added efficiency to the office, enabling staff to focus on patients more. As much as possible, the doctors wanted staff to be able to feel at home in the practice. “Your office is basically your second home,” Carr said. “You spend almost as much time here as you do at home. Just like you want to be comfortable at home, you want to be comfortable in your office, too.”

The response from patients has been unanimously positive, and patients who had started seeing other dentists during Jensen's retirement even started to return. Again seeing patients, and practicing in an office that was upgraded for the 21st century, has made Jensen's comeback worthwhile.

“It was not without trepidation that I decided to go back in,” he said. “I had a good time being retired. I had to give up a little bit of that freedom to come back in here. Turns out, it's been a lot of fun and it continues to be fun. It's a great feeling to see patients and be able to offer them more than ever before.”