Trusting the Experts
Dr. Todd Irwin’s goal always has been to practice great dentistry. His patients and the community of Port Angeles, Wash., where his 8,200-square-foot practice is located, will be the first to tell you how much they appreciate his skills. But he knows his limitations, which is why, when Dr. Irwin decided to build a brand-new practice, he turned to the experts at Patterson Dental to help bring it to life. The result – Irwin Dental Center, which opened in November 2007 – is more than just a new practice; it’s the realization of the efforts of an entire team of Dr. Irwin’s colleagues, friends and family.
A People Philosophy
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When Dr. Irwin was a sophomore in dental school at University of Louisville, Ky., his parents retired to Sequim, 10 minutes outside of Port Angeles. On his first visit to their new home, the Seattle native fell in love with the ocean-side community nearby and decided to practice dentistry there. He returned to Port Angeles when he was a junior, looked up Patterson Dental and was connected with Sales Representative Pat Bottiger. The two went out to lunch and immediately hit it off. “Pat’s always been a friend. He hasn’t just been someone selling me dental products,” Dr. Irwin said. “He’s been an advisor, and that’s been a very powerful relationship for me.”
Dr. Irwin mentioned that he wanted to join an established dental practice in the area, so Bottiger suggested that he look up Dr. Lon Riggs, a customer of his who was well known in Port Angeles. When he met with Dr. Riggs, Dr. Irwin felt like he’d met another of the “right” people in his life. On a handshake, they agreed that Dr. Irwin would join Dr. Riggs when he finished dental school in 1997 and perhaps purchase part or all of the practice from the doctor when he wanted to retire.
Settling In
Dr. Riggs’ practice had four well-equipped operatories set up for right-hand delivery, so Dr. Irwin, who is left handed and prefers the Continental® style delivery system, had to refit several of the operatories. The doctors settled into a comfortable routine and Dr. Irwin’s business grew enough so that in 2002 he was able to buy the practice from Dr. Riggs, who continued working there. But even with the refitted operatories, the 2,400-square-foot space was a major operational challenge. “We were running into each other all the time. It was amazing that our production out of there was so great. But we needed more space and elbow room,” he said.
They continued working at capacity, adding an operatory every few years until they had seven, but it wasn’t until sometime in 2004 that Dr. Irwin even contemplated building a new practice. “I met with another mentor, an area orthodontist whom I admire, and he said, ‘There’s going to come a point in your practice where you’re going to need to expand.’ I didn’t really know what was possible until someone suggested it. And then when he said that, I thought, ‘Why not?’”
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