Presentation Is Everything
Dr. Gilbert knew his patients would overlook all of the technology and equipment improvements unless the interior design reflected the practice's new direction. He met with local architect/interior designer Gunter Mamier and the two instantly connected.
Mamier set out to create the doctor's vision of a practice that was aesthetically pleasing but not dental specific. Starting in the reception area, Mamier designed and built a large, multi-radius circular desk for the front office staff that appears to flow seamlessly out of the adjoining walls. The curvature of the desk is echoed throughout the practice, giving a sense of movement and fluidity to the entire space.
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The high ceilings are open, painted black everywhere except in the operatories, where crystalline panels undulate over the patients' heads. In the patient area up front, the floating-wall design concept makes it appear as though the walls are suspended in mid-air, stopping just short of the floor, which is a poured and stained concrete. Earthy greens and yellows are set against a neutral background of crisp white and black.
"There isn't a day that goes by that someone doesn't walk in and say, ‘Wow!' Or the owners of the property bring potential clients to see it," Dr. Gilbert says. "It doesn't cost more to make a pretty practice than to make it ugly, so you might as well make it pretty. Clients really appreciate that."
For the Patients
The finishing touches to the practice have now become signatures at Image Aesthetic Dentistry. At the staff's daily morning huddles, each patient's beverage and music preferences are discussed so they can be prepared ahead of time. Using a Sonos® multimedia sound system, Dr. Gilbert can program MP3s and satellite radio for 18 different areas of the practice.
Even in the patient restroom, an area many dentists overlook, Dr. Gilbert was thoughtful with his selections. A Dyson hand dryer, three-dimensional glass tiles and audio feed surprise many patients and further demonstrate the doctor's consideration of the complete experience.
The Practice He Always Wanted
While Dr. Gilbert had to make some concessions in order for everything to fit into the smaller space (for instance, combining his private office with the consultation room), the end result is that after 15 years of practicing dentistry, his passion for work has been reinvigorated – and his practice image has taken on the transformation that he hoped for. "I'm the same dentist, but the environment makes people feel more confident and trusting. They understand that if the practice looks like this, the doctor must care about what he does."
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