"My patients have been almost breathless," he said. "The way this practice was put together, it allows us to have a first-class dental practice without feeling like it's too gaudy, avant-garde or over the top. My patients, especially my long-standing patients, are so excited. They've been with me when I rented down the street, they've been with me when I bought this building and now they see this."

The renovation reflected a significant investment on Winter's part, and he acknowledges that it wasn't an easy decision. Once the decision was made, though, Winter wanted to make sure he executed his dream properly and he got the help he needed to do it. "This is what I really wanted, but I couldn't have done it myself," he said. "Not to this degree. My staff was amazingly helpful and supportive through all of the phases, and took a great deal of pride in showcasing the final product during our holiday open house. I also couldn't have done this without Patterson, who was there from the start and helped me through to the finish line."

In addition, he credits his patients and the entire city of Manhattan for the success of his practice. The Little Apple really rallied around its downtown dental office. "Manhattan is a great community in which to have a dental practice," Winter said. "I didn't associate or buy a practice. I literally hung my shingle and 20 years later, I see a dream like this come to reality. This is really a dream come true for me." PT