Initially, Howland considered whether to relocate. But his position in the center of town, with its good visibility and proximity to a well-traveled highway and the local school district campus, was too good to leave. He decided to build on his existing one-acre site.

He wanted a space that was dedicated to patient care and was conducive to productivity, so he chose not to add nonessential amenities. For example, he doesn't have many offices and consultation rooms, and he shares a private office with his associate and chairside assistant.

At the time, there were no pediatric dentists or endodontists in Lehighton. “I wanted this building to attract quality dental specialists to the area so my patients wouldn't have to travel a distance for some services,” Howland said.

Howland was considering his expansion plans when he met Gary Clister, Patterson Dental equipment specialist. As the equipment specialist, Clister was there to help Howland get the most bang for his buck from his Patterson Dental equipment. As the expansion plan became a reality, Clister was in a position to really help.

Howland laughed as he recalled photographs of Clister in ankle-deep mud when cement was poured for the new building. He said Clister even helped move the practice into the new building on a Friday night so that Howland was ready for his Saturday morning appointments.

Even though the project had its ups and downs, Howland knew that his Patterson team would be there for him during the financing, permitting and engineering phases of the expansion. “They were with me every step of the way,” he said.

At the outset, Howland knew he wanted to set his practice apart by making it welcoming, open and airy. The Patterson Dental team set to work designing an ideal office layout that would meet his requirements.

“One of my primary needs for the expansion was that I wanted cathedral ceilings everywhere,” Howland said. “I think dentistry is claustrophobic for everyone involved. It's claustrophobic for the patient; it's claustrophobic for the dentist and the assistant. I really wanted to have an open, airy feel in the building design.”