This was accomplished with a 15-foot vaulted cathedral ceiling that runs the length of the building, letting in natural light through skylights and transom windows. Some days, Howland says, he doesn't need to turn on the lights in the reception area and in the hallways outside the treatment areas because the sunshine pouring in illuminates the interior.

An interior designer (the daughter of his chairside assistant) helped Howland choose rich wood finishes and warm colors to put patients at ease as soon as they enter the office. Post and beam construction lends a refined, earthy feel to the place.

“The interior decorating was really the icing on the cake,” Howland said. “She did a phenomenal job with the color palettes, the accent colors and the natural stone-like tiles in the operatories. It turned out great.”

“I didn't want to go with an ultra-modern look because our area is very outdoorsy,” he added. “We're in the Poconos up here. People are mountain bikers, very earthy folks.”

In keeping with the open feel, Howland chose not to position any dental equipment in front of the patients; all they see is a TV/computer screen and art on the wall in front of them. The thinking behind this choice is that having equipment crowded around the patient makes their experience less enjoyable. The A-dec 511 chairs he chose give patients a relaxing seat, and the A-dec rear and side delivery units keep instruments out of patients' eyesight.

As a lefty, Howland was glad to outfit his office with equipment tailored to his needs. The left-handed side delivery units were originally intended solely for his use; however, his associate, Dr. Traube, is also a lefty. Regardless of which operatory they work in, the doctors have unfettered accessibility due to the configuration of the rear delivery units and the side and rear cabinets.

The A-dec dental furniture was an easy choice, according to Howland, who traveled to the company's headquarters in Oregon with his wife, Suzanne Howland, as part of a Patterson-sponsored A-dec Educational Experience (AEE). Howland's territory representative, John Powanda, and Clister joined them at A-dec to assist them in choosing from the myriad options available. Howland wanted a clean look for his dental furniture that wasn't too modern, and most importantly, he wanted high-quality dental furniture, chairs and delivery units that would last well into the future.

“A-dec wasn't a difficult sell for me,” said Howland, whose 30-year-old A-dec carts in his prior office worked great. He considers his A-dec equipment purchases to be a lifetime investment and knows that the new units will be serviceable throughout his entire career.