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Doing More with Less
When Dr. Monica Lee decided to open a solo practice in Reno, Nevada, she had one very important requirement: the practice had to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Eco-consciousness comes naturally for Dr. Lee, who grew up and graduated from dental school in California, one of the greenest states in the country. The decision to go green in her new practice was a no-brainer after she considered the impact that building and maintaining it would have on the environment. "I started thinking about the waste that my office would create on a daily basis, when it comes to energy, trash, chemical disposal, transportation of patients, transportation of goods – and what it would do to our environment," she said.

Doing more with less became Dr. Lee’s motto as she set to work building her practice, Divine Dental Smile. With the help of her Patterson team, she found creative ways to lessen her practice's impact on the environment with the latest equipment and technology.


Green From the Get-Go
Dr. Lee moved to Reno in the spring of 2006. Shortly thereafter, she joined a practice as an associate while getting to know the area and deciding whether to buy into an existing practice or build her own. She discussed the pros and cons of building a new practice with Patterson Dental Equipment Specialist John Pacelli, who encouraged the doctor to branch out on her own.

Dr. Lee began searching for the ideal location for her earth-friendly office. She found several locations she was interested in and Pacelli drew up floor plans for each to assist her in choosing the best space for her needs. After careful consideration, she selected an office located in a professional building on the west side of Reno and construction began in October 2007.

Dr. Lee’s Patterson team knew she wanted to go green from

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the start and kept that in mind during the entire construction process. Working closely with Pacelli and Patterson Dental Sales Representative Mike Sailer, Dr. Lee selected the most environmentally friendly building materials, equipment, technology, furniture and sundries on the market for her new practice. "Every purchase was made with a different consciousness," said Dr. Lee. "Besides thinking about what’s good for my patients, there was also that whisper in my ear, ‘what about the impact on the environment?’"

When Divine Dental Smile opened its doors in March 2008, productivity levels soared and patients raved about the new practice. Dr. Lee’s patient load grew so quickly that she equipped a fourth operatory just eight months later. "My advisers looked at our numbers – in terms of new patients and the number of treatment plans that have been accepted – and it just blew them away," she said.
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