Dr. Booker dreamed of building an office space that would allow him and his team
to work efficiently and provide patients with optimal treatment and comfort. He
began working with Jody Head, a Patterson Dental territory representative, about
eight months into owning his own practice in the leased space.
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Originally, Head sought to help Dr. Booker with supplies, but the relationship quickly
moved from talk of sundries to discussions of Dr. Booker’s own office. Head, who
also is a native of Owensboro, pointed him toward a program offered by Mercer Advisors
at the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry in Scottsdale, Ariz., called Building the
Ideal Practice. Dr. Booker participated in the two-year program designed for young
dentists and new practice owners, which taught him the ins and outs of dental practice
business.
Later, Head accompanied Dr. Booker when he attended a dental office design course,
also offered by the Scottsdale Center. “It helped us develop a vision for what I
wanted out of the office, long-term,” he said.
In addition to the more formal office design education, Head took Dr. Booker on
tours of dental practices that were designed and equipped with the help of Patterson
Dental. There, the doctor gleaned ideas from other dentists in his community and
felt confident as he moved forward with his own office.
Designed Right
Even though Owensboro has a population of 60,000, it still has a small-town feel,
Dr. Booker said. His patients come from all socioeconomic backgrounds with a high
concentration of young families.
In his new office, Dr. Booker enjoys incorporating technology to better explain
treatment needs to his patients. "I’m a very visual person, so I like to use intraoral
cameras and digital X-rays," Dr. Booker said. "I like to bring the monitor down
right in front of the patient so we can discuss their diagnosis in detail and their
treatment plan step by step."