John F. McMahon is a third–generation dentist who founded McMahon Family Dental in 1995. When his son, John M. McMahon, began college, many people assumed that he would be the fourth–generation dentist in the family. But John Sr. made no assumptions and didn’t push his son in a particular direction. “He always made it clear that the door was open if I wanted to go into practice with him but that he wanted me to choose this profession only if I love it, not because he wanted me to,” said John Jr.

During his freshman year at the University of Michigan, John Jr. considered majoring in architecture or engineering and discovered that dentistry integrated elements of both fields. His decision to go into general dentistry was the first step through the open door of opportunity, leading to a bright future in dentistry.

John Jr. joined McMahon Family Dental in 2011 and the practice grew faster than expected. Although father and son enjoyed working together, the office lacked the space necessary for them to work effectively and handle the growing patient load.

The need for more space led to a meeting with Patterson Equipment Specialist Rick Fabian and for staff members to work comfortably. Territory Representative Marilyn Brandt early in 2013 to discuss an expansion. The plans that began to unfold involved more than a revamped workspace; their dream practice meant changing the culture of the office for patients and staff members.

“We wanted this to be a place where people would enjoy coming to work and we wanted to create value for our patients by creating an environment that made them feel comfortable and feel like they could participate in their health care,” said John Jr.

Added John Sr.: “We see it as more than just a dental visit. Dentistry is the gateway to the body and it’s very much integrated in overall health.”

They also wanted to get away from the stigma often associated with a dental office by creating a spacious, welcoming environment that off ered privacy for patients and room for staff members to work comfortably.

When the Patterson team came back with office layout and design options, John Jr.’s architecture background came in handy. “I got out my scissors, whiteout, pen and ruler and spent a few late nights working with the Patterson blueprints,” he said. “I tweaked the layout to make the space fit exactly what we envisioned.”

Fabian traveled with the doctors to the A–dec headquarters in Newberg, Ore., to view equipment options, different orientations, set–ups and finishes. It made it easier for the doctors to make decisions when looking at the products physically instead of looking at a diagram on a computer. “Rick provided pros, cons and the details necessary to make good decisions without pushing us in one direction or another,” said John Jr.