Groce said Pinedo was drawn to the designer-friendly cabinetry of the Midmark Artizan Expressions line, which gave her the ability to select unique and individualized design color schemes with Lumicor resin finishes. Her Midmark chairs even feature massagers and heaters. "Patients love it," Pinedo said. “They are very surprised that technology like that is available. It’s not the same dental experience it used to be in the past.”

Patterson Territory Representative Jody Much, who has worked with Pinedo for more than 12 years, said it was inspiring to work with her to bring her new practice vision to life. Improving the patient experience was a major focus of Pinedo’s – and, therefore, of her Patterson team – from start to finish, and her eye for creating beautiful spaces also factored in during the process.

“Everything she did, she did with the patients in mind," Much said. "She’s so patient-centric that creating an unbelievable patient experience was always top of mind for her. She also really values the aesthetic of the office, so she wanted to create beautiful spaces, both in the layout and in the details."

Pinedo’s research also led her to make other changes in her space – perhaps most notably, switching to a rear-delivery system from the front-delivery system used in the previous space. Though she knew this would be an adjustment for her staff, she felt strongly about installing rear-delivery for the sake of the patients.

Rather than seeing the delivery system in front of them, or feeling it on top of them, there’s simply open space. Pinedo relied on some change management and an open-minded staff to work through the kinks, which they did.

“I’m just so pleased with how everything came out,” she said. “The operatories themselves are bigger and more spacious. That was a decision we made during the process: rather than have more operatories, we opted for more space. The room that we have compared to the old space is amazing, and the look, the feel, and the quality of the equipment makes a huge difference. I’m proud to show it to people that come in. I feel like having the latest technology gives us an advantage over other practices.”

Patients love the way the design turned out and the feeling they get walking into the operatory. But it’s not just the patient experience that has changed – it’s also Pinedo’s outlook.

“It’s been inspiring. For someone who’s been a dentist for 20 years, it’s so refreshing – I feel like it’s brand new again.”