Dentaltown October 2021 - 55

I financed the renovations through my savings. I also wanted to
budget some money for working capital as well. The landlord
gave me a month of free rent because the dental office was already
plumbed out. My goal was to stay within my budget and finish the
renovations before I had to pay rent.
Initially, I had general contractors come and bid on the
Top Products
renovations, but they were over my budget and didn't know where
to start with a project that was complicated. I then had designers
come in and bid on my project. Their fees were also high, and I
decided to take the project on myself. I spent the majority of that
month at Home Depot and watching YouTube videos on home
improvement. I spent a lot of time researching color palettes, decor
ideas and dental office designs. To save money, I decided to keep
all the existing cabinets and countertops. I learned to remove each
cabinet facing and I painted them all. I also learned to use epoxy
resin to mimic the look of marble on the existing countertops.
Some days I was at the office at midnight painting the walls
and cabinets by myself. I knew I wanted a bright and welcoming
front desk. I kept the reception desk and tiled over it, giving it a
fresh look. I used epoxy resin on the tops to get rid of the wood.
I decided that I wanted white tiles for my floors-for this, I did
have a contractor, because they had to demolish the existing tiles.
From the design of the sign above my door, to the I.T. setup,
to the installation of the chairs and X-ray machines, I had a hand
in setting up every part of my office. I was the project manager.
I was there every day to oversee the work. By being frugal and
creative, it allowed my money to go further. The renovation was
quick, because I was running the show. Everything was completed
within one month and my dental office was up and running by
June 2017.
iTero Element 5D Plus. I love the ease of
integration with Invisalign and the Invisalign
simulation. I can e-mail the patient so they can see
how their teeth will improve. The caries detection is
also great because I can better show my patient the
interproximal caries.
Dandy Lab. They provided me with a free Trios and
training, which allowed my office to go with a digital
scanner without the big upfront cost of maintenance
and the scanner. They also have great customer
service and the quality of the crowns has been
excellent.
WaveOne. I've used this rotary system since I
practiced with Dr. Silvana Cumani and I love it for its
ease of use and simplicity. I love the reciprocating
files and its ability to curve through the canals.
Open Dental. The capabilities on Open Dental
are endless. I use it for everything from sending
e-prescriptions to confirming appointments. Patients
can schedule online appointments through our
website and access their bills. I can remotely access
my Open Dental if I'm at home and want to work.
Howard Farran's Dentistry Uncensored
Podcast. Dr. Farran's sense of humor and all
the knowledgeable guests have been a great
entertainment for me during my commute. I've
picked up many pearls of wisdom from listening to
his podcast.
dentaltown.com \\ OCTOBER 2021 55
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Dentaltown October 2021

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