The Spodak Dental Group is redefining quality patient care in the health service industry by providing superior dental care in an environmentally-sound, holistic building and landscape that comforts patients and inspires the team. Pioneering a new vision in dentistry, we have searched the nation to assemble the finest dental and medical professionals from all disciplines of the field in a singular, exceptional setting, allowing patients the opportunity to experience comprehensive continuity of care for maximum convenience and optimum results. We house one of the nation's only on-site dental laboratories, so all restorations are made on premises by our master ceramic artist who assesses and customizes each case. We offer the option of IV Sleep Dentistry administered by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist because the comfort and well-being of our patients is top priority. Patients understand that our distinctive team approach to dentistry delivers a full-service experience, which combines the benefits of a coordinated treatment plan with access to a broad range of specialty care, saving the patient time and money. Our target market includes patients interested in dental care ranging from cleaning, whitening, fillings and extractions, to implants, Invisalign® and complete cosmetic and reconstructive smile enhancements. We also offer emergency and same-day dentistry. Keeping the health of our patients and team in mind, the Gold LEED Certified facility was built utilizing a biophilic belief and features abundant natural lighting and transparency in design, allowing patients to heal faster and get sick less often.

Design Criteria: Design Summary

Design Criteria: Dental Technology

The newest addition in our “go green” initiative has been the installation of a state-of-the-art, advanced digital scanning system, which eliminates the use of toxic developing chemicals while delivering an even smaller fraction of the radiation of traditional x-rays. This digital scanning system provides a clear image of the entire mouth, surrounding bone, sinus cavity, and even the carotid artery, increasing our diagnostic abilities, in addition to being decidedly faster and more comfortable. We house one of the nation’s only on-site laboratories, which means we handle all cases without sending them out of the office, allowing the team to personalize each case to the patient’s desires. We also feature a Cerec, or ceramic reconstruction, method of manufacturing crowns, which allows the team to construct, produce and insert individual ceramic restorations directly at the point of treatment in a single appointment rather than over multiple appointments with additional lab work. Spodak Dental Group is also an Elite provider of Invisalign and offers the state-of-the-art iTero scanner, which creates a 3D image of the patient’s mouth, removing the need for messy and uncomfortable impressions. From digital x-rays imaging and paperless charting, to the use of non-toxic sterilization solutions and UV air purification systems, we are forging new ground in the pursuit of environmentally conscious healthcare. Going forward, our vision is to continue to practice in the Gold LEED Certified facility and repeatedly offer the most up-to-date technology to better the dental health of our patients.

Design Criteria: Dental Equipment

Spodak Dental Group has found that one of the main reasons patients don’t receive dental care is because of the fear associated with visiting the dentist, leaving them to correlate the sights, sounds and smells of a dental office with pain, fear and anxiety. This dental facility was built to combat those fears and provide the patient with an extremely comfortable experience. Each of the 18 operatories features a heating, massage chair, modern equipment and an overhead monitor for entertainment and music. Team members are able to make future appointments, take payment and schedule same-day consultations for their patients while they are comfortably reclined in the chair. The Oral and Maxillofacial department, which includes three surgical suites, has all of the necessary equipment similar to that of a hospital emergency room and affords the patients undergoing treatment a complete range of care, and allows the doctors to prepare for the best- and worst-case scenarios. Each piece of dental equipment utilized in the office, including digital scanning systems, iTero scanning machine, Cerec machine, etc., was put in place to offer the patient with the highest level of care in the safest environment. There are no foreseeable dental equipment upgrades or additions as the facility is less than a year old and the most advanced equipment was put in place when built. However, our mission to provide our patients with the best comprehensive dental care means we will always implement the newest technology.

Design Criteria: Ergonomics

The new facility was built to improve the ease of performing dentistry, which continues the mission to provide the best comprehensive dental care. Extreme detail was placed on the overall layout of the facility and how it would benefit the patients and team. The entire facility features an open and transparent layout, designed in such a way that the patients feel connected not only to the team but also to the environment. This progressive design allowed for floor-to-ceiling windows in each operatory, hallway and entrance, which not only allowed for immense natural lighting but also a calming element for the patient who might have to undergo rigorous dental treatment. The doctors’ niche is an open space where patients can see doctors reviewing, planning for, and collaborating on different cases. All four consultation rooms are sprinkled throughout the facility and feature glass doors, frosted glass windows and Solatubes, which further the biophilic design and healing elements. There are also mini labs located close to each wing of the building where doctors and assistants can make quick, small revisions to a patient’s crown, night guard, etc., which saves the patient’s time. The sterilization lab features non-toxic sterilization solutions and the most-up-to-date machines, including a Miele instrument washer and autoclave steamers, which offers a two-step process to double sterilize all instruments. This lab was placed just off the center of the facility so patients can see the efforts of the practice to promote a healthy environment.

Design Criteria: Aesthetics

Simply put, the facility was designed as an antithesis to the average dental office. Every effort was made to construct a building that didn’t look like a dental office and didn’t operate like one either. The major focus of the design process included abundant natural lighting and transparency, with a strong emphasis on patient care and the environment. The roughly 13,000 square foot facility was constructed in a mere eight months, but the planning, development and launch took more than two years. The progressive design allows for 90 percent natural lighting throughout the space, a high-quality air purification system and numerous measures to create a comfortable dental experience for the patient at every visit. Innovative design tactics were also implemented in the interior of the facility with the purpose of enhancing the patient experience. The idea was to craft a facility that would comfort patients organically while they received the dental care they needed medically. Lush vegetation was also planted around the facility to offer an exterior area of respite, and also a calming visual while in the building. The facility exudes unique and different elements inside and out, with the progressive design benefitting not only the patients and team members but also the environment. Building an environmentally conscious facility was a predominant factor for the design, as the goal of the practice is to not only better the quality of life for each patient but also to minimize the effects on the environment.

Design Advice: Dental Technology

The Spodak Dental Group has been providing superior dental care to the Delray Beach community since 1976. The main purpose of building the new, state-of-the-art biophilic facility was to continue to provide an elevated level of care, and be able to help more patients. A dental office considering remodeling or building should consider where they want to be in the future. We focused on building a comprehensive dental facility to house all dental specialties, an on-site lab, a modern sterilization lab, and a large team to assist and administer, in order to provide for the patient now and in the future. Another factor would be to consider what features you want to offer. Our goal was to re-imagine what a dental office could be as a progressive healthcare facility. We knew we wanted to reach Gold LEED certification, offer a healing, biophilic design, and create a welcoming environment for the patients. Perceptions play a part as well, so the owner should focus on how to make sure patients view the intended methods. Through our environmentally-friendly design factors, we were able to offer the same rates we had in our old office, which was half the size. This helped to let patients know that even though we were expanding, it was all in their best interest. The main focus should be how you can deliver the best care to your patients. Always keep their needs first and continually strive to exceed their expectations.