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ePaper created 2017-04-26, 09:36:31 | version 1.38.0
science & practice “Good design will pay off” An interview with Drs Mona Patel and Marcus Riedl (cid:132) Just as in dentistry in general, where aesthetic aspects are becom- ing ever more important, dentists to- day are pursuing intentional design of their dental practices. With the launch of four new design lines, Dentsply Sirona Treatment Centers presents dentists with the opportu- nity to enhance workflows and treat- ment efficacy through clever and cutting-edge solutions while convey- ing their individual style. today in- ternational spoke with German den- is increasingly significant. I think it is just as important as the type of equip- ment that one purchases or the insur- ance one carries, because image is ev- erything. In my opinion, the design of the practice is a direct reflection of how one provides care as a dentist. This correlation was not present in previous generations, but it is now. Dr Marcus Riedl: I can speak for Germany and I think design as- pects were mostly neglected in the age, so we need to create an environ- ment that first and foremost has a calming, spa-like feel and reduces our patients’ anxiety when they walk through the door. Secondly, in my practice, I wanted the design to be ev- idently smart, because that reflects my meticulous personality. I equipped the whole office with Dentsply Sirona products—in fact, it was the first all- Dentsply Sirona office in the US. I wanted to showcase the high-tech equipment and design a nice, simple (cid:24) Drs Mona Patel and Marcus Riedl in talks with today international. (cid:24) Impressions from Dr Patel’s practice in Milwaukee in the US. tist Dr Marcus Riedl and Dr Mona Patel from the US, both of whom have ensured careful design of their practice environment based on their needs and preferences with a Dentsply Sirona line, about the role of aesthetics in daily dental practice. today international: Design can con- vey emotions and distinguish a den- tal practice from others. In your opinion, what relevance does design have in this regard? Dr Mona Patel: In the US mar- ket, it has not played an important role for a long time. Now, with the newer generation of dentists, design past. Now, the influence of design in our practices is increasing. One has to consider that we spend almost half of our lives in our practice, so we should feel comfortable. For example, I love the mountains, skiing and the atmo- sphere of the Alps. Incorporating this love for nature into the design of my practice gives me a holiday feel at work. When deciding on a particular de- sign or the overall look of your prac- tice, what did you put special em- phasis on? Patel: Dental anxiety is a huge component of what we have to man- (cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:3)Susanne Schmidinger, Director Product Management Treatment Centers, Dr Marcus Riedl and Dr Mona Patel. 6 SCANDEFA 2017 office around that—not to compete with the equipment, but to enhance it. Riedl: For many of our patients, the design aspect is just an outer shell, since they come to us for the content. We designed our practice for patients to feel at home. When they come into the office, they do not see any units at first. As for dental pho- bia, in my opinion, reducing anxiety mainly is the responsibility of the staff. However, a calming atmosphere is a great support, of course. Patel: In health care, whole-body awareness and preventative health are becoming ever more important. A practice today is not just about treat- ing tooth pain, but about establishing a dental home, creating a place where patients can establish a relationship with their dentist and their hygiene team. Dentsply Sirona has developed four different design worlds: Embellished Elegance, Cheerful Patterns, Honest Materials and Pure Shapes. Which one did you decide on and why? Patel: We chose Honest Materi- als because our practice has all this enhanced digital technology, which can be intimidating. I wanted to bal- ance this digital aspect of our prac- tice with natural and organic materi- als. We have a lot of birch and wood— clean, sleek, simple and balanced ma- terials that hopefully move the focus from the equipment. My design in (cid:24) Dr Riedl’s practice in the rural town of Stein in Germany.