Three practices honored for excellence in office design

SAN ANTONIO - Attention dentists: Did you know those fancy couches and cabinets can get you more than just compliments? They can also bring you fame and fortune. Well, sort of.

Three practices were honored for design excellence at Matsco's 9th Annual Dental Office Design Competition at the ADA Annual Session on Friday.

The office design competition, sponsored by Matsco, Dental Economics, and ADA Member Advantage, awards prizes for dental office of the year (small and group practice), as well as outstanding achievement awards in the categories of design efficiency, systems and high-tech integration, specialty practice, and new dentist practice (first practice owned by a dentist or group of dentists who graduated from dental school since January 1998). Next year a new category will be added to the mix: green office.

There were 48 entries for the 2008 competition, according to the ADA. Dr. Joe Blaes, editor-in-chief of Dental Economics, and Allison Farey, president of Matsco, announced the winners during the ADA meeting today.

New dentist practice -- Dr. Robert Grillo, South Windsor, CT

Dental office of the year (small practice) -- Dr. Terrance Swonke, Swonke Family Dentistry, Woodlands, TX

A beaming Dr. Swonke said his office design was a seven-year project.

"It was one my most worthwhile endeavors, that ended with the best results," he said. "I wanted to change the mold in dental office design and come up with a new concept of office space."

Dental office of the year (group practice) and specialty practice (two separate awards) -- Dr. Mark Kogut, Dr. Alejandra Villaseñor, and Dr. Barrie Choate, for their pediatric and orthodontic practice in Dallas

Dr. Kogut said their office took three to four years from concept to completion.

"The aim was to create a space where we could establish a relationship with outpatients," he said. "We have a large number of consultation rooms."

Dr. Joe Blaes and Allison Farey announced the winners of Matsco's 9th Annual Dental Office Design Competition.

There were no winners for the design efficiency and systems and high-tech integration categories because the judges felt none of the submitted entries were eligible.

All of the offices were built or renovated between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007. The judging panel comprised dental practice design and management experts and practitioners. The winners will enjoy a $2,500 bonus marketing fund and media exposure.

"The original objective of the Dental Office Design Competition was to engage, educate, and contribute value to the dental community," said Trevor Barlow, manager of tradeshows and events at Matsco.

Sponsors conceived it as an educational platform for discovering and recognizing the latest and greatest in dental office design, he added. For dentists it is an opportunity to show their practice and be acknowledged by both their peers and industry experts.

"The Dental Office Design Competition recognizes dental facilities that most effectively express the practice philosophy of its practitioner(s) and demonstrate a thoughtful assembly of design characteristics associated with an up-to-date dental facility," according to the company.