The story of a groundbreaking office
It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago that Huszti Dental Care’s new office on Milford Road opened.
It was not the dentist office you may have gone to as a child. It was something completely new. Designed thoughtfully with the patient experience at the forefront of every decision made, it was considered cutting edge and forward-looking when it opened. The office has stood the test of time and remains as patient-centered and modern as the day it opened.
“We put a lot of thought and creativity into this project,” Dr. Huszti said. “Every detail was discussed with the architect and an interior designer to ensure what we wanted to do would be best for everyone who comes into the office. We still hear compliments on it from patients today, even from those who have been coming for years.”
The story behind the design is an interesting one. It started with an article in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 1999 by architect Geri True and Michael Unthank, who was not only a dentist, but also an architect. His idea was that a properly designed dental office has many benefits from creating an enjoyable workspace for dentists and their staff, to providing a relaxing environment for patients, to becoming a marketing tool for the practice. And everything — from the paint color to the lighting to the furniture to the littlest details — contributes to creating the experience.
“We liked what he was saying and felt he was right,” Dr. Huszti continued. “So we found the perfect spot to erect The Huszti Building, and have our new offices as the primary tenant.”
Perhaps the signature feature of the office is the way the dental chairs are positioned overlooking some of Milford’s most pastoral views. The large windows ensure ample natural light, which brightens the mood of everyone from patients to the staff. Full of wildlife, grasses and flowering trees, this sight is protected wetlands and can never be built upon.
The beauty of the Milford landscape is also present on the interior walls, where a collection of the work of photographer Ted Nelson, titled “The Nature of Kensington,” hangs.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are the things patients will not see: the instruments used during exams. In most dental offices, the tray of instruments are in full view of the patient, which causes anxiety in many people. Instruments are easily accessed by the hygienists and dentists on a tray behind, and out of view of, the patient. This helps patients focus not on the instruments, but on the beauty around them.
Our staff takes great pride in our office and we often see them taking patients on little tours, pointing out important details and their favorite views. They treat our office like their home and ensure everyone is comfortable in it.
But there is an added bonus. When COVID-19 shut down so many dental offices and new sanitizing practices were instituted, we were ahead of the game. Our sterilization area and the protocols we had been using for many years were as advanced, if not more advanced, than what was recommended after we were allowed to open.
You can see our office in this video. Make an appointment, and you can come in and see it in person and see how relaxing dental care in a well-thought-out office can be.