Building your dental practice from the ground up: Tips from Dr. Jason Adinata

The first impression of your practice is conveyed through the environment, so don’t leave design as an afterthought. For this, Dr. Adinata collaborated with local architects at Prop Architecture Opens in a new window.. He focused on selecting materials, lighting, and acoustics to offer a creative and calming atmosphere for patients and staff. Local art reflects Toronto culture and strategic layouts make the space functional and friendly. He explained, “We created a modern amenity-driven space that welcomes patients with open arms, making them feel like they are part of a family.”

Patients determine your success, so designing the space, care and practice around their needs is crucial. At 416 Dentistry, this meant working with engineers to leverage technology to manage aerosols during the pandemic. “With our patients’ safety and well-being at the forefront of all our decisions, we moved away from traditional open concept layout and instead design enclosed operatories with doors that are negative pressure rooms, feature surgically clean air medical-grade air purifiers in each operatory, engineered centralized HEPA and carbon air purification systems,” Dr. Adinata said. “We also invested in the Vistaclear submicron water filtration system.”

For his team, it’s also about connection and care beyond the dental chair through community charity and patient relationships. “The 416 in 416 Dentistry represents more than just a geographical location, it is about the people and making our patients feel a sense of belonging,” Dr. Adinata explained.

Share your personal experience to help patients get to know the person behind the dentist and bring personality to your practice. Dr. Adinata shares his journey on social media, leading to exciting industry collaborations, roles as a Canadian Ambassador and Key Opinion Leader (KOL), and media features. Candidly sharing the step by step process of building 416 Dentistry sparked local and global connections. His storytelling has given back to the practice, industry and community — and it’s just the beginning. He explained, “With the support of CIBC, 416 Dentistry will be hosting students for an event to share my journey and educate them on life after dental school. I am a firm believer that a high tide raises all boats and we all have to work together to elevate the dental profession as a whole.”

Challenge the negative stigma surrounding dentistry by defining your own approach that emphasizes your team’s strengths. The 416 Dentistry team takes a collaborative approach, envisioning their role as oral health coaches and trainers who are partners in every patients’ individual smile journey. “Once we understand each patient’s goals, our recommendations go beyond dental visits and includes patient education that will allow them to invest in the right tools and make the necessary lifestyle changes at home,” Dr. Adinata explained.

Social media is a wonderful tool to connect with clients and share your brand with the world. Dr. Adinata leverages social platforms to offer patient education beyond office hours. “It’s a magical moment when patients get excited about their oral health,” Dr. Adinata said. “We want to be able to share this experience with as many people as possible but unfortunately in a clinical setting, the limiting factor is that each of our team members can see one patient at a time. This is where we found social media has been effective by amplifying our voice.” People around the world learn more about their oral health by following @416Dentistry on Instagram Opens in a new window..

Beyond the dentist, the dental hygienists, administrative team and operations personnel create a positive experience for every patient. Dr. Adinata advises that building this team is important from the start. “Setting the proper foundation will help set you up for success in the future,” he said. “This involves building relationships with people in the industry that share a similar vision and who are willing to hear your story and who believe in your vision.”

For dental students or new grads looking to start their own firms, Dr. Adinata advises staying curious and being authentic. “Stay passionate, remain humble and always strive to excel at your craft,” he said. “Be yourself and create an individualized experience. Allow your practice to be a reflection of who you are and the people that you work with. Take care of people, treat people how you would want to be treated and the rest will take care of itself.”

This article was originally published in October 2021.