Building a Successful Pediatric Practice, From the Ground Up

Dr. Ketan Sukkawala

Dr. Larry Kalke
When Dr. Ketan Sukkawala built his new pediatric dentistry practice, Brazos Valley Pediatric
Dentistry, in College Station, Texas, it was the third time he had partnered with Henry Schein to grow his
practice by building a new office. However, this time the project was different because the office was new
construction, custom built from the ground up! This spectacular office now showcases the high level of care
that Dr. Sukkawala aspires to, while also providing his patients with a colorful and welcoming environment
that is well-designed and efficient.
The 5,600-square-foot office is in an ideal location, within walking distance of both an elementary school and
a middle school and close to a popular community park. As families go about their busy schedules, the
practice is set right in the middle of the places they frequent. Its modern design is distinctive to the area as
well, standing out as a beacon of state-of-the-art care. As an added bonus, the new practice, which opened
in October 2013, is just a block away from the doctors previous location, so it was a relatively easy and
comfortable transition for his existing patients.
Brazos Valley Cares for All Kids in the Community
Dr. Sukkawala began his career in general dentistry, but decided to return to school and specialize in
pediatrics, and subsequently opened Brazos Valley Pediatric Dentistry in 2006. He started in a small
commercial location with just two staff members. He had worked with Henry Schein earlier to equip his
general dentistry practice, and he chose them again to outfit this office. In just two years, he outgrew that
space and relocated to a larger office, working with Henry Schein once again to create the work flow and
choose the technology and equipment. Eventually, as he continued to enjoy success and a growing patient
load, he realized the space was not large enough or configured optimally to provide patients with the best
possible experience.
Construction of the beautif ul new of f ice, just a block f rom the previous location,
took 11 months, and required a well-coordinated partnership
between Henry Schein and the general contractor.
The exterior of the building combines natural stone, metal, and a tower
built f rom insulated panels that had to be put together like a puzzle.
We treat infants, children, teenagers, and kids with special needs, explained Dr. Sukkawala, who receives
referrals regularly from local pediatricians. Kids with special needs have a difficult time finding dental care,
but I enjoy providing care to them, and their parents are very appreciative.
These patients often need special accommodations, such as the use of general anesthesia or quieter
treatment areas, which were not available in the existing office.
The operatories were too small to allow for general anesthesia procedures, said Dr. Sukkawala. Then, in
2011, Dr. Larry Kalke joined the practice, and the lack of space became more pronounced with two doctors
sharing the office. Considering his options, Dr. Sukkawala opted to own his next practice instead of lease
another space, and he wanted it to be unique and carefully planned to put children at ease. When he found
the perfect location just down the street, he decided to move ahead.
Lef t to right: Toby Martel, Equipment Service Technician; Casey Schulin, Equipment Sales Specialist;
Dr. Ketan Sukkawala; Dr. Larry Kalke; Michael Herrin, Regional Manager; Meredith Lucas, Digital Technology Specialist; Chris Bell, Field Sales Consultant
I acquired the land and discussed my development ideas with the city, he remembers. Then, I talked to the
Henry Schein team to look for a designer. I hired the architect and also the general contractor who built my
last office space.
The waiting room is spacious, bright, and colorf ul, a welcoming environment
f or children and their f amilies.
Strong Working Relationship Vital to New Construction Progress
Because the Henry Schein team had worked alongside Dr. Sukkawalas contractor before in his previous
office build, they made a strong team.
Their working relationship was very good, said Dr. Sukkawala. And it was good for me. I didnt have to be
the middle man. The contractor was very conscious of the Henry Schein team specifications, and Casey
Schulin, my Henry Schein Equipment Sales Specialist, was responsive to their needs and was on the job site
frequently.
Mr. Schulin spent a lot of time in collaboration with the architect and contractor, including monthly meetings
in which all of the parties involved would conference to go over details and status of different aspects of the
project. The construction took about 11 months from start to finish, overcoming typical delays that occur
when building. One of the biggest challenges was the construction and installation of the tower.
A separate check-out desk enhances patient privacy and prevents
bottlenecks as patients arrive and depart.
A vibrant mosaic tile wall livens up the waiting room
with a f ull palette of bright colors appealing to children.
The building is built out of structured insulated panels (SIP) that had to be custom fabricated at the factory
and then transported and installed onsite, said Dr. Sukkawala. The tower came in many pieces and was
assembled like a giant puzzle!
Modern Dental Office With a Towering Presence
The tower is a commanding centerpiece of the office, soaring above the rest of the building. It serves as the
practices hygiene bay, with four treatment chairs flanked by televisions for patient entertainment. The tower
is encircled with windows that bring in lots of natural light. Looking up, Dr. Sukkawalas patients enjoy the
oversized solar system mobile, commissioned from an artist in Austin. In addition to the tower treatment area,
there are seven operatories that contain Pelton & Crane cabinetry and Royal chairs. One of the operatories
functions as a surgical suite with Bel-Halo LED Belmont lights, and another is used as a family hygiene suite.
Several brushing stations are scattered throughout the office, keeping bottlenecks at a minimum.
We finally have enough space for both doctors to see patients. It allows one doctor to do a general
anesthesia case while the other doctor maintains his normal treatment and hygiene schedule.
Kid-Friendly Operatories and Equipment
Equipment and operatory needs are slightly different for children when compared with adults, noted Dr.
Sukkawala. Luxurious leather massage chairs give way to chairs that are kid-sized and strong enough to
withstand the rigor of youngsters climbing and jumping.
The tower gives kids plenty to look at while receiving care, like television screens and the custom-designed solar system that f loats above. The room is equipped with Biotec
cabinetry, Royal chairs, and Belmont lights.
Casey understood the environment we were creating, he explains. And he made recommendations that fit
our goals, including the Royal operatory chairs that are functional and durable for kids.
The generous use of brightly colored tile, fabrics, and wall coverings throughout the office creates a friendly
atmosphere that is interactive and engaging. Seventeen different paint colors wash the walls with warmth,
from light tan in the two-story waiting area to bright red in the imaging area! Colorful mosaic tiles and wall art
of beloved childrens TV shows and movies are cheerful, bright, and comforting. Teak and bamboo vinyl
flooring and granite and quartz countertops lend classic beauty against the backdrop of vibrant color.
Waiting Area is a Perfect Space for Kids
In the previous office, the waiting room was cramped with just a handful of chairs, but the waiting room in the
new office is expansive and comfortable and has separate check-in and check-out areas to allow for added
privacy. As a Dentrix user, the doctor upgraded to Dentrix G5 practice management software and uses many
of the main modules, including Power Pay, Insurance Manager, Website Manager, eClaims, and
Demandforce. Soon, the practice will implement Kiosk, another Dentrix feature that allows patients to check
themselves in, freeing up the front desk staff to give more attention to other patient needs and questions.
Kids can enter a space ship which contains game consoles and a porthole to the galaxy outside, or just enjoy the wall art scattered throughout that f eatures some of their
f avorite movies and TV shows.
Although Dr. Sukkawala did not choose a single theme for the office, the space dcor from the tower bay
was the inspiration for a spectacular game room that keeps patients engaged while they wait. Truly one of
the highlights of the practice, the game room has children entering a space ship in which game consoles
are built into the ships seats and a porthole provides a glimpse into the starry galaxy outside.
The sterilization center is a galley style with a separate entrance and exit f or smooth f low f rom dirty to clean. The center is equipped with a Midmark M11 autoclave, SciCan
STATIM, and KaVo QUATTROcare Plus Maintenance System.
The X-ray area includes an Instrumentarium OP30 digital pan and a Progeny Preva intraoral X-ray.
Digital Technology Provides Customized Treatment
Because he had already built several offices with Henry Schein, Dr. Sukkawala was regularly investing in
new equipment throughout his career. With this move, he added an Instrumentarium OP30 digital pan to the
practice. The practice also uses a ScanX digital processor, DEXIS sensor, and NOMAD Pro portable X-ray,
which is especially well-suited for small children and special needs patients. The large sterilization center,
set amid the operatories, is a galley configuration, and it utilizes Midmark equipment and a KaVo
QUATTROcare.
The first reaction by most is that the office is so big, Dr. Sukkawala commented. We finally have enough
space for both doctors to see patients. It allows one doctor to do a general anesthesia case while the other
doctor maintains his normal treatment and hygiene schedule. General routine tasks such as sterilization,
storage, and traffic flow have become a lot easier. For the staff, it has really increased the morale. They are
very proud of the facility and are constantly giving tours.
For those dentists who want to construct a new practice like Brazos Valley Pediatric Dentistry, Dr.
Sukkawala has three main pieces of advice. First, spend a lot of time planning and budgeting. Second, stay
flexible. Do not be too rigid. And finally, assemble a good team that works well together.
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