ADA announces 2022 Design Innovation Award winners

Judges from the ADA Council on Dental Practice, ADA Member Advantage and BMO Harris Bank have announced the winners of the 2022 ADA Design Innovation Awards competition, recognizing dental practices that seamlessly combine esthetic appeal, function and design.

The judges selected three finalists in each category in September, posted those entries online with photos and floor plans, and opened voting to the dental community. This year's competition reached a new high in voter participation, with nearly 30% more people voting to select the winning practices Oct. 1-31.

The winner in the New Build Category was Seven Bridges Dental Studio in Woodridge, Illinois. Pure Dental in Buffalo, New York, secured the top spot in the Large New Build Category. Jeffery S. Kahler, D.D.S., received top honors in the Remodel Category.

The winners will receive a $1,000 prize. Watch for profiles of the winners and finalists coming soon at the ADA Design Innovation Awards website, ADA.org/DIA.

Seven Bridges Dental Studio

Woodridge, Illinois

Fariha Querishi, D.M.D.

Winner, New Buildout Category

Vision: To give patients a comfortable, spa-like experience

Design style: Modern with a touch of natural accents

Key features: Heated massage dental chairs and other spa amenities, plus a focus on giving back to the community through a charitable organization

Advice: "Do what you know works well for you and spend some time working in a similar environment so you can see what you like and dislike before you build your own space."

Throughout the planning and building process, Dr. Querishi envisioned a spa-like space where her patients would feel comfortable and pampered, so their dental visits could be as stress free as possible.

"I wanted the space to feel almost homelike and for patients to feel like they are visiting family when they enter the practice," she said. "My goal was to combine excellent dental care, modern esthetics and luxury creature comforts."

Pure Dental

Buffalo, New York

Keith Vibert, D.D.S.

Winner, Large New Buildout Category

Vision: To provide the highest-quality care at an affordable cost

Design style: Modern with bold contrasts in color and luxurious texture

Key features: State-of-the-art technologies and in-house laboratory in a relaxing and professional environment

Advice: "Our vision as a company has been to utilize the latest 3D technology in dentistry, which allows us to give our patients the best possible care at a more affordable price. The end goal is always to provide more access to dental care and make life better for people in our communities."

"We constructed a new building from scratch, and then I gave [the design team] some basic parameters on the technologies I wanted to incorporate and ideas about how the office should flow and function," Dr. Vibert said. "They really took it to the next level. The result is a high-end design that is warm and comfortable for patients but streamlines all of the care we provide in-house to give them more efficient and affordable care."

Jeffery S. Kahler, D.D.S.

Templeton, California

Winner, Remodel Category

Vision: To resolve the pain points of his previous office and create a memorable experience for patients

Design style: Elegant and whimsical, featuring African safari lodge decor

Key features: Triple the space of the old practice, with streamlined design, state-of-the-art technology and an atmosphere that transports patients to another culture

Advice: "The practice flows seamlessly because we had been there in our minds first and worked out potential problems ahead of time on paper with the architect, designer, builder, dentists, staff and friends."

"When people walk through the door for the first time, it's a jaw-dropping experience for them," Dr. Kahler said. "We wanted the reception room to feel like a comfortable family room. We wanted our patients to feel comfortable from the start, in an environment that is less like a typical dental or medical office."