When Dr. Justin Smutz acquired a 40-year-old dental practice in his hometown of Arvada, Colorado, he evaluated the facility and determined that incremental updates would not meet his goals. The building, described as full of “a lot of love,” was otherwise dated in nearly every respect. Because the location aligned with where he wanted to practice long-term, Dr. Smutz elected to gut the building and rebuild the practice from the studs up.
This foundational decision set the scope for a comprehensive remodel rather than a cosmetic facelift. The approach prioritized creating clinical workflows, equipment layouts, and patient spaces designed for contemporary dentistry and long-term durability.
The remodeled practice, now operating as Smiles by Design, reflects a complete transformation of the original space. Every inch of the office was reworked to support modern clinical care and staff efficiency. Design priorities included functional clinical zones, updated finishes, and areas that support both patient experience and team operations.
A central theme in the redesign was marrying form and function: creating attractive patient-facing spaces while ensuring clinical areas support infection control, laboratory workflows, and daily productivity. Dr. Smutz framed the project as more than cosmetic, aiming to deliver refined, high-end dental services for his community.
Equipment choices were made with longevity and reliability in mind. Dr. Smutz noted that in older practices he had observed, units from certain manufacturers had remained in use for decades. That longevity was an important factor in choosing core clinical equipment.
As a result, the practice was equipped with A-dec units. The decision reflected a belief that durable, serviceable equipment supports the investment of rebuilding a long-standing practice and reduces the need for frequent replacement.
For the large undertaking of turning a dated office into a contemporary practice, Dr. Smutz partnered with Patterson. Patterson’s equipment specialist, Lonnie Gwynn, described Dr. Smutz as “a big picture guy” who had a clear vision; the specialist’s role was to fill in implementation details and coordinate the path to completion.
Patterson’s involvement covered vision-through-delivery services and ongoing support. The team coordinated relationships with chosen vendors, provided technicians qualified to service the installed technology, and handled logistics so that the dentist could focus on clinical priorities rather than day-to-day operational details. The practice also utilized support services referenced as TechEdge to keep operational issues off the owner’s schedule.
Two clinical features singled out in the source for emphasis were the in-house dental laboratory and the dedicated sterilization center. The in-house lab was highlighted by Dr. Smutz as a source of quality control: restorations remain inside the practice’s walls rather than being outsourced.
The sterilization center received particular attention as an oft-overlooked but vital area. The remodel provided staff with adequate space to perform sterilization workflows “the right way,” which improved staff satisfaction and created a point of pride. Dr. Smutz noted that the sterilization area contributes to the practice’s culture by reinforcing that they are bringing friends and family into a safe, well-run environment.
Since completing the renovation and equipment updates, the practice reported notable growth: production has quadrupled. While Dr. Smutz stated he is not primarily driven by numbers, he acknowledged the substantial increase in production.
He frames success more broadly by the ability to deliver high-end dental care in the community he calls home, and by creating an environment where staff take pride in clinical processes and patient care. The remodel’s operational and equipment investments are presented as enablers of those goals.
Dr. Smutz expressed gratitude to his Patterson team after the project concluded, sharing that the completed office exceeded his expectations. Patterson staff recall a phone call in which Dr. Smutz thanked them and said the office was beyond his dream.
The original source also points readers to supplementary materials—specifically a video and an article—for visual and narrative detail about the remodel. Those resources are noted in the source but their content is not reproduced here.
For practices considering similar projects, this case highlights planning decisions that prioritize location, durable equipment such as A-dec, comprehensive vendor partnerships, and attention to functional clinical spaces like sterilization and in-house labs.