design feature

Dr. Kara Mason's . New York City practice IS a true one-woman show

that's focused on patient care without distractions.

52 06 • incisal edge 4

"I love my staff," said Dr. Mason. "They're part of why I'm excited

about getting here in the morning."

'" feel like I'm final!>, where' want to be," said Dr. Kara Mason, refiecting on the Manhattan practice she created with help from Benco Dental. When Dr. Mason says "final~," she means it. She worked hard and negotiated a few sharp

turns to get where she is. In fact, in co'llege, she was headed in an entire~

different direction - law.

"I was a pre-law srudenc ar Indiana Universiry when my bio pro­

fessor rold me I should swirch majors," she recalled. "I rhoughr,

fine, bur whar will I do wirh a bio degree?" Her friends suggesred

denrisuy, and it was a perfect march.

Dr. Mason, who was also pursuing a minor in an, found rhe bal­

ance of art and science in cosmeric dencisrry ro be an ideal fir for her personaliry. She wenc on ro receive her D.M.D. summa cum

laude from Fairleigh Dickinson Universiry before complering a

residency ar Mr. Sanai.

Dr. Mason quickly builr a loyal parienc base, firsr as an associ­

are and larer, while renting space from another dencisr. Neirher

siruarion was ideal. "Those offices didn'r really reflecr who I

was," she said. "I really wanced ro be in a posirion ro creare my

own environmenr - nor jusr rhe decor, bur rhe encire philoso­phy."

Two years ago, she ser our ro rake canuo!. "I didn't wanr any

parmers. My philosophy was ro keep ir simple," she explained.

So she renred a space of her own in rhe very same building where she was already sharing space. Then she enlisred rhe help of

Richard Kornblau, one of Benco Denral's Insire office designers. She also cansulred with an archirecr. "They borh came back wirh similar plans," she said, "but Rick's was bener in rerms of space

Amid the A-dec chairs and flat-panel monitors, operatories are decorated with Dr. Mason's own photography.

06 • incisal edge 4 53

5~[ [~li]t[O t~[ A-DEC • 1040 Radius chairs help of Richard

with plush upholstery Kornblau, one of Benco Dental's Insite• 2122 Radius traditional

delivery systems office designers, She also consulted with

• Radius 7285 cuspidors an architect. "They

• 1601 doctor's stools both came back with similar plans," she• 1622 assistant's stools said, "but Rick's was

PLANMECA better in terms of • Intraoral x-rays space utilization, I

also had a betterAIR TECHNIQUES working relationship with Benco,"

• Accfaim intraoral camera

PELTON 8: CRANE • Track-mounted lights

MIDMARK • M9 Autoclave

A curved desk, subtly accented with a marble top, "opens up" the reception area.

milization. I also had a bener work­ in terest, while sliding glass doors

ing relationship with Benco." provide a private gateway to the

operarories without visually con­

There were compromises due to fining them.

limited space - most norably, a

reception area that's not as big as Colors and textiles were selected

Dr. Mason would like - but in personally by Dr. Mason, and th" the end, she was able ro find resulting look is decidedly upscale

room for three operarories, a pri­ yet unpretentious. Two years afrc vate office and a lab. if the final her grand opening, the office

result feels more spacious than ir hardly looks lived in. That's a t ­

is, it's probably because of the tament to the quality materials.

rich-looking architectural details From hotel-grade carpets to mar­

that Dr. Mason insisted on. The ble countertops and tile floors,

curving reception desk, for each was carefully chosen became

instance, lacks the severe angles of of its luxurious looks and inher

a traditional desk and as result, durability. Other upscale touch

imparts a softer feel to the room. include XM satellite radio and

Crown moldings, domed ceilings LCD monitors that double as [~e-

and soffits add plenty of visual vlSlons.

Benco designer Richard Kornblau designed a plan to optimize space in the tight floorplan.

One of the things I've lear~ed about practicingdentIstry is to check your ego at the door," said Dr. Mason. "No matter how confident you are, or how good you think you are, listening to patients is an essential part of providing the best treatment."

Dr. Mason's operacories fearure rhe besr of everyrhing, includ­

ing A-dec Radius chairs, Air Techniques inrraoral cameras

and KaVo handpieces. Despire rhe prevailing wisdom, Dr.

Mason decided co remporarily resisr going digiral. "I wanred

rhe oprion of going digiral in rhe furure," she said, "bur ar rhe

same rime, I didn'r wanr ro inregrare an enrire suire of new

rechnologies all a[ once."

The caurious approach suirs Dr. Mason for now. Afrer all, ir's

rhar same approach rhar helped her build a pracrice enrirely

rhrough word-of-mourh referrals. Today, she rrears·a largely

whire-collar c1ienrele rhar demands rhe fmesr in cosmeric den­

risrry. Her parienrs range from fashion designers and fi.[mmal,ers

ro corporare financiers and execurives. They're rhe kind of peo­

ple who appreciare Dr. Mason's undersrared approach ro excel­

lence.

"One of rhe rhings I've learned abour pracricing dentisrry is ro

check your ego ar rhe door," said Dr. Mason. "No marrer how

confidenr you are, or how good you rhink you a.re, lisrening ro

patients is an essenrial parr of providing rhe besr rrearmenr." Ir's

a senrimenr rhar sums up her approach ro pracricing and also

accounrs for her success wirh an upscale parienr base rhar's

accusromed ro upscale rrearmenr and qualiry. "Pracricing solo is

a wonderful way ro go .. .I don'r have ro worry abour conflicrs

wirh partners, I can mainrain low overhead and I gel' ro enjoy

rhe lifesryle I wanr."

Thar means spending plenry of rime wirh her rwo children and

her husband, Joe, ar home in suburban Wesrchesrer Counry.

She pracrices rhree days a week, commuring ro rhe ciry CO rrear

parienrs from 8:30 a.m. ro 5 p.m. She also renrs space ro anorh­

er donor on the days she's nor working. All in all, ir's an

uncompromising approach ro life. Her parienrs ger rhe besr

rrearmenr. Her family gers her full anenrion. And her pracrice

finally reflecrs rhe denrisr she has become. Like orher grear solo

aers, hers doesn'r require any supporring players.•

Details like the dome above Dr. Mason's reception area add architectural interest.