Summit Dental is a family owned and operated business. Dr. Samson and his wife, Monica, are lifelong residents of the Gallatin Valley and she works side-by-side with him as his office manager.
Dr. Samson believes a healthy and bright smile plays an important role in building confidence. The practice strives to build their patients’ confidence and provide them with the quality care they deserve.
Summit Dental (BozemanDentalCare.com) is a family owned and operated business. Dr. Samson and his wife, Monica, are lifelong residents of the Gallatin Valley and she works side-by-side with him as his office manager. Dr. Samson believes a healthy and bright smile plays an important role in building confidence. The practice strives to build their patients’ confidence and provide them with the quality care they deserve.
Wooden beams help guide the patient to the reception counter in the lobby complete with ample seating and a nook for children.
Making a Positive Difference
A general practice treating patients of all ages, Summit Dental provides all aspects of dental treatment, with an emphasis on customer service. The clinic’s mission is to make a positive difference in the community by offering the highest quality, individualized dental care. The doctors and staff are committed to understanding their patients’ needs and exceeding their expectations.
The golden rule sums up Dr. Samson’s practice philosophy: “I have always lived my life according to the golden rule: I treat everyone I meet as I would want to be treated,” he says.
Steady Growth
Dr. Samson has been in practice since 2008 and began his own “start-up” practice in Bozeman in 2012. In 2018, he moved the practice to a new location because they had outgrown their office space. They now have enough space for their 12 employees, including associate dentist, Dr. Chandra Tweet, to serve their 5,000 active patients. They are currently setting up a second location in Ennis, Montana, about 50 miles away.
Patient Base Grows to Incredible Number
When Dr. Samson began his practice in Bozeman in 2012, he found a small office that had originally been a dental office, but had been empty for a while. There was enough space in the office for three operatories. “My wife, Monica, my longtime assistant, Chelsea, and I set up two operatories and prayed the phone would ring,” he says.
Within a year, they hired two additional employees and were busy enough to set up the third operatory. They remained at that location for five more years before moving into their new office. “Our patient base had grown to an incredible number and we were ready to move to a larger space,” says Dr. Samson.
How Bozeman Growth has Affected the Practice
“Bozeman is an incredible part of the world,” says Dr. Samson. “With the success of our practice, coupled with Bozeman’s growing population, in six years, we went from a 1,200 SF office with three operatories to a 2,800 SF office with eight operatories.”
Goal to Use Tried and True Technology
When deciding on equipment, “I wanted to equip my new office with the best equipment,” he says. ”We wanted to utilize all of the ‘tried and true’ technology that exists and have a very modern practice. We outfitted the entire office with A-dec equipment. We also have Gendex digital sensors, KaVo CBCT, DigiDoc cameras in each operatory, utilize a laser for periodontal treatment, Tech-Scan for occlusal equilibration, have nitrous oxide in every operatory, and utilize electric handpieces and ultrasonic scalers.”
Many Improvements with New Equipment
The new equipment improved many things in the new office. Dr. Samson describes improvements that include patient education and diagnosis with digital radiographs; implant placement, endodontic treatment outcomes, and diagnosing with a CBCT; patient education with DigiDoc intraoral cameras; efficiency and patient comfort with the Isodry system; periodontal treatment with laser; and greatly improved patient comfort with A-dec patient chairs.
Five New Operatories Increased Production Significantly
Dr. Samson added five additional operatories in the new office. “With an increased number of operatories, our office production has significantly increased,” he says. But along with an increase in production, he adds, “We also have had a significant increase in costs associated with a larger dental practice and running a business.”
Montana-inspired elements, like the log wall shown opposite the operatory chair, are sprinkled through the operatories featuring A-dec equipment in complementary tones.
Exceptional Care for More People & Plans for 2nd Location
“Our expanded practice has allowed us the ability to provide exceptional care for more people,” says Dr. Samson. “In eight years, we have gone from two employees to 12, two operatories to eight, and are adding a second location.”
An Incredible Investment
“I chose to reinvest in a beautiful new office with top-notch equipment,” says Dr. Samson. “I see this as an incredible investment to provide an exceptional work environment for my staff and a wonderful place to provide excellent patient care.”
Advice for Those Considering Expansion
Dr. Samson has the following advice for those who are considering expanding or building a new office:
- Have a plan
- Make sure you are in an area that can sustain a larger/new practice
- Choose a good location that is convenient for patients
- Surround yourself with an incredible team (staff, equipment specialist, supply specialist, architect, contractor)
- Give yourself plenty of time; these projects do not happen overnight
Inside Scoop
Dr. William Samson
William Samson grew up in Three Forks, Montana, 30 miles from his current practice in Bozeman. He graduated from Montana State University in 2002 and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2008. Following dental school, he attended a general practice residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and served three years as the dental director of the Bullhook Health Center in Havre, Montana.
A longtime volunteer and donor in the dental field, he is past president of the Sixth District Dental Society, current representative for the Sixth District to the Montana Dental Association Board of Directors, and is involved in the Sealants for Smiles program that provides free dental screenings and sealants to school-aged children. He also advances his clinical knowledge by attending several local dental study clubs.
Photo by Monica Samson
Dentists
2
Staff
12
Active Patients
5,000
New Patients/Month on Average
24
Services
All aspects of dentistry for both children and adults
Focus/Specialty
General Dentistry
Mission
To make a positive difference in our community by offering the highest quality, individualized dental care.
Vision
To promote comprehensive dental care built on mutual trust, confidence, and an exceptional patient experience, through all of life’s stages.
Practice Size
1,200 Sq. Ft (Original) & 2,800 Sq. Ft (New Space)
Operatories
3 (Original) & 8 (New Space)
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Written by Denise Ploof
Photos by DA Photography
Published in Catalyst – Spring/Summer 2020.
Category: Office Planning & Design
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