By Dr. Negaar Sagafi
Serendipity.
The textbook definition of this word is “the development of events in a happy or beneficial way.” Some people might simply call this concept “good timing.”
In March 2020, when state and local health orders (and common sense) dictated that I stop serving patients, it seemed like particularly awful timing. I was relatively new to the Washington, D.C. area and was trying to build not one, but two practices. Dentists and orthodontists are small businesses. We have employees who depend on us and we are also trying to support our own families. It is estimated that employment in dentists’ offices in April 2020 was less than half of what it had been just three months earlier. There was no revenue because we could not serve the community.
I fretted about whether my practices would survive. I worried about keeping my wonderful staff. But I also knew I had to push toward the future. I had to believe that events would unfold in a way that would benefit my patients and employees.
They did. Just 16 months after shutdown orders went into place, I’m opening the second of two renovated offices.
When the pandemic began, I was in the middle of rehabbing my Spring Valley location. I also had secured permits for the renovation of my Bethesda office. Instead of shutting down construction (which was an essential industry during COVID), we proceeded.
It was scary. Not only did we not know when we would be allowed to serve patients again, we ran into the same rising costs and supply chain delays that families who were building and renovating homes did. Are you still waiting for that couch you ordered back in January? Ikea’s division in the United States ran out of the cabinets we had selected. The manufacturer that made component parts for my patient chairs went out of business.
While the headaches were real, the gamble also was serendipitous.
The Spring Valley site was ready almost to the day in May 2020 that officials in Washington, D.C. lifted restrictions on nonessential medical and dental care. My staff and I could welcome patients back into a brand new, spotless environment. I am so grateful for the patients and families who started out in Bethesda, but trekked across the Maryland-D.C. line to see us.
The Bethesda office renovation was originally estimated to take just five to six months. Instead it took 14. But this month we open the doors to our beautiful space near Bethesda Row. It is light and bright and I hope it reflects the optimism that most of us are feeling at this moment.
When patients and parents walk into these spaces I not only want them to feel welcome. I want them to feel energized. That is why you will see a lot of pop art and primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) in my offices.
The red represents my passion for what I do and my love for my patients. Yellow is associated with joy. Most people probably would not list the orthodontist’s office as their “happy place,” but we definitely take pride and joy in what we do. The blue? While some people associate this hue with sadness, interior designers regard it as one of the most soothing shades on the color wheel.
You will also see that painted over the doors of my personal office are the words “Creativity in Action.” This space is where I do everything from answer email to puzzle over tough cases to discuss best practices and new innovations with colleagues over Zoom. This phrase really is my mission statement. I approach orthodontics as a scientist and a researcher. I always want to stay active and engaged. I am always trying to learn something new. I believe people must always ask themselves if there is a better way to do our work and that we must push ourselves to be creative when times are tough.
I cannot wait to welcome you to our these beautiful spaces. The last year and a half has not been easy, but we persisted through it so we could serve you better. Come see us!
