Ash welcomes Dustin Long of Big Sky Construction to talk about building dental offices from the ground up. Dustin brings decades of experience and shares what sets dental office construction apart from other building projects. He emphasizes the importance of a collaborative process that starts months before the first wall goes up, involving real estate brokers, CPAs, designers, and other professionals to ensure each practice fits both the client’s immediate and future goals.

They cover the full journey, from picking the right location and working through lease negotiations to tailoring the practice to match the dentist’s vision and workflow. Dustin and Ash also discuss common pitfalls—like hiring non-specialized contractors—and how mistakes in pre-planning can lead to costly corrections and lost income. They stress the benefit of relying on specialized teams and trusted advisors throughout the process and share a story of a client who narrowly avoided disaster by sticking with dental-specific experts.

To find out more about Dustin, you can connect with him at: www.BigSkyConstruction.com, email him at dlong {at} bigskyconstruction.com or call him at 206-259-0936.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Importance of creating a seamless and enjoyable construction experience
• The critical pre-construction planning phase (6–9 months before building starts)
• Working with real estate brokers, CPAs, designers, and equipment reps
• Assessing existing spaces for suitability and hidden costs
• Customizing design based on the dentist’s present and future goals
• Differences between dental office construction and generic builds
• Risks of using non-specialist or inexpensive contractors
• Importance of precise measurements and planning
• Financial planning, including working capital and lender selection
• How a team of specialized advisors can help avoid costly mistakes
• Stories of clients who benefited from using dental-specific experts
• The value of study clubs and peer learning in the dental community