When patients walk into Celestial Dental, they feel like they’re in a museum rather than a dental practice—and that type of distraction is exactly what Dr. Antonio Calascibetta had in mind when designing the practice.

Patients are drawn into the space theme that’s carried throughout the office, with stars, galaxies, moons, planets and rockets there for them to explore. The design elements are both educational and fun for patients, while the small footprint and various technologies incorporated throughout the office create an efficient workflow. The theme is engaging and the design functional, and that’s why Celestial Dental is 2021’s Best Looking Dental Office.

“There are space-related imagery and models all over the practice, and it has genuinely made my patients feel at ease, with many of them saying ‘It doesn’t even feel like a dental office in here,’” Dr. Calascibetta said. “I think that is the ultimate goal all dentists would like to have in managing the anxious patient and making a visit to the office exciting.”

Why a space theme

Dr. Calascibetta has always been fascinated by astronomy and remembers reading about Apollo missions when he was as young as 6 years old. He is “still wowed and humbled by the greatness of the universe,” so it just made sense to combine his passion for astronomy with his passion for dentistry when naming his practice.

The theme also can be appreciated by anyone, he said, and “detracts from the more obvious things you'd expect to come from a dental office.” Patients love it, but of course it’s the “warmth and compassion they feel” from Dr. Calascibetta and his team that keeps them coming back.

Designing the Office

There’s a lot to take in when visiting Celestial Dental. Patients are immediately greeted by curated images captured by NASA’s Hubble Telescope, including the Milky Way Galaxy and Mars. Twelve astronomical objects are displayed in the main hallway, with the SpaceX Falcon waiting at the end. All seven operatories are named after influential American space programs, with the signs out front showcasing the associated planet or planets. The rockets that initiated the programs are displayed outside the operatory, while images captured by rovers or probes decorate the walls inside.

A lot of thought went into this design, and many people were part of the process, Dr. Calascibetta said. His general contractor and chief marketing officer, who happen to be his father Carmelo and sister Bianca, were the most involved in creating the practice’s unique look and feel.

Some of Dr. Calascibetta’s mentors also provided inspiration, and helped him determine what worked and what didn’t. And because we wanted to incorporate an entire digital workflow into his office, he also got representatives from Patterson Dental involved.

All the work put in has paid off for his patients and his practice.

“In designing my office, I made it as efficiently as possible, and I utilize all sorts of technology to keep my costs down,” he said. “As a result, my UCR fees are the lowest in the area with my in-house membership plan, but the practice runs optimally at ~50% overhead because of the systems we have in place. As technology has become more prevalent in my office, we've become more profitable and I've been far more charitable with treatment.”