The ROI on kid-friendly spaces is more compelling than you may think!

It’s a trend that’s on the rise – more and more healthcare providers who work with children are choosing to theme their pediatric offices or add dedicated kids spaces to family-focused practices. The obvious benefit is that these spaces turn out amazing and the office is fun to be in (for all ages), but there is also a very compelling ROI on the investment into kid-friendly theming.

Whether it be a fully themed office, or the addition of some kid-friendly spaces, here is what clients of IDS report as the most important and long-term value they experience:

1. Create Lifelong Benefits in Your Patients

Pediatric patients get to engage in a fun environment, which serves to displace treatment anxiety and helps encourage positive memories associated with care. Patients look forward to their next visit and these positive associations are the foundation for positive health outcomes long term.

Here’s how theming can create lifelong benefits:

• Alleviating Treatment Anxiety
• Encouraging Positive Memories
• Building Trust and Rapport
• Promoting Long-Term Oral Health
• Fostering Patient Loyalty

“It’s less threatening as an environment, so kids are more willing to come in and proceed with their treatments.”

– Ekatrina, dental assistant

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2. Gain Parents’ Trust and Approval 

When patients are at ease, appointments become easier for parents too. They get to relax, knowing their child is having fun in a kids-first environment and, because the experience is beyond their expectations, parents enjoy confidence that they have made the right choice from the moment they walk through the front door. This confidence then helps to drive referrals.

Gain parent’s trust with themed decor:

• Parental Relaxation During Appointments
• Confidence in the Choice of Dental Practice
• Enhanced Trust in the Dental Team
• Positive Referral Behavior
• Strengthening Patient-Provider Relationships

“The waiting room is colorful, whimsical, and has lots of activities and distractions to entertain little ones who are likely anxious and scared of their appointment… I’m very happy we chose to come here and I actually look forward to bringing my son back.”

– Erin L, online review

“The office is decorated awesome which is fun for the kids – lightens the mood when nerves may be a sneaking up on your child. If you’re looking for a dentist whose entire office revolves children; this is the place to go.”

– Charleen L, Online Review

“The entire complex is warm and inviting. There are activities (TV, interactive areas, play corner) to help put the kiddos at ease.”

– Belle W, Online Review

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3. Attract and Retain Happy Staff

It’s not just patients who benefit from a themed environment; your staff does too! A fun and engaging workplace boosts morale, fosters teamwork, and increases productivity. Happy staff members are more motivated to provide exceptional care, leading to better patient outcomes and greater profitability for your practice.

“My first expression walking into my office for an interview was WOW!! I wanted the job at first sight just by how the office appeared.”

– Candace, Practice Administrator

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“The theming has helped in every aspect of the clinic. Hiring pediatricians is no longer a challenge – once they set foot in the facility they want to work here because the decor speaks to our philosophy and dedication to helping kids.”

– Mahwish Baber, Operations Director

Staff get to work in a fun environment with lessened stress, all while getting to watch as families say ‘wow’ when they enter the office. With IDS, there are also time-management benefits built-in, such as I Spy Murals which keep kids occupied as they complete a scavenger hunt within the mural.

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4. Create Brand Differentiation

Brand differentiation refers to the process of distinguishing a product, service, or in this case, a dental practice, from its competitors in the minds of consumers. In the context of a themed dental office, brand differentiation involves creating a unique and memorable experience that sets the practice apart from other dental offices in the area.

Here’s how theming can contribute to brand differentiation:

• Distinctive Visual Identity
• Emotional Connection
• Consistency Across Touchpoints
• Unique Patient Experience
• Attracting Target Audience
• Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Let’s talk more about word-of-mouth referrals.

5. See an Increase in Patient Referrals from Organic Online Marketing

The practice experiences supercharged growth, in part due to the three benefits listed above, and also because it’s an exceptional marketing strategy. There’s no better foundation for a buzz-worthy experience than an IDS-themed environment. To take that a step further, our characters can be used to create the perfect ‘share-worthy’ photo ops inside your office. As parents post these adorable photos on social media every day, your brand benefits from the increased activity and your brand gains access to an online network of parents.

“I would rate the effectiveness of the theming in driving the growth of my practice a 10/10. Without IDS theming we wouldn’t be the talk of the town like we are now.”

– Dr. Michael Lateiner

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And last but not least…

6. More Profit and a Full Schedule!

This ROI speaks for itself:

“We were a brand new office – when we opened we had a full schedule within 6 months.”

– Amy, Office Manager

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“By utilizing theming and patient engagement we are gaining 250 new patients a month with almost no additional external marketing.”

– Dr. Clyde

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“When we first moved in, I had a goal of achieving $1.2m in revenue and we met that. This year, we are on target to achieve $2m in revenue and I credit the theming with bringing in that additional $800,000.”

– Dr. Jenni Burkitt

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“In one year we’ve gone from a startup, to full-on busy. I’m sure we’ll have too many patients within 2 to 3 years.”

– Dr. Jed Snatic

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“When we opened after installing the octopus on our roof we were seeing up to 59 new patients a day.”

– Dr. Derek Thompson

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“I had my staff track every new customer for six months by asking them what it was that brought them to our practice. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the results came in… a full 94% cited the theming above my entrance!”

– Dr. Chuck Hughes

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“When we opened our doors for the first time we had no patients, but now our patient numbers are growing day-by-day and we are well on the way to achieving our dream.”

– Dr. R M

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In summary, theming your dental office isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic investment that pays off in numerous ways.

To determine the ROI of theming a dental office, it’s essential to weigh these factors and assess how the theme contributes to patient satisfaction, retention, and practice growth over time. Tracking metrics such as patient feedback, appointment bookings, referral rates, and revenue growth can help evaluate the effectiveness of the themed design in achieving its objectives.

Simply put, by theming your office with IDS today, your patients, parents, staff and bottom line all benefit for many years to come. Oh, and your office will look great too! It’s time to get started on your office.

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

• Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
• Prime patients and families for their appointments
• Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…whatever your dental niche.

• Create “buzz” in the community you serve
• Accelerate patient referrals
• Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources for ideas on theming your office:

Make a BIG Impact with a SMALL Budget Using the IDS Essentials Collection

How to Theme Your Office on a Budget

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

What People Are Saying About IDS

Want tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn how to get more patients in your dental office.

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

The IDS head office is aaall the way up north in Calgary, Canada. To some that can seem like a long way to do business, but with the technology available to us, and the right people managing your project, we have it figured out. The 400 offices we have already themed are proof of that.

Currency and Payment

Don’t worry, we work with you in USD to make every transaction easier. You’ll never have to worry about exchange rates and conversions on your end.

Proximity

Geographically, the United States and Canada share the longest international border in the world. This proximity means that travel between the two countries is relatively easy and cost-effective. Canada and the United States have a well-established trade relationship. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and continues to facilitate the flow of goods and services across borders. These trade agreements provide a stable and predictable framework for cross-border business activities.

Robust Legal Systems

Both the U.S. and Canada have well-developed legal systems that protect the rights and interests of businesses. American businesses can have confidence in the Canadian legal system, which offers similar legal protections and enforces contracts effectively.

Most Importantly, it’s Easy to Work Remotely with IDS

In an increasingly interconnected world, the opportunity for American businesses to collaborate with companies in neighboring Canada is more accessible than ever before. We make use of the latest technology to make you feel like you are right here with us while we build your office theme. Through online meetings, phone calls, e-mails, and in-progress photos, we make sure we stay connected. 

Once you choose your theme, sketches begin every project so we can come up with ideas you can actually see and imagine in your space.

Our Creative Consultants go over these designs with you and explain every detail and any visual jokes being acted out by the characters, with photo references of our past work.

Once approved, your sketches are annotated with color paint references, sculpting style references, foliage types, and any other details like if lighting is being added or if special glitter paint is being used. This ‘Scope of Work’ as we call it, follows the project through every department.

We create virtual 3D models for all our props to ensure that what you see is what you get. With these digital models of your theme, you can visualize your props before they are even sculpted.

These 3D models are printed and used as reference in our Scope of Work for our sculptors.

Photos are taken weekly of the sculpt and paint process so you can see your project as it moves along our manufacturing floor.

Our project managers will guide you through every step of the office design so you feel connected and confident that the work we do matches your vision, regardless of distance.

And you’re going to love our install team. We get nothing but compliments about Brandon and Josh and their level of care and attention to detail.

From the initial consultation, concept drawings, pre-production, production, and install, you won’t even notice the distance.

“I felt like I really had a sense of what I was doing in my office. From the online meetings and the markups that explained everything from colors and foliage, to the 3D models of my characters, IDS really created a complete picture. I didn’t realize I was going to see my whole office before it was built. I was so excited to see every new email you sent.

– Dr. Tim Verwest

In 2017 we completed our first UK office in London and in 2018 we themed an entire hospital in Saudia Arabia. Distance isn’t stopping us from theming all over the world!

If you’re still feeling nervous you can come and meet the IDS Team at trade shows including the AAPD Annual Session. We attend every year with samples of our products. We love meeting our clients in person too!

These 3D models are printed and used as reference in our Scope of Work for our sculptors.

Photos are taken weekly of the sculpt and paint process so you can see your project as it moves along our manufacturing floor.

Our project managers will guide you through every step of the office design so you feel connected and confident that the work we do matches your vision, regardless of distance.

And you’re going to love our install team. We get nothing but compliments about Brandon and Josh and their level of care and attention to detail.

From the initial consultation, concept drawings, pre-production, production, and install, you won’t even notice the distance.

“I felt like I really had a sense of what I was doing in my office. From the online meetings and the markups that explained everything from colors and foliage, to the 3D models of my characters, IDS really created a complete picture. I didn’t realize I was going to see my whole office before it was built. I was so excited to see every new email you sent.”

– Dr. Tim Verwest

In 2017 we completed our first UK office in London and in 2018 we themed an entire hospital in Saudia Arabia. Distance isn’t stopping us from theming all over the world!

If you’re still feeling nervous you can come and meet the IDS Team at trade shows including the AAPD Annual Session. We attend every year with samples of our products. We love meeting our clients in person too! You can check out our trade show schedule on the bottom of our contact page.

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IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

• Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
• Prime patients and families for their appointments
• Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

• Create “buzz” in the community you serve
• Accelerate patient referrals
• Generate positive online reviews

We’re taking a look behind the scenes at the role of the Computer Aided Design (CAD) department in the process of making your office come to life. Your guide, Casey, is the head of the department and will show you how we engineer fun!

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The CAD department takes the illustrated concept sketches and bring them to life while considering space planning, building code, and structural engineering. As the head of the CAD department I must ensure that we take into account the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Barrier-Free Design requirements, which ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy.

When your project moves to CAD we use your architectural plans to input the information into specialized programs and create a 3D model of your office. We then scale our 3D theming to fit perfectly into your office as well as design the internal steel structure for securing the theming in place.

This process is key to creating a design that is not only fun and engaging, but also functional and safe for kids. We are responsible for routering the 3D models into foam blocks, giving the sculptors a base to begin their detailed work.

To make certain our standards never falter, we manufacture all of our own products in one of our two facilities located in Alberta and Florida. We use the term “kid proof” when approaching a new design. What can they touch, what can they climb on, and how will we make it safe for them? When it comes to quality, the internal structures and mechanical design of our sculptures plays a role that is just as critical as the sculpted surface and colorful paint job.

Rest assured that your 3D theming has been engineered inside and out to stand the test of time… and testing by your patients.

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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From our artists to our engineers, we pride ourselves on the level of expertise each team member brings to the projects we create. Our experts want to offer some insight into their work and offer professional advice to help your dental office reach its full potential.

Casey

CAD Manager
Mechanical Design Technology Certificate
Joined IDS in 2010