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Office Visit: Drs. Kha Nguyen and Lynn Doan by Kyle Patton, associate editor

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Office Visit: Drs. Kha Nguyen and Lynn Doan, 

This Colorado couple’s first private practice has a unique speakeasy-style design, complete with faux cocktails and real attention to patient satisfaction

by Kyle Patton
photography by Jimena Peck

Dentists spend most of their working hours inside their own practices, so they usually don’t get many opportunities to see what it’s like inside another doctor’s office. Dentaltown’s recurring Office Visit profile offers a chance for Townies to meet their peers, hear their stories and get a sense of how they practice.
As cookie-cutter corporate offices continue to pop up with alarming frequency, unique spaces like The Dental Bar in Aurora, Colorado, help remind the profession at large just how personal and personalized private practice can be. Drs. Kha Nguyen and Lynn Doan, the husband-and-wife team behind this fresh build, set out to reshape patients’ expectations of what going to the dentist could be like. Beyond the full range of clinical offerings—including root canals, implants and sedation—the office hits on all five senses with aromatherapy, luxury seating, high-end audio and, as its name suggests, a wide selection of beverages offered in a waiting room that is one-of-a-kind.

In our exclusive Q&A, Doan and Nguyen talk about crafting their dream practice, how they use artificial intelligence tools to help improve diagnostics and patient communication, their hopes for expansion, what’s on the drink menu and more.
 
Office Visit: Drs. Kha Nguyen and Lynn Doan


Office Highlights
NAME:
Drs. Lynn Doan and Kha Nguyen

GRADUATED FROM:
Doan: University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
Nguyen: University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Dentistry

PRACTICE:
The Dental Bar,
Aurora, Colorado

PRACTICE SIZE:
2,886 square feet

TEAM SIZE:
7

Let’s get right into the obvious: This practice is as stylish as it is unique. How did this idea come about?

Dr. Lynn Doan: The idea came from our desire to make going to the dentist an experience people look forward to. We wanted to shift the mindset from “I have to go to the dentist” to “I want to go to the dentist.” Right from the beginning, we set out to create a space that’s not your typical, run-of-the-mill clinic. We wanted it to be modern and innovative and to stand out in a big way. We thought through every little detail, all with the goal of making the patient experience the best it could be.

Here’s the fun part: the whole speakeasy concept wasn’t part of our original plan. It popped up as a spontaneous, exciting idea when we stumbled upon some extra space in our floor plan. We’re the kind of people who like to have fun in everything we do, and we happen to be foodies and cocktail enthusiasts. The speakeasy vibe just clicked with us, and we thought, “Why not bring that unique personality into our practice?”

And while our practice is stylish and the speakeasy has turned heads, it’s important to remember that it’s just one piece of the fantastic experience we offer our patients. We’re thrilled with the positive buzz it’s generated, and we’re super proud to see our patients loving their experience from the waiting room to the high-quality care as well.


Tell us about the planning, construction and design.

Dr. Kha Nguyen: The foundation of the design and construction began when we both attended Breakaway Dentist Seminars’ advanced startup and business masters courses. Once we learned how to create a dental office with modern systems and designs, we teamed up with a dentalspecific architect and a dental-specific general contractor to make that vision come true. Lynn and I had an idea of what the speakeasy would look like, but it was truly and expertly designed by our architect, who had experience creating hotels in Las Vegas as well as various local restaurants. The finishing touches couldn’t have been done without our interior designer, either, because she helped select the best furniture and lighting to go with our atmosphere.


So, what’s on the drink menu?

LD: After patients check in, they get to embark on a little adventure through a hidden bookcase door, revealing a selection of booze-free beverages stored in the fridge. Options include coffee, seltzers, coconut water, low-sugar sodas, and nonalcoholic wines and spirits.

The best part is that it’s a self-serve beverage bar. So, our patients are free to pick their drink of choice or get creative by making themselves a mixed drink using the nonalcoholic spirits. Some curious folks have asked about the bottles of alcohol on the shelves, but those are purely for decoration and ambiance-setting purposes. Rest assured, none of our patients come here purely for the drinks! Our main focus is, of course, providing top-quality dental care with a side of unique enjoyment!


You worked with brokers, architects and a dental coach to help bring the office to fruition. What lessons did you learn going through this process?

KN: There are a lot of brokers, architects and dental coaches out there. My tip is to choose only dental-specific companies because they know the nuances of dentistry and can get you the best results.

For example, when we started to design our operatories, we told our architect we would use only handheld X-ray units. He suggested that we nevertheless add specific studs to our walls in the operatories, because he’s had a case where a dentist didn’t and their pregnant team members didn’t want to take X-rays using a handheld unit. When the dentist wanted to add a wall-mounted X-ray unit to that specific room, he wasn’t able to because the wall couldn’t support the weight of an X-ray arm. These are the small details that dental-specific firms can point out when you’re too busy dealing with other things regarding a startup.


Patient comfort seems to be a strong focus. What are the elements patients notice the most or comment on the most?

KN: When we designed the office, we wanted to somehow transport patients from being in a dental office to being somewhere they’d enjoy and feel relaxed. We did this by hitting all five of their senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

When patients walk in, they tell us how it smells like a new dental office, but in reality, that is the ScentAir scent diffusers we have running throughout the office. We’ve been told it also looks like a model home and nothing like a dental office; we’ve even had some people coming by thinking we were an actual bar!

When the patient is in the dental chair, they only see what’s playing on the ceiling TV, hear what’s playing through their Bose noise-canceling headphones, feel the warm, soft blanket on their skin and taste the pleasant ultrasonic water that’s been premixed with a 1:5 Scope mouthwash concoction. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable at the dental office and, consequently, a lot of our patients have mentioned it feels like they’re going to a spa instead.


But there’s much more to it than just patient comfort. The two of you also designed a place you and the team would love to come to every day.

KN: We believe that to have great customer service, we need to have a happy team. Consequently, we based our systems around making sure our team is happy to work here.

On the surface, that means surrounding them with their favorite snacks in the break room, investing in their preferred tools to make sure they’re efficient with their work, and providing comfortable, cushy chairs to sit on all day. But on a deeper level, we get to know them personally on their first day by having them fill out a complete personality form that tells us their favorite food, color, drink, etc. That way, when it’s their birthday, we know exactly what each team member likes and dislikes and can help make their day perfect.

The test also helps us understand each person in a way similar to the “five love languages,” so we can make sure to treat each person in their specific way and make it easier for them to love working here.

LD: In addition to the systems that Kha mentioned, one thing we absolutely love about our workplace design is the focus on being super-organized. We believe that having everything in its place and running smoothly makes a huge difference. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about creating a space where everyone can work efficiently and feel supported.


The spare-no-expense feel permeates into the clinical side of the practice. What are some of the tools you especially love?

LD: We absolutely love the online scheduling feature integrated into our practice management software (Curve). It operates in real time, allowing new patients to book appointments seamlessly, much like booking a flight or shopping online. More than 50% of our patients schedule their initial visits online. It’s fantastic because it’s accessible 24/7, enabling us to attract new patients even outside regular business hours.

KN: We invested in Pearl for AI integration with our X-rays. It’s a game-changer because we can now show patients the layers of their teeth in color, their cavities in color, and even their bone loss/calculus in color. Not only is it an amazing tool for patient education, but it also helps new patients trust our diagnosis even though it’s their first time meeting with us.

Aside from the AI in our X-rays, we’ve also really enjoyed making use of our iTero. There’s a big division among dentists about whether Invisalign is worth the premium cost in comparison to other clear aligner brands out there, but for our patients, who love to be educated and understand what is happening inside of their mouth, it’s transformative. During the exam, we’re able to show our patients on the big screen how their teeth look and the cause of their damaged teeth, and they usually ask us after, “How do we stop that from getting worse?” Similar to Pearl, it makes treatment acceptance that much easier when they can see with their own eyes that something is wrong.


How do you two balance the clinical side of the business?

LD: While each of us has our preferred procedures, we prioritize continuity of care, steering away from cherrypicking based on personal preferences. Our patients really value the consistency in their care.

KN: We both take on all cases because we have similar skill sets. The only time one of us will see a specific case is when the patient has followed us from a previous practice and requested to see one of us. I think once our practice is established enough to have minimal provider availability, then we will be more selective on which cases we take on.


Top Products
ITERO ELEMENT 5D SCANNER
This scanner has significantly improved our chairside patient communication and education. Our favorite feature is the occlusalgram, which visually represents a patient’s bite and highlights the teeth that make the most contact.

PEARL AI SOFTWARE Pearl AI
has been a game-changer for patient education and case acceptance. When reviewing X-rays, many patients struggle to discern the different shades of gray. But with the Pearl AI “tooth parts” feature, each layer of the tooth is presented in a distinct color, making it engaging and informative for patients.

PLANMECA CBCT
The quality of the CBCT images makes it remarkably easy to examine vital structures in great detail, which is crucial for precise treatment planning and minimizing complications.

CURVE DENTAL SOFTWARE
The majority of our new patients now schedule their appointments online, and we love that these bookings are captured in real-time on our schedule, streamlining our administrative processes.

BOSE NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
Our patients greatly appreciate the ability to block out the sound of the drill or scaling with these headphones. This, in addition to the ceiling TV, allows them to relax to their favorite show and makes their treatment experience more enjoyable and seemingly quicker.
What are some lessons you’ve learned in transitioning into practice ownership roles versus associate roles?

LD: I really enjoyed my time as an associate. Being the primary dentist in a small clinic on most days allowed me to gain extensive experience that helped so much with the transition. In my associate role, the owner doctors provided valuable mentorship, guiding me through the financial aspects of running a practice, insurance verification and breakdowns, and effectively presenting treatment plans to patients. Learning the ropes as an associate showed me the power of having an awesome mentor. Even if the financial gains aren’t immediate, being open to soaking up all those ownership skills is absolutely worth it for your future as an owner. Trust me, it pays off big-time!

KN: One lesson I’ve learned from being an owner is to properly manage work-life balance.

As an associate, I’d go to the office, do my clinical work and go home, leaving my work at the office most of the time. But as an owner, the work doesn’t end once you exit the building.

I remember during our first two months before opening, we were at the office from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., getting everything ready for opening day. The constant grind made me irritable, and I was short with the people I interacted with. I felt guilty about it and subconsciously knew it was happening, yet I couldn’t stop it. Once I learned to force myself to take some leisure time and enjoy my hobbies in between work times, it made for a much more pleasant ownership lifestyle.


How do you manage marketing?

 LD: When we started the practice, we knew marketing would be a big deal to get the word out and bring in new patients. We decided to dive into marketing even during our construction phase, and we tried a bit of everything to see what had the best return on investment: We experimented with grass-roots marketing, magazine ads, social media and even used a digital ad agency.

After the first three months, we were surprised to find that social media marketing, especially unpaid posts, gave us the best results and the highest return on investment. It outperformed what most sources were saying about Google Ads being the best method.

We manage our social media account in-house and have a team member who plans and posts the content for us. Before our practice, we weren’t active on our personal social media accounts, but we set a goal to get good at it and just started posting daily to see what worked. If we can do it, we’re pretty sure anyone can!

For someone just starting out, our advice is simple: Don’t be afraid to start and try new things. Keep an eye on the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing, because things change fast. Be ready to adjust your strategy based on what your audience likes. Try different types of content and posting schedules to see what connects best. If you want to up your social media game and consistently put out great content, think about bringing in a local expert who knows the tech stuff and can help you create cool, trending content.

Start small with that before diving into an agency or paid ads. It’s all about growing your presence organically and engaging with the people you want as your patients.


What are your short-term and long-term goals for the practice and for your professional lives?

KN: For the short term, I want to grow our team, practice to be one-of-a-kind and give patients a top-notch experience, and at the same time provide our fellow team members with a financially stable and mentally supportive environment where they can live a great life inside and outside of work. For the long term, I would like to grow our company to multiple locations and create a group practice that stands out from the typical corporate, numbers-driven DSOs out there.

My ultimate goal, however, is to one day hang my handpiece up and enter the world of technology, creating a product that everyone needs in their life. It’s always been my passion to innovate new technologies, and I believe dentistry is a good stepping stone towards that.

LD: Expanding on what Kha shared, we’re aiming for something big in the long run, turning The Dental Bar into a brand that instantly brings to mind a positive dental experience. Think advanced tech, comfy care and a fun vibe. I want people to look forward to heading to The Dental Bar and change their whole outlook on dentists for the better. On a personal note, being an entrepreneur has been a lifelong dream, and I’m thoroughly enjoying this journey until the next exciting entrepreneurial chapter.


As practice owners, both of you are experiencing the business side of dentistry more than ever before. Tell us how you went about building your team, what you looked for, and how managing the nonclinical side has gone so far.

LD: During my three years as an associate, I had a crash course on the business side of dentistry. I learned from my many mistakes, including what to do and what not to do as far as team management. A big lesson was realizing the importance of aligning everyone with the same vision. When building our team, we made a point to share our vision and sought their input during interviews. Regularly revisiting this vision in our monthly meetings ensures everyone is on the same page.

But let’s be honest, there are still curveballs that come up. That’s why it’s important to have mentors and coaches you can go to for advice. We feel fortunate to have a network of experienced individuals who’ve been instrumental in guiding us through various business challenges.

KN: When it came to building our team, we wanted to start with strong team members who have experience working in dentistry, are personally driven and have easygoing personalities. To do this effectively, however, we decided to create our six core values using the principles found in Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman and ensuring all of our hires exemplify these attributes.

For example, one of the core values Lynn and I decided on is, “We like to keep it light and have fun.” To this day, we haven’t had any drama in our team, and I think it has a lot to do with choosing the right team members from the start.

In addition to the first-day personality test mentioned previously, we’ll try to sprinkle in questionnaires here and there, as well as frequent one-onone check-ins to discuss any changes or concerns they have with their jobs. Ultimately, it helps each team member ensure they love working here because they’re constantly being showered with what they like while minimizing what they dislike.


What’s your favorite patient story?

LD: In our first month of opening, this patient had a dental emergency and couldn’t get an appointment anywhere else because all the dentists in town were fully booked. She was in so much pain she couldn’t eat or sleep and was on a desperate search for help. She finally found our clinic and emailed us at 4 a.m. asking if we could see her the next day.

We managed to get her in and take out the troublesome wisdom tooth on the same day. Since then, she has been a loyal patient—and not only that, she brought in her two kids and her husband too. We even run into them at local church events, and they’ve been spreading the love on neighborhood Facebook and Nextdoor pages. Patient relationships and the trust patients have in us make opening this clinic worth it!

KN: My favorite patient story took place about a month after we opened. I remember seeing a college student for an examination and him telling us he’s autistic and has severe dental anxiety. Every single time he’d had dental treatment in the past, he had to be sedated. However, after discussing with the patient and his mother, we decided to attempt a root canal and crown without sedation. We completed the procedure successfully without any complications.

When I asked the patient what was different from his previous experiences, he mentioned that when he was in our lounge, he felt calm because it didn’t feel like a dental office. (And no, he did not have anything to drink!) During treatment, he was distracted by the ceiling TV and didn’t notice us working in his mouth.

That was an eye-opener for me. Initially, when Lynn and I decided to build our hidden speakeasy, we just wanted something different from other dental offices and to put our personal touch to the practice—we never thought that it could be used as an alternative to traditional sedation methods. We believe that experience already made it all worth it.


What’s a trend in dentistry you love, and one you’re not a fan of?

LD: I’m super excited about the trend of integrating artificial intellignce tools into dentistry, particularly in patient education. Using AI tools allows us to personalize and enhance the way we communicate complex dental information to our patients. This has been a great improvement for our patient case acceptance because patients can see what we’re talking about. Seeing is believing!

A trend that I don’t like is patients trying home remedies they’ve seen on the internet or TikTok … but I don’t think that’ll ever go away.

KN: I love it when I see dentists step out of their comfort zone and start their journey toward practice ownership. (Maybe I’m a little biased here.) Although it’s not easy, I believe there will always be a need for private-practice dentists to provide patient-centered care.

Unfortunately, in my experience, a lot of the DSOs focus on the numbers and metrics, and are so out of touch with what’s going on in their dental offices that they’ve forgotten how to provide quality care to their patients (and their employees). I hope the trend toward a DSO dental field will slow down and dentists will fervently take control of their industry.


How did each of you find your way into dentistry?

LD: My journey into dentistry began when I got braces at the age of 13. Before then, I rarely went to the dentist and had no family members in the field. I was super self-conscious about my smile, felt awkward when talking and I’d dodge the camera in photos—it would drive my parents crazy during family photos. But once I got those braces, it was like a complete transformation: It affected my self-confidence and everyday life in ways I never expected.

That experience lit a fire in me to pursue dentistry. I realized how dentistry could make such a huge difference in someone’s life. I wanted to help others experience the same boost in confidence and well-being that I had felt through oral health.

KN: I discovered dentistry when I was in seventh grade. My older brother discussed the field’s great work-life balance and how if he could go back in time, he would’ve highly considered it as a profession. I shadowed dental offices every week during my senior year. I loved the sciences and working with my hands, so it worked out well. In college, I pursued becoming a trauma surgeon and shadowed/interned alongside some excellent chief of surgeons. However, the lack of work-life balance pushed me back toward dentistry and solidified my decision to stick with that goal.


Give us a snapshot of your lives outside of dentistry.

LD: Lately, picturing a life beyond dentistry has been a bit of a challenge. I’ve found myself deep in the work zone, and honestly, my work-life balance is completely off. Even when I’m at home, I’m constantly thinking about dentistry, especially about marketing and our social media.

However, when I’m not working, I am all about quality time with my family. You’ll always find us eating out and trying new restaurants with our family and catching up over a good meal. During the summer, I enjoy being outside playing tennis or pickleball, or lounging at the neighborhood pool.

I’m also a huge introvert so after all my socializing, I need to recharge by journaling, diving into a good book or indulging in some online retail therapy. KN: I know it’s hard to believe, but dentistry isn’t something I want to do for the rest of my life. Outside of dentistry, I have many hobbies I try to keep up with, so my wife will stay interested in me. (I’m joking!)

On the warmer Colorado days, I enjoy playing singles tennis and hard court volleyball and golfing in the mountains … basically, anything active that has a ball involved. On colder days, I enjoy staying in and playing nostalgic Blizzard video games or swinging away with my golf simulator in the basement.

Regardless of the time of the year, however, we both love to try new restaurants and travel to destinations if it means good food is involved.



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September 2025
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