Office Visit: Anna Berik

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Categories: Office Design; Pediatric; Practice Management, HR and Accounting;

Inspired by her daughter, this dentist created Bubble, an aquarium-themed pediatric practice welcoming neurodiverse children

by Lecksi Shuster, Associate Editor
Photography by George Annan Jr.

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.

Dr. Anna Berik didn’t always envision herself in dentistry. She was initially set on a path toward medical school, when an enthusiastic friend already enrolled in dental school shifted her trajectory. A transformative visit to see him studying anatomy sparked her passion, forever changing her career plans. Today, she’s not only built a successful adult specialty practice but also launched Bubble, a pediatric dental office designed specifically to reshape how children and families experience dental care.

Beyond clinical excellence, Berik attributes much of her success to embracing business education. Early struggles with purchasing and revitalizing a troubled practice led her to invest heavily in professional consulting, first with Pride Management and later with Practice Growth Institute, fundamentally reshaping her approach to practice management, patient care and efficiency.

In this exclusive Dentaltown Q&A, Dr. Berik shares her remarkable journey—from overcoming early business missteps and personal challenges to innovatively designing Bubble, a pediatric practice inclusive of neurodiverse children, inspired deeply by her daughter Sam.

Office Highlights

NAME:
Dr. Anna Berik

GRADUATED FROM:
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

PRACTICE NAME:
Bubble Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics
bubbledentistry.com

CITY, STATE:
Newton, Massachusetts

PRACTICE SIZE:
21 operatories

TEAM SIZE:
15

How did you find your way into dentistry?
I was majoring in biology and chemistry and was headed for med school. A friend of mine, who was a year ahead of me, applied to dental school during his senior year and needed help getting through all the paperwork and meeting deadlines. I had never really thought about dental school before this—it wasn’t even on my radar. He was accepted into dental school and we kept in touch. During his first year, he was so enthusiastic when we spoke on the phone. He loved anatomy and dental anatomy. He invited me to visit during a break and couldn’t wait to show me his cadaver and dissection. It had a huge influence on me. I never ended up applying to med school— only to dental school.

How did you navigate the business challenges of starting your own practice, and what practical lessons or advice would you share with others looking to do the same?
I had no idea what I was doing. I bought an existing practice from three dentists who, unbeknownst to me, had major issues with each other. They had stopped communicating, and although they were making money, they had let the business drift. I bought a business nightmare.

I knew I was in over my head and didn’t know what to address first, as everything was broken. The existing staff had a terrible culture and were divided into factions from the previous owners. I was at the office 24/7 trying to manage payroll, purchase supplies, meet and treat patients, and collect significantly overdue accounts receivable. I was sinking and knew it wasn’t sustainable.

I spoke to the VP of Matsco, the bank that had loaned me the money to purchase the practice. She was a great lady and very smart. She could have panicked about the bank’s money, I suppose, but she didn’t. Instead, she suggested I speak with her friend Jim Pride. Jim was a former dentist who had started a consulting company called Pride Management.

I got on the phone with Jim, told him every detail of how bad the practice was, and admitted to him that I was running in circles and desperately needed advice. I spent $52,000—money I wasn’t even sure I had—on a two-year program with Pride Management. It saved me and the business. It was the best investment I’ve ever made. Since then, I’ve invested a significant amount of money into the practice and professional consulting services. I’m currently with Practice Growth Institute, formerly known as Scheduling Institute.

My advice to young dentists is to invest the money. We invest heavily in growing our clinical skills, which is important, but few dentists invest in learning the business side—learning how to run a company. It makes all the difference in the world.

What kind of clinical work do you like to do?
I have two offices: one specializing in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, and another adult specialty group practice. I love full-mouth reconstruction and high-end cosmetic work. I have a trademarked procedure called B.A.M. for accelerated orthodontics with Invisalign—that’s mostly what I do. I believe in specialized care, so my office includes an oral surgeon, endodontist, prosthodontist and periodontist. Additionally, three general dentists specialize in restorative dentistry, Invisalign orthodontics, TMD and sleep medicine. The pediatric practice has a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist.

I’ve learned so much and have become skilled by consistently doing a few things at a very high level. Working alongside specialists over the years has unquestionably made me a much better diagnostician and clinician.

What key lessons have you learned from managing multiple businesses that other dentists can apply to their own practices?
I have learned to get down to the transactional level. Go see what’s going on yourself. I also learned that you can’t know every detail. It’s too much and will swallow you up. You must hire capable people that you trust to delegate to and save room for the things that only you as owner/CEO can do.

What inspired you to start a pediatric office?
Kids in general dentistry often become an afterthought—not because dentists don’t try their best or lack good intentions toward young patients—we do. My goal is to change the way people view dentistry, dentists and their oral health in general. Most people only consider their oral health when problems arise.

The inspiration for my pediatric practice came from reflecting on a favorite business principle of mine: What do you do and for whom? I had ample time to think during the early lockdown stage of the pandemic. I realized my adult specialty practice had a quiet, elegant atmosphere like a Ritz reception area, which was wonderful if you were an adult but terrible if you were an 8-year-old.

In other words, you can’t excel while catering to everyone. My patient base consists of adults (and teens) who want to invest in themselves. So, questions came to mind: What if it didn’t feel terrible to take your child to the dentist? What if it were a place kids looked forward to visiting? What would that look like? How could we transform the industry? And so, Bubble was born.

Designing an office is one thing, but you also had the task of building an aquarium. Tell us a bit about the design process for Bubble.
Fish don’t live as long as you think. I really went all out—we have a live moon jellyfish tank and two additional 1,200-gallon saltwater tanks. I had no idea I’d be installing saltwater-making equipment and hiring the company that worked on the New England Aquarium. I had no idea what the caretaking would involve.

I learned that we were right—that the model works. Children don’t want to leave, and they are excited to come back. Adults ask if they can come. I learned that it truly was worth the thought experiment.

We welcome children of all ages and embrace neurodiverse children. (I have a daughter on the spectrum.) Not just “we will treat you” but “we get it,” and you are welcome here. It’s different here. It has resonated with people.

Top Products

iTero Lumina
We love the iTero Lumina for its high-resolution digital scanning, which eliminates messy, uncomfortable impressions. This technology ensures more accurate orthodontic treatment plans and enhances patient and parent education by providing real-time visuals throughout the process.

Dexis NOMAD Pro 2
This offers exceptional portability, allowing us to quickly capture highquality images without moving patients to a dedicated X-ray room. This technology also minimizes radiation exposure and improves overall patient comfort.

Invisalign
We use Invisalign for our teen patients because the clear aligners offer a discreet, comfortable alternative to traditional braces. They help teens maintain confidence and an active lifestyle. The removable aligners also make it easier for teens to maintain proper oral hygiene throughout their treatment.

3M Digital Bonding
Its precise bracket placement leads to more accurate, efficient treatments. It also reduces application time, decreasing our doctors’ chair time and improving productivity.

Dental Intelligence Engagement
We chose this platform because it streamlines patient communication and consent-form management in one secure, user-friendly system. This modern solution enhances patient engagement through convenient digital tools such as texts and emails while simplifying administrative tasks, saving our team hundreds of hours of front-desk work.

When it comes to the animals themselves, who are some of the fan favorites amongst your patients? What kind of impact have you noticed these animals have on the treatment experience for your patients?
Amongst the living sea creatures, we have surprisingly found our giant clam was a big hit. The starfish and our red shrimp are popular too. Everyone likes the “Dory" fish (blue tang fish) and the jellies too. The sea anemones are very relaxing to watch billow in the tank’s current.

How did having a daughter with autism inspire you during the process of starting Bubble?
My daughter Sam has taught me so many things in life and about people. This girl gets up every morning in a great mood and ready to go out into the world even with her almost debilitating anxiety. I have learned that we are all the same in most ways that matter. Her anxiety is the same as mine only heightened. Having raised Sam, I can tell you that it’s not easy for parents. I wanted to make a way better experience for these kids as the world is a little harder for them to navigate. And just as much, I wanted to give their parents a break—come somewhere where we understand you and your child. It’s OK here. There are just so many little things one can do to make it better and easier for families.

Since accessibility is still an emerging fi eld, what’s been your learning experience, and how could dentistry improve its approach?
I’d say they just need to pause and really think about it. Dentists are some of the brightest people I know—seriously invested in their work and lifelong learners. All it would take is an afternoon spent learning about neurodiversity and common challenges, such as sensory sensitivities. Imagine if the entire industry took just a little time to make dental care processes easier for children. There’s no way that wouldn’t lead to improvements and better service overall.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in your industry, and how do you see it evolving?
I think most of my colleagues would agree that insurance challenges are hurting our industry across the board. Whether you’re in private practice or a dental service organization, GP or specialty, inadequate reimbursement is a significant issue. Payments have steadily decreased while business costs keep rising. Insurance companies, driven by profit, continue tightening their grip—reducing payments while increasing patient enrollment costs, leaving dentists to bear the burden.

In the future, I anticipate fewer private practices and more public clinics, which is unfortunate because private practices have historically been a positive part of their communities.

You’ve mentioned wanting to inspire change—what are the most important improvements you’d like to see in pediatric dentistry?
As practitioners, we need to truly embrace that children are not just mini-adults—their needs are different. We should honestly consider whether we, as GPs, are best suited to serve them. A deeper understanding of the neurodiverse community would not only improve care for those children but also enhance how we relate to neurotypical children. We can learn so much from these young patients, insights that extend beyond dental care and positively impact the broader community. It’s all connected.

You poured so much passion into Bubble—what advice would you give someone starting their own practice about successfully integrating their passions into their business?
Be honest with yourself—take some quiet time to reflect on what truly matters to you. Start by asking questions or envisioning your end goal: what do you want to be known or remembered for? It all begins with introspection—understanding clearly what you want and who you aim to serve, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and deciding how you’ll address them.

Now that you’re established, is there anything you’d do differently looking back?
There are many things I’d change, which I think is natural when you learn from experience both good and bad. I would have implemented written systems and processes earlier in my career. It might sound dull, but building predictability and consistency—though not exciting—is essential to achieving excellence.

What’s your favorite patient story?
Th e biggest takeaway in my career has been realizing the real impact we have on the people we meet. Some might say reconstructive cases are good business, but that’s not how I see it—and haven’t for a long time. Anyone can be a dentist, but what I do changes lives. That’s worth dedicating a lifetime to, and it’s why I’m not burned out.

One of my first full-mouth cases involved a recovering bulimic patient whose teeth were severely damaged from stomach acid and anxiety-induced grinding. She told me candidly, “Even though I’ve recovered, left an abusive relationship and am now happily married, when I look in the mirror, I still see the bulimic.” After her treatment, she said I changed her life—she no longer sees the painful past she lived.

As dentists, we have an incredible opportunity to make a genuine difference for those who trust us with their care. It’s not about teeth; it’s about people. This patient truly transformed how I see the meaning of my work.

Give us a snapshot of your life outside of dentistry.
I raised three children as a single mom and have giant dogs called Leonbergers that I can’t live without. I’m a weightlifter, an avid reader and a big MMA fan. I also love the NFL and attending live sporting events. My husband and I enjoy boating around New England—I absolutely love the ocean.

I was born and raised in Washington, DC, where my mom and brother still live. My mom is the best. At 81 years old, she’s still running her own business and redefining what aging looks like.

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September 2025

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Office Visit: Anna Berik

Inspired by her daughter, this dentist created Bubble, an aquarium-themed pediatric practice welcoming neurodiverse children

September 2025


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Inspired by her daughter, this dentist created Bubble, an aquarium-themed pediatric practice welcoming neurodiverse children

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