Seven Bridges: ADA Design Innovation Award winner

by Stacie Crozier

After graduating from dental school in 2015, Fariha Querishi, D.M.D., worked as an associate dentist for seven years, perfecting her clinical skills and developing some new ones. By late 2021 she felt ready to focus on becoming a practice owner and started construction on a new office.

Her new practice, Seven Bridges Dental Studio in Woodridge, Illinois, opened in May of 2022 and netted her a win in the New Buildout category of the 2022 Design Innovation Awards competition.

“I felt I learned what I needed to learn working as an associate and was expecting my third daughter February 2022, so felt it was a great time to change my focus to practice ownership,” she said.

Dr. Querishi’s family includes her husband, Akif Moiduddin; and daughters Haniya Moiduddin, age 6; Hafsa Moiduddin, age 3; and Zara Moiduddin, age 9 months. She is a life-long resident of the Chicago area and a graduate of Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Downers Grove, IL, where she served as president of the American Association of Women Dentists. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, traveling, participating in community events and watching Chicago sports.

Throughout the planning and building process, she envisioned a spa-like space where her patients would feel comfortable and pampered so their dental visits could be as stress-free as possible.

The front of Seven Bridges Dental Studio is filled with big windows to make the most of natural light inside.

The first glimpse inside the front door of Seven Bridges Dental Studio showcases contemporary sleekness with touches of wood and gold for warmth.

High ceilings and striking chandeliers give the main hallway a spacious and sophisticated feel.

The waiting area is a chic and comfortable spot for adults and kids, and patients can grab a quick beverage while they wait.

A modern fireplace and TV help patients feel like they are in a home while they wait for their appointment.

Even the restroom offers patients a spa-like atmosphere.

Treatment rooms are sleek and clutter free, allowing patients to relax in heated massage chairs, use weighted blankets and neck pillows and watch a ceiling-mounted TV.

The imaging area is sleek and uncluttered.

Clear tip-out bins help staff access the supplies they need without making the treatment rooms look cluttered.

“I wanted the space to feel almost home-like and for patients to feel like they are visiting family when they enter the practice,” said Dr. Querishi. “I designed every element of the space myself and wanted to give it a modern, yet natural feel with large, open windows, lots of natural light and high, open ceilings. My goal was to combine excellent dental care, modern esthetics and luxury creature comforts.”

Dr. Querishi invested in heated massage chairs for each operatory, as well as amenities for patients that included ceiling-mounted TVs, Bluetooth headphones, weighted blankets and neck pillows designed to help her patients look forward to their appointments instead of feeling anxious.

She also designed the space for optimal flow and efficiency for the staff, carving out six operatories with sleek storage and the latest technologies, including hand-held X-ray guns and clear tip-out bins to keep visual clutter to a minimum.

Dr. Querishi also wanted to integrate her practice in the community on a deeper level, by aligning herself with the charity Blessings in a Backpack. For every new patient, Seven Bridges Dental Studio provides a local child in need with three weekends’ worth of meals and the practice also works to raise awareness and donations for the charity.

“Giving back to those in need is a major reason why I went into dentistry,” Dr. Querishi said. “Prior to starting dental school, I went on a mission trip to help provide emergency dental care to poverty-stricken areas in Costa Rica. I also helped with setting up Shifa Dental Clinic, a local free dental clinic. While planning for my practice, I knew I wanted giving back to my community to be a core aspect. Blessings in a Backpack was the perfect organization to partner with.”

Her design advice for other dentists planning a new build is simple. “Know how you would like to move around in the space and what you value most,” she said. “Do what you know works well for you and spend some time working in a similar environment so you can see what you like and dislike before you build your own space.”