Dr. Marlene Teo builds more than a clinic at AN Dental — a calming, considered space where patients feel safe from the moment they walk in.
FOUNDER & BOARD-CERTIFIED PERIODONTIST AT AN DENTAL
FOUNDER & BOARD-CERTIFIED PERIODONTIST AT AN DENTAL
For most people, a visit to the dentist comes with a certain amount of dread. Dr. Marlene Teo set out to change that. A board-certified periodontist at AN Dental — trained in dental implants and the treatment of gum disease — she built the clinic around a single, deeply considered idea: that a dental space should feel safe.
“The whole idea of why AN Dental was set up was because of patients with dental phobia,” she explains. “I think a lot of people can relate to this. We wanted to create an environment that totally flips the script and creates safety and trust for patients.”
That intention runs all the way to the clinic’s name.
“安全 (ān quán) means safety. 安稳 (ān wěn) means stability and trust. That’s how we want our patients to feel the minute they engage with our environment.”
It’s a feeling that begins the moment you walk through the door — and it’s carried, in large part, by the people. “Our team is very welcoming,” Dr. Teo says. “We engage that feeling of safety and trust with our team that will greet you at the front desk.” Every interaction is designed to put patients at ease before treatment even begins.
The environment itself does just as much of the quiet work. Dr. Marlene thought carefully about the sensory experience of the space — the kind of details that soothe without ever announcing themselves. “We wanted to have an aromatherapy setup, and a selenite crystal with a lamp inside, just to create a beautiful look,” she says. She also wanted something practical: a way for patients to charge their phones while they wait.
What was once a source of visual clutter became a seamless, considered part of the space — power made available to waiting patients without a single trailing cord to undo the sense of calm.
For Dr. Teo, though, the choice of Nexen went deeper than looks alone. When every element of the clinic is built around safety and trust, even the technical specifications have to reflect that philosophy. “When we choose technical specifications, we have to choose a brand that’s in line with our philosophy,” she says. “We wanted to choose the Nexen Power Track because of its reputation — and you can see it’s all quite high-quality materials. It looks good and it functions well.”
“Working with Nexen Power Tracks is actually really in line with our brand philosophy.”
In a clinic designed around safety, stability, and trust, it’s a detail that fits right in: quietly functional, beautifully made, and entirely in service of how a patient feels the moment they walk in.
Ready to find out more? Have a chat with our team of friendly design consultants to get a quote or learn about the best Power eBar options for your home or office space.
