By Deb Risden
On May 9, Meridian Dental will be moving to its new building at 7225 N. Meridian in Falcon after working out of the Ent building on Bierstadt Heights for many years. The new location will more than double Ronald Ronco, DMD and his staff’s capacity to serve more patients.
“We are bursting at the seams,” said Arlette Wiggins, the practice manager of operations. “We only have five chairs and our three hygienists are booked out for six to seven months for new patients.” She said the new building will give them 12 dental chairs. At the new location, the practice will have six hygienists and more capacity for emergency dental care. “It hurts us when our patients call and say they are in pain,” Wiggins said. “We tell them to come in and we’ll figure it out. We want to be able to have the access to care.”
Ronco said not only will the new site increase access to care, but it will also provide them with the space for advanced technology. “I’m a big believer in new technologies. For example, with a three-dimensional scanner, it will allow us to see the whole mouth in color, and we can show a patient what is happening,” Ronco said. “It’s not just me describing it in words; I can show them the picture of the cracked tooth. A picture is worth a thousand words.” He said he takes a conservative approach to treatment, discussing all treatment options so that the patient understands. “They are the boss, the decision-maker, and I am their advisor,” Ronco said.
An increase in space means the practice can add a new dentist. Ronco is seeking the right person to join the team. “It’s a mix of skills,” he said. “The person has to exhibit a high quality of work, be hard-working and have people skills. They have to care about their patients.”
Meridian Dental offers general dentistry such as crowns, fillings, bridges and implants, as well as Invisalign® treatment, oral health, emergency dental care and some endodontics and oral surgery.
Ronco has been a practicing dentist since 2007. “This is home. These are my patients, and I’ve known patients long enough that for some of them, I’ve known their kids and their kids have grown and gone,” Ronco said. “Watching everybody change over the years has been interesting. We are excited for the move. It plants us solidly in the community.”
A native of Colorado, Ronco lives in Black Forest with his wife and two youngest children. The couple also has three married children, three grandchildren and one on the way. Ronco enjoys old cars and photography. The family enjoys outdoor activities.
Once settled in the new building, Wiggins said they will have a grand opening for the community.
