This Long Island Office Became ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

COMMACK, NY — Mateer Orthodontics in Commack turned routine visits into a movie set this week, where patients won’t just get braces tightened — they’ll be stepping into Halloween Town.

The practice transformed its entire office into a full “The Nightmare Before Christmas” experience, complete with a hand-built Town Hall, holiday-themed trees, and a working fountain in the waiting room. The project is largely homemade and represents a five-year evolution from simple costumes to a full, walk-through set.

“I’ve always loved Halloween and going over the top,” said Dr. Scott Mateer.

Mateer, a Commack resident, opened the practice 12 years ago on 66 Commack Road and said the tradition began as a simple costume day but evolved into a full-scale experience about five years ago.

“One year, we decided to go beyond costumes and make the whole office an experience,” he said. “The community loved it — now people ask about it months in advance. It was such a hit, and the bar keeps getting raised.”

Mateer said the annual build now involves months of planning and an investment well over $10,000. The team starts brainstorming in late August, then spends September and October crafting props during lunch breaks, on weekends, and on office days without patients.
“None of this happens without the staff,” Mateer said. “They were here late into the nights over the setup weekend. I view them as my family, honestly. We have a good time together, and we all have a similar vision.”

Insurance coordinator Dakota Duffy, who helps lead the creative process, said the team watched the movie together and assigned scenes to parts of the office.

“We figure out the characters and rooms, watch the movie a bunch of times, and bring notes,” Duffy said. “A lot is handmade — even masks out of foam clay when there’s no store-bought option. It’s a big brainstorm that we bring to life.”

This year, the crew swapped heavy wood for insulation foam panels to make big builds lighter and easier to move. Past themes have included “Stranger Things,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Willy Wonka,” with one holiday season dedicated to “The Grinch.”

“Dentists and orthodontists are traditionally something kids don't want to go to — I want to turn it into something actually enjoyable,” Mateer said. “They want to come to their orthodontic appointments and they enjoy it, so that's kind of what we're setting out to do.”

Patients and community members have responded enthusiastically. Many schedule their appointments around Halloween to see the decorations, while others stop by without an appointment to take photos and collect goodie bags.
Because the theme straddles two seasons, Mateer said the office plans to keep the installation up beyond Halloween.

“Because it's 'Nightmare Before Christmas,’ we’ll leave it up and add Christmas decorations to it so we can get more use out of it,” Duffy said.
Starting mid-November, the team expects to add Christmas accents to carry the display through the holidays.

“With ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ — the debate is always, is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie?” Mateer said. “It’d be tough to take it down after just a week or two — and honestly, the office feels bare when it’s gone. We're going to give it a little more of a Christmas feel.”