The Web-based Dentist

Sally McKenzie

Minimize those aspects of the dental visit that patients dislike the most, starting with injections. There are products on the market today that enable you to give injections that are truly painless. This is particularly important when giving a shot in highly sensitive areas, such as the palate or upper incisors. These are experiences that patients remember for better or worse. And don't overlook topical anesthetics for dental hygiene visits to minimize discomfort as much as possible.

 

Consider the fearful patient. Many dentists would rather avoid them as much as they want to avoid the dentist. Certainly, anxious patients are a common source of stress for dentists who receive very little training in managing and caring for them. One of the most critical steps a dentist can take in handling an anxious or phobic patient is to listen to them. The fears of the patient will be as individualized and unique as the patient themselves. Taking extra care and time to build a relationship with the patient first and addressing their dental needs second is vital. It's a process of gaining and keeping the patient's trust.

 

Give patients the opportunity to talk about their fears. Ask them if they have had any negative experiences in the past, if they have concerns about dental treatment, about injections, anesthesia, drilling. The answers to those questions can be every bit as important as the routine health history questions posed. Not only will the patient's stress level go down, so too will the doctor's. 

 

Many anxious or phobic patients feel very helpless in the dental chair. Ensuring they feel that they have some control is critical. The most common approach is a signaling system in which the doctor will stop if the patient raises their hand for any reason - perhaps to ask a question or because they might want to rinse. The key is to ease their fears by emphasizing they have more control of their circumstances.

 

In addition, it is vital that team members are sensitized to the special needs of this type of patient. Putting the patient at ease the moment they walk in the door will go a long way in improving the entire experience. Dentists and dental teams that take the time to get to know and understand fearful patients often find that they become the most loyal patients, your biggest fans, and a fantastic source for patient referrals.

More About McKenzie Management...

Orange is a stimulating color. It focuses our minds on issues of physical comfort and sensuality. It is the fun color, the fresh color, the safe and secure color, the unconventional color. In the dental world it represents everything that traditional software is not: Flexibility, convenience, accessibility, and dependability.

When I joined the Curve Dental team in 2009 my daughters got me something special for the holidays: a pair of Orange Chucks to celebrate the start of a new adventure--and revolution. Whenever I wear my Chucks out and about I do attract attention, most of it positive. People see a fresh approach, a welcome change, a statement that there are choices.

When it comes to dental software you are not limited to the fossil-fuel choices the behemoth dental suppliers put in front of you. These guys are masters at spreading Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt, or F.U.D., as we call it. It's a highly contagious disease and you'll be better off keeping your distance.

You can choose a fresh approach to dental software. The cloud is the current technology standard and if your practice is using software that must be installed, maintained, upgraded, and backed up then sadly, your practice is behind the times. In the modern world we do not install software. We never hassle with upgrades. We never worry about backups.

Take your dreary, worn, and stuffy wardrobe and burn it today. Then take a breath of fresh air and put on the bright, cheery, and invigorating color of today's cloudy revolution. You'll look absolutely stunning in orange.

 

Classic Dental Jokes

A patient sits in the dental chair with severely fractured front teeth. After discussing how they will be restored the patient says to the doctor, "Before we begin, I gotta know: Will I be able to play the trumpet when you're finished?"

"Sure you will," replies the doctor.

"Good," says the man. "I couldn't play a note before!"

Fun Dental Facts

 

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