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A Happy Dental Home
Do you have a happy dental home? Do you trust your dentist? Does your dental team address your dental concerns? Do you feel comfortable when you are in the dental office? These questions help to determine if a dental practice is patient-centered.
Trust in your dentist is a primary factor in fostering a long-term, successful patient-doctor relationship. Trust is developed over time. The patient usually can determine if the dentist has the patient’s best interest during the initial visit. While finances are an important consideration in dental treatment, they should not be the primary focus of a treatment plan. A patient-centered treatment plan should focus on the benefits of treatment and develop a plan to work within the patient’s budget when possible.
Private practice dentists tend to interview the patient on the initial visit and determine the main values which are important to the patient. This ensures that the specific needs and desires of the patient are addressed. Your dentist should never pressure you into treatment or judge you about your dental health. Ideally, your dentist should present the necessary information so you can make an informed decision about your dental treatment.
Patients should also consider interviewing the dentist on their initial visit to determine the philosophy of the dentist. The patient needs to understand if the recommended treatment is a patchwork type of repair or a long-term restorative solution to dental problems. Repair treatment tends to be less costly but can be frustrating as it usually does not last long. Restorative treatment tends to have a more favorable long-term prognosis and involves more of an initial investment. This type of treatment usually saves money over the years and reduces the chances of continual dental issues.
Another important factor of trust is the stability and caring attitude of the entire dental team. Familiar faces of the dental team help a patient to feel comfortable with treatment and the general workings of the practice. The focus of the dental team should be on the comfort of the patient and excellence in treatment. The team should schedule you in a timely manner so your dental crisis or routine dental care is addressed appropriately. The same dentist providing treatment ensures continuity of treatment as well as the best interest of the patient are maintained.
The physical appearance of the office and technology play an important role in the confidence of the patient regarding the dental practice. A properly appointed office with up-to-date furnishings and clean appearance indicates a dental practice committed to the patient. Modern technology ensures that the patient receives the highest standard of care.
Dental insurance also affects a doctor-patient relationship. HMO dental plans limit your choices to their list of contracted dentists. These plans can be frustrating as the insurance coverage tends to dictate treatment. Dentists who participate in HMO plans tend to spend less time with a patient. PPO dental plans allow a patient to see an independent dentist or select a dentist on the plan. This helps a patient determine their quality and scope of dental care and the freedom to choose a dentist they like.
The patient’s best interests should be the primary primary concern of the dental team. A trust relationship between the patient and the dentist is vital to a successful long-term relationship. The dental team should address your specific needs and present the necessary information about treatment options so you can make an informed decision about your dental health. Most people do not enjoy going to the dentist. Finding a happy dental home should make you feel comfortable about seeing the dentist.
