I had the good fortune to have the world's most gentle dentist when I was growing up. Dr. Allan Hyman was truly a painless dentist. I never felt--or saw--a syringe. I never felt the drill. He gave me headphones--and this was back in the 1960's! He wouldn't hesitate to give me nitrous oxide. He really understood the patient's perspective. Dr. Hyman retired a few years ago and I had the pleasure and privilege of having lunch with him yesterday.
After catching up on news about our families, we talked about the challenges of the dental profession. I told him that every day new patients come into my office and tell me how much they hate coming to the dentist. They hate the "shot." They hate the "drill." They hate the smell. The dentist is not gentle. The hygienist uses that horrible scraper and she scolds the patients for not brushing and flossing better. The staff has bad breath and ugly teeth. The bathroom needed cleaning. The complaints go on and on.
I told Dr. Hyman that these complaints along with my own less than ideal experiences at the dentist since he retired have motivated me to plan a symposium for dentists who are dedicated to patient comfort. It is hard to imagine that something so obvious has never been done but it's true. Out of all the organizations and associations in dentistry, there has never been a symposium dedicated to dental comfort--with one asterisk. The Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation trains dentists to provide sedation to patients using safe, common sleeping pills--and I am a member of this organization. But there are a large number of patients who aren't phobic--they just want a comfortable experience without losing an entire day zonked on sedatives. I know that dentists can provide painless, comfortable dentistry because that's what Dr. Hyman did for me--every time.
As our conversation progressed, Dr. Hyman became passionate on the subject. He said that comfort is the number one priority. If you can't keep the patients comfortable, nothing else matters. And if you can provide truly painless dentistry--especially a painless injection--patients will be lined up at your door to get the care that they need and want.
Dr. Allan Hyman is a true legend in the profession and we could all learn a lot from his wisdom.
After catching up on news about our families, we talked about the challenges of the dental profession. I told him that every day new patients come into my office and tell me how much they hate coming to the dentist. They hate the "shot." They hate the "drill." They hate the smell. The dentist is not gentle. The hygienist uses that horrible scraper and she scolds the patients for not brushing and flossing better. The staff has bad breath and ugly teeth. The bathroom needed cleaning. The complaints go on and on.
I told Dr. Hyman that these complaints along with my own less than ideal experiences at the dentist since he retired have motivated me to plan a symposium for dentists who are dedicated to patient comfort. It is hard to imagine that something so obvious has never been done but it's true. Out of all the organizations and associations in dentistry, there has never been a symposium dedicated to dental comfort--with one asterisk. The Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation trains dentists to provide sedation to patients using safe, common sleeping pills--and I am a member of this organization. But there are a large number of patients who aren't phobic--they just want a comfortable experience without losing an entire day zonked on sedatives. I know that dentists can provide painless, comfortable dentistry because that's what Dr. Hyman did for me--every time.
As our conversation progressed, Dr. Hyman became passionate on the subject. He said that comfort is the number one priority. If you can't keep the patients comfortable, nothing else matters. And if you can provide truly painless dentistry--especially a painless injection--patients will be lined up at your door to get the care that they need and want.
Dr. Allan Hyman is a true legend in the profession and we could all learn a lot from his wisdom.
1 Comments:
I agree with your post completely. As a pre-dental student and the son of a dentist i have always thought about and discussed with my father many different ways by which a Dentist may provide the highest level of comfort for patients. Other than being a well qualified dentist and obviously being able to perform the required procedures, a dentist must provide comfort for his or her patients if he or she wants them to come back in the future for all their other dental needs. If a dentist can do the procedures, but doesn't provide a comfortable atmosphere for the patient and make the patient feel comfortable, the patient will be looking for another dentist for future oral care.
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