Key Points
- Personalized patient experience in dental care is a relatively new model for delivering dental services.
- There are many advantages to personalized dental care services, including a more comfortable, hotel-like experience, a heightened level of treatment, self-care menu options, and food and drinks.
Have you ever felt rushed through a dental appointment or had one cut short because you suspected the office was trying to squeeze in more patients? Have you ever visited a dental office where the receptionist failed to know your name (even after numerous visits) and treated you like a number? Traditional dental clinics can feel antiseptic and uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, such experiences are far too common. For this reason, many dental practices have worked to distinguish themselves from uncomfortable offices with commonplace procedures and apathetic staff. More importantly, they strive to elevate their level of care through the latest technological innovations and a continuum of education and experience.
This all translates to a more enjoyable experience for customers, not to mention better dental health outcomes. These superior standards and setup are often referred to as “concierge dentistry” or “dental spas.”
This article explains the many advantages personalized dentistry can afford, who can benefit from it, and what you can expect on a visit. The information below will help you determine if this model of personalized dentistry is right for you.
Table of Contents
- What Is Personalized Patient Experience in Dental Care?
- Who Should Use Personalized Dental Care?
- What to Expect During a Personalized Dentistry Visit?
- Do Personalized Patient Dental Clinics Take Insurance?
- Find Personalized Dental Care Clinics Near You
- References
What Is Personalized Patient Experience in Dental Care?
Personalized dentistry is a patient-focused dental care model that prioritizes comfort, high-quality services, with a more intimate approach than traditional dental practices. By necessity, dentists using this model have fewer patients and longer appointment windows, allowing them to provide the requisite level of attention and care.
Specifically, personalized dentistry usually entails more one-on-one time with the dentist. There is a greater focus on comprehensive care, including more thorough evaluations and individualized treatment plans.
A study called “Experiences of Dental Care: What Do Patients Value?” collected data on what dental patients value most:
“Conclusions: Patients valued having a supportive and caring dentist and a dedicated dental team. The experience of having a dedicated, supportive and caring dentist helped patients to take control of their own oral health. These dentists and dental teams produced profound changes in not just the oral health care routines of patients, but in the way patients thought about their own oral health and the role of dental professionals.”1
Personalized dentistry also guarantees greater flexibility in scheduling, with appointments that will work around a patient’s lifestyle. In the dental office, a patient can expect a more comfortable and discreet environment. Personalized dentistry will offer enhanced privacy away from other patients in a plush environment that feels like a spa and has the benefits of an all-inclusive resort. Feeling supported and nurtured by staff is central to a patient’s successful visit.
Who Should Use Personalized Dental Care?
In most cases, anyone can use personalized dental clinics. However, there are a few groups that may find it particularly advantageous. These include people who:
- Prefer more comprehensive care
- Have complex dental issues
- Benefit from flexible scheduling
- Prefers a more private treatment environment
Individuals who value comprehensive oral healthcare, including thorough preventive interventions, will benefit from this model. It provides a heightened level of attention to detail and planning that could be lacking with traditional dental services.
Another reason someone might seek personalized dentistry is if they have complex dental conditions that require more detailed treatment. These often require more meticulous planning and frequent office visits. A personalized dental service will be better equipped to handle these complexities.
Most standard dental offices have long waits for appointments. This can make it difficult for anyone with an emergency to visit their dentist same-day. Personalized dentistry is also great for people with a high-stress lifestyle who need a low-stress experience in personal health care.
Finally, personalized dentistry is ideal for anyone who values a more private and relaxed dentist office experience. Dental anxiety and phobia are very real phenomena, impacting a large percentage of the population.2 These conditions can be a major impediment to patients receiving dental care. A more relaxed, private environment results when dental clinics personalize patient experience dental services to help manage or even eliminate any trepidation patients might have.
What to Expect During a Personalized Dentistry Visit?
Dental offices cultivating personalized patient experiences will have luxurious options that one would expect at a boutique hotel, not a traditional dental office. Specifically, here is what you can expect.
Arrival
Personalized dental services usually entail a spa- or hotel-lobby-like atmosphere. Dedicated luxury clinics will have modern check-in areas that are comfortable and relaxing (and may not feel at all like a dentist’s clinic). If the dentist office also offers traditional dental services, there may be a dedicated welcome desk or tablet check-in for patients. Waiting rooms often feature things like complimentary beverages and aromatherapy.
Consultation
On your first visit, you will be escorted to a consultation room, where you will meet one-on-one with the dentist. Here you will discuss specific dental health and cosmetic needs or concerns, and formulate a personalized treatment plan with the dentist.
Treatment
On subsequent visits, your personal hygienist will take you to a designer studio for your cleaning and checkup. Dedicated dental suites ensure you are not exposed to the hustle and bustle of a typical dentist office, but are left to relax in tranquility.
During routine cleanings, you will receive a thorough plaque and tarter removal as well as a comprehensive oral examination. You will be able to select personal preferences regarding products, like floss and polish flavors.
Concierge dentistry is not merely about the frills. You can expect state-of-the-art equipment that utilizes the latest technology. This guarantees more precise and efficient treatments. It also means less invasive procedures to minimize discomfort and promote faster healing.
You also will be given the chance to choose any add-on services. Examples include:
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- Teeth whitening or other cosmetic procedures
- Veneers
- Bonding
- Crowns
- Contouring
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Keep in mind that personalized dental patient experiences do not exclude more complex and involved procedures. In some instances, dedicated consultants work with patients to explore technology and procedures not readily available at traditional dental clinics. For instance, dental implants may make more sense than crowns. You can discuss these options in a stress-free environment to determine the right course of action.
Finally, staff will personalize patient screening and customize dental care treatments to mitigate problems with tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. These dental consultants will discuss with you any adjustments to the prescribed treatment regimen and a suitable corresponding schedule. A menu is made available to the patient to select which treatments to move forward with.
Scheduling
Following your appointment, you will leave with a complimentary designer tote filled with premium dental care essentials. Before departing, you can make a future appointment or choose to schedule your return visit at a later time.
Do Personalized Patient Dental Clinics Take Insurance?
The types of payment options offered by a dentist depend on the particular practice. Most accept major dental insurance policies and will make this information readily available to patients.
Personalized Dental Clinics usually offer supplements or alternatives to dental insurance as well. For instance, they may enroll the patient in exclusive dental clubs that will include a certain number of visits per year (or other duration). A reputable office will be ready and willing to discuss available options with you.
Find Personalized Dental Care Clinics Near You
Now that you understand how personalized patient experience in dental care works and the many benefits it can offer, you can research which dental clinic is right for you. Visit dental clinic websites and call each dental clinic directly to enquire if they offer personalized dental care services before booking your appointment. A little research will result in a more comfortable, pleasant experience, as well as more thorough and effective treatment.
In summary, personalized dental care aims for patient satisfaction and for them to look forward to their next visit. Enhanced patient experiences also mean dentists and hygienists reap the benefits of working in a comfortable, high-class environment without the stress and difficulty traditional dental clinics cultivate.
References
- Sbaraini, Alexandra, et al., “Experiences of Dental Care: What Do Patients Value?,” BMC Health Serv Res. 2012 Jun 24:12:177. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-12-177. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22726888/.
- Muneer, Muhammad Usman, et al., “Dental Anxiety and Influencing Factors in Adults,” National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, November 2022, from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9777862/.