8 Ways We Care About Our Patients

8 Ways We Care About Our Patients

Cutting-Edge Dentistry with Heart

Have you met Dr. Gary Alhadef yet? If you have, then you already know he’s a dentist with a lot of heart for his patients. Dr. Alhadef and his team have many ways to ensure that each patient who walks through the door has the best dental experience possible. Here are eight of the many ways we show we care about our patients.

1. We focus on offering care with compassion.

We know going to the dentist brings up many emotions for a lot of people. Some of the patients we see have had bad past experiences in dentistry. And others carry around dental anxiety fueled by what ifs. Some have specific anxieties—such as the fear of pain, or the fear of letting go and trusting the person working on your mouth, or the fear of having your appearance altered, and more—that often stop people from getting the dental care they need.

Another reason people sometimes avoid the dentist is because of the state of their teeth, gums, or mouth. If that’s you, know you’re not the only person to ever feel embarrassed by needing work done on your teeth. And know that Dr. Alhadef and his team understand there are many emotions involved with dental care, and they are prepared to make you feel safe and supported.

2. We want you to have the best dental experience.

No one is ever excited about going to the dentist. You’ve heard that before, right? So have we. But we’re trying to change that. How? By providing our patients with the best dental experience they’ve ever had. From cleanings to fillings to more involved procedures, we hope you leave our office looking forward to coming back to see us again.

3. We make dental care affordable.

Sometimes individuals wait to seek out dental care because of the fear that the work needed won’t be affordable. Dr. Alhadef works to strike a balance to keep our prices competitive.

We like spending time with our patients, but we also have to book enough appointments to make sure our team is paid and the lights are kept on. The answer to the problem can be found in the technology, training, and team we’ve invested in.

For example, we offer same day crowns. We use CEREC crowns (that stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) to allow Dr. Alhadef to create a higher-quality, custom crown for your tooth that can be placed in one visit. By doing this in one visit, we’re saving your (and our) time and resources. And same day crowns are customized using computer-aided technology. This means you’ll have the best fit possible for your crown. And a better fit means better preservation of your tooth and less pain and inflammation long-term. It also means a longer life for your crown, which saves you even more money.

Aside from keeping costs as low as we can, we’ve also partnered with CareCredit to offer our patients a payment plan option. You apply to CareCredit, and once you’re approved, we can accept your CareCredit as payment. Most often, CareCredit offers deferred interest for its customers. So you may be able to pay for your dental care in installments through CareCredit with no interest charge.

4. Dr. Alhadef implements new technology to better serve you.

As a part of many dentistry organizations and communities, Dr. Alhadef is always learning about new techniques, equipment, and technology that can improve the health and experience of each of his patients. He’s a lifelong learner. From the CEREC crowns mentioned above to Waterlase™ and more, Dr. Alhadef has implemented only the technology that has been proven to yield the best patient outcomes.

5. We make procedures as painless as possible.

Laser dentistry, PX3 custom sports mouthguards, sedation dentistry—these are all things that exist to decrease pain or prevent your mouth from hurting.

The mouth is a very sensitive place. Teeth are innervated in such a way that tooth pain is extra bothersome. Soft tissue injuries, decay, and infections within the mouth are exacerbated by constant use from activities such as eating and drinking, causing prolonged pain. And getting an already-painful area worked on can bring even the toughest among us to tears if the proper measures aren’t taken to prevent pain.

That’s why Dr. Alhadef carefully evaluates each patient and their specific situation. Then he uses the best tools in the industry to ease any discomfort. The Waterlase™ technology uses laser energy and water to provide a drilling-free tool that does not produce any heat or vibration. The laser-energized spray of water can be used for a variety of procedures, and its use means less anesthetic will be needed. You’ll also experience less pain and require less after-care.

6. We want to know how we did.

Whether you’ve had a complicated procedure or something as simple as a cleaning, we want to know about your experience. Were we able to schedule you for a convenient day and time? How long did you have to wait before you were called back? Did we meet your expectations? What did you like about the process the most? Let us know.

The only way we can improve is to know what we’re doing right and what could use some work. While Dr. Alhadef and the team have decades of combined experience, we also know that everything always has room for improvement.

7. We want to know about your overall health.

Sure, you’ve filled out a few new patient questionnaires in your lifetime. You know it’s standard to ask about everything, practically down to asking about the color of the walls in your home. But have you ever thought about the reason behind those many questions?

We ask because we want to help. The health of your mouth is affected by your overall health, and your overall health is affected by the health of your mouth. Everything is connected, and we’re always looking for ways to solve more than one health issue for our patients.

So, if you suffer from chronic headaches, let us know. If you have heart disease, we want to know. If you suffer from chronic inflammation, tell us. We’ll take care not to add to any health issues by keeping your gums and teeth in their best health.

8. We put your comfort first.

Is your gag reflex strong? That’s okay. We have ways to work around it. When doing x-rays, for example, we use an intraoral scanner that only stays in your mouth for a moment as the dental technician takes a quick picture right there by your side. You don’t have to avoid important dental care because of your gag reflex.

Do you have sensitive teeth that make cleanings a nightmare? We can help you with that too. We can offer numbing solutions that make cleanings more comfortable. And taking care of your teeth will help with tenderness and sensitivity. There are a variety of products we can also recommend after evaluating your unique situation.

Do you have dental anxiety? We have a plan to make sure you have a great experience. We’ll help ease your fears by explaining procedures as little or as often as you need. And we’ll help to distract you during procedures so you can focus on other things during the most stressful part.

Before we begin, Dr. Alhadef and our team will make sure you know you’re the one in control of the situation. If you need a break, raising your hand will bring all work to a stop. If you need to sit up for a minute, no problem. You need to stand up and breath deeply for a moment? That’s okay too. We’re here for you. Don’t be afraid to tell us what you need. We’ll do our best to pay attention to your nonverbal cues too and ask if you need a break.

Whatever your situation, we’re here, trained and ready, to help you have the best dental experience possible.

Make an appointment and find out for yourself just how we show that we care for our patients.

 

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