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ePaper created 2015-06-05, 09:08:02 | version 1.38.0
Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | June 2015a10 Ad Your dentistry story starts with the patients There are many reasons to choose a profession in dentistry. For these den- tists, it was the chance to transform the lives of patients. Here are a few of their stories. Dr. Owczarzak Dr. Owczarzak has 27 years of experi- ence under his belt. With two offices and nine children, he has a lot to juggle. But because of the support he re- ceives from his staff, family and oth- ers, Owczarzak is able to manage it all and focus on what matters most to him. Dickinson made a special effort to develop a relationship with him, earn his trust and make him feel more com- fortable. Finally, the man agreed to the care plan and loved his results. The patient became a regular at the office, bringing by fresh homemade cookies and chatting with the staff. Everyone loved his presence. Then one day, he brought along four friends who were eager to meet Dickinson. Now, the five of them always come in together for check-ups. “It’s like a giant community event,” said Dickinson. His assistant agreed, adding, “That’s when you know you’re really making a difference. His whole community, his whole world — he was so comfortable here he invited his whole world to us. And they felt that too.” Dickinson knows how important it is to engage sincerely and openly with pa- tients. “If you take the time to find out what’s behind their motivations and fears — and sometimes it only takes a couple of minutes — you’ll learn what you need to know to connect with that patient.” Dickinson offers this tip to live by: “We have two ears and one mouth, so when you’re in front of a patient you should be listening twice as much as you’re talking.” Dr. Lauderdale Dr. Lauderdale, a practice owner in Georgia, advises dentists to always be aware of where patients are coming from. Once, she had a patient come in with teeth that were hurting severely. Unfortunately, that patient was denied financing and was unable to afford the cost of getting even a single tooth ex- tracted. After learning of the patient’s abuse, trouble with family and denial of Med- icaid, Lauderdale was determined to find a way to help. After discussing the situation with her office manager, she decided to perform the extractions at no cost. The patient was extremely grateful — she was no longer in pain and was happy to have her smile back. In Lauderdale’s words: “The main thing is to listen more than you talk. Listen closely enough and you’ll know exactly what you need to do.” What’s your story? Dentists all have one common goal: providing the best care for their pa- tients. And to accomplish that, it’s im- portant to take the time to get to know those patients. So what’s your favorite patient story? Visitwww.facebook.com/aspendentaljobs and tell us how you’ve helped to trans- form someone’s life. Fore more information To learn more about Aspen Dental and how it might work for you, you can vis- it www.aspendentaljobs.com. (Source: Aspen Dental) him: his patients. There’s one patient Owczarzak will never forget — a 21-year-old addict who was suffering from what is known as “meth mouth.” “He was missing 32 teeth,” recalls Owczarzak. This kid had just gone through rehab and was still grappling with recovery. Not long after Owczarzak fit him with a beautiful new pair of dentures, the patient was eating steak, dating a new girlfriend and enjoying life again. Owczarzak gave the young man a new smile — and with it, a new sense of self-esteem. Dr. Dickinson Dr. Dickinson, a dentist in Florida, also recalled a favorite patient experience. One day, Dickinson had a gentleman in his 70s come to see him for a third opinion. After getting to know the pa- tient, Dickinson realized he was look- ing for more than another opinion. New to the community, the gentle- man was yearning for a deeper con- nection with the people taking care of INDUSTRY NEWS What draws people to the profession? For many, it’s the chance to transform lives