Every patient has a story that makes their case unique. When we embrace their path to treatment and make an effort to understand their motivations, we can provide even more excellent care.

A great example of this simple lesson came in the form of my patient Anne. I knew Anne well, as she ‘grew up’ in our practice and had been a regular patient for many years. This fact added an unexpectedly challenging element to her case. I knew I needed to re-familiarize myself with her interests and background instead of taking our past relationship for granted.

Restorative Case For a Future Hygienist

Anne is nineteen and currently training to become a dental hygienist. Her personal dental experiences spurred her interest in the field. She’s excited to provide patient care that improves both oral health and self-image.

All of these details about Anne informed how I approached her treatment. Her primary esthetic concerns were a peg lateral #7 and a congenitally missing #10. She also had canted axial alignment, mottled enamel, and uneven gingival zeniths with a high smile line.

We decided on comprehensive restorative treatment approach that would correct these problems and provide her with a result she could readily show off. The treatment consisted of orthodontics, an implant for #10, and periodontal surgery to reposition gingival levels. We also moved ahead with occlusal equilibration and a diagnostic wax up.

To round out the case, we did tissue sculpting on #10 in addition to esthetic/functional testing and refinement via provisionals. Anne got beautiful e.max veneers on #5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12. Finally, she got an implant supported e.max crown on #10.

Matt Roberts CDT handled the lab side of Anne’s case and did a stellar job. She can now go forth confidently into her career and help others embrace treatment that can change their lives.

What case put a smile on your face recently? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments! 

Patient focus groups are useful for truly understanding the experience people have at your dental practice. You can go right to the source for questions you have about patient perceptions, instead of speculating based on your own point of view.  

In my last blog, I introduced the why and how of a patient focus group my wife Amy and I hosted to celebrate our practice’s 25th anniversary. The first four questions we asked invited patients to share their thoughts. Our final question was:

If you could design the perfect dental practice, what would it look like? (2 groups)

Read on to learn what the focus group taught us …

Results of the Patient Focus Group at My Dental Practice

The ensuing conversations and comments from our five main questions were uplifting and empowering for everyone on our team. We all found it quite interesting that their comments were rarely about our dentistry but rather about how we make them FEEL when they are with us. We thanked them for their participation and invited each of them to refer others who share similar values.

While the evening was considered a huge success, the impact came in subsequent waves of influence. With their permission, we proudly display the portraits and quotes throughout the office and on our website (www.huntdentistry.com). Each of these patients have become empowered to refer countless other “A” patients to us. The portraits have become a daily source of inspiration for our team and other patients – “How can I get my picture on the wall?”

The “focus group” concept really helped to reaffirm our practice mission of developing trusting relationships with as many of our patients as possible and helping them become healthier and happier through our compassionate care. We’re all looking forward to our 30-year anniversary!

How would you host a patient focus group? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Hosting a patient focus group can change the way you look at your dental practice. Most of the time, we see our practice not through the eyes of our patients, but through our own. The life of a dentist is hectic, filled with CE, family, and general work hours. At some point, we can benefit from taking the time to learn what commonalities and perceptions our best patients share.

Why I Hosted a Patient Focus Group at My Dental Practice

My wife Amy and I wanted to celebrate our 25th year in practice, so we decided to host a “focus group” of very special patients who represented a wide range of ages and experiences.

With our team’s input, we carefully selected 10 of our “A” patients (engaged, proactive, health oriented, appreciative) and invited them to an after hours reception at our office. The invitation list included some who had been patients for 20+ years, while others were relatively new. Some had completed complex restorative plans, while others had more simple needs. Their ages ranged from 26 to 85.

Questions Asked in the Focus Group Session

We greeted patients with champagne and light hors d’oeuvres. The group mingled while taking turns to have several images created by a professional portrait photographer. These portraits were gifts for the participants.

After a while, we settled in for a session facilitated by one of our “special” patients who prompted the group to think and then share their thoughts about the following questions:

·      What brought you here?

·      What keeps you coming back?

·      What does a nice smile mean to you?

·      What gives you confidence in the Hunts and their staff?

·      Are there any buts?

We rounded out the session with a final question that took a closer look at their ideal dental practice. You can read Part 2 in this series next week, where I’ll reveal the final fascinating question and the results of the focus group.

How do you think a patient focus group would benefit your dental practice? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!