Why did You Leave Your Last Dentist? (Part III)

As I promised you, part three of why patients leave their current doctor.

Treatment issues.

• Pain during treatment: (We use electronic anesthesia devices for comfortably numbing the teeth and nitrous oxide for those who need it.)
• Lack of privacy during treatment: (We see only one patient at time in our office.)
• Post Treatment problems : (we are on call 24/7 to handle all possible issues)
• No alternative treatment offered: (Doctors are obligated to offer the ideal treatment, but also some more economical, less invasive options.)
• Lack of explanation of the treatment in progress, poor communication skills. (We often stop and take live intra-oral pictures to show patients what we are seeing. After giving a treatment plan, I give patients a list of what will be done at each appointment.)
• Patient felt they were being given a sales pitch. (Many times the staff or doctor is merely making the patient aware of other services they offer. We try to focus on the patient’s chief complaint.)
• Patient felt that they were being rushed though treatment in a production line. (Our office is a small, boutique practice with only three chairs, one hygienist, one dental –surgical assistant and one patient care coordinator.
• Patient is ashamed or embarrassed to return. (With a good patient doctor rapport, this should not happen.)
• Concern about cleanliness of the office: (Ask for a tour and demo of the office’s sterilization methods.)
• Dentist or staff did not wash hands before treating patients. (Many times doctors and staff wash in another room, then don gloves in the operatory. Best to put on the gloves in front of the patient.)
• Super common: Patient winds up needing a root canal after a filling or crown was done. (This can happen on ALL teeth that have met with a drill. Not all pulps (nerve canals) remain vital, intact, and will require removal via root canal treatment. Not the doctor’s fault. This is human biology.)
• Implant fail : ( Implants have a 5% failure rate)
• Crown or bridge gets decay underneath: (Crowns/bridges on average last 7 years statistically, but we often see them last 10 to 20 years.)