Doing Cosmetic Dentistry with a
Treatment Coordinator
Cosmetic dentistry is
fun to do, and can be very profitable. But if you do it right, it requires
a lot of communication. And this is why you need a treatment
coordinator. Let me explain the need for a treatment coordinator by
setting the stage first.
Cosmetic dentistry is actually very
different from general dentistry. There's an article posted on
www.mynewsmile.com about
what is a cosmetic
dentist that is very interesting. General dentists and specialists are
trained to fix things. Cosmetic dentists, on the other hand, are
dedicated to creating things. When someone comes to you who is
unhappy with his or her smile, it's not just a simple diagnosis as you
would make for an infected tooth or a cracked filling, where you would
look over the situation, say "hmmm..." and announce how you plan to fix
this problem. When you're doing cosmetic dentistry, you have to ask a lot
of questions about the patient's perception of his or her smile. What is
it they don't like about the smile? What style of smile do they
like? What color do they like? What is their image aspiration—do they
want to be seen as sexy, or as businesslike?
And then, when you've settled those issues,
there are all the treatment options. Do you bleach first? Should you
bleach the lowers? Do you bleach the back teeth and do four veneers? Do
you include the canines and do six? Maybe you should do ten. Do you veneer
the lowers or just bleach them? Do you close the diastema with direct
bonding or with veneers? So many choices. It's a lot of talking, but if
you want satisfied patients, and if you are being a true cosmetic dentist
who tailors the treatment to the aspirations of the patient, you have to
have a high level of communication.
This is where the treatment coordinator
comes in.
What a treatment coordinator does
Your treatment coordinator should be thoroughly familiar with dentistry.
An experienced dental assistant with excellent communication skills, who
may be getting a little burned out with chairside work, and who is looking
for a little higher pay, is an excellent candidate. Get someone likeable.
You, the dentist, do the examination, with the treatment coordinator
assisting you and taking notes. You determine all the clinical
parameters. Set a range of options of what you consider acceptable
treatment. Then turn the treatment coordinator loose with the patient. She
(or he) will explain the proposed treatment to the patient, will discuss
the options available, will answer all the patient's questions, and will
total the cost. If you have a video imaging computer, she will prepare a
simulated photograph of how the treatment will look. If financial
arrangements are necessary, she will set up a meeting with your business
manager and may help the patient fill out the credit approval forms. She
will explain insurance benefits to the patient.
The treatment coordinator may come back to you for any unusual questions
from the patient, but, other than that, she will take care of the patient
entirely. She will return to you for final approval of the treatment plan
the way the patient has accepted it, before any work is scheduled. That is
the limit of your involvement until you see the patient for treatment.
Patients will feel pampered with attention. They have time and access to
get all their questions answered. Frequently patients will call back and
ask to speak with the treatment coordinator for further questions about
treatment. When you begin to treat the case, the treatment coordinator
will present you with a computer-simulated photograph of the case the way
the patient wants it, along with any notes about the patient's
preferences.
Doing cosmetic dentistry requires excellent communication with the
patient. Your patient can't feel rushed or pushed, and must feel that the
person delivering the information has their best interests at heart.
Excellent dental care, especially cosmetic dental care, doesn't happen
without a high level of trust felt by the patient. And an excellent way to
achieve that communication and trust is with a highly trained, personable
treatment coordinator.
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