To Be a Dental Patient Any successful person will tell you that one key to success and happiness is to find a career that matches your passion.  I have been lucky in that I truly enjoy dentistry.   Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about most patients.  Few people have a passion for going to the dentist.  The good news is that we are in an age where the quality of care and, more importantly, the quality of your dental experience are better than ever.  The following are a few areas that have greatly improved your trip to the dentist.

Office Design – More and more, dental offices are being designed and appointed to make you, the patient, more comfortable.  Waiting rooms with television, wireless internet access, and an assortment of current magazines are the norm.  Interior design has evolved to make offices feel like home rather than a sterile clinic.  Even the comfort of dental chairs has greatly improved to the point that some patients even fall asleep while getting work done.

Modern Medicine – I have heard quite a few stories about “When I was a kid, we didn’t have xylocaine…”  Fortunately, we now have a vast assortment of  ‐caines (dental anesthetics).   If one doesn’t quite do the trick, then we can us a combination to make your visit pleasant and pain free.  We have antibiotics to fight gum disease, an assortment of pain killers, medicines to reduce dental anxiety, and medicines to help stop smoking.  There is even a new medicine available to make the numbness go away faster once your treatment is over.

Pretty Teeth – The art and science of dentistry allows us to give anyone the smile of their dreams.  Anyone.  Whether it’s a single crown on a broken front tooth or a new set of dentures, we can make pretty teeth and beautiful smiles for anyone.  Right now there is even research on how we may someday grow real teeth back from stem cells.

Options – When I was a kid, I’d go to the dentist and get my teeth fixed, no questions asked.  Today, our patients get options and explanations about the risks and benefits of their choices.  Dental patients are empowered to make their own health decisions.  There are even more ways than ever to afford both elective and required treatment.

The practice of dentistry is constantly evolving.  The treatment and care that we provide now will improve in twenty years.  Life, change, and learning will all move one.  Until then, it’s a great time to be a dental patient.

Until next time, keep smiling.

‐Comments can be sent to Drs. Parrish through www.ParrishDental.com.