5 Reasons You Need a Dental Home

5 REASONS YOU NEED A DENTAL HOME by Patrick J Foy DDS 1) Trust 2) Continuity of care 3) relationship-based care 4) Dental/systemic relationships 5) Strategic Long-term Planning; retirement, travel, college and geographic transfer 1) Trust has been the hallmark of healthcare since the beginning of time. That feeling of trust, believe or not, should be mutual in order for patients and their providers to succeed in maintaining optimum dental health. A famous dentist who was considered to be the father of comprehensive care in dentistry stated “Do not treat strangers”. Selfishly I have adopted that philosophy in my private practice, so I attempted to honestly get to know my patients and their families. In return I also try to treat them as if they were a part of my family. I will not recommend dental treatment that I would do on myself or on one of my own family members. I will also attempt to reveal my bias in specific areas, so that patients can make their own independent decisions around their care. 2) Continuity of care; This is an under-valued entity in healthcare today, but in dentistry I have had the extreme luxury to see many of my patients over twenty-plus years. During that period of time you honestly get to know their oral health and the condition of their teeth. When I look in the mouth during a periodic exam I am not only seeing their mouth today, but I have a historical perspective that is invaluable. That continuity allows me to understand if the disease rate is active or stable. Any sudden change in oral health alerts us to some life changing event or change in general health. Trends or a change in health is better than snap shots. 3) Relationship based practice: Relationship ; definition: Behavior or feelings toward somebody else: the connection between two or more people or groups and their involvement with each other, especially as regards how they behave and feel toward each other and communicate or cooperate
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The idea of communication, cooperation and respect for each other is the goal that can be achieved when the doctor/patient relationship extends beyond the dental chair. It is mutually rewarding to both parties in the pursuit of their own personal dental health. 4) Dental/Systemic Relationships; Research has revealed that there are several oral health and systemic health relationships. Low-birth weight in some studies has been linked to periodontal disease. Cardio-vascular diseases, Diabetes, digestive issues and many other problems yet to be discovered to have a possible oral connection, but I contend that it only makes sense to keep all systems as healthy as possible. The links may be immaterial if you unable to keep all systems as healthy as possible. 5) Strategic Planning: This is an area that few people consider when they visit the dentist, but you must understand dentists have seen people transition into different life events through out their practice life. That accumulation of re-occurring experience of human behaviors gives most practitioners a unique insight into the future of typical problems and concerns. The normal cycle of life plays out everyday in most dental offices, so your dentist may help you into your next expected or unexpected transition. Patrick J Foy DDS