A dentist is a prestidigitator, one who puts metal in your mouth and pulls coins out of your pocket, according to Ambrose Bierce in The Devil’s Dictionary, 1910. The prestidigitator is a magician who performs tricks by clever use of his fingers. But we are not like this, or are we? In our practices over the years we strive to build up trust with our patients so when we recommend a course of dental treatment, the patients ‘take it on board’ and readily consent to it being carried out. This undoubtedly spills over to the care of teeth by the patients, between appointments during a course of treatment, or in between check-ups and this is where prevention in practice comes in to this trust. We, the team, with our hygienists, dental surgery assistants and receptionists spend considerable time attempting to educate and reiterate the continuation of good oral-hygiene regimes and their continual reinforcement. Yes, of course, it becomes bordering on the monotony but this forms part of this circle of trust.
I feel it is paramount in the reception set-up to have an attractive display of oral hygiene products, so if the hygienist or the dentist recommends a particular item or the patient requests one, it is to be found on the shelf in the waiting room. The dentist usually does not have time to fulfil this important duty but the dental surgery assistant and receptionist can assist here.
We have the Oral B Triumph electric toothbrush displayed in the surgery together with the assorted heads and if the dentist hasn’t the time, the hygienist and dental surgery assistant can aid with its promotion. The team ethic permeates through this oral hygiene reinforcement and none more so than during National Smile Month. This is a brilliant opportunity for the dental team to re-energise the messages we tirelessly churn out to our patients. The importance of recommendation should not be under-estimated and the patients can leave via the front door knowing what they are supposed to be doing.
Last year, the theme for National Smile Month was ‘Brush for health’ with the emphasis on the link between systemic health and oral health, a correlation most patients have never considered. This year the logo is ‘Teeth 4 life’, with the accent on teeth retention. Having good teeth improves the quality of a person’s life and we have to get this expectation over to our patients. National Smile Month is the perfect way to spread this gospel. The team all wear T-shirts that bear the logo, we have posters in the waiting room and give out stickers to our child patients. I encourage fellow practitioners to get behind the campaign: it only takes a phone call to the British Dental Health Foundation and then to order whatever is required (the T-shirts go quickly). Also, it is good to be part of this project as it receives a considerable amount of coverage in the consumer press. Toni, one of my two part-time receptionists, wears her T-shirt all year round until the next one comes out.
The National Smile Month used to be National Smile Week so it is gaining in popularity. It is a superb vehicle for enhancing positive messages to our patients along with an attractive display of oral hygiene products, such as electric and manual toothbrushes, denture brushes, dental fixatives, various mouthwashes, treatments of tooth sensitivity, interproximal cleaning aids, floss, children’s brushes and toothpastes.
So, be positive and improve your patient’s trust in you and in what you believe. Come on, let’s not be prestidigitators!